Hey guys I'm new to this forum but I wanting to seek help and advice to somewhat calm my thoughts and hopefully find a resolution. I never had a sleeping problem, ever. Then one day I felt a little ill for two days and went to the ER where they just found I was dehydrated and low off potassium. I thought I was ok after that but the the next day I was feeling sick again and threw up (I think it was my nerves) and I ended up having a panick attack and had the EMT come thinking it was a heart attack. I wound up at the doctors and being diagnosed with and anxiety and give lorazepam to calm them. I took those pills daily (.5 mg) up to three times but split in 4's (so 3 1/4 tablets a day) I mostly used it during the evening as I noticed my anxiety heightened somewhat. But after two weeks I decided to stop on my own because I heard of the addiction. Well three days after going through shakes and weakness my life changed. Aug 23 was the first day I had insomnia and it's going on now. I literally can't sleep no matter how physically and mentally tired I am. I've gone 2-3 days/nights a time where I don't sleep at all and when I do sleep it's because I took medication. And even then I'll wake up a few times. I'm so scared of this killing me, I'm 29, married, with two beautiful girls and I can't imagine not being around for them. I'm so scare because it's so new to me and I just want this to go away. I was prescribed hydroxyzine and it gave me this horrible rush over my face before I fell asleep and then had vibe dream, I still woke up about every hour. Now I mm prescribe trazadone and I'm scared to take it because it's an antidepressant and I don't know how it's going to react with me. Last night was the first night I slept in 36 hours because I took a lorazepam(I still have some left) I woke up twice but still feel tired of course from losing sleep the previous day's. I do t know what's goi g on by I'm terrified. I tried melatonin and nighty nighty yea as a natural remedy which made me sleepy but not enough to fall asleep. I want me life back and I try to have faith in my God but I can't help but to feel scared of the future
Hi,
Sorry to hear that. Don't worry, you probably have no idea how many people suffer, or have suffered, from severe insomnia. Some people for years, and not only they are alive, many actually are healthier than normal sleepers.
I have had very bad insomnia and I'm over it now. If you want I can talk to you on phone or Skype and tell you in detail how I got well. You can send me a message.
Hi Shavon.
I haven't had a night's sleep in i have no idea how many years.
I go without sleep for days to weeks and then every so often i'll doze off for about half an hour and then not sleep again for days.
It won't kill you but i do understand your fear.
I can't offer much advice except to possibly get to the bottom of your anxiety. Meditation may help. Mindfulness is good.
I'm opposed to anti-depressants, especially for sleep loss, and you sound more distressed about lack of sleep and anxiety than depressed, so i have to ask if you think you really need them...?
If you decide to take them, research them, and be aware that anti-depressants are also addictive and withdrawals from the dependence on them can be more unpleasant than what you went through with such a small lorazapam dose after only taking them for two weeks.
Good luck.
Hi there! I would love to here your story. I've been so discouraged since this happened to me, I've always slept well. I hate to think the worse but after research( which I no can do more harm than goo) and finding that disease SFI my mind is literally going crazy about it. I want to be healthy for my family and get my life back on track, this is tormenting. Being without sleep 3days and nights is the most scariest and debilitating feeling ever. I don't want to get back on meds but if I don't I won't sleep. I'm ashamed because the medicine I believe that did this to me I'm taking again just so I can go to sleep. I was prescribed hodroxyzine and gave me a horrible feeling upon falling asleep and the next day I was a zombie. Than they prescribed me trazadone but I haven't taken it because I'm afraid of the side affects and how my body will react to it( it's an anti depressant) so I've taken lorazepam for the second day (I'll take it two days in a row and stop then hope I get natural rest myself the third day but I end up being up all night through the next day) I'm suffering and my family is suffering from it too
Behmeh, maybe it's a good idea to let us all know how you got over it. It'd be very useful for us to learn from you. Thanks.
I suffered for 6 months from severe insomnia. I couldn't sleep without pills for more than 2 hours on average per night, though there were also times with consecutive nights with no sleep at all. It was devastating. At one point I decided to give up struggling against insomnia and simply not care about it. Everything I had tried had failed to do much, and pills made me feel horrible during the day. I just gave up struggling against insomnia and accept the fact that I cannot do anything about it. I decided to live my life as best as I could, though it wasn't easy. Every night I went to bed with no intention or hope to sleep, but rather to rest. It is true that I did think about sleeping too, but I was also OK with not sleeping. I simply stopped the struggle that had not helped in 6 months anyway. And the struggle itself was more horrible than the insomnia and the following fatique. The amazing thing is that over time, after a couple of months, insomnia simply disappeared. Since I know how bad my insomnia was I thought I could also help other people with the same problem.
Thanks Bemmeh. It's good to know our body will ultimately sleep if we don't care about the sleep itself. I'm convinced it's more the fear of not sleeping that's the culprit as our God created us to sleep! Its part of our natural make up. Thanks for confirming that. Stay well.
Hiii. Can you please email me? I would love to talk to you. I have been having insomnia and I’m taking it pretty hard
Hi shavon. I know it’s been about a year since you posted this. I’m curious, have you been able to sleep?
