when you no longer "feel like" taking sleep aids/meds....

[[te...]]

Hi All,

 

I've been pondering on this for about a week, because I've noticed that when I can't sleep, or when I think about "what will I do/take tonight" if I can't sleep, the thought of taking any medication (OTC or prescription) makes me MORE anxious.  It used to be that the sleep meds were my backup, and I had no problem taking them. But lately (really started last week) after I take something, I suddenly feel more anxious. It's like my brain knows it's being forced to do something it doesn't want to do!

 

I'm 4 months off benzos, a VERY short-term use (because of panic/insomnia). I've tried several different things, and right now I semi-alternate mirtazapine, unisom, melatonin. I also got a prescription for hydroxcycine which I only used twice. Some nights I take nothing. Last night I got that feeling of "i'm not going to be able to fall asleep" even though I was super tired and wanted to close my eyes before 7pm. I tried laying on sofa to rest, then bed, etc.... went back and forth on taking unisom. Finally around 11pm I settled on taking a melatonin knock out (it has melatonin and other supplements/herbs). Even though the sucker didn't really work (have no idea what time I fell asleep) I felt better that I didn't take a prescription or OTC pill. I KNOW I still took something, but for some reason the natural things seem gentler to me... even though they don't work that often. At least it sorta calmed me down so while I was laying there awake I was relaxed.

 

Did anyone on here have this moment, where all of a sudden you just wanted to stop forcing sleep? And is it a good sign? Did you go with it?

 

I have that fear that many of us share here, that I won't fall asleep (when I can't at night) and then that I'll never sleep again and end up dying from it. This only happens when I'm laying awake at night. I don't think these thoughts during the day, although I do spend a lot of time thinking about and problem solving my sleep issues. I've started meditating, several times a day. It is very helpful.

 

Hopefully someone else can relate to this, and maybe this post will help someone else, too!

[[Be...]]

I have been there two years ago. I now don't use anything

[[wh...]]

Tealwater,

I think at some point we just get tired of fighting it.  That feeling comes and goes. lately for me I'm just getting sad that I'm taking mirtazapine. Used to be I welcomed taking it especially if it meant getting of clonazepam. But now 7 weeks later I'm getting tired of being on it so tapering to get off.  My only fear is not sleeping once I'm off it.

[[te...]]

Tealwater,

I think at some point we just get tired of fighting it.  That feeling comes and goes. lately for me I'm just getting sad that I'm taking mirtazapine. Used to be I welcomed taking it especially if it meant getting of clonazepam. But now 7 weeks later I'm getting tired of being on it so tapering to get off.  My only fear is not sleeping once I'm off it.

 

I agree. I definitely have times where I get discouraged because I need something, and other times when I'm desperate and I'll do anything. This week, I KNEW I needed the mirtazapine on tuesday night because of the election. I slept horribly monday night and the next day anxiety hit me, and I was already scared of trying to sleep and then the election results traumatized me! I am trying to only take prescription and OTC sleeping aids 1-2x a week and trying natural or nothing other days. Including cannabis now, too. Hopefully I can get down to nothing but I'm trying to go with the flow.

[[wa...]]

Yep - I'm considering getting on Trazodone.  I can't stand my exhausted no - med days.  I am hitting carbs all day.  I feel like I'm living in a pinball machine.  I wake up early in pain and so can't get to sleep.  There are a million things to do -- some of them are actually important with endless phone calls.  I'm supposed to have a good dispostion.  Now on 3-4 hours a night sleep for weeks on end.  WBB

[[te...]]

Yep - I'm considering getting on Trazodone.  I can't stand my exhausted no - med days.  I am hitting carbs all day.  I feel like I'm living in a pinball machine.  I wake up early in pain and so can't get to sleep.  There are a million things to do -- some of them are actually important with endless phone calls.  I'm supposed to have a good dispostion.  Now on 3-4 hours a night sleep for weeks on end.  WBB

 

You gotta do what is best for you! I hear you, I am hitting carbs a lot too and am back to drinking more coffee than I should. Although I don't drink it after lunch. I agree 100%, there are so many important things we need to be "on" for and constant exhaustion is not conducive to being a high functioning human. This week the day after the election I was so tired and depressed I couldn't even grade a stack of papers. It seemed like a huge insurmountable task. Trazodone helped me, it definitely made me sleep on half a dose (I could sleep on 25mg). I've since stopped using it because of the next day tiredness, but that comes with literally everything in pill form I think.