Sleep issues. : My sleep is horrible. I... - Anxiety and Depre...

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Sleep issues.

Shutterbug65 profile image
19 Replies

My sleep is horrible. I seem to wake up earlier and earlier. Last night I woke at 2:30 and that was it. Does anyone else have bad insomnia? I’m just afraid that this is gong to ruin me. This is an ongoing issue, I wake up with anxiety worrying about every little problem and it makes it Impossible to get back to sleep. I do take meds for anxiety and depression.

Please does anyone else have this problem. Thank you.

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Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65
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19 Replies

I’m up by 1:00 am to 2-2:30 am every morning. Wide awake too. 😳😳 Most times I can get back to sleep eventually.

The key is acceptance for me, anger and having excess sleep anxiety over not sleeping raises my heart rate, increased heart rate will not allow me to relax and get back to sleep. This morning I woke at 1:00, worked on a puzzle, read a little in here, ate a banana, was awake 2 hours before I got sleepy again. The cue is when sleepy don’t fight it, which I just lay down on the couch.

Maybe the banana has some magical sleep properties. 😀

Hopefully you’ll find what works for you, maybe try meditation, deep breathing, muscle relaxation techniques, anything to help with shutting off the noise in your mind and calming the body back down.

Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65 in reply to

I don’t know what to do anymore. My heart rate also increases after I wake up, usually around 4:00 am. Then I start having all these intrusive thoughts and I start worrying about everything, my mind just won’t quiet down.

The thing is sleep used to never be a problem for me. I’m on meds for depression and anxiety. But I read insomnia can make anxiety and depression worse and the medication may not work as well. I don’t know what to do I just want to give up.

in reply to Shutterbug65

My year rate rises to, mines much earlier than yours though. When we are woken, cortisol is elevated as well as other hormones. Are jolted awake or do you slowly come out of sleep? Has your sleep onset time changed from what it was..example used to get sleepy at 10:00 and now it’s earlier or later?

Depression medication can cause sleep disturbances /insomnia. It is true sleep deprivation can wreck havoc on our depression and anxiety. It also effects cognitive abilities even our eating patterns.

I do not have an answer but to look to see if your me(s) have sleep disturbances/insomnia as a side effect? Perhaps there is an added med you could be given for sleep, dose change or a different med altogether.

Tweety42 profile image
Tweety42 in reply to Shutterbug65

Talk to your doctor about Trazadone it helps me sleep.

Mrspjsmom profile image
Mrspjsmom

My insomnia comes and goes. Lately it has been terrible. Wide awake at any time between 2:30 and 4:30. Then so exhausted I can barely function all day. I have been trying to note any changes. Nightmares, diet, my level of depression and anxiety, anything that may be adding to the insomnia. But if it doesn't let up soon I'll have to call the doctor. Over a month of insomnia has taken a toll.

Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65 in reply to Mrspjsmom

Thank you for your reply. I’m sure mine is related to anxiety. It’s always at it’s worst in the morning. I wake up very early and within minutes I’m anxious, I’ve got a lot of problems and I worry about my future. I just can’t seem to deal with things anymore. At least I have my job to go to, its the only time I can socialize with people.

I understand when you said your lack of sleep is taking its toll. It makes it difficult to concentrate at work or to get any kind of enjoyment out of the day.

I hope you find the answer.

Mrspjsmom profile image
Mrspjsmom in reply to Shutterbug65

Will keep you in my thoughts and if I find anything that helps I'll share. My sleep problems right now are due to my anxiety too. My PTSD is causing horrible nightmares and I may need to take a new medication to stop the nightmares. I wake up early and am usually crying and anxious. I wouldn't wish that on anyone but it's comforting to know I'm not alone. Thanks for posting.

Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65 in reply to Mrspjsmom

No your not alone and thanks for posting. I’m sorry you have to go through this. It’s awful not being able to get enough sleep it makes my anxiety worse. I constantly worry about things, my mind just won’t quiet down and I experience terrible morning anxiety.

And I know it can take a toll on our wellbeing. I’m scared that it’s only gonna get worse and I won’t be able to function at all and I’ll end up in the hospital.

I hope you can find some peace of mind.

Thank you again.

SHCM profile image
SHCM in reply to Shutterbug65

I do have the same problem, I used to sleep a lot but since my anxiety got worst I have not much sleep, my job is the only time I socialize too, and the only person I have to talk to is my daughter and is when she is at home that is not many days, been alone is a trigger for the anxiety, there some days that I try to stay at work as much as I can so I don't have to come home to be alone.

Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65 in reply to SHCM

I’m alone all the time. I wake with terrible anxiety every morning and this has been going on for a few years now. By the afternoon I feel better. But once I wake up I can’t get back to sleep.

Alta-mae profile image
Alta-mae

My psyc doc prescibes me hydroxyzine (Vistral) 25 mg. It has helped me immensely. I take as needed. I also take Mirtazapine (Remeron)at night as well. I have to do what's best for me. I do eat healthy foods (I cheat every now and then, of course), try to get enough exercise and practice relaxing techniques. Breathing deeply and slowly, which I also try for sleeping. Those methods are just not enough. Maybe you could consider those medications as a last resort. Sounds like your methods might do it much better and naturally.

Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65 in reply to Alta-mae

I also take Mirtazapine however I stopped taking it last week believing I was getting hooked on it. Also it makes me groggy all morning, unable to focus or get motivated. Maybe I’ll take one tonight and see how it goes. I’ll still wake up way to early but not at 2:00. I just need to quiet my mind and stop dwelling on things. But that’s a lot easier said than done.

Thank you for your reply. I don’t feel so alone.

Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65 in reply to Alta-mae

I also take Mirtazapine but not every night. It makes me foggy in the morning and doesn’t do a thing for my anxiety. I can get to sleep it’s waking up early 3:00 or 4:00 am that’s the issue. My anxiety is always highest in the early morning.

I know I could do much better with taking care of myself, like eating healthier and getting more exercise. I just keep thinking it will go away on its own, but of course that’s not happening. And I’m constantly ruminating about my problems which makes it worse.

I also take Prozac and Xanax daily which helps.

Thank you for your info.

Kimber55 profile image
Kimber55 in reply to Shutterbug65

Oddly enough when I tried Xanax it made my morning anxiety much much worse. Which I know it should help. It definitely made it worse for me. Also depending if you’re a female and 35 on Perimenopause symptoms can include insomnia and anxiety. Might want to look at hormones.

Tweety42 profile image
Tweety42

I have had it in the past and it can really make you depressed. I take Trazadone now and it has been such a help. Excercise also helps me sleep.

I find that my insomnia worsens when I’m struggling in life. I found a helpful meditation on YouTube called RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) by Tara Brach. It took practice but helps put me back to sleep.

Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65 in reply to

Thanks for the meditation tip. I know that these are things I need to try, it’s just getting myself to do them. My phychiatrist said once "I have a very rigid personality", it’s like I listen to what she says but I keep falling back into a very narrow and limited comfort zone. It’s not healthy.

Thanks again.

4woody profile image
4woody

Hi. I haven’t read through all the replies so maybe I am repeating some else’s post...

I was going through this and my daughter asked if I wanted to try kava tea. I did and it seemed to help. I did more reading about kava and decided to try capsules. They helped. I used them every night for a while. Now I haven’t taken one for many days and continue to sleep well.

Shutterbug65 profile image
Shutterbug65

Yeah… being alone is not easy, especially this time of year. And loneliness is difficult to explain to someone who’s not going through it. But I understand how you feel.

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