Insomnia

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   Muldaniaposted 13 years ago

   As I lie here at 6,25 am, after another night of no sleep, I wonder why sleep has become such an impossibility.  I have taken two sleeping pills, which made me feel more awake.  Sometimes I go three or four nights without any sleep. by which time I imagine creatures running across the carpet which aren't there.  Am I alone, or can anyone else relate to this?  And has anyone overcome such a problem?

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      janesixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Sure. Thorazine helps.

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         Muldaniaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Is that a sleeping pill?

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            janesixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            lol...yeah

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      pedrogposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      We are on the same time zone
      
      Perhaps you should evaluate your diet, you know, no coffe, no tea... And many other foods that can make sleeping difficult.

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      rbe0posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      What pills are you taking. Many OTC medicines can cause the hallucinations you are describing.

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         Muldaniaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I only see things, when I haven't slept for four nights.  It is the lack of sleep which causes them, as it never happens when I have slept.

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            janesixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            seriously though, you are probably manic. are you bipolar? You might want to talk to your doctor about it.

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               Muldaniaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               No, I don't think I am bipolar, as I don't experience the highs and the lows, only the lows, so I have depression, but not of the manic kind.  The doctors prescribe sleeping pills, which only make me feel more awake, although the doctors don't believe this.

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                  rbe0posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  You are taking the wrong medication.

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                  jenjohnson42posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  People who live with Bipolar II disorder do not experience the "manic" episodes most people associate with Bipolar disorder.

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            rbe0posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Go see a doctor. You will have no problem getting ambien or some other tranquilizer.
            
            Be caerful tho, many perscription sleep aids are addictive.

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      Healthy Pursuitsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The first thing I thought of when you said your sleep medication made you more awake was that you could be taking a form of antihistamine that is being used for sleep these days. If this is an antihistamine and you take more of it than recommended, it will keep you awake. Wiki has a pretty good description of the different types of antihistamines if you want to read about them. The first generation antihistamines are being used for sleep aids. Those mixed with any of the second or third generation will keep you wide awake all night. Guess how I found that one out!
      
      Anyway, I have problems sleeping, too. One thing that helps me when nothing else will is to take a deep, warm bath, then go to bed in a totally dark bedroom, after not eating for at least 3 hours. The cooling effect after your bath helps to pull your body into relaxation. It also helps if you can have some soothing music playing, which helps to occupy that busy, busy mind that wants to kick in when you're trying to go to sleep.
      
      I know that this won't be some magic answer for you, but I hope that it helps at least sometimes.

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   wordscribe43posted 13 years ago

   There are some sleeping pills that can have the opposite stimulating effect they're supposed to have... particularly if you've been taking them for a while and your body has become accustomed to them. 
   
   I've had sleeping problems, too.  It sucks, it's incredibly frustrating.  I hear you about the hallucinations, I had them after 52 hours of being awake once.
   
   I'm sure this is about the last thing you want to tackle right now, but the one thing that's helped me is exercise... with a HUGE caveat:  don't do it too close to bedtime.  Go for a brisk walk midday, if you can and see if that helps.
   
   Does reading help?  That's better than tossing and turning and getting more and more irritated.
   
   Sleep hygiene is huge, too.  Only use your bedroom for sleep, you need to associate it with quiet, sleep time.
   
   I'm sorry you're going through this, by the way. 

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   SaDDOSposted 13 years ago

   we can has not insomnia.
   
   we can has not sleep.

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   knolyourselfposted 13 years ago

   What are you a Wiccan?

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   ytsenohposted 13 years ago

   I think you should see another doctor.  I've had a form of insomnia for years, but I don't take anything for it.  I drink tea and read.  My problem is that I can't shut my mind off.  I do average 5 hrs. of sleep a night, however.  I can't imagine what it must feel like to not have any sleep at all.

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   gsidleyposted 13 years ago

   Rather than further medication, the standard advice to promote sleep is:
   1. Set a reasonable time (say 11.00 pm) before which you will never go to bed and a reasonable time (say 8.00 am) beyond which you will never lie in bed - and stick to these limits.
   2. Never doze in the chair during the day, and try and keep active with plenty of exercise.
   3. When 11.00 pm comes, if (and only if)you feel tired you take yourself to your bed and try to sleep (never do anything else in the bedroom, such as reading or watching TV).
   4. If you are not asleep within 20 - 30 minutes get out of bed, leave the bedroom and occupy yourself with doing something soothing (e.g. listening to music, reading)
   5. When, and only when, you feel sleepy again (this could be a few minutes or several hours)go back to bed and repeat the process as many times as required.
   6. Don't forget to drag yourself out of bed at 8.00 am no matter how tired you feel (set an alarm to make sure you do).
   
   The above is hard work and needs to be tried for 2-3 weeks before you can decide if it has been effective or not.
   
   Apologies for the long-winded response if you have already tried this approach.
   
   Wishing you success in your quest for sleep, whatever you try.
   
   gsidley

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   jenjohnson42posted 13 years ago

   Sometimes insomnia has other organic causes, such as bipolar disorder. I agree that you should see another doctor to get another opinion. Be sure to be honest about which sleep aids you are taking (and how much), so the doc has a true picture of what's going on. BTW, anyone who goes for days without sleep will be prone to hallucinating. Our brains are not made to be awake for that long. Good luck.

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