Question
It's been five nights I can't sleep. During the day I fall deep asleep. I have the tendency to sleep later and later, but now things are out of control. What medical speciality should I look for help?
History: Since eleven I suffer from mental health problems. From 11 to 15 I suffered from bouts of depression along with ocd symptons (very severe, because I used to spend the whole day trying to beat those bad, involuntary and unrespectful thoughts along with intense fear of contamination). After the twenties I experienced more severe depressive episodes. After 25 panic attacks started. Now I am 33 and i am in a better condition because I have been treated with antidepressive. Doctors tried many, but now I am on sertraline 100 mg along with rivotril.
he fact is that I tend to feel restlessness easily. Once 10 yrs ago I was hospitalized because of a pneumonia, medicines that changed my mood were injectet in my bloodstream. During those days I didn't need to sleep more than two hours and my mind was incredible efficient and creative. Many thoughts would flow and I just needed to get out hospital and write down those "wonderful" ideas. But this was an isolated fact. Indeed I avoid any kind of stimulants because I easily get my mind hiperactive.
I feel I have a very sensitive and unstable mood balance. One psychiatrist diagnosed recurrent depression, and another ciclothymia. I tend to believe the first one.
I normally tend to feel my mind unquiet during night, to the point that I can't almost stop thinking about many different topics. without clonazepan I can't control the increasing agitation that accumulates day by day. But during morning I am very slow. This restlesness often make me feel I am about to lose control of my mind and I need to take clonazepan to stop an incoming panic attack.
I am 33, 172 cm tall, 82 kg. I don't smoke, no illicit drugs nor alcohol. I exercise 3 or 4 days a week.
Do you have any idea on what is going on with me? What is the cause of my sleep problems? who should I consult - a psychiatrist again? Why my mind have such ups and downs in such a short time?
Any insight on this will be deeply appreciated.
thanks!!!
Answer
While your problem seems psychiatric you may need better anti anxiety meds. However when it comes to insomnia and since your daytime sleepiness is being affected. You might try consulting a sleep center. Your local hospital can refer you. They also have psychologists on board which can help. You might also try these tips. 3 hours before bedtime stay away from tea, coffee, caffeine, caramel colored soda like coke, pepsi, gingerale.chocolate, and exercise all this make for restless sleep. When you get into bed twist and turn for only 20 minutes then get up go into a different room and read something, a book or magazine, no computer. Then when you start dozing off go immediately into a different room. 30 minutes before bedtime take a hot bath. and immerse the palms of your hand under the hot water. Latest research is that the palms of the hands send impulses to the brain is that its time to unwind and get ready for bed.15 minutes before bedtime drink a glass of warm milk. Milk when heated constains tryptophan a natural amino acid sleep inducer so a glass may do the trick. Go to sleepnet.com click on disorders insomnia for more tips. also talk about sleep.com feel free to email again karel
