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...
I've been sleeping well for the most part now days with amytriptyline but I just flat out can't sleep without meds(I've tried). I'm going to ditch amytriplyine and at least try my 3 months supply of ambien that I was prescribed. I also might be done with CBT because I had 5 free sessions and next tuesday is my last one and I can't afford anymore...the only hope is if i call a company and they give me more sessions. I'm just scared that I'm never gonna be able to sleep without meds again...I don't even know my plan...take them for 2 or 3 months and then try to slowly withdrawal and sleep naturally? If I can't get more sessions of CBT then I don't know if I'll even had moderate sleep success like I've somewhat been having lately.
If it's depression, which is why amytriplyine is usually prescribed, not sure I understand why would you discontinue that. If you have been diagnosed with depression, doesn't it make sense to continue to work on that and your sleep should improve as your depression lifts?
And isn't the ambien only treating the symptom and not the true underlying root causes?
Another observation: Very important to try to rid yourself permanently of the myth that you "flat out can't sleep" without meds. Of course you can. Unless you honestly believe you are unique among all mammals that have ever lived anywhere anytime. We all require sleep.
You in fact can't not sleep. Your mind and body require it, just like everybody else.
The CBT method of cognitive restructuring will help you release negative sleep thoughts like this, which likely are fueling your insomnia to some degree. Can you take whatever resources you have from the CBT sessions and continue to work on your own?