[gnat]

I have fought with insomnia all my life. I remember having it even in elementary school. It gets worse with my anxiety levels, and this summer has been the worse time i remember with depression and anxiety.

I have been taking over the counter sleep aids, some to help me sleep because of my anxiety, some to help me sleep because it hurts too much to be awake. Sleep is my only respite from my emotions and I crave it.

My depression is lifting somewhat and I am no longer taking sleep aids to hide from my emotions, but I still take them to fight anxiety that keeps me awake at night. My husband has just started a new job working overnights so I can no longer take them on nights he is not here as I have 3 children and more often then not, one of them is up for something during the night. I have tried to tend to them when medicated but it is incredibly difficult and I am slow to awaken to their cries, so I have decided to quit taking them when it's just the kids and I home in case they need me.

It is so hard. I started weaning myself off of them before the change because it bothered my husband, he felt I was abusing them, but I don't sleep much without them and that causes an increase in my depression and anxiety, not to mention it is just plain difficult to function when you're not sleeping. The increase in depression and anxiety makes it worse to sleep, and to top it off I'm crabby, unfocused, and have a difficult time functioning. I find myself eating crap all day long to help keep me alert, but it doesn't help. I'll just get fat.

I miss my sleep aids.

[Perna]

Oh, that's hard. Now that I'm getting older I have trouble (like now; 4:12 a.m. :-) with sleeping sometimes and hate that I'll go back to bed after a couple hours then sleep until later than I want in the morning and otherwise throw my sleep off.

Can you nap during the day at all? My husband has a nap every day and sleeps his 7 hours at night, I envy him; I don't nap as that would really rearrange my nighttime sleep.

[adam_k]

You could listen to lectures from my high school biology teacher. That put me to sleep real fast.

But in seriousness, have you tried to limit stimulants as the day progresses? Like stop drinking coffee, tea or sodas after lunch? Ia there anything you can do that will help relax you before bed? Maybe a hot shower or bath, reading a book or listening to some music.

For a little while I was listening to Japanese relaxation music before bed. It did help me. I didn't find myself thinking as much and I just sort of listened to the music and mellowed out.

I haven't been sleeping well myself. Every few days I take some sleep meds to get a good nights sleep. My doc gave me trazodone. It is a antidepressant per its label, but isn't a strong one. It has a really common side effect of causing droziness. About a half hour after I take it I feel really tired. There is some carryover the next day sometimes. I have woken up a few times feeling drowsy.

They sell some sleepy time teas. I never tried them but I remember seeing them in the grocery store.

I find too much darkness makes it hard for me to sleep. Anxiety a little. My wife got a spinning glitter lamp for a birthday. It is usually on when I got to sleep. I think it gives my head something to concentrate on. It shifts between red, blue and green. I find it relaxing.

I hope you can find something to calm your mind down so you can get some sleep.

Lack of sleep usually worsens my depression. Too little sleep and I sort of go numb and feel like a zombie I guess.

[gnat]

Thanks.

Perna- no, napping isn't an option. I work during the day and when I get home I have kids to take care of and it would be too late to nap anyway. Once in awhile I score a nap on the weekends, but not nearly often enough.

Adam- that's a good idea, thanks. I used to always sleep with music on for that reason, but got out of the habit because my husband hated it. Now with him working overnights....I will give that a try.

What is the name of this Japanese music you speak of? I'm always open to listening to something new.

And thanks for the laugh. If I could find my high school science teacher (I don't remember what type of science it was because I was so unfocused and often asleep) he could cure me in a heartbeat.

[seeker1950]

Yes, well, I have relied on over the counter sleep aids for years, and still do! I've never sought help from prescription sleep aids, as I think my physician would not be so helpful in prescribing. He knows how much I loved the Xanax, and became addicted to it for anxiety, thus weaning myself off it.
There IS one thing that helps me sleep, and that is vigorous physical exercise. Just a suggestion. I, myself, am presently just still relying on the sleep pills. Maybe soon to return to the exercise!