Went to the hospital the other night because my bp and hr were acting up and I assumed it was because of starting 12.5mg Zoloft and after 3 days moving to 25mg. They think it’s because I wasn’t tskint my meds and my anxiety came back with a vengeance, which I can see. Since when I close my eyes I get nervous, anxiety wells up in my chest, and then it’s like instead of going to sleep intrusive visions, like a movie starts playing in my head and sleep doesn’t come. My therapist said since I have intrusive thoughts she was sure I was having intrusive visions when I’m trying to sleep. I would lay there for hours trying to sleep. I don’t know if sometimes I did sleep or what. The first night I barely slept 2 hours, the 2nd night they prescribed me kolonopin (which I hated btw), but I finally slept after taking a mg at around 9pm. The third night I ended up at the hospital and they gave me half a mg of Ativan (which didn’t help much), and I slept from 5am to 7am and promptly woke up and could not go back to sleep for the life of me. Finally my doc prescribed me Xanax. Lastnight I took a total of 1mg and slept for an hour and got scared it wasn’t working since I was waking up and took half a mg extra, then slept on and off until about 9, but way better than I have for the last few days. Doc told me to stay on the 25mg and then in a week bump up to 50mg. I am tired, anxious all the time and ready for the meds to start working again. Plus even though my hr is up again today, I have to go back to work and that’s making my anxiety worse.
Anyone else have intrusive visions from anxiety when they’re trying to sleep?
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Misshensley1981
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I'm so very sorry you are having a rough time... the only thing I can think of you tell (or ask) you is: have you tried listening to soothing meditation or sleep tapes or CD's at night when you first for go bed... there are times this has helped me. Also, are you visiting with a therapist? If not, that might help. I just want to wish you all kinds of good luck and love. Take care!
I’ve tried the listening to soft music and such, my doc says because my anxiety is up so badly it’s causing insomnia, so I’m back up to taking 25mg of Zoloft and will have to wait til it starts feeling better again. I appreciate the comment tho! I honestly hate taking Xanax but right now it’s the only thing keeping me sane as far as sleep goes. The other day I felt like a robot and couldn’t focus on anything.
Wow! I’m so sorry you’re going through this...hopefully your HR will be down tomorrow. I also have trouble sleeping. I’m up and down. I don’t have any bad thoughts, I just can’t stay asleep. I always wake up feeling a little panicked while sleepy. It’s bizarre 😜 I really hope things get squared-away with you. Wishing you peace 🌷🙂🌷
Zoloft was not good for me. It started with insomnia. Then it went to increased depression and anxiety. Then to intrusive thoughts. And then to suicidal thoughts and a hospitalization. I am not saying you will have the same experience. It was just not a good match for me. Keep talking to your doctor. I hope you can get some sleep. I imagine that will help.
Thankfully I’ve been on these meds before, and haven’t had too bad of an issue. My doc thinks right now the problem is that my anxiety is high and I haven’t been sleeping so it sent my BP and hr up as well. My anxiety started going up before I got back on the meds. ❤️
Hi, I experienced something like this last year. It happened several times when I closed my eyes to sleep I would get flashing images like on an old movie real or flash cards. It was horrible and distressing and I couldn't make it stop. It doesn't happen now and that might be down to finally tackling my anxiety. I go to a therapist and on a low dose of meds. I know what it feels like so I wish you peace to rest and sleep xx
I have them very seldom...but when I do, they’re terrible.
I’m currently taking 2mg of Klonopin every 6-8 hours, like I did when in the psych ward. I’m going on YouTube & listening to CBT vids in lieu of in-hospital groups.
This site is the most helpful thing I’ve found yet. PM me if you need to talk, ok? My friends will tell you that my mouth stays as shut as a steel trap.
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Never ending anxiety and intrusive thoughts
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Up the dosage 
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