Depression Support Group

Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.

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Levicah 01/21/2013

Up all night. Sleep all day.
I realize this is not true insomnia, But my mood is so dark upon waking that I avoid waking all the way up. Night feels safe and comforting to me, my main distraction being TV and eating. I have skipped sleeping during the day to try and get back on track, but I keep falling back into zombie mode. The more I sleep and neglect things during the day, the more I am overwhelmed at the thought of getting up and tackling deferred chores and house maintenance. I am one very useless human right now. Sleeping at night would be a wonderful way to start taking charge over my life. You know, walking, exercise, etc. all those things that are good for persistent depression. I am in fact paralyzed so to speak. I think I know what to do, but lack the will and drive to start. Half measures and baby steps just lead back to apathy and hopelessness. I have been "medicine resistant" for this depression for years. But now it is really screwing with my life.
I would love to hear from those that can relate and those that have found ways to escape apathy and messed up sleep cycles.

noodlebg 01/21/2013

I'm also very med resistant to the point my dr. is giving up on me, seems any type of AD I take backfires or makes things worse with my depression. My level of apathy has risen a lot because of this.
Benzos are the only thing that have ever helped with my GAD/panic but those are essentially banned in my area due to the high level of abuse/street usage. Anything else is as effective as M*M's.:(:(
My sleep med helps me doze at night for a few hrs. but it's not restful sleep.
I'm chronically tired but unable to even take a nap. I'm sure this fatigue is due to lack of restorative sleep.

This is just my experience though, I have no answers and dearly wish
I could come up with something.

I use relaxation mp3's which will distract me for a short period of time, but aside from that, I'm also essentially "paralyzed".
My mobility is severely compromised due to degenerative arthritis throughout my spine so even if I wanted to get out and walk, I can't even do that much. This is also causing chronic, 24/7 pain even with strong pain meds on board which isn't helping anything either.

I hope someone here has some concrete suggestions that will help you, for now, just know you are not alone.....

deleted_user 01/21/2013

I live in a perpetual state of imbalance. My sleep hygiene is atrocious so I can give you little to no advice. These are things I don't do that have been reccommended . Don't eat anything at least an hour before you are to go to bed. Avoid caffiene . This one I hold to religiously the bed and the bedroom are for sleeping. Only be in the bedroom when you are ready to sleep. This excludes those needed chores of putting up clean clothes and cleaning the room. This one I can't do as I work rotating shifts ( days one week and nights the next ) but have a sleep ritual that gets you ready for bed aproximately the same time every night. If you get in bed and become restless give it about 30 minutes and if you can't get to sleep get up and walk around where you live indoors. Then read a book or magazine , listen to relaxing music or watch something relaxing on the TV. when you feel tired then give it another try. These are things reccommended to me through various sources and my health care providers. Maybe something out of this will help. Oh and I have been working rotating shifts for over twenty years. My poor sleep habits haven't seriously harmed me. But they can sure make things like depression much much worse. Good sleep habits do go a long way in staying both mentally and physically fit. All the best to you.

Levicah 01/21/2013

Thank you noodle and olddrake. It does help to hear that other folks struggle with the same thing.
I cant do any kind of benzo or sleep aid. Any chemical depressant causes me to nose dive into hell. I stay away from caffeine. Chronic 24/7 pain from neck injury. physiologically addicted to opiates, but only take large doses 2x late afternoon and evening. I know these things contribute, but I still cant pick myself up.
Maybe I fried my dopamine receptors, years without opiates did not lessen the depression. Thanks again you guys.

deleted_user 01/21/2013

I have found melatonin and valerian root to be very helpful in getting to sleep. That, and keeping to a set rising time. I get up the same time of day no matter how badly I slept the night before. And if I wake up early, I get up early. It really helps me.

Annie

muskrattiger 01/22/2013

funney you schould talk about being drug resstant ...............for me it seams i am on all the meds they can give me and i am not getting eney better than i am right now.................and this has been going on for 8 years now .................night feals safe for me to and when my husband is sleeping that is comforting but he doesent let me get away with that to often only if i have amigrain and i have no choice if i cant sleep i will after a cupple hours i will get up for half an hour and do something and than go back to bed try to sleep again some times i am up and dowen all night .....................i dont have it nearly as often as you do .................my partener realy helps me i give him a hard time ................
i dont think i can help you at this time because i am going through thsame thing trying to get my self in motion but i can listen and will be her for you .......i will keep you in my prayers .................god bless

deleted_user 01/22/2013

Good thread.

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