Problem getting any sleep - really causing me severe worry

[leoguaje7]

Just a bit of backstory, I have been diagnosed with GAD since i was a child, although I have never really had any sleep issues in my life, usually even at my most anxious, sleep is like a getaway for me.

On the first of July i had an Aura with no migraine, it was the first time i've had an aura in about 8 years (I used to get aura with migraine once a year), then on this Sunday, i had a migraine attack with no aura. The migraine passed as normal after about 16 hours after intense pain. Since then, i have been totally unable to sleep. Not even struggling to sleep, i just cannot sleep. It's now Thursday night, I am absolutely exhausted, mentally and physically, and yet i cannot sleep.

Due to the recent migraine and weird aura episode, i am worried this is neurological. It feels like my brain is completely blocking me from falling asleep. I'm stuck in the stage of pre-dreaming where my thoughts are going wild, totally thinking of weird things that are stuck in my head. I just cannot get past this and to sleep. Its agonizing.

I went to the GP this morning, she was pretty useless and upped my sertraline from 100g to 150g (i've been taking this for years, i don't think its related). And she gave me no sleep aids, no advice. I have to wait 2 weeks for bloods. How the hell can i wait 2 weeks if i am getting no sleep?? I feel like im days away from a heart attack or total collapse.

I have tried everything. Asmr, mind relaxation techniques, deep breathing, hot bath, magnesium tablets, magnesium rub on my legs. But when it comes to laying down, it's like im in hell.
Sorry if this sounds like a rant, i feel the worst i've ever felt. Anxiety this year has been completely through the roof due to multiple reasons.

Anyone have any advice or reassurances?

Edit: Since the GP basically did not take it serious, and for me this is a very serious situation that i don't know how can be fixed, i have been thinking of calling an ambulance. I feel something is horribly wrong and i need checking out, wether it's my vitamin levels or something else. Something just feels very very wrong in my head

[Scissel]

Hi ...

Actually sometime increasing the Sertraline by 50mg can cause insomnia problems so I'm surprised (but not surprised) that the doctors are unwilling nowadays to prescribe sleep aids and anxiety medication, it took me a long time to find a good mental health team, but very worth it and I would be in far worse shape had I been stuck with a bad GP. You'd be better to try to get a referral from the GP (if you need one) to see a sleep clinic or a someone trained to handle anxiety as the GP is (and are usually) Limited to what they can and can't do.

Yeah the aura can be hell and I know it all too well myself and meds only do so much and we just wait for it to pass, sad to say and I know that isn't all that comforting for you.

I get this feeling increasing the sertraline to 150mg worsened your situation and this is why I can't go past 125mg (myself). This was a big jump in my opinion from 100mg.

I think your doing what you can and reaching out here is a good start, too.

Please continue the Asmr, mind relaxation techniques, deep breathing, hot bath, magnesium tablets (Magnesium glycinate worked the best for me, but its a little more costly).

I noticed you edited this since I first read it and it feels more serious now, and please, if you feel at any point in danger, do ring the doctors office and call an ambulance with the latter as a last resort if things don't improve.

I'll be here for a few hours if you need to write more on your thread if that helps you.

Rather than go to bed can you conk out on the couch and nap?

I'm really sorry to know your struggling this badly and I really hope this passes, and please, although useless, please let your GP know your situation after the increase of you AD.

All the best to you.

[leoguaje7]

Hi ...

Actually sometime increasing the Sertraline by 50mg can cause insomnia problems so I'm surprised (but not surprised) that the doctors are unwilling nowadays to prescribe sleep aids and anxiety medication, it took me a long time to find a good mental health team, but very worth it and I would be in far worse shape had I been stuck with a bad GP. You'd be better to try to get a referral from the GP (if you need one) to see a sleep clinic or a someone trained to handle anxiety as the GP is (and are usually) Limited to what they can and can't do.

Yeah the aura can be hell and I know it all too well myself and meds only do so much and we just wait for it to pass, sad to say and I know that isn't all that comforting for you.

I get this feeling increasing the sertraline to 150mg worsened your situation and this is why I can't go past 125mg (myself). This was a big jump in my opinion from 100mg.

I think your doing what you can and reaching out here is a good start, too.

Please continue the Asmr, mind relaxation techniques, deep breathing, hot bath, magnesium tablets (Magnesium glycinate worked the best for me, but its a little more costly).

I noticed you edited this since I first read it and it feels more serious now, and please, if you feel at any point in danger, do ring the doctors office and call an ambulance with the latter as a last resort if things don't improve.

I'll be here for a few hours if you need to write more on your thread if that helps you.

Rather than go to bed can you conk out on the couch and nap?

I'm really sorry to know your struggling this badly and I really hope this passes, and please, although useless, please let your GP know your situation after the increase of you AD.

All the best to you.

Thank you for your kind reply! I was also surprised they just upped the sertraline, especially as i know sertraline is famous for its side effects. Maybe i'll start with 125g and go from there.

I was really hoping they would give me something to just knock me out. All i want is sleep. That's why this feels so serious to me because i just cannot get to sleep. Even after laying in bed for hours on end. I've never had this problem before, especially over multiple nights, so it's really scaring me. How long can i go without sleep? I feel anytime now i'm going to be hit with a heart attack

[Scissel]

You're quite welcome and I only wish there were more I could do just at the keyboard.

