Anxiety and insomnia...

[mochi*]

Hi again,
So, the past feww months have been a rollercoaster ride for me. I am about ready to throw in the towel and go to the doc tommorrow, AGAIN!

So, I am reaching the point of desperation and could really use some good advice from others who might suffer from insomnia as well...

Here's the scoop;
I am 27, diagnosed with OCD, mostly pure O. Recently going through a major break up, and depression and panic attacks, insomnia percipitated from it.

So, I obviosuly need long-term help as well, but for now, what can I do to get by?

I 've had major insomnia before, but ususally drank to calm my nerves (not trying to do that again!)
I have tried everyhting to take care of myself- hot baths, relaxing tapes, vitamins galore, ect...
But nada-
I will feel so relaxed, or so i think- and soooo tiered, unbearable tiered...
but the second before I actually reach sleep, my heart starts pounding, or I wake up, or I have to go to the bathroom- I will think I am calm, but the right as I am about to fall asleep- i panic!
This has been going on for about two weeks now, and I can no longer stand it-
it;s making me depressed, confused, irratible and terribly anxious.
I feel like I'm loosing it!
Am I?

I went to the doc about a week ago, and she gave me Ativan for the insomnia (she agress it's anxiety-induced)
But, I didn;t really like it, it didnlt particularly relax me, just made me feel weird, and sleep weirdly.
I have tried xanax in the past and had better luck with that..
I am freakin out, and don;t know what to do.
Any adivce would be greatly appreciated.
And- why is it that I can feel so calm- and than panic once I almost fall asleep- it almost seems phisiological at this point!
I am so tiered and scared!!!

[ChaosAD]

I've had the same thing and still sometimes do. I do all the proper before slept stuff and have a ritual basically so my body knows it is time to sleep. I can never just lay down and sleep though, I almost always must read. If I just lay down and try and sleep my mind will race. I also take Zyrtec (for allergies) before bed which will make me sleepy. I also take Melatonin before bed around 1mg for times when I know sleeping will be hard. It has seemed to help. Also, a lot of people have recommended journaling to try and get those thoughts out of your head so they don't linger there.

I wish you luck!

[Maya80]

Hey,

I still can't fall asleep even when really tired. I'll start thinking about everything and anything. Today I feel like such a mess because I didn't sleep right.

I went through the same thing due to a break up and it was so hard to get through and I still have my days believe me it's not easy.

I've tried reading and yes it helps me. I'm also into crafts and believe it or not but i bought a coloring book and some pencils the other day and just coloring helps..brings me back to my childhood and takes away from other things. I also try baths and certain calming scents like lavander.

At times I get frustrated and don't know what to do either, but then I take my medicine as I should and that helps. As for sleeping aid, my psychiatrist didn't want to give me anything, so I went to the pharmacy and bought Simply Sleep from Tylenol, just make sure you have time to dedicate to the full 8 hours.

[babygirl2005_21]

Mochi- you are feeling exactly like me right now. The same thing happens to me at night. My doctor prescribed my Cymbalta because I have really bad anxiety but I never took it. I am just scared to. My mom had a prescription for Lunesta that she never filled so she went and got it filled for me. I have taken it the past two nights and finally got some decent sleep! I just don't want to take it long term so I don't know what to do.

[edz61]

I take Ativan and/or Xanax when anxious and when I need the sleep, I take Atarax.