Why can’t I sleep?

[Shutterbug65]

I have very bad insomnia. I wake up around 3:00 or 4:00 and I’m unable to get back to sleep. I have anxiety and depression and I’m being treated by a phychiatrist and I’m on medication. I’m just looking for support and maybe some answers. Why can’t I quiet my mind? My anxiety is very bad every morning but I’m also so tired and it makes it difficult to drive to work.

[Hidden]

I've had bad insomnia for years. I usually only get 3 - 4 hours sleep a night. I have depression, mild anxiety and PTSD. Like you, I can't shut my mind off and the thoughts race through my head. I'm on medication and recently started seeing a therapist. I want to a sleep specialist for the first time on Friday. It won't be a quick fix but it's a step in the right direction. Both the therapist and doctor are having me try a technique called mindfulness. Like meditation, it takes commitment and practice but it works from everything I've read about it. That might be something for you to look into. There's a lot of info online about it. There's a top sleep specialist in New York, Dr. Ana C. Krieger. She's written books about sleep disorders and has lots of good information. I'm really hoping this will finally help me sleep because I'm so tired of being so tired. I wish you the best and hope you find something that works for you.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Hidden]

I wrote a reply but I’m not sure if I sent it to you lol.. it’s there if you want to read it.

[Shutterbug65]

I’m happy to hear that you found what works for you. I really can’t afford a therapist my co pay is to high. All I see is a phychiatrist for meds. I don’t know what to do. I keep hoping for a quick fix, that things will get better. The thing is sleep was never a problem for me. My insomnia came on rather suddenly and now it’s going on two years. All I do is worry and I have no one to talk to about these things. It’s the same thing night after night; I wake at 3:00 or 4:00 my mind starts to go negative and soon anxiety takes over and that’s the end of sleep.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Shutterbug65]

Had your psychiatrist offered suggestions on where to get help for your sleep issues?

I also suffer. I have broken sleep. I sleep a couple hours and I'm awake a couple hours. This goes on all night for me.

I do meditation which helps me fall asleep. Just haven't found the answer to staying asleep.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Dolphin14]

I also have broken sleep. I can fall asleep but I wake at 4:00 am and that’s pretty much it. And morning anxiety doesn’t help.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Shutterbug65]

I wish I had the answer. It's a tough way to try and function.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Dolphin14]

Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. I tend to loose track of my messages.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Shutterbug65]

No worries

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Dolphin14]

I know. It seems no one has an answer but a lot of people suffer from it. You shouldn’t have to work at something as basic as sleep. It used to come so easily for me. Now I get anxiety just thinking about it. What a mess.

[Shutterbug65]

Hi. My medication works sometimes but lately I’ve been getting only about 6 hours. I don’t know what else to do. Every night I go to bed thinking this will be the night, I’ll get a good nights sleep and feel refreshed and happy the next day. But it never happens. And I have to drive to get to work I have no other choice. The bills don’t stop because I have insomnia. Do you take medication for it? Your right, nothing compares to a good nights sleep it’s so important to our well being. And when our sleep is disrupted we feel awful. The thing is most of my life sleep was never a problem.

Thank you for the pillow suggestion. I’ll check it out.

[Abby14]

Have you seen a sleep dr? It sounds like anxity insommia which I have Talk to your gp. sleep drs can do tests & find out! I had CBT & it really helped me. worth a try! It is really horrid, so sorry you are going thought this. If only our brains had a off switch! Mine feels like it is stuck the on switch! have a chat with your gp & see if you can have CBT. Good luck lets us know how you get on

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Abby14]

Thanks Abby. My doctor wants me to have a sleep study done but I haven’t gone. I’m afraid to go somewhere and sleep in a strange place with all those things hooked up to me. I’m a coward, I never do things that could benefit me. I know it’s anxiety that’s keeping me from getting a good nights sleep.

[Abby14 in reply to Shutterbug65]

There is nothing to be scared of, it is hard. I hate being away from home. You are now a coward! You have anxixy. Is there some one who could come with you?