Question:
I'm a 32yo male and have never had a problem with depression or
insomnia at all until recently. I used to sleep a full 8 hours a day
and really love sleeping.
About 2 months ago I started getting depressed and it got worse and
worse until I hit rock bottom a week ago. About 5 weeks ago I started
having trouble sleeping, and now I can't sleep more than 2 hours a
night.
My depression was diagnosed as situational, and I'm already feeling so
much better now that my "situation" has been accepted. I'm feeling
happy again, and can laugh again. I'm going back to being myself and
it feels great.
Problem is that I can't sleep still. And the lack of sleep is feeding
what little depression I have, and breaking down my emotional controls.
I sometimes just cry in the morning and can't stop because I'm not
sleeping.
I think my depression caused my insomnia, and now my insomnia is all
that's left and is destroying me. I feel like if I get a week of
really good sleep, everything will be fine again and I'll go back to my
normal, healthy self (32 years of loving to sleep). Is that typical,
going back to normal after solving the depression and getting some good
sleep?
Answer:
lack of sleep can have you dreaming before you're fully
asleep. and depression itself can cause difficulty falling or
staying asleep. you might want to give the ambien a try,
regularly, for the period prescribed by your doc (usually 1-2
weeks). that might break the cycle if it's become a habit.
the other problem you might have in falling asleep is that
you're worried about waking early, and the worry is preventing
you from sleeping in the first place. that might be why you
have what sounds like mini panic attacks when you try to fall
asleep.
try the ambien and let us know what happens. i've been
struggling with sleep trouble for a couple of years now,
myself, and am intersted in the outcome of your sleep problem.
I have this problem as well. I have had depression for a few years, but
was not having sleeping problems until April when I had to move. I
would cry all the time without knowing the reason, and recently, I get
so tired/exhausted that when I try to fall asleep, I can't. Also, I'm
feeling much better, but I don't know if it's b/c I'm on meds again,
(just started taking them) or if it's my manic stage. I feel like I can
do anything, and I get into what I call my "cleaning frenzies". I just
want to do everything all at once, and take care of things. I get
sudden bursts of energy and almost finish a task, but burn out. I get
tired. I will stay up all day from like 12 am until the next evening, 9
pm or 10 pm, and sleep until the ass crack of dawn. Then, I repeat the
cycle. I never stay asleep for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time, and
when I wake up, I feel the need to take a nap. Also, lately, I've been
having very vivid and disturbing dreams. I will wake up shaking and
sweating b/c they scare me so bad. Also, my heart will be racing. I am
taking Lexapro and Neurontin, just got on these meds and have never been
on them before. Could this be causing me to have these scary nightmares
or would my depression cause it. Also, I've had manic phases before and
I've acted really goofy and hyper when they occur, but I feel "normal" now.
Sometimes certain anti-depressants are used for long term insomnia,
antipsychotics are also used if the person has problems staying awake
because of thoughts. Keeping a sleep journal may also be helpful,
recording the times you wake up and go to bed and any dreams or
feelings you have just before or after going to bed.
I'd also give this to a psychiatrist, or sleep specialist, they may be
able to run some testing, or have additional suggestions.
