[triplewater11]

Hello again, kind friends of the forum.

I feel like I have been bombarding the forum lately, and I have so appreciated everyone's responses.

Many of you probably recognize my pattern here, but I've had a rough go lately - last week had a health anxiety/stress related trigger panic attack and a pretty sleepless night, to which I ended up taking a 1mg lorazepam that had been prescribed to me by an ER doc a few months ago. I was so afraid of not sleeping because I went back to work the next day (I work at a college) and didn't want to be deprived! I then ended up needing a lorazepam the next 3 nights also, as sleep would not come and my anxiety was through the roof. Saw my doctor about this, even went to ER about heart palpitations at night. Doctor put me back on beta blockers (metoprolol) and sertraline. Still having a sh*tty time sleeping. I decided to go all weekend without the benzos as I'm afraid of becoming addicted. Friday night, did not sleep. Saturday night, took melatonin, fell asleep for an hour, woke up for 4 hours, back to sleep for 3. Sunday night, tried 2 benedryl, was in a weird benedryl coma (but was awake) maybe drifted off for 2 hours? Was so sleep deprived monday my face was tingling and my anxiety was crazy. Took lorazepam, passed out and had a good 7 hours. Last night, tried without, couldn't, got worried and tried to take one and it didn't really work... it started setting in, and I maybe fell asleep for a few hours, and then I was awake the rest of the night except for a brief doze trying to listen to a meditation. Could I have already screwed myself up with this med!? I'm so scared. I never wanted to use a sleeping pill or psych pill like this. I also realize both sertraline + metoprolol can cause insomnia, which isn't making matters any better. I am seeing my doctor today and hope he can help.

I don't want to keep taking benzos, but I cannot keep going like this with no sleep. Every time it's night time, I get anxious and keyed up and worried about sleeping and make it worse. I have tried literally everything, meditating, ASMR, nature sounds, benedryl, melatonin, the thing where you get up out of bed after 20 minutes and do something boring... I don't have bad sleep hygiene. I'm scared either I have a medical issue which isn't being addressed, or i'm already hooked on the damn lorazepam! My brain is so wired (and tired!).

Of course, this could be related to 1) going back to work last week stress and putting more pressure on myself to sleep 2) acid reflux flaring up making sleep hard, my heart beats fast in bed from laying in certain positions, presumably from reflux, but makes anxiety worse 3) adjusting to the new meds which will take time

Thank you for letting me get my thoughts out. I just want to get decent sleep every night. I would settle for 4 hours a night at this point. I would take anything!

[Travelinglady]

I take Trazodone to help me sleep. I haven't heard of benzos being used for that. See what your doc says, since it sounds like you are trying all sorts of methods without success.