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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by willyee on February 9, 2006, at 20:16:25
Im starting to really hate bed time.Im seeing a pattern here,when i awake 6am or 7am,i wake with energy and my day is ok,but when i start feeling better........ALL it takes is one night,one night where i cant sleep,and this happens because whenever i start feeling better i tend to have stimulative thinking in bed,last night for example im laying thinking about a party im going to friday ngiht,thinking about this,that,and the other,im not depressed,so my mind is almost like a kid on xmas eve,its awake its happy its finaly got free time,but overall this is of course not good cause i dont get to sleep.
Then what happens is one of two things,i either DONT sleep at all,or fall asleep very late.
In a case where i dont sleep,now any medication i take will have a different effect,im not gonnna have the same effect with my doses on no sleep as i do with a fair nights sleep,hence all my progress shot to sh-.I spend that day half maniac and chrash and start all over again.
Then as in last night,i might sleep late,i fell asleep at 4 am,dident wake till late afternoon,and unlike early am mornings i awake in late afternoons,dreary depressed,confused and again my progress is halted.Luckly the gods have had mercy on me as today i was able to pick myself up and even though waking late go out the house ran a million and one chores,and even at the moment feel ok.
But it stinks,a common problem i have again,when im feeling good,my mind is awake at night,its thinking,its like a man freed from jail,thinking what to do first.I dont like taking sleeping aids cause too many times i have taken sleeping aids,they dident put me to sleep,they kick in in the am and i look like a high junkie all day.
Im not posting this for an answer or anything,its something i have to work on,but this just shows at least for me fighting depression takes a overall understanding of the whole process,you have to learn a lot about urself,to fight it,and this is where the people who think we just "pop a pill" are wrong.Anyone i hope i sleep well tonight,cause in order to make this party tommorrow i have to get up and buy a outfit and run a few other errands ,getting up isnt the problem as i can have someone yank me up,its getting sleep,AND GETTING UP.
Well good night folks,i hope everyone had a good day today,and sleep well.
Posted by Phillipa on February 9, 2006, at 21:37:46
In reply to My worst enemy......, posted by willyee on February 9, 2006, at 20:16:25
Night willyee count some sheep for me. And reading and a heating pad in bed put me to sleep . it relaxes me. No meds. Even though I take 5mg of valium I know that isn't the reason I fall asleep as I am asleep before the med has had time to work. So the above may be an option. At least try it even if you don't like to read. And have fun at the party. Love Phillipa
Posted by spriggy on February 9, 2006, at 22:53:02
In reply to Re: My worst enemy...... » willyee, posted by Phillipa on February 9, 2006, at 21:37:46
I've gotten to where I dread nighttime as well.
I can't fall asleep without taking SOMETHING; benadryl, or Restoril, or Klonopin, or if I'm desperate, Nyquil.
Even then, I don't sleep well.
I would love to be a person that could just fall asleep; that seems like a dream.
Posted by yxibow on February 10, 2006, at 1:18:37
In reply to Re: My worst enemy......me too., posted by spriggy on February 9, 2006, at 22:53:02
A lot of people with varying psychiatric disorders have insomnia. (and even those without.) I too dread the night sometimes. But there are psychological reasons too -- I guess I also have a fear of death, and so staying up is like a vain attempt to resist another day of life counted by. I don't always feel that way but that's part of it. I think I've been a lifelong insomniac.
The best sleep hygiene (and this is like do as I say not as I do) is to resist all daytime naps, stay up several days to reset your clock and go to bed at around the same time most all days. This doesn't guarantee you'll fall asleep at the same time, but it helps add to a more proper REM cycle.
Also, the best sleep medications are the ones designed solely for sleep, Ambien/Ambien CR, Lunesta, Sonata, (and possibly Rozerem although melatonin has a problem of being a hormone that could interact with depression). These, and a low dose of unfortunately fattening Remeron, generally promote the best REM cycle. Benadryl and alcohol and the like are poor and generally both interupt this and also cause post-sleep depression. Convince your doctor that you really need a medication that (and they all have been used long term in many patients) can be used long term and promotes a positive sleep cycle, if you are in need of sleep aids.
To counting sheep
-- Jay
Posted by James K on February 10, 2006, at 1:19:19
In reply to My worst enemy......, posted by willyee on February 9, 2006, at 20:16:25
I guess this has nothing to do with your problem, but your weren't looking for answers anyway. When I am employed, I look to sleep aids to keep me regular. When I'm not employed, I don't give crap one. It doesn't do my health, physical or mental any good. As I mature, I'm going to have to develop a permanent regular schedule. But I've worked 4am to 11am, 8am to 6 pm, 11am to 7pm, 3pm to 12am, 11pm to 7am all through my life sometimes in the same week. I just like a pill that says "sleep now". If left to my own devices, I'll stay up all night until I cycle through back to a normal sleep schedule. I once read that humans are on a 25 hour cycle even though the day is 24. Is this complete nonsense? I know I read it, but I know how little that means.
James K
Posted by JESSsMom on February 10, 2006, at 8:26:23
In reply to Re: My worst enemy...... » willyee, posted by James K on February 10, 2006, at 1:19:19
I couldn't agree more with all of the above posts.
Insomnia as a med's side effect (isn't it one of practically all AD's) means I say goodbye to that med.
When you've been up since 7:00am, had a full, busy day, don't drink alcohol, don't drink coffee past 8:00am, take your prescribed 2mgs. of Klonopin at 9:30am, and are still praying to get sleepy at 1:00am EVERY night, something's wrong.
JESSsMom
Posted by willyee on February 10, 2006, at 8:48:25
In reply to Re: My worst enemy......, posted by JESSsMom on February 10, 2006, at 8:26:23
Its not the actual insomnia that bothers me,i can accept a side effect as such,if the drug works.......the problem is when i am stuck and end up not sleeping now i have a situation where i have to re-evalute my days meds,parnate for me and the other meds act idfferently when im wihtout sleep,and this haults progress.
Posted by ghostshadow on February 10, 2006, at 12:29:04
In reply to Re: My worst enemy......, posted by willyee on February 10, 2006, at 8:48:25
have you tried self-hypnosis or any other distraction while lying in bed? that's what i have to do even though i take 200mg traz. to help me sleep. (and yes, our natural cycle IS closer to 25 hours. i think it's because we evolved when the earth's days were longer.)
Posted by TylerJ on February 12, 2006, at 12:04:25
In reply to My worst enemy......, posted by willyee on February 9, 2006, at 20:16:25
Man we have a lot in common dude. I could have written your thread- cause I experience the same problem. The night before last I coudn't and didn't sleep a wink. My mind is much more active on Parnate thinking of things I need to repair around the house, ect. Insomnia sucks! Hope you are doing well.
Ty
Posted by willyee on February 13, 2006, at 11:22:48
In reply to Re: My worst enemy...... » willyee, posted by TylerJ on February 12, 2006, at 12:04:25
> Man we have a lot in common dude. I could have written your thread- cause I experience the same problem. The night before last I coudn't and didn't sleep a wink. My mind is much more active on Parnate thinking of things I need to repair around the house, ect. Insomnia sucks! Hope you are doing well.
>
> TyThanks for the conern,im doing very well,doesent mean it isnt still a fight,but im waiting on a old friend to arrive to help me out,her name is gina.
This is the end of the thread.
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