Need sleep, it's only 2and a 1/2 hours until I get up to get ready for 6th form college. Does anyone else have these times where you have a over active depressive brain so you dont sleep? Is it the depression? I just want these horrible thoughts to stop and to let me relax! Any tips? Mostly when I'm low I just sleep and have no energy, now suddenly as what occasionally happens is this! How do i stop this? ~ jess x

[jen29]

((((Jess)))

I find that when really depressed and down my brain will NOT shut off. I have found that listening to music with my headphones it relaxes me most of the times to be able to get a little sleep. Wish you the best of luck...let us know how things are going!

[TerryL]

Have you tried writing down whatever thoughts are keeping you up? Just so your brain can relax more.

Thanks guys, I eventually fell asleep but now I'm exhausted!! I tried doing my art (my only ever escape) which helped a bit. Does anyone know how to shut off your brain!? ~jess x

[Severijn]

Hi jess.

I had the same thing a couple of times. I have no idea how to shut your brain off. There's only one remedy I know off, and that's called sleeping medicines.

If I remember correctly, I had zyprexa and temazepam or something. I never found much use in meds., but sleeping meds are very useful.

I recommend you go to your doctor and ask for some good sleeping medications. Not sleeping well is just terrible.

It's really the only thing I discovered that works.

[Miss Laura]

Hey there Jess,

Writing your thoughts down helps.... and I have a sound pillow.... You can buy it from Asda's or Tesco's etc about £10 ish and you can connect your ipod etc to it and listen to music. I have soothing music I listen to- Angel Meditation and calming music.

Hope you can resolve this soon as it definately not fun!

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((( Jess ))))))))))))

[Ygrec23]

Originally Posted by Jess95

Need sleep, it's only 2and a 1/2 hours until I get up to get ready for 6th form college. Does anyone else have these times where you have a over active depressive brain so you dont sleep? Is it the depression? I just want these horrible thoughts to stop and to let me relax! Any tips? Mostly when I'm low I just sleep and have no energy, now suddenly as what occasionally happens is this! How do i stop this? ~ jess x

Hello, Jess!

Yes, I've dealt with that kind of thing all my life. I'm not crazy about the benzodiazepine sleeping pills (temazepam, lorazepam and others) because they lose their effectiveness over time and at the same time it's upsetting when you stop taking them.

I rely on amitriptyline, which is an old anti-depressant that has the side effect of making me sleepy and permits me to sleep all night rather well. Also I take melatonin, the natural sleep hormone, which is sold over-the-counter here but may be regulated where you are.

And then I've also over the years worked out a few thought routines that frequently send me right to sleep. They'll be different for each person depending on your personality and problems, but you might want to start thinking up such things for yourself. Relaxing, supportive fantasies that only you can figure out for yourself.

If you wake in the middle of the night with anxiety, as I often have, I find it helps to sternly push away anxiety-provoking thoughts and concentrate on those relaxing fantasies. You can do it if you try!

Take care.