And More Insomnia

[LinsdseyD512]

Cannibus would work for a lot of people for getting to sleep but pot hangovers are pretty common. Probably not the solution you are looking for. You could try Vistaril, it is more sedating in my opinion than Benadryl, but you'll just have to test yourself on the drowsiness effects in the morning.

Thanks for the advice!!!

 

[pi314159]

Trying to shut my brain off at the moment. Not being able to sleep is frustrating. During the day when I'm around people all I want to do is go home and hide in my bed and sleep the day away (not that I get too - stupid work). Then at night I can't get to sleep :(

I annoy myself so much!

 

[TigerPride]

Trying to shut my brain off at the moment. Not being able to sleep is frustrating. During the day when I'm around people all I want to do is go home and hide in my bed and sleep the day away (not that I get too - stupid work). Then at night I can't get to sleep :(

I annoy myself so much!

Yeah, finding the shut down button to the brain can drive one crazy....All I really want to do is hide in the bed all day too, but have to work & usually can't sleep at night, which makes it even more aggravating. :sleep:

 

[Loloma]

My doctor put me on Endep 25mg, which left me feeling like a zombie. I stopped taking it and try and read myself to sleep if I can. Pity that the subconscious mind goes into overdrive when we finally fall asleep, like a spin dryer on a 1800rpm cycle....:eek:

 

[OKRADLAK]

god here I am again! The Insomnia thread. THe worst damn thread ever because it is true.........

 

[KatB]

What I hate most, besides being exhausted, is having my T ask about it. "You know you don't think clearly when you're tired.

I thought this was a recent post, not realizing it's an old one. Looking at the original post, I would say that the T is not a real T. T's are not supposed to speak to their patients or counselees like that. Anyways, insomnia and PTSD are very higly linked and it's a nightmare when waking up because it feels like something ran over me. I thought you were kidding when the original post was put.

 

[That Grrl]

I had raging insomnia for years, before I left my husband. Left him and the insomnia disappeared that day. That was nearly a month ago, and yesterday I had to talk to his former psychiatrist for work---totally unrelated coincidence, and obviously we did not talk about him, but just realizing I had to interview her brought back all the horrible memories I've been trying to walk away from, and last night I couldn't really sleep. It sucked cheese.

 

[KatB]

yesterday I had to talk to his former psychiatrist for work---totally unrelated coincidence, and obviously we did not talk about him, but just realizing I had to interview her brought back all the horrible memories I've been trying to walk away from, and last night I couldn't really sleep. It sucked cheese.

This is something I have been thinking about lately: does talking about the traumas really help us or do they hinder us? I'm sorry for whatever you endured with him. Nobody deserves that. But, my point exactly: you spoke about things related to him and it brought back all those things that haunt you. I am new to ptsd and I don't really know if it helps or if it doesnt... I can avoid it but the emotions and feelings of the memories are still real and if I do talk about it, forget it. Someone punched my guts out. Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that insomnia does suck cheese big time :eek:

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Talking about trauma, IMHO, did nothing for me beyond initially coming ou of the closet about it. You can talk till you're blue in the face, to everyone and anyone who will listen, but it doesn't get you far. Why? You're merely opening pandoras box over and over again. The key is processing the trauma. Waaaay too many therapists know next to nothing about this. I had to go to an intensive trauma program to process my trauma...we're talking 8 hours a day for two straight weeks of processing, processing, processing. You'd be very hard pressed to find anything even remotely close in traditional therapy.

This is off the OP's topic, but I wanted to answer the previous posters question.

 

[Shellbell]

I've had insomnia for 30 years since being a child when suffering CSA. I've always had problems falling asleep, staying asleep and waking early.

I'm taking Mirtazapine now, which is a strong AD, and it helps me get to sleep every night now which is great, but I still wake around 3am most nights and then sometimes can and sometimes can't get back to sleep.

 

[maddog]

It's the intermittent short bursts of sleep that exhaust me more than complete insomnia, and sadly, this is where I am at thesedays. Several months ago I was lucky to average 2-3 hours a night, consistently, and while very dabilitating long term, it truly amazed me (and anyone else I confessed to) how functional I was able to remain, as long as I was busy and active.

Nowadays I am probably averaging a total of 4-5 hours, but it comes in bouts of about half an hour to an hour, separated by long, often widely awake and highly aroused periods, which end in sudden overwhelming exhaustion etc. This pattern usually starts at about 9.30-10pm at night and can continue until around 7am, depending on my schedule. It is truly exhausting me and leaves me feeling like the proverbial hit and run victim. Crazy, but I almost miss my tried and true insomnia...

 

[Anna]

I found a couple of shots or a nightcap as I like to call them ;) help me to calm down. Only a couple hours before bed though. Moderation and the right amount is the key. I find about 2-3 shots gets me drowsy and I sleep like a stone.

If I am suffering from anxiety though, this does not help either :( I tried valerian root and it helped calm me down. Also I have tried valium, but that knocks you for 10 and you feel terrible in the morning.