[IceCreamKid]

I get insomnia twice a year. In the winter when it gets very cold and in the summer when it is extremely hot. One summer I went to the doctor and she gave me sleeping pills for two weeks. That helped a lot because it got me back on a sleeping schedule. I've tried every trick I know but this insomnia looks like it is going to track right along with the bitter cold we are experiencing. I don't know what the actual connection is other than during both periods I do not get outside as much as I like -- yet I have to be outside (because I walk quite a distance to work from the bus stop) regardless of how bad the weather is. So I get all the suffering of extreme weather without any of the fun of being outside. Ai yai yai! So irritating. And when the clocks lurch forward and stagger back -- well, that messes with my internal sleep regulatory mechanism, too. I'm nothing more than a groggy, cranky animal. A groggy, cranky animal with depression. Now that is just not right.

[googley]

I totally know what you mean about the insomnia and depression. They really become a cycle. I wish I had advice for you, but I can still commiserate.

[IceCreamKid]

Originally Posted by googley

I totally know what you mean about the insomnia and depression. They really become a cycle. I wish I had advice for you, but I can still commiserate.

Hi Googley! Commiseration is nice. Thank you (I love Eyeore) And for you: and

[Gently1]

I know that insomnia seemed to start my depression and once I was starting to feel alive again and insomnia started another endless round of depression again.

Lately I have avoided insomnia, first by getting up the same time everyday and using 75mg seroquel at night to keep me sleeping.
Rarely had trouble falling asleep. The last two times were in december, I used a litebook this year and this 'may of helped'.

Good luck,

[IceCreamKid]

Originally Posted by Gently1

I know that insomnia seemed to start my depression and once I was starting to feel alive again and insomnia started another endless round of depression again.

Lately I have avoided insomnia, first by getting up the same time everyday and using 75mg seroquel at night to keep me sleeping.
Rarely had trouble falling asleep. The last two times were in december, I used a litebook this year and this 'may of helped'.

Good luck,

I'm glad you have avoided insomnia. I only get it when the weather is at its most severe, so the actual insomnia itself doesn't last long; a few weeks. But the depression can often last longer, and because not only was the weather outside bad but I started working at a place that apparently hasn't ever heard of heating and cooling systems, so I suffered scorching heat and freezing cold inside as well. Now where I am working it is only scorching heat. Hey! An improvement, eh? I had on a sleeveless top at work and one of my coworkers said "are you hot?" and I said "yes" -- if they want to make something of it, I'll be happy to accompany them to HR and explain to all parties how 85 degree temperatures inside coupled with the medication I take makes me overheat.

[Gently1]

Hi,

Thanks for the message and information. My Doc wants we to call if I have more than a few days of insomnia, as she said after a couple of weeks, the brain has changed. And it becomes complicated sorting insomnia from other conditions.
Have not researched her sources, but now after going a couple of weeks before and having the illness reinforced, I am calling after 3 days.

Temperatures are very subjective. I know when I get a hot flash I pull the blankets up to my chin and say 'finally' I am warm.

But the work environment can be difficult to control the HVAC. Good luck with that!

[IceCreamKid]

Originally Posted by Gently1

Hi,

Thanks for the message and information. My Doc wants we to call if I have more than a few days of insomnia, as she said after a couple of weeks, the brain has changed. And it becomes complicated sorting insomnia from other conditions.
Have not researched her sources, but now after going a couple of weeks before and having the illness reinforced, I am calling after 3 days.

Temperatures are very subjective. I know when I get a hot flash I pull the blankets up to my chin and say 'finally' I am warm.

But the work environment can be difficult to control the HVAC. Good luck with that!

I thought everyone was warm enough at 85 degrees but my co-worker told me she loved it and thought 85 was "just right". Sheesh! Next time I see my doctor I will ask her to help me map out a plan of action because the depression is made worse by the insomnia and it lasts much longer, too. No sense in suffering if I can figure out a way to head it off! Here's to both of us feeling better and getting a good night's sleep!

[Gently1]

Originally Posted by IceCreamKid

I thought everyone was warm enough at 85 degrees but my co-worker told me she loved it and thought 85 was "just right". Sheesh! Next time I see my doctor I will ask her to help me map out a plan of action because the depression is made worse by the insomnia and it lasts much longer, too. No sense in suffering if I can figure out a way to head it off! Here's to both of us feeling better and getting a good night's sleep!

My friends also think that 85 is too hot, it is interesting how we are all different, but I just add more layers of clothes, to reach a happy medium.

I agree no sense in suffering, I am being optimistic that I can avoid increased depression if I can find a balance.

The definition of Optimism is the feeling you have before you are aware of all the facts.

