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OCD and sleep
I am a guy 30 years old plus ,and working as Software Engineer. I have a mild OCD since I was child but not much bothering my daily life. but I sometimes got Insomnia during my adult ages due to caffine or stress ...
In last year, I had severe insomnia for few weeks. And afterwards, my OCD was developed more and more. And nowadays. my OCD and insomnia are quite inter-related each others.
Everytime, I am going to bed, I has some thoughts my hand is so dry and have to use some gels to make it wet. Or I need to check the door lock although I know that is already locked. So if I start doing that, my body becomes fresh and I cannot sleep. If I don't do at all, my mind keep reminding me that I must do it and I cannot sleep as well. sometimes, very wired tiredness is inside me and I was sweating under Aircon.
last year, I went to psychiatrist and he prescribed me Zosert 25 mg for 6 months and Alprozolam for sometimes incase necessary. OCD was improved and I can sleep for several months.
1) Anyone can share you experiences / your advises as well ?
2) I read some articles that Zosert can affect your sperm quantity. Since me and my wife are trying to have a baby. I am also worrid that long term use of Zosert will affect our family plan.
3) Is there any recommended natural remedies to reduce my OCD ?
4) Frequent use of Alprozolam can have any side effects ? such as dependency/ withdrawal symptoms..etc.
Thanks in advance
wunna
In last year, I had severe insomnia for few weeks. And afterwards, my OCD was developed more and more. And nowadays. my OCD and insomnia are quite inter-related each others.
Everytime, I am going to bed, I has some thoughts my hand is so dry and have to use some gels to make it wet. Or I need to check the door lock although I know that is already locked. So if I start doing that, my body becomes fresh and I cannot sleep. If I don't do at all, my mind keep reminding me that I must do it and I cannot sleep as well. sometimes, very wired tiredness is inside me and I was sweating under Aircon.
last year, I went to psychiatrist and he prescribed me Zosert 25 mg for 6 months and Alprozolam for sometimes incase necessary. OCD was improved and I can sleep for several months.
1) Anyone can share you experiences / your advises as well ?
2) I read some articles that Zosert can affect your sperm quantity. Since me and my wife are trying to have a baby. I am also worrid that long term use of Zosert will affect our family plan.
3) Is there any recommended natural remedies to reduce my OCD ?
4) Frequent use of Alprozolam can have any side effects ? such as dependency/ withdrawal symptoms..etc.
Thanks in advance
wunna
I also have the checking compulsion. I totally understand how you feel. If you check you give into the compulsion and feed it, only making it stronger, however if you don't then you can't get the broken record out of your head and you will never be able to sleep. I really like the suggestion of the verbal cue, I always have a mild panic attack on the way to work over my hair straightener, I will try that tomorrow I can only see it working.
I have started taking celexa again 10mg and only after a week, I notice an improvement. The thoughts are still happening, but they do not get stuck and I am able to move past them. I find that it does affect my appetite as well as my sex drive, I have tried zoloft and another pill whose name I cannot recall that caused me to vomit for a month... it's really trial and error with the medication I find. It is best to talk about the different options and side affects with your Dr.
I was told that B6 would help alleviate symptoms as well as 5-HTP it is the precursor to seratonin. I cannot say that they help for sure, nor do I know if they will interact with your current medication. Natural products, should still be taken with knowledge. I tried both products but I did not try them consistantly and my symptoms by that point were too far gone and I needed serious help.
To help me sleep, I lie in bed in a comfortable position and then I start with my toes. I tighten them for 10 seconds, and count this in my head. Then I relax them. I then do that with my calves, my thighs, my arm, hands etc. It is a good exercise to feel the difference bewteen tightened tense muscles and those that are relaxed. When you feel that you muscles are nice and relaxed then your mind easily follows and off to sleep you go.
I have started taking celexa again 10mg and only after a week, I notice an improvement. The thoughts are still happening, but they do not get stuck and I am able to move past them. I find that it does affect my appetite as well as my sex drive, I have tried zoloft and another pill whose name I cannot recall that caused me to vomit for a month... it's really trial and error with the medication I find. It is best to talk about the different options and side affects with your Dr.
I was told that B6 would help alleviate symptoms as well as 5-HTP it is the precursor to seratonin. I cannot say that they help for sure, nor do I know if they will interact with your current medication. Natural products, should still be taken with knowledge. I tried both products but I did not try them consistantly and my symptoms by that point were too far gone and I needed serious help.
To help me sleep, I lie in bed in a comfortable position and then I start with my toes. I tighten them for 10 seconds, and count this in my head. Then I relax them. I then do that with my calves, my thighs, my arm, hands etc. It is a good exercise to feel the difference bewteen tightened tense muscles and those that are relaxed. When you feel that you muscles are nice and relaxed then your mind easily follows and off to sleep you go.
Hi there and welcome to the OCD forum.
You have some valid questions regarding your medication and you should really talk to your doctor about them.
But yes, there are studies that show that Sertraline (Zosert) can lower sperm counts. It also is known to decrease the libido. I would discuss this with your doctor. I think it would be pretty easy to check your sperm for both count and motility.
As for the use of Alprozolam (Xanax), if you take it on a daily basis then there will be withdrawal symptoms and so this medication along with the Sertraline should never be stopped cold turkey. If you were to ever go off of them, you would need to talk to your doctor about a tapering down startegy.
Also, there are many anti-depressants out there and they all have different side affects. For instance I take Wellbutrin and it does not alter my sex life one bit while the others (prozac, celexa) did. So a little research on the different meds may be warranted to see what the individual side affects are and at what frequency they have been reported.
As far as your checking problem....What I do is when I, for instance, turn off the iron I say out loud "The iron is off" so that when I have that moment of panic in the car on the way to work I can remember my verbal cue that that I turned the iron off. So for you "The door is locked.' Also, you have to NOT go back and check after you have done this. If you keep going back, you will make no progress in making your checking compulsion go away.
When you are lying in bed try this breathing technique....deep breath in through your nose, hold it for 5 seconds and count this out in your head, then let it all out through your mouth. You can even put your hands on your stomach and feel the rise and fall. Sometimes I say "In" and "Out". I have gotten to sleep many times using this technique.
Take care.
You have some valid questions regarding your medication and you should really talk to your doctor about them.
But yes, there are studies that show that Sertraline (Zosert) can lower sperm counts. It also is known to decrease the libido. I would discuss this with your doctor. I think it would be pretty easy to check your sperm for both count and motility.
As for the use of Alprozolam (Xanax), if you take it on a daily basis then there will be withdrawal symptoms and so this medication along with the Sertraline should never be stopped cold turkey. If you were to ever go off of them, you would need to talk to your doctor about a tapering down startegy.
Also, there are many anti-depressants out there and they all have different side affects. For instance I take Wellbutrin and it does not alter my sex life one bit while the others (prozac, celexa) did. So a little research on the different meds may be warranted to see what the individual side affects are and at what frequency they have been reported.
As far as your checking problem....What I do is when I, for instance, turn off the iron I say out loud "The iron is off" so that when I have that moment of panic in the car on the way to work I can remember my verbal cue that that I turned the iron off. So for you "The door is locked.' Also, you have to NOT go back and check after you have done this. If you keep going back, you will make no progress in making your checking compulsion go away.
When you are lying in bed try this breathing technique....deep breath in through your nose, hold it for 5 seconds and count this out in your head, then let it all out through your mouth. You can even put your hands on your stomach and feel the rise and fall. Sometimes I say "In" and "Out". I have gotten to sleep many times using this technique.
Take care.
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