Scared to Medicate for Insomnia or Anxiety

[meander]

Take one step at a time. In my experience you will know if you’re feeling better esp if lack of sleep has a part to play. And it’s entirely ok to say ‘I don’t know how I’m meant to feel’ if you’re stumped and not feeling much different. The biggest factor is if you feel worse go straight back.

 

[EveHarrington]

There’s a gabapentin thread around here somewhere. I started taking it about a month ago. The first dose was amazing.....maybe the rest are too, I’m just used to it now, lol. The only thing I hate is three times a day dosing. I oftentimes forget a dose.

 

[piratelady]

Lunesta night 1 was a bust. I'm up even earlier. I guess ill try the higher dose over the weekend so it doesn't interfere with work.

Thanks Eve, ill look for that thread.

 

[Survivor3]

Hello piratelady, 'Olanzapine' can help with with sleep and anxiety and is frequently used for 'trauma and related symptoms ' Good luck.

 

[piratelady]

Olanzapine

That’s one I’ll nrver touch again. I was given it (rather carelessly) a long time ago. It’s one of the pills I overdosed on when I tried to kill myself.

I think that’s part of my aversion to medication actually... something else for me to think about.

 

[Survivor3]

That’s one I’ll nrver touch again. I was given it (rather carelessly) a long time ago. It’s one of the pills I overdosed on when I tried to kill myself.

I think that’s part of my aversion to medication actually... something else for me to think about.

ok sorry to hear about that.

 

[piratelady]

I also have a bunch of stuff from my natropath that is really helpful so that could be an option if you aren't ready to make the jump to meds.

Can I ask what the natropathic remedy was?

 

[Scarlet13]

Hi,

I get the anxiety surrounding sleep and drugs.
I suffered from severe post partum insomnia and had multiple bad reactions to drugs.

CBT, ACT, and DBT are all very powerful for sleep.
The answer here may not be just with drugs, but stopping trauma work and doing some skills work.
Acceptance of not sleeping and slow breathing out got me to sleep better than benzos or z drugs.
These drugs can "rescue" you, but honestly sleep responds some times best to simple techniques and supplements.
I use a really good magnesium glycinate brand, epsom salts bath, a lot of walking in the day, and some times a children's benadryl.
I also will take coconut oil, butter and black strap mollases.
But this is me.
These things combined with a few DBT skills are very helpful for sleep.
I also will do accupunture for sleep which is pricey but way easier to find the money than suffer thru benzo and ambien with drawal again.

These things may work with drugs like neurontin and may keep this dose low.
I tried this drug, but could not tolerate it.
Can you take trazadone?
I have heard it is good for sleep if you can handle an SSRI.
But benzos and z drugs may worsen/undermine sleep after a while, but can help if you need it.

 

[Abstract]

Hi Piratelady,
I relate if for different reasons. Sorry about the associations. I have made a promise to myself to try to be open minded if things get bad again as in retrospect I now see how badly severe lack of sleep affected me. I did a year of an hour or so a day.

Realised a few things. Have been drugged in trauma before. Am hypervigilant and being deep asleep doesn't feel wise to me. The idea of being unable to wake and being asleep is worse. And like you the idea of being trapped in the nightmares and being unable to wake. I therefore had opposite reactions to what was expected with some of the meds. Became more hypervigilant and therefore slept even less but felt drugged all day. Same with some of the anitdepresents aimed at sleep issues. Hope its not unhelpful for me to say all that

I don't think I would be in the same situation as have worked a lot on accepting I need sleep and other ways of making myself feel safer. I definitely find working on the anxiety is one way of helping this. Not just sedation. Diff meds work in diff ways. 2 mild things that work just a little are Melatonin and CBD oil.

Totally agree with others how doing something to break the insomnia cycle can help a lot. Are you going too quickly in processing? Spending lots of time doing self care? You deserve to be kind to you.

 

[DharmaGirl]

but stopping trauma work and doing some skills work.

This is huge!! Very, very important!!

I still have sleep issues but not as bad as before. I would get up and clean, or cook, or eat, and not remember. I had and still have nightmares that I wake up from screaming. This has been going on for 6 years. I am able to sleep now at least, and the parasomnias have stopped with klonopin. I cut the dose in half over the summer with no ill effects. The nightmares go on and on though. Four or five a night. Ugh.

Doing self-care and listening to audio books helps a lot too. I listen with a sleep timer so it shuts itself off. This, by far, has helped the most with insomnia. Now I put a book on and fall asleep within 1/2 hour. I usually color before bed, and shower or bathe with lavender epsom salts. I have lavender spray too.

 

[Survivor3]

This is huge!! Very, very important!!

I still have sleep issues but not as bad as before. I would get up and clean, or cook, or eat, and not remember. I had and still have nightmares that I wake up from screaming. This has been going on for 6 years. I am able to sleep now at least, and the parasomnias have stopped with klonopin. I cut the dose in half over the summer with no ill effects. The nightmares go on and on though. Four or five a night. Ugh.

Doing self-care and listening to audio books helps a lot too. I listen with a sleep timer so it shuts itself off. This, by far, has helped the most with insomnia. Now I put a book on and fall asleep within 1/2 hour. I usually color before bed, and shower or bathe with lavender epsom salts. I have lavender spray too.

So sorry for you that you suffer like that. I sleep with the radio on every night (talking channel). It gives my mind something to focus on even though I'm sleeping.

 

[sunshineandmoonshine]

I recommend ... doxylamine succinate ... for sleep. It is OTC in the US often sold as Unisom but you must check ingredients bc Unisom has a whole line of meds.
It is an antihistamine. Non habit forming and no weird side effects. Take as needed.

I'm with you on the heavy duty stuff.
I'm also being recommended to take an anti anxiety med for short term acute stressors that are worsening other symptoms including anxiety which itself worsens all the other symptoms. I finally agreed just last week and I'm only taking a quarter of a dose bc I'm so worried about addiction or worse. But it's going fine so far.

Take care.