Sleep Related Anxiety How To Cure?

[murph1455]

Hi everyone new here and kind of awkward posting about my issue but figured I will give it a shot as this seems to be a very helpful informative forum.

Anyways quick back story.  I am a 35 year old male and I went to Las Vegas back in early January partied hard barely slept for a few days while there. I came home found it hard to sleep decided to chug nyquil for a few nights and that made my mind race.  After a few nights of this I developed a strong anxiety towards sleep.  I literally would get 2- 3 hours sleep a night some night no sleep and would be stressed and break out in cold sweats.  Went to GP doc and gave me some Xanax worked a little but did not solve any problems.  Problem was the anxiety got worse I turned to alchohol, xanax and ambien to help. (Luckily I am still alive).  I found a P doc who started me on Lexapro 6 weeks ago I am at 15mgs in the morning and around 3 weeks ago it started helping with the anxiety.  I was finally strong enough to stop the nightly drinking cold turkey and have felt so much better since, I have not had a drink of alcohol in 3 weeks as of yesterday.  I was drinking 4-6 beers a night with up to 1-1.5mg xanax and an ambien just to sleep.

I now realize the power of anxiety and how crippling it can be.  Since stopping the alcohol I have been feeling a lot better, almost my old self.  I have gotten back in the gym going 5 days a week running 2-3 miles a day and I have gotten more interested in my hobbies again.

I still am taking 1 - 1.25mg of xanax at night and an Ambien XR.  Some nights I get 5-7 hours of sleep and other nights like last night probably just 3-4.  I at least don't have the horrible anxiety anymore (thanks to lexapro I believe)  But I want to eventually stop taking all pills and just get back to my old self that slept with no issues.

Have any of you gone through this?  What recommendations do you have?  I have talked to the psych doc and have tried various remedies all with limited success.  I am just tired of looking at pill bottles at night for help I feel like I'm a junkie just trying to get some sleep.  I have never been addicted to anything in the past and never done drugs before.  I never had sleep issues or anything.  Just want to find a way to fight this almost 5 month battle.  Stopping the alcohol abuse has been the most beneficial impact so far and I am glad I was able to do that.  Now looking for a way to stop using Xanax in combination with the Ambien.

Best Regards

[murph1455]

Thanks so much for your insight and reassuring words.

I am glad I stopped drinking too and realize how bad this combination was and it was actually surprisingly easily to quit.  I never really was a drinker before so it was out of character.

Should I seek a CBT?  I have only been seeing a Pdoc as of now once a week.  It is amazing how doctors throw meds at someone so fast.  I never heard of Xanax or ambien before this experience and never took any other meds in my life.

I really would like to learn to be more relaxed and lose the anxiety (it is a lot better since kicking the beer)  I have gotten back to more of my old self picking up my hobbies and gym routine again.  Still not 100% and definitely want to wean off the Xanax and the ambien then finally the Lexapro when ready.  

I think I am good with the alcohol I have even been out twice to bars with friends and had water both times knowing how bad mixing these pills and drinking was for me.  I am just greatful to still be here.  I am very sad to hear about the other member whom was chasing sleep and it did not end well that is not good :(

I need to start realizing that it is ok to not sleep the greatest at times and not get so anxious about it.  I will talk to my Pdoc next time and ask him what he recommends I do next.  He seems more interested in hearing about my supposed issues that giving me a plan to follow.  Nice guy but still.  I know stress can be an impact but we all have stress and I had always been good at managing it before.  Right now I have a lot going on between planning a wedding with my fiancé whom has been a great support and running my business which is growing so fast maybe stress is causing part of this too.

I realize this is a step by step process and anxiety now that I look back has always been in my life one way or another but this time has just grabbed hold stronger than before.  

Thank you for taking time out of your day to help and give me insight.  I really do appreciate all help and insight and will willingly look to improve my situation the best I can.  I now can appreciate peoples issues a whole lot more having experienced this.  It is amazing how one's mind can work.

[nursegirl6572]

Hello, and welcome.  Glad you found us and posted your question.

I have to be frank with you, you're on a slippery slope here, in a few ways.  You're exhibiting some pretty impulsive behavior, and to be honest, I TRULY think you're taking your anxiety/insomnia treatment to extremes, and I would bet my bottom dollar that your dabbling with so many strong medications is only exacerbating your insomnia AND your anxiety.  

Also, just a quick precaution, mixing medications (especially potent ones that all suppress the respiratory system) can be dangerous.  People have died from mixing medications just in the name of sleep.  We had a gal here, on our addiction forum who was chasing a good night's sleep for a while, and sadly, she died from a combination of medications very similar to what you took.  It was so tragic.  The fact that you were mixing alcohol with all of those medications, let's just say you're lucky to be here!!  Whew!  That raised the stakes big time for you!!

This was the wisest thing you said (I breathed a sigh of relief when I got to it, lol, because I then realized that YOU were aware that you were displaying self sabotaging behavior)...

" Stopping the alcohol abuse has been the most beneficial impact so far and I am glad I was able to do that.  Now looking for a way to stop using Xanax in combination with the Ambien."

You're absolutely right that one of your goals needs to be a SLOW taper off of those medications, and probably one at a time.  This should be done with the help of your doctor, to guide you in formulating a reasonable taper plan.  You continuing to take these medications on a regular (daily) basis is only going to make your anxiety AND your sleep worse in the long run.  I'm not saying it will be a piece of cake...when you're tapering off, it's normal to experience a worsening of anxiety, insomnia....but that will eventually resolve.  Basically, you have to feel a little worse before you can feel better.

Lastly, have you tried any therapy?  I would strongly recommend that, so you can start working on the anxious thinking.  THAT is what is going to make the lasting changes you'll need to manage the anxiety.  Any anxiety related symptoms (ie insomnia) will also improve as the anxiety does.  So, basically, they key is to not treat the insomnia, but to treat the ANXIETY that seems to be causing the insomnia.

I just cannot stress enough how glad I am that you seem to have "come to your senses" about what you were doing.  Great job on losing the alcohol.  Alcohol and anxiety are a BAD combination.  Alcohol and sleep is a bad combination too.

Let us know how you're doing, keep in touch.

[murph1455]

Yea it started out really hard never quite experienced anything like this.  I mean looking back I have been sort of a busy body anxious person but this took over my life really fast and hard.  First started with some OTC sleep aids they didnt seem to work and the anxiety got worse fast.  Went to GP he gave me some trazadone did nothing then he gave me some .25 xanax worked for a few nights.  I just had such a hard time trying to sleep.  Went to ER nothing was wrong they said anxiety related.  Started seeing PDoc and he started me slowly on 5mg lexapro and slowly tapered up to 15mg where I am not.  That has really helped the day time anxiety but my sleep is still messed up.

I tried melatonin , sleepy time tea, Zzzquil.  Only thin that seems to work is taking 1-1.5mg of xanax 1 hour before bed then take a 12.5 Ambien XR.  Even then some nights are not that good.

I just really want to get back to normal.  Dropping the alchohol really was the best thing I have done so far.  But when I try to tapper back on the Xanax to say .75mg and take an ambien seems like it doesnt kick it.

Might be all mental but trying to find ways to fight this.

thanks for your response hopefully someone can give me a little guidance.

[Paxiled]

Gee, I would have tried some chamomile tea and some melatonin.  You really go for it when you go for it, don't you?  Maybe in that is the underlying problem.