very bad sleep problems

Question

I've been having some major issues with sleep that have severely interfere with my life recently. Before, my anxiety would cause me to wake up early no matter what...even if I had the day off and could sleep in. I was up at 730am like clockwork. Even if went to bed at 2am.

Now however I'm having trouble falling asleep. I'm awake until 4 or 5 in the morning...sometimes even 6am. And I can not wake up in the am. Last week I missed work because I couldn't fall asleep until 630am then slept through all of my alarms.

I try to wake up but I am so physically exhausted that I just can't and end up sleeping until noon. Its like I've gotten no sleep at all. This is really beginning to interfere with my life and I don't know what to do. I have an early shift at 9am on sunday and I'm terrified I will sleep through my alarms again. What can I do? I try to force myself to wake up but I'm so groggy and exhausted I always end up falling back asleep. This could possibly cost me my job. I dunno what to do.

I've tried tylenol pm, benadryl, and xanax before bed and still no help with falling asleep.

BluCrystal · Answer

Glad to hear you were able to get some sleep!  Here's another fact about melatonin:  it is a naturally occuring brain chemical that regulates your circadian cycle (getting sleepy when the sun goes down and becoming wakeful when the sun comes up).  So the best time to take melatonin is at sundown.  Doing so keeps your natural sleep-wake cycle balanced.  You don't want to mess that up by attempting to take it any other time.  I have never experienced drowsiness or feeling med-headed after waking from it.  When you take it at sundown, within a half hour to an hour, you will simply feel tired and ready for bed.  No weirdness, no talking funny. :)

erin626 · Answer

I will most likely try the melatonin but I work tomorrow morning and sunday morning so I may wait until after this weekend so I know how it effects me. My dad gave me some lunesta which I absolutely won't take. He took it one time while I was at his house and he started talking and making no sense and it was weird. I don't want something like that.

Thanks for the comments. I was able to fall asleep naturally last night. Not until about 3am but not having to take pills is a start. I slept until 11 but that's 8 hours at least.

BluCrystal · Answer

Please do not be afraid to take melatonin.  1mg at bedtime is perfectly safe, and does not cause nightmares (however higher doses can cause nightmares).  Melatonin is the natural chemical your brain produces when it's time for sleep, so adding a bit more doesn't hurt.  I promise.  I have taken melatonin for sleep for a long time, and i sleep like a baby. :)

funkyfrsh · Answer

I'm the same way, and I could easily take sleeping pills but I'm the type of person who doesnt like to rely on medicating myself to fix a problem, so its kinda rough lol but I've been looking to learn how to meditate in hopes that it will naturally relax me, you may like the idea of medication, but it's just a thought! , they probably offer classes somewhere where you live, best of luck my friend :)

Wannabebetter · Answer

I feel for you. I had really bad insomnia last year which made me depressed. Nothing worked for me (benadryl, melatonin, ambien-it made me more depressed...etc). I saw a Psych doctor finally and she perscribed me Remeron. The lower the dosage the more sedating it is. I took it that first night and that was the best night sleep I had in a long time. Went to sleep right away and did not wake up. It actually helped lift the depression. The only downfall is that it makes you gain weight. At that point I didn't care since the lack of sleep was controling my life. Maybe something to consider if it doesn't get better. Wish you the best.

lynn57 · Answer

Melatonin is harmless.  You will not have bad side effects.  It's natural.  Try it!

Devonlee · Answer

Ha! You are exactly like me. My husband bought some melatonin for me and its been sitting there for a month. I just keep thinking what if I have horrible nightmares....or have an allergic reaction....what if....what if....lol. God its just a terrible loop that never ends. I can only laugh at myself at this point but I know what your saying!

erin626 · Answer

And I did buy some natural melatonin sleep aids. I haven't tried them yet. New meds make me nervous

erin626 · Answer

I could handle the insomnia to an extent if I could get myself up in the morning. Its the absolute exhaustion that I feel when I wake up early...I just can not wake up. Its awful.

lynn57 · Answer

Usually when sleep difficulties are associated with anxiety, it is an overall inability to go to sleep or stay asleep.  You are able to sleep well at the wrong time of day.  It sounds like your body's clock is out of wack.  I would try some melatonin to try to normalize your sleep schedule.  When I had anxiety related insomnia I couldn't sleep during the day either.  Trazedone may be helpful if you have not tried it.  It's not a controlled substance.  Also Atarax has an anti-anxiety affect as well as being helpful with sleep.  Once you start going to sleep at your normal time hopefully your internal clock will reset itself.  Best of luck!

Devonlee · Answer

This happens to me often and has happened off and on for years. Ambien (a sleeping med) always works. But since it cant be taken every night indefinitley I try other methods like deep breathing....muscle relaxtion exercises. Keeping a notebook next to my bed so I can jot down anything I am thinking about or stressing over helps occasionally too. It helps to quiet my mind. I would say 2 to 3 times a week my mind and nightly panic attacks interferes with my sleep so I get 4 hours or less a night of sleep. I have to get up monday thru friday at 5:30 am with my kids for school so no sleeping in for me. Some things help sometimes...other times NOTHING but ambien works. I wish I had a definite answer for you but there isnt any. I hope your sleep issue resolves itself before you lose your job. Insomnia *****! lol

nlr_tiff · Answer

I used to have this exact problem, and sometimes still do, which is why I dont work anymore. 

I take clonazepam and a clonadine pill before bed and that helps get me to sleep, but doesnt help me stay asleep. I don't know if you have heard of clonadine before, but it is a blood pressure medicine. It is perscribed off label in very small doses to help with nightmares, and bedtime anxiety. 

I also sometimes do progressive muscle relaxation. That sometimes works. 

With anxiety nothing works 100% of the time. So you need to get a stash of different ideas to use, so that when one doesn't work you can try another. I hope this helps, and I am so sorry you are having a hard time right now. It will get better. It did with me. 

Hugs-Bradian

erin626 · Answer

I also forgot to mention that sometimes I'll have panic attacks while trying to fall asleep and other times my mind just races and I'll stress about not being able to sleep.