Anxiety/Imsomnia

[CT36]

Anyone have suggestions to cope with anxiety and insomnia without medication. The doctors have had me on 7 different medications since April 2018 for insomnia after the flu. Antidepressants, Benzos, Antipsychotics...they all seem to make me more jittery/anxious. I'm in CBT, have been for 3 months with little improvement.I'm 40, and never had this problem before this Spring. We know its anxiety, but I can't seem to tolerate medications.

[tamka38]

Meditation deep breathing praying keeping yourself busy

[CT36 in reply to tamka38]

Thank you, I think those are the routes I'm left with. And I'll try. Prayers to you and your mom. Im staying with my mom since this happened. She's was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. I know it can be extra stressful to see a parent ill or suffering. Take care of yourself

[tamka38 in reply to CT36]

Oh sorry to hear that about your mom and thank u for the prayers and u right am so stressed right now because am trying to get better myself and my son has Crohn’s disease so am going through a lot right now

[CT36 in reply to tamka38]

Its a lot to handle. I know you want to help your son and mom. (I don't have children, so I've always been a bit in awe of how moms do) I'm about to to a brief meditation and lie down for a bit. You should do the same. Tomorrow's another day to try again

[tamka38 in reply to CT36]

Thank you

[Jamie2018]

Have you heard about Clair Weeks? She has books on how to react to anxiety. I've never read any of them but a lot of people have and she is highly recommended.

[Hidden]

Hi, there are lots of things you can do without medication.

It's not possible to post it all here.

Firstly, you need to see a therapist who's not just going to prescribe drugs. So that would be a psychological therapist, not a physician.

It seems flu might have been a trigger for you and if so - I've had "real" flu once in my life. It nearly killed me! I was very depressed after and was advised to take vitamins. Multivitamins should help.

There are also supplements which will help increase your serotonin levels. Low serotonin is a factor in anxiety, depression and insomnia. L Trytophan can help increase serotonin. It is not a drug but is in the same class as vitamins. You should be able to buy it on line.

Insomnia can be helped by carrying out "sleep hygiene" . Google this and you should find out lots of things to do such as timing, light, temperature, things to avoid, the 15 minute rule and so on.

Similarly you can Google things to do about anxiety. Various meditation techniques, especially breathing meditation.

Progressive muscular relaxation is good for anxiety and insomnia.

A more recent and growingly popular strategy for anxiety and depression is "Mindfulness" This is increasingly being used as a form of CBT therapy, but you can self learn the techniques, go to a class, (expensive) or get books.

You have issues in your life contributing to your symptoms. It might help to talk to a Person centered counsellor.

Dealing with anxiety, depression and insomnia isn't easy. I think people expect a quick fix, that will cure them. Drugs might give an initial quick fix. The fix might be worse than the original problem however and isn't a cure. Unfortunately, it takes some effort and discipline to adopt a lifestyle that promotes tranquillity and for different people that means different things depending on such things as your situation, beliefs and aspirations.

Some doctors irresponsibly just give you dependency producing drugs that ultimately make you also dependent on them. Unless your problems severely disrupt your everyday life so much you need in patient care or you have a psychotic episode you don't need drugs.

[mschloe]

CBT helped me enormously two years ago when I had major depression/anxiety & admitted myself to the hospital for two weeks. A couple months ago my anxiety went out of control & I found a new therapist who specializes in EMDR. It'd be easier for you to research it rather than me try to explain it. If your anxiety is deep rooted like mine, CBT doesn't always help. EMDR is used in PTSD & in my case, dealing with stressful childhood events. It is helping me alot right now.