Anxiety and Insomnia

[Uncle_bob]

I am a retired senior suffering from long standing anxiety (GAD) and insomnia, which have fed off each other over time. Presently being weaned off sleep aids and undergoing CBT-I with some encouraging results.

[BonnieSue]

I'm glad you're getting some encouraging results. I guess you're also having some old problems tonight...not being able to sleep like you'd like to? I have GAD and I'm 60 years old. Fortunately for me I take quetiapine at bedtime and that stuff knocks me out. I have zero chance at staying awake after taking it. So what will you do to help yourself along to get tired?

[Uncle_bob in reply to BonnieSue]

Glad quetipine helps you. Tried it once myself and made me very sick. Trying to minimize meds right now.

[BonnieSue in reply to Uncle_bob]

Okay, that's your goal, I have to respect that. The CBT is realizing some positive results which is good. Do you listen to relaxing or meditative recordings at bedtime? Those may help. I have done some on my own that helped me.

There's one you have probably heard of where you start at your head and work down to your feet. You begin with saying 3 times "I relax my head, I relax my head.." while actually releasing your muscles in the named area. Sometimes clenching the muscles before releasing if needed. And you work your way down your body until you're done. I rarely would get done before I was asleep, and this was before quetiapine.

I wish for you great sleeping habits and restorative nighttimes.

[Eddie83]

Two things I would suggest you check, since I used to have the same problems.

1) Fading thyroid level can cause anxiety and panic attacks. But keep in mind that most allopathic MDs don't know how to diagnose/treat this since they do not check both T3 and T4, nor do they check for thyroid autoimmunity.

2) Make sure your Total Blood Protein is up into the middle of the 6.2-8.3 g/dl normal range. Low blood protein can cause insomnia (as well as musculoskeletal degeneration - I had multiple orthopedic problems until I fixed it).

[Uncle_bob in reply to Eddie83]

Thanks. Good recommendations. Hope my GP is receptive to order those tests.