Sleepless nights .. Tired out

[Satsuma]

I sleep in two hour episodes. I have not slept a full night in years. I also have physical pain which does not help. I guess I will work this out when I get a cpn. Oh my, I cannot actually believe I will have one

[Iluvhorses]

Maybe your physical pain is preventing you from sleeping. Good luck!

[Stilltrying_]

Yes Satsuma, lack of sleep has a massive impact on our mental health. Believe me. A month ago I was getting about 2 hours sleep a night and you only have to look back to my posts at the time to see what an impact it was having on me. I decided to go back onto my sleeping tablets (zopiclone) and the mood stabiliser (olanzapine) which I had previously been prescribed. I am not in favour of taking a lot of medication so was trying to reduce but now I have to accept that taking these things in my case is keeping me reasonably stable as I am getting a full nights sleep.

Medication is not the most desirable though; I would never advise anyone to start zopiclone or take it like I have continuously for more than 18 years. At first when it was prescribed for me they thought it was impossible to get addicted and it was a harmless drug. Now the doctors are all dead set against it and have told me it will limit my life by 10 years if I don't come off it. I have tried reducing but each time I end up in a terrible crisis and wanting to kill myself so I am accepting in my case that I need it. And the olanzapine. My depression is very much caused by anxiety and the olanzapine just bascially stops that from happening. I am only on 2.5 mg and never feel the need to increase it as that seems to do the trick but again I would always advise anyone to try and be medicine free as much as you can as your liver and kidneys not designed to take these drugs longterm.

PS I also take mirtazipine but don't find like some others that it makes me drowsy I wish it would make me drowsy!!

[Satsuma in reply to Stilltrying_]

Stilltrying_ I understand about nedicstion . I used opiates for many many years and came off them. I will not use them again as I realise how dangerous they were for me. I need a med review as having in excess of six months without I realise I do need something. Having meds is sometimes unavoidable and in my case I need them to function without as much stress if that makes sense. Used to best myself up about taking tablets but now my attitude has changed since being without.

[Stilltrying_ in reply to Satsuma]

Yes, to be honest I agree with you. There is a bit difference between drug use and drug abuse. If you are for example taking opiates when you don't need them to help the pain but just take them for the hell of it then that is drug abuse. In your case you are in pain, which is probably how it all started? but opiates are very addictive. I think you did the right thing coming off them but maybe some anti depressants like mirtazapine and a mood stabliliser in particular quietapine or olanzapine (they are very similar) may help. I am really surprised that being as you say you are bi-polar that you are not on medication for this? as most people are. Obviously if you are true bipolar you have to be very careful what medicines you take and mirtazapine for example wouldn't be suitable as it could make you high. You and your mental health team know what's best for you; I am just thinking out loud a bit here. Don't take too much notice of me as what fits one person does not always fit another. You say you need something and I can really understand that as I've found I can't function without mine albeit I know they are a crutch and in an ideal world I wouldn't be on them.

Gemma

[Satsuma in reply to Stilltrying_]

I am starting them tomoro .. Sertraline

[Satsuma]

At the moment I will take anything to rid the downer

[Satsuma]

I felt good this morning .. By this evening I felt rank ... Tonight I feel I could do something not good to hurt myself but fighting it I really am

[Stilltrying_ in reply to Satsuma]

Satsuma be patient with the setraline; they will take at least a couple of weeks if not three weeks to start working but don't forget we are here to support you.

Can you distract by watching TV at all? I must admit I've just found out Big Brother is on again and I'm a massive fan. Are there any programmes you like or a film you could watch to settle you a bit?

[Satsuma]

Thankyou so Much. I was on sertraline for four years and like a zombie so here we go again. I was on 250mg .. Could of been the opiates aswell I have no idea. I cannot say what sertraline is like on its own.

[denvajade]

Maybe you have fibromyalgia which interferes with sleep, I cannot go to sleep till about 2-4 in the morning and have all the physical pain too.

[Satsuma]

denvajade sorry to hear u have that condition. It is very painful which also impacts on one emotionally