Lack of sleep bringjng on far worse problems..

Signs and symptoms
1

I have another doctors appointment Thursday but so far they have been pretty useless. They have me on 10mg of Amitriptyline which is doing nothing. I'm hoping someone on here can give me some advice on what to do in my current situation. Let me explain in detail...

Insomnia: A long term problem I reported years ago and feel I still havnt received the correct help I need, it is basically ruining my life. While at work I feel drained of energy, I lack focus and by the time I get home I'm wide awake. I work a 3 shift pattern which for me is impossible to adjust to, this doesn't help my situation. I eat healthy and want to be out doing things, going to the gym etc but can't find the motivation to do so.

Stress: Mostly brought on by not sleeping, things that would slightly bother me now enrage me to the point of me wanting to hurt people or destroy things. I'm not sure how long I can suppress the anger.

Depression: A combination of the above. I'm not I violent person and hate feeling that way. I'm finding it impossible to live a normal life, I obviously have to work but despise it because of my condition. It's becoming increasingly more difficult each day. I can't seem to settle down with a girl as my problems always get in the way one way or another. I'm 27 years old and feel I have achieved nothing in my life, the last 4 years have been absolute torture. I need help otherwise I will not live to see age 30.

Anxiety: I'm starting to feel very uneasy in otherwise normal situations. Increased heart rate and sometimes nausea. I assume it's down to not sleeping, people have suggested that I'm having panic attacks. Everyone around me knows something is wrong and the very few who actually care are telling me to seek help.

2

Please excuse any spelling mistakes, new phone....

3

follwing ,I Have same problem .waiting other friends comment 

4

Hi Lee,

can an I just ask what time of day you take your medication?

5

Hi Lee

Have you considered Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).  This helps you to have mindfulness way of thinking on a day to day basis. It helps to focus on what you need to without getting stressed about it.  Ask your GP to refer you for a one to one consultation. It may help you, no harm in trying it.

Hope you get sleep soon  x

6

I take it at night before sleep but tbh I need to take at least 20mg to get any sort of affect from them. I don't believe I'm on the correct medication, I've looked into it and Amitriptyline is more of a mild antidepressant used for many things but rarely insomnia or even depression.

7

Lee,

im no doctor or nurse so I would advise you to go and have a chat to your GP. It does sound like a low dose but generally these medications are increased gradually, with no disrespect it is easy for us to second guess the doctors but they have their reasons. I agree with Bee70 as well you should try CBT it might help you a great deal. Stay in touch my friend, stay strong and believe in yourself

David

8

I shall mention it at my next visit. Although I've tried many methods of relaxation over the years and none seem to work.

I was out of work from January to March and in those 2 months I began to sleep well (6-8 hours) on 25mg Amitriptyline, then had to reduce it to 10mg as I was feeling too lazy during the day. The problem is being unemployed and lazing around the house whilst looking for work is bound to make you tired, right? That's not normal. When I started work again all of the above problems kicked back in and the Amitriptyline now does nothing.

9

Do keep us posted with your progress and try not to stress to much over it.  As we tend to worry more and don't realise we are doing it. Think of being in a happy place rather than thinking that you should be asleep by now.

Take care  x

10

Hi Lee,you obviously have had this for a long time and the condition has gradually worn you down.May I ask,have you always had this job,and if not, did you experience these symtoms before you started this 3 shift pattern job?as I feel your body clock is all over the place.You appear to be pushing yourself too far to stay in this job that is not allowing you to get enough rest.If there is any possible way you can leave it, and first, get a week or so proper rest,then look into finding a normal 8-5 job,this problem that is ruining your life will dispel,then you can get on and begin to enjoy life instead of enduring it. Your threshold to stress is greatly reduced, because you have battled with this so long,therefore you must take steps to eliminate anything that is liable to push you beyond your now lowered resistance, and get back to having some quality sleep!!!

11

Definitely worn down over time, your correct. I've only recently started the 3 shift pattern and it has made the condition almost unbearable. But the problem has always been there, even in other jobs with more reasonable hours. As I say I can get to sleep when I don't work but that simply isn't an option. Work in my area is hard to come by and I have responsibilities so can't just take time off.

12

lee reading your post is like hearing myself talk. I too am 27 but have only suffered with insomnia for  18 months now and it's ben hellish to say the least. I've been to the doctors five times now and they refuse to put me on any medication. Ive tried everything from hypnotherapy to reiki which works for a while but I feel like this problem will haunt me forever. Like you say, lack of sleep has a knock on effect for other health issues and it seems to be mental health related. I'm meant to be up for work in 3.5 hours for an early shift and I haven't had any sleep yet. I too work the same shifts being 2 earlier 2 lates and 2 nights and I'm adamant that this is the reason why. Have you tried reiki as I found that out of everything I've tried this helped the most? 

