Hi all! I keep asking this question but yet have not found a single answer. Is there anybody here who has suffered from major depression that has affected their sleep cycles? I would like to hear from people not with chronic depression or insomnia. But from people who have always had a decent sleep and are generally not depressed. But have experienced depression in their life that has affected their sleep. What I am trying to understand is: DOE IS GO BACK TO NORMAL EVENTUALLY? My first two major depressions were on Klonopin, so I was sleeping ok, and when I came off, my sleep was totally fine and back to normal. This time, my doc did not want to give me benzos, so I went on Quantepine 25 mg. Which took weeks to kick in, and all this time, my sleep was all over the place. I would sleep ok one night, not enough another night.
Gradually things were improving until I got myself into an anxious accident where I couldn't fall asleep and freaked out that the problem will require even with Quantepine. So I started taking magnesium on top of Quantepine, which does wonders and puts me to sleep right away. After five days on magnesium, I've decided not to take it and go back and see how is Quantepine doing the work. Surely enough caught into a huge anxiety loop that I won't sleep without Magnesium, and I was wide awake half of the night, which caused me a worsening of depressive symptoms the whole day after. I have now been back to magnesium for two days an am doing fine. I am still fighting depression as this has been only 2,5 months since it started. My sleeping problems started at the same time. It has been only seven weeks on Lamotrigine and Seroquel. Both seem to help with my Cyclothymic major depressive episode. But this ordeal with sleep is now making my depression recovery stuck in the loop where I get scared my sleep won't ever improve without meds... Before this, I have been under control. I have not been suffering from chronic depression or sleep issues. Ideally, I want to hear from people like me. To hear if their sleep got better over time and what you've done to do it. And if it has not. Are you still depressed or anxious? Any info on sleep improvement will be greatly appreciated!
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Pineapple1986
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I will not beat around the bush and I will come straight to the point. Yes, there have been instances wherein my anxiety and depression gave me sleepless nights.
I clearly remember, I used to sheepishly plead myself to go to sleep, but that didn't help. When I tried to understand it from a psychological perspective, I came to know that our minds are extremely deceitful. If you ask your mind that you want a li'l bit of sleep, it will actually deprive you of that!
Therefore, I stopped chasing sleep and I stopped watching the clock. Believe me, I slept like a baby!
I insist that you watch Alicia Fairclough's YouTube video: The Best Sleep Hypnosis. The best way to watch it is to have some warm water before going to sleep. Wear a comfortable pair of headphones/ earphones and lie down like a rock. Simply listen to the video and do nothing else. I won't guarantee that you will sleep, but you would benefit a lot.
Try this once and kindly let me know. I would really love to know how it turns out for you!
This sounds pretty great! I will take a listen soon and will let you know. The biggest problem for me is this is the first depression I’m getting through with no anti anxiety meds. My new doctor decided I’m strong enough to figure this out on mood stabilizer for depression and quantepine for sleep assistance. But it seems that my anxiety is way too strong which was always the case when I’m depressed. But I’ve never faced the insomnia demon because benzos were knocking me out and as soon as symptoms of depression lifted. I was tapered off Kolonopin in a 2-3 month and was able to sleep as good as ever before. This time I’m having a PTSD from not having good sleep cause I’m a cry baby and had to never have this problems before. I just am trying to find courage to accept this fact and stop driving myself crazy. But this anxiety got me into this vicious loop where even if I sleep I’m still worried that I won’t next night. I just want to break free from this...
Seems that you and your new doctor are already doing the best you can. If your doctor feels that you're strong enough, so do I.
I understand that having an inadequate sleep is currently causing PTSD to you. Your mind is rummaging to such an extent that you suddenly start worrying about the next night's sleep instead of the present. The loop can be broken indeed.
You are strong enough to take it one step at a time. Not sleeping tomorrow is a different story, we will come to that only if it happens. But we will take it one day at a time, alright. I hope you sleep like a baby!
Hi Pineapple have had experience of depression but it was linked in each case with health problems . As you find magnesium helps you am sure you are right. It has been proved, magnesium deficiency can cause depression anxiety and stress. Evidence shows that many sufferers treated with antidepressants are resistant to the drugs but magnesium supplements can help. .Since reading how you have been helped by magnesium am going to increase my levels .
Hi Pineapple1986, I’m exactly the same. Was on Citalopram for anxiety for years which helped but struggled to sleep, could fall asleep but not stay asleep. The sleep pattern just got worse so the doctor changed me to Amitriptyline which completely knocks me out but the anxiety has returned. I can’t seem to get s happy medium
Thank you for letting me know! However as I’ve said in my original post, I’m not prone to general anxiety or depression. I’m usually stable and totally fine. I only get anxiety when I’m depressed. And once it subsides anxiety goes away along the depression. Therefore I’m not exactly sure if I can compare myself with you as I have not been on anxiety meds for a while. I was on Kolonopin once for three month and successfully stoped as soon as major depression was gone. I’m on non of anxiety medications at this time at all and haven’t been since my first and last interaction with Kolonopin. And I haven’t had issues with sleep before this depressive episode. Currently I’m on mood stabilizer for depression and Quantepine for sleep. Non are anti anxiety meds. That is why I’m trying to find out from people that have not have constant or chronicall issues with insomnia or anxiety or depression about their experiences during depressive episodes particularly. people who do not struggle with such conditions for years get Occasional depression and anxiety too. And from what I’ve heard their Symptoms improve. As mine did in the past. But i was on Kolonopin which is benzo and I’m not on anything anti anxiety now. So this time my sleep suffers. But I’m very great full for your input! I hope you will find the right medication that helps with both! Sending you all the positive vibes!
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