I have been sleeping better with the increase Seroquel.

take care
G

I suffer with insomina sometimes. It causes my anxiety to become worse. When I try to sleep, I think to myself. "I am going to sleep tonight, I need to keep thinking of nice things and I'll drift off and fall asleep". But when I know I'm not asleep, there's this big sensation of anxiety that I feel. It's not a nice feeling. If I know I haven't slept for two days or for a night, I think to myself that I'll never sleep. I sometimes have had trouble sleeping and I tried to sleep and the next morning I realise I have fallen asleep. I feel so happy when I have fallen asleep. I do think about things which I worry about before I sleep, but I tell myself. "Stop thinking about it, you need to sleep" and then I try to stop thinking about what is worrying and I think of being on a rollercoaster or something random, By thinking of something random or letting your brain drift, it helps me drift off to sleep.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by IceCreamKid

I get insomnia twice a year. In the winter when it gets very cold and in the summer when it is extremely hot. One summer I went to the doctor and she gave me sleeping pills for two weeks. That helped a lot because it got me back on a sleeping schedule. I've tried every trick I know but this insomnia looks like it is going to track right along with the bitter cold we are experiencing. I don't know what the actual connection is other than during both periods I do not get outside as much as I like -- yet I have to be outside (because I walk quite a distance to work from the bus stop) regardless of how bad the weather is. So I get all the suffering of extreme weather without any of the fun of being outside. Ai yai yai! So irritating. And when the clocks lurch forward and stagger back -- well, that messes with my internal sleep regulatory mechanism, too. I'm nothing more than a groggy, cranky animal. A groggy, cranky animal with depression. Now that is just not right.

same here my insomnia affects my moods and causes me to have depression symptoms, my doctor wont prescribe sleeping pills for me because I became too dependent upon them once. Im on xanax for anxiety and on rare occasions my doctor lets me take an extra one at night for sleep.

[IceCreamKid]

Originally Posted by happycheeks

I suffer with insomina sometimes. It causes my anxiety to become worse. When I try to sleep, I think to myself. "I am going to sleep tonight, I need to keep thinking of nice things and I'll drift off and fall asleep". But when I know I'm not asleep, there's this big sensation of anxiety that I feel. It's not a nice feeling. If I know I haven't slept for two days or for a night, I think to myself that I'll never sleep. I sometimes have had trouble sleeping and I tried to sleep and the next morning I realise I have fallen asleep. I feel so happy when I have fallen asleep. I do think about things which I worry about before I sleep, but I tell myself. "Stop thinking about it, you need to sleep" and then I try to stop thinking about what is worrying and I think of being on a rollercoaster or something random, By thinking of something random or letting your brain drift, it helps me drift off to sleep.

When I say I have not slept, I probably have but it is more dozing than actual full-fledged sleep; I am wide awake for several hours, then half awake for the rest of the night (I am aware of the passage of time which in my mind means I am not really asleep), then I sleep hard for about a half hour to an hour, and then the alarm goes off. I'm exhausted, but have to get up. Sometimes that will go on for days. The doctor gave me seven days' worth of Lunesta which did put me to sleep and I was able to wake up okay the next morning, but for me it was a completely dreamless sleep so it did not feel natural. It's better than no sleep, though and it did seem to jump start my natural ability to fall asleep. I will try the brain drift technique and see how that helps--in fact that might actually give me the best night's sleep because it will mean I have turned off the worrying. Thanks for the suggestion!

Originally Posted by IceCreamKid

When I say I have not slept, I probably have but it is more dozing than actual full-fledged sleep; I am wide awake for several hours, then half awake for the rest of the night (I am aware of the passage of time which in my mind means I am not really asleep), then I sleep hard for about a half hour to an hour, and then the alarm goes off. I'm exhausted, but have to get up. Sometimes that will go on for days. The doctor gave me seven days' worth of Lunesta which did put me to sleep and I was able to wake up okay the next morning, but for me it was a completely dreamless sleep so it did not feel natural. It's better than no sleep, though and it did seem to jump start my natural ability to fall asleep. I will try the brain drift technique and see how that helps--in fact that might actually give me the best night's sleep because it will mean I have turned off the worrying. Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm so sorry for not replying for such a long time. Are you sleeping well now? I wish I could help you. There's loads of ways to help drift off to sleep. It's common not to remember your dreams. I forget my dreams. If you're not refreshed after your sleep then that's the issue. I also watch relaxing videos and some of them knock me out and I'm so tired after watching them. You could try that too. But I hate it when I'm so drowsy and tired then suddenly a loud sound (that usually doesn't make me jump when I'm awake) makes me jump out of my skin.