Trouble Sleeping and Waking

[396SS]

I just want to know that I am not alone in this.  I have not been able to sleep right without meds for about 4 years.  I am sick of it.  I was on 2mg of Ativan and it worked for 1.5yrs, then I just switched to Tranxene 15mg (I think) last month.  Also taking Cymbalta and Neurontin for burning feet.  I either sleep and feel like I can't get out of bed or like last night, I wake up at 4am and toss and turn.  When the alarm goes off I am so stressed out.  I work with my husband and I don't even have anything to say on the way to work because I just feel like a zombie.  I HATE mornings.  No matter what med or even if I slept fine, I am like that in the mornings.  I've tried melatonin, everything.  I probably need to go back to the gym, as it seemed to help.  I am just tired of being tired.  I just do the minimum amount possible to get ready in the mornings.  That's terrible, I mean, I want to look professional, but I just hate it.  So here I am at work on medhelp.org because I simply cannot focus on work.  I'm a professional in the medical field, so you would think I would have some answers for myself, but I don't, I think insomnia is just something some people have, period.  Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

[Jonny1976]

It sounds like you are putting yourself under a lot of pressure to get to sleep.  This is the problem I once had.  The way I dealt with it was to go to bed later (for me it was about 1.30), when I was really tired.  Once in bed i would tell myself that it did not matter if I fell asleep or not, since resting in bed is almost as good as sleep anyway.  When I stopped trying to get to sleep, I started to sleep.  Amazing but true!!!

I also got into meditation and hypnosis.  I would lie in bed and as vividly as possible imagine I floated out of my body.  I would see myself safely travelling to a remote island with a nice white beach, and crisp blue sea, and a blue sky.  I would imagine the warmth of the sun on my skin, and the smell of the sea air.  This really helps me to drift off to sleep.  Be patient, it gets easier with practice.

Also I use a web site called www.free-hypno.com  It has some nice relaxation audion sessions (for free), and some articles which deal with insomnia.

Hope this is all of use to you!!!

[debaser23]

If it's that much of a problem for you, you may consider visiting a sleep clinic.  I had a friend how went to one and raves about it all the time.  In fact, I wish he'd shut up about that damn sleep clinic.  But, whatever...it obviously worked for him.

[396SS]

Thanks all, I will try the website.  We have a sleep clinic in the hospital here in town.  I have heard that you have to go off meds for 3 weeks though to have a sleep study.  Not sure if I could get through that and go to work, you know?  Anyway, maybe some day I will be able to go, I have seriously considered it.  I tend to wake up unrefreshed more than anything now.  I don't know, it's like I need to lay there like 10 hours until my back hurts before I can get going.

[Lemonhed]

My wife has had sleep troubles on occasion, and is taking ambien regularly.  She swears by the gym though.  Even though I loathe the gym, I am usually glad I went.  If nothing else, it may help wear you out.  

i also recommend doing all you can the night before to get ready for the day, showering, laying out clothes, etc.  Make your mornings easy to get through too.