Question:
Stress is at a peak right now for me, with
work being out of control and personal life is very busy. I'm flat
exhausted but when I lay down at night I just can't sleep. I know that this
will pass, when work settles down, but I'm not expecting that for a few more
months. I finally made an appt with my doc to discuss it, but I'm wondering
if anyone else has taken prescription sleeping aids? I've seen ads for
Ambien, but I'm nervous about taking a prescription. If anyone could share,
that would be great.
Answer:
I haven't taken prescription sleep aids - but have taken prescription pills
that make me sleep, as well as OTC sleep aids (tylonol pm, etc). For both
of those there is one key factor - they make me sleep alright - but a good
12 hr sleep or more is needed to get rid of the drugs and be "awake" again.
From the ambien commercials - it appears to be the same way. If I'm having
sleep troubles then I tell myself I have to take those at or before 7pm or I
will not make it to work the next morning without having to call in late and
sleep off the pills.
Stress will cause insomnia in me too. Best releif i'f found is weight
lifting - working out enough to wear myself out. Then finding a relaxing
state of some sort to slow th emind down. If I can slow my brain down from
thinking too much when its time to be sleeping, then I sleep better.
Weight lifting is great. On days that I lift, I generally sleep better.
Slowing down my mind is what gets me - or sometimes I'll fall right to
sleep, only to wake up a couple hours later and lay there for hours awake.
Sometimes a glass of wine does the trick - but if I drink any more than
that, I'm either up peeing in the middle of the night, or the alcohol screws
up my sleep patterns... Oh, hell. I need a nap!
I used to have insomnia from stress and later when I was
on hormone replacement I would get it the night after
the estrogen part of the regimen was over.
The best solution has been exercise. It tires me out
and now it's helping me with arthritis that kicks up
if I'm off my feet for more than 6 hours straight -- like
when I'm sleeping. The other side effects have been
terrific too.
I know exactly how you feel. I hate those times when I get stressed, fall
to sleep only to wake up a few hours later with the mind spinning and
thinking about work stuff and other stupid stuff.
Warm milk is supposed to help. Sleepy time tea - chamomile tea, etc.
Those types of things help. Also, get up and read a book. For me when I
was going to school the best sleep aid was reading my text books - and now
that I don't do school but have to keep up with my certificaitons its those
technical books that are great insomnia aids. :-)
I'm super stressed right now too. The only reason I can't sleep is because
I am too busy. I take tylenol PM on occasion - just one pill instead of two
does help me sleep and allows me to wake up ok in just a few hours since I
don't know insomnia has hit until later in the night :)
Another thing that works for me is aromatherapy. I was so stressed and
anxious and sleep deprived around the beginning of the year and sick of
taking pills so I went to a shop that specializes in the products. I got a
bath gel, pillow spray, some essential oils and a burner. It's really
helped. Lately, a lavender scented eye pillow is doing the trick. My yoga
teacher has us use eye pillows for relaxation in class and I found that I
would practically fall asleep if I was tired and not trying to meditate.
When I really want to fall right asleep I use it and I'm out within minutes.
