Posted by papillon2 on March 23, 2012, at 17:14:59
In reply to Re: Pdoc won't give me Alertec » Shes_Initforthemoney, posted by Deneb on March 23, 2012, at 5:07:17
> I want to try melatonin for my delayed sleep, but pdoc said it wouldn't solve my problems. She says I need to go outside and see the sun everyday. I often stay indoors without stepping outside for days at a time when I don't need to work.
I have some form of delayed sleep onset syndrome (I also have early morning wakening, just to confuse things). The two most important factors improving this are:
1. Treating my depression. This is single most important aspect of all.
2. Melatonin and, originally, temazepam to reset my body clock. I believe your doctor is wrong about melatonin. Very wrong.Others which are helpful but less so:
1. Leaving a light on dimly overnight. I have nightmares and being able to see properly calms me down far quicker.
2. Being religious with the timings of my morning and evening meds.
3. Dragging myself out of bed in the morning for 30mins exercise in the sun, no hat or sunglasses. Even when I don't want to. Even when I can barely walk and someone is literally dragging me along. Even though I am still half asleep. There are times when I can't or won't do this due to depression, not beating myself up over this would probably help because when you feel crap about yourself your depression worsens.
4. A sleep psychology group may have helped a little.
5. Sleep hygeine (google search, but you no doubt already know) may have helped a little.An idea in addition to the above:
Seeing a sleep doctor and having a sleep study done to rule out any organic causes of your sleep dsyregulation. Even if nothing much is found, the sleep doctor may well recommend melatonin and short use of temazepam to reset your body clock, which would strengthen your case with your psychiatrist.I have been on melatonin for maybe four, five months. It's effects in resetting my body clock appear to be long-acting after being on it for some time. I recently ran out of melatonin for a week and found that, amazingly, my sleep did not worsen. I am still taking it though, as proper sleep is so good for depression and my depression can be severe. I also found that the dose doesn't matter so much for me. 3mg is just as effective as 4mg and 6mg.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone. I don't see why your doctor doesn't want you to try it, even if it is just so she can say, "haha, told you so".
Ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
there is a crack in everything
that's how the light gets in
~ Leonard Cohen
poster:papillon2
thread:1013597
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120316/msgs/1013721.html