Hi, was wondering if you have managed any relief from your insomnia , mine started two weeks ago and it’s having such a bad impact on my life. Feel like I’m going mad 😢 any help would be much appreciated .
My first post🙏My 3 rd week and I too am suffering from insomnia!!! I’m 46 and it’ s the first time i’m experiencing something like this. I am sleeping less than 4!hours each night. THis is a build up to a panick attack i had in december and since then i have developed anxiety, palpitations, worry ( all related to work stress). , currently off sick. Panick attacks have subsided, however i have devleoped a fear of evertything and anything at the moment. I think i ‘ mhaving several mini anxiety attacks during the day, overwhelming feeling, then i’ll be ok😳constant worrying about not sleeping. Not even tired during the day but feel as my head is fuzzy all the time!!!! Doctors prescribed zolliclone ( had 1 but no difference). This is not the person I am. From an active full-time working mum to a miserable/ frightened person. Mornings are the worst. Feel okay after midday. Xx
Im amazed to find someone in the same boat as me... I have just turned 40 early december, and have been going through off and on insomnia for a long time. Some months i have it and only sleep 2 hours at most and its not deep sleep but rem sleep. Ive always contributed it to my hormones co aidering it eventually gets better when they tend to change. I just recently started going through a bout of insomnia and had my levels checked, it came back that i am in premenopausal numbers. They also prescribed me trzadone which i am nervous to take as ive never tried it before. I forgot to mention i am also a single mother if a beautiful 2 yr old girl and this is absolutly killing me. I wish i had a solution, ive even tried progeaterone cream. I have read on another forum that you need to use at lease 100 mlgrm a day to feel any effect. Anyway i hope you find a solution, ust thought id lend some advice.. Hopefull sweet dreams
Hi Tiffany , I first experienced insomnia late December last year . I can honestly say it’s one of the worst things I’ve been through. I’m also 40 and have 3 children. For me I think it’s the fear of not sleeping that actually keeps me awake ( it’s quite common ...sleep anxiety ) I got desperate and was prescribed zoplicone they did work but you can’t have them long term as very addictive . The thing that has helped me the most was reading a book called the sleep book , I didn’t believe a book would help but it really has . I still get nights where I don’t sleep well but most nights I get sleep . I still get anxious about sleep but no where near as bad . You are not alone . Hope you get some rest x
Hey,
I'm in the same situation right now. I had a rough week last week and home and at work, then insomnia hit me. It's been a week now and I've only been able to sleep with zopilcone(4 nights) I actually went a couple night without the pill and didnt sleep more than 2 hours a night. I've been in this situation before and somehow just snap out of it when I'm at a low. For me it's the fear of not sleeping and the affect on my health. I know this because when I'm trying to doze off I'm sweaty just thinking about it. In no way can I doze off. My body is really tired after this week even with the sleeping pills and I'm not sure what to do next. My family and I (wife and 2 kids 7 and 2) and grandparents are going down south on vacation next week. I think this is affecting me in the back of my mind as well. I'm worried about not sleeping there. Any advice at this point? I'm not sure whether I should cancel my trip on account of this..I would hate to upset the family. Anyway, I get really scared about not sleeping and this is the first time I've ever posted about it. Any advice?
Hi,
Read a book (The Sleep Book: How to Sleep Well Every Night) which I have bought and helped me. You will then know what to do. The author is Guy Meadow. I can write more here but it won't be enough. It's really not a big deal
Hi, I suffered with insomnia for months , it had such a detrimental effect on my life . I too was prescribed zoplicone and although they worked was only allowed to take a couple a week . Some nights I had zero sleep and no matter how tired I felt I couldn’t sleep . I dreaded going to bed I was so anxious . The doctor told me to read the sleep book by guy meadows and I really didn’t think it would work I walked out annoyed !! But I gave it a go and can’t stress how much it helped me . I’m now sleeping 7/8 hours at night . Good luck
Chelsea is the reason I suffered for 2 and a half years. Chronic Insomnia. I finally found a great psch doc, who has me on 4 meds at bed. Most nights, I still only sleep 5 hours. That beats none at all OH, Chelsea is the girl who stole my identity, committed fraud on all my credit cards, bank fraud,,etc. This will for sure cause insomnia. Good Luck!
Hi, it’s nice to read that others suffer with a similar thing! This has come from nowhere for me and it’s been three weeks now of barely sleeping, some nights I feel like I get non because I’m worrying so much about not being able to get to sleep that my heart races so fast. It’s ridiculous! I have been taking 5mg of amitriptyline but it hasn’t been sending me to sleep any easier, maybe I need a high dosage? I have been through this before and got through it so want to avoid stronger if possible!
Hopefully someone has some advice for me
My Psychiatrist told me to do not use Bed in Day time. Do not even sit on Bed and do not sleep anywhere in Day time.
Use Bed only when you are going to sleep and do not use Mobile, etc while sleeping.
Now I can sleep quickly.
hi any tips please