13

Sorry to hear you have the same problem, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. I actually got an early finish last night with a day off today and I still only got like 2 hours sleep if that! My body has started to get used to not having much sleep but damn when I look in the mirror I look like a bag of ****. I'm told I'm a relatively attractive guy but lately I've been asked if I'm unwell, hungover, or just 'you look knackered..' It's starting to knock my confidence a bit...

Let me share some of my knowledge about medication, as I've tried many and tbh most are just a short term solution. Most I've had to obtain via my own contacts since the doctors won't prescribe the effective yet addictive types. Zopiclone. If offered this say no. It only works for a few days then, for me, brought on horrific nightmares. Diazepam. Works for a while but you need to keep upping the dosage, I got too 60mg and realized I was taking too much.. Temazepam. Possibly the best nights sleep I've ever had. 20mg would grant me 10 hours sleep and I'd wake up fresh as a daisy. I can imagine if took regularly you would build up a tolerance but this is definitely the best thing for insomnia. 10mg a night would be enough for most and you could just take them every other day so they would still have good effect. The problem is the doctor will not give you these and then are expensive to buy not to mention difficult to get hold of.

It's concerning to think that your doctor hasn't offered you anything. I would go back and tell them how much it is affecting your life and that you need sleep to do your job, period. That's all I've got ATM, hopefully this time they will refer me to a professional sleep doctor or something as I'm running out of ideas.

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I've just looked at Reiki, never heard of it previously but will give it a try. Thanks.

15

Hey lee..i have the same problems fella so i asked my Dr wat she could do for me..if anything..she suggested ZOPICLON 7.5 mg, a quarter to be taken at night and the same evry 3 days later and so on...if u take more...then the side effects start to kick in and THAT can tear ur mind apart..!SO use cautiously other wise you,ll find urself in a wost place than u r now...they kill any type of anxiety, panic attacks and depression in an instant and ur back to normal for a short time.Dont get addicted to them ..just b aware that the side effects will send your mind to a place u dont never wanna b...one a day is to to much...it works wonders used right, abuse it..and ur going to b in trouble...check with ur Dr on this medication because its not for everyone, stick to wat ur Dr tells u, read the side effects carefully . You will get a number of issue's rushing around ur mind for awhile and if u find u cant handle it..go straight to ur GP and they will advice u another course of meds that may work..gd luck fella

16

Well I went to the doctors today, it wasn't a surprise to see yet another different Indian doctor. So I start from scratch again and all I'm offered is more Amitriptyline. I'm done seeking help from GP they don't seem to understand what I'm telling them. Guess I'll just have to deal with this as long as possible before finally doing the unspeakable. At least my family will be able to sue the ******** responsible for my death.

17

It's quite frustrating when you keep having to see different doctors and you having to keep explaining the issues over and over again. I try to book appointments with the same GP if I can, but understand that this can be a problem for many.

I am sure you will get support and advice from others on this forum. Just don't stress yourself over it. It won't help with with sleep.

18

Hi Lee - I empathise through experience I really do.

You're currently caught in a viscious cycle of insomnia > anxiety > insomnia etc. etc.

Sorry if I'm stating the bleedin' obvious but the first obvious objective is 'acceptance'.

Accept that for whatever reason, you're having a rough time and quite often GP's just aren't knowledgable or confident enough to advise properly. 

People go through what you're experiencing you're not alone matey so here's what I would suggest as it helped me improve but I'm still working on it.

- Ask your GP to refer you to a mental health specialist > the one-to-one's and some group work helped me - there's no shame in it!

**I'm not a GP so this is just what I did - you should always seek your own, personal medical advice**

- Persist with an SSRI like fluoextine or citalopram - they need around 2 months to kick in but they are proven for anxiety

- Persist with a stronger dose of amitriptyline - ask for your GP's opinion of around 50mg +

- Buy a really useful book called 'The Effortless Sleep Method' - written by someone who's been there, trust me

- Accept you're having a rough time like many people do BUT know that you can get better - you are young and aware of your problem. You can and will improve. There's an underlying problem to what you're going through there always is - that's why you should get a referral to mental health like I did.

- The really hard part is to try and distract your self as much as possible even when you're knackered - just a walk or a slow jog can make a difference plus it can help you relax.

- Check out 'Headspace' - an app which gives you 10 free meditation sessions - persist with it, your mind (like mine) needs work.

Just try out the things above for 2 weeks and see how you get on - even when you think they're useless, they're not - it's a slow road but you will improve.

I've been there and still there.