Insomnia Support Group
Insomnia is a symptom, rather than a disease, and is characterized by inadequate quantity or quality of sleep. People with insomnia complain of difficulty falling or staying asleep, which results in significant impairment of daytime functioning. Insomnia is categorized as transient (shorter than one week), short-term (one to three weeks) or chronic (longer than three...
Hi everyone, I'm new here and just wanted to post something about my problem with insomnia and see if anyone can relate.
My insomnia first began in November of last year. It started with early wake ups. I would go to bed at midnight and wake up at 5am, unable to fall back to sleep again but if i did it would be for a few minutes at a time. The 5 hours of sleep i got would decrease each night til I was waking up wide awake after 30 mins of sleep. I also would get vivid, anxiety inducing dreams, chills that emanate from my chest and sometimes awaken in a half asleep state like as if a TV was turned on inside my head. I went to a doctor and was prescribed ambien but those didn't work, it knocked me out fast but didn't keep me asleep, I didn't have a problem with falling asleep.
I believe my insomnia stemmed from constant worrying and anxiety....maybe depression too. I feel that I always had a moderate level of anxiety and depression but was able to cope with it.
The 2nd time I went back to the doctor he gave me .25 xanax to take at bed time. After taking it my sleep got better, I was able to sleep longer and was able to fall right back to sleep if i woke up in the middle of night. The problem was that i woke up feeling sad and hopeless but don't know if that was from the xanax or not. I knew I can't rely on it forever and tried to taper myself off of it. I don't think it went well, now my sleep is random, some days are better than others. I also started having problem falling asleep.
Before all this began, I was able to sleep 8-9 hours a night, in my bed, on the couch, on the floor, during the day time, with noise around etc. When I need to sleep, I slept. Now, it just seems that I don't get sleepy at all. I don't understand how i can't sleep if i just got 2-3 hours of sleep the night before. In the past if that was to happen I would be asleep before my head hit the pillow. When I read other peoples insomnia problem it seems like just have a problem falling alseep and then when they do sleep they have to get up for work or school.. like they can sleep but just not at a time they want. well I don't have to wake up to anything since I finish college last summer and haven't found work yet.
Its so debilitating...and I'm getting more depress each day. My life is at a stand still right now. Sleep was something I look forward to whenever I had a bad day. it resets my mind and gets me ready for the following day and now I just miss it. :(
My insomnia first began in November of last year. It started with early wake ups. I would go to bed at midnight and wake up at 5am, unable to fall back to sleep again but if i did it would be for a few minutes at a time. The 5 hours of sleep i got would decrease each night til I was waking up wide awake after 30 mins of sleep. I also would get vivid, anxiety inducing dreams, chills that emanate from my chest and sometimes awaken in a half asleep state like as if a TV was turned on inside my head. I went to a doctor and was prescribed ambien but those didn't work, it knocked me out fast but didn't keep me asleep, I didn't have a problem with falling asleep.
I believe my insomnia stemmed from constant worrying and anxiety....maybe depression too. I feel that I always had a moderate level of anxiety and depression but was able to cope with it.
The 2nd time I went back to the doctor he gave me .25 xanax to take at bed time. After taking it my sleep got better, I was able to sleep longer and was able to fall right back to sleep if i woke up in the middle of night. The problem was that i woke up feeling sad and hopeless but don't know if that was from the xanax or not. I knew I can't rely on it forever and tried to taper myself off of it. I don't think it went well, now my sleep is random, some days are better than others. I also started having problem falling asleep.
Before all this began, I was able to sleep 8-9 hours a night, in my bed, on the couch, on the floor, during the day time, with noise around etc. When I need to sleep, I slept. Now, it just seems that I don't get sleepy at all. I don't understand how i can't sleep if i just got 2-3 hours of sleep the night before. In the past if that was to happen I would be asleep before my head hit the pillow. When I read other peoples insomnia problem it seems like just have a problem falling alseep and then when they do sleep they have to get up for work or school.. like they can sleep but just not at a time they want. well I don't have to wake up to anything since I finish college last summer and haven't found work yet.
Its so debilitating...and I'm getting more depress each day. My life is at a stand still right now. Sleep was something I look forward to whenever I had a bad day. it resets my mind and gets me ready for the following day and now I just miss it. :(
I can totally relate. My insomnia originated from constant worrying and anxiety also. I was having major financial problems and was worrying day and night for several years and it turned into a depression, and then insomnia. I was on antidepressants and ambien for a while. Luckily the depression subsided but I still have to be careful not to worry too much or I could slide back into that pit.
When I find myself worrying too much I make myself stop and do something else. I was able to wean myself off the ambien but I still take it for certain occasions like if I travel or stay somewhere other than home. Also, I took it over the holidays as I had sleep problems. The first time I took ambien, I was on it for 6 months straight and it was hard to wean myself off it.
Now that I only take it for certain occasions, it's easier to get off it.
I'm sure once you find a job, things will turn around. Try to stay positive. I go walking for exercise and it helps. Try something physical. Just tell yourself this is only temporary. There are days I am really down and there are days I feel better like today. Hang in there. Good luck finding work. Keep us up to date.
I have problems falling asleep. I don't have an issue staying asleep so I can't really help you there. Stay positive and welcome to the group.