Yeah, if you can try 125mg that would be a better increase but, honestly, upping the Sertraline was not a great choice and what you needed was something to help you get some sleep, but as I say, doctors are getting pretty tight nowadays with medication due to the fact that others have ruined it for us folk that really need such meds; but don't give up and eventually you can get proper treatment for anxiety and sleep but it won't happen (Please pardon the poor choice of phrasing) "overnight".

I'll try to help you by saying this - you'd be surprised what what the body can handle and what the brain will do to counteract lack of sleep. If the body goes without sleep for too long, the brain will do "Micro Sleeps" and force the body to shut down even for a minute to recharge. How long would (of course) depends on preexisting conditions and existing medical health conditions you are already dealing with. Other than this sleep issue and anxiety have you had any cardiac related issues in the past? Sure, at times, I've also felt at my wits ends and like my body and heart couldn't take anymore, but overtime, I'm learning to live with sleep anxiety and GAD. I am on medication for both but as I sad ... it took a long time for me to get a good team and for years I had poor mental health clinicians and I had to change a lot when things went sour.

I'm hesitant to recommend OTC sleep medication because most *could* have a negative reaction and/or counteract your SSRI,. Maybe 1mg of melatonin, but I would be careful with adding such things. Magnesium can (sometimes) help but only for short term as it gives out after a while if taken every night.

I hope you can relax and welcome sleep rather than fight with it because it will fight you back - if you know what I mean. Try to take is as it comes and relax and rest and try meditation music from youtube, that could help and try to keep your environment calm as worry builds into full blown attacks and only we can halt this process of going down the rabbit hole.

Sorry for the edits - I needed to correct mistakes.

[Scissel]

...Even after laying in bed for hours on end...

OH and this is usually not a very good idea, better to get up after a little while and try again later but just laying in bed and fighting and wishing for sleep won't help. Are you the type that can take cat naps here and there?

[Scissel]

Okay so I'm off for today but I'll be sure to check in with you tomorrow.

Be well and you are strong.

Sal

[leoguaje7]

Okay so I'm off for today but I'll be sure to check in with you tomorrow.

Be well and you are strong.

Sal

Thanks again for your advice, and sorry for the late response. I turned off my computer and tried to sleep... unfortunately to no avail again. Even though i am desperate to sleep, my body just doesn't feel ready. It feels like my nervous system is super overactive. I'm just laying there with crazy random thoughts spinning in my head and my legs have an urge to be constantly moving. I have no idea how to even fix this. Even just a week ago sleeping came so easy to me! It's so terribly frustrating.

[leoguaje7]

You're quite welcome and I only wish there were more I could do just at the keyboard.

Yeah, if you can try 125mg that would be a better increase but, honestly, upping the Sertraline was not a great choice and what you needed was something to help you get some sleep, but as I say, doctors are getting pretty tight nowadays with medication due to the fact that others have ruined it for us folk that really need such meds; but don't give up and eventually you can get proper treatment for anxiety and sleep but it won't happen (Please pardon the poor choice of phrasing) "overnight".

I'll try to help you by saying this - you'd be surprised what what the body can handle and what the brain will do to counteract lack of sleep. If the body goes without sleep for too long, the brain will do "Micro Sleeps" and force the body to shut down even for a minute to recharge. How long would (of course) depends on preexisting conditions and existing medical health conditions you are already dealing with. Other than this sleep issue and anxiety have you had any cardiac related issues in the past? Sure, at times, I've also felt at my wits ends and like my body and heart couldn't take anymore, but overtime, I'm learning to live with sleep anxiety and GAD. I am on medication for both but as I sad ... it took a long time for me to get a good team and for years I had poor mental health clinicians and I had to change a lot when things went sour.

I'm hesitant to recommend OTC sleep medication because most *could* have a negative reaction and/or counteract your SSRI,. Maybe 1mg of melatonin, but I would be careful with adding such things. Magnesium can (sometimes) help but only for short term as it gives out after a while if taken every night.

I hope you can relax and welcome sleep rather than fight with it because it will fight you back - if you know what I mean. Try to take is as it comes and relax and rest and try meditation music from youtube, that could help and try to keep your environment calm as worry builds into full blown attacks and only we can halt this process of going down the rabbit hole.

Sorry for the edits - I needed to correct mistakes.

I'm sorry to hear you're also dealing with anxiety and mental health. It really is brutal sometimes. This year alone i've had 3 or 4 different physical 'flare ups' from anxiety but none as bad as this.
And thanks for the advice on OTC sleep meds, i'll probably give them a miss due to the risks of things getting even worse. I am curious what you mean about magnesium giving out after a while though, as i have heard alot about it being beneficial.

Hopefully when i try to sleep again i'll take your advice and not fight the sleep. Thanks again!

[Scissel]

No worries, just reply whenever you can or need to - I'm not always here either.

Yes it is brutal is right and I'm sorry to hear you're still struggling with this - I hope this will just pass for you. It sucks to have sleep issues when sleep is so important.

Yeah, I'd avoid OTC sleep aids containing diphenhydramine as this can interact negatively with your Sertraline. Perhaps once and a while might be ok but not on a regular basis especially given your increase in dosage. I actually suggest trying the Magnesium - Magnesium glycinate would likely be best for insomnia IMO. What I meant was, if you take it every day your body might get used to it, and as a result it would become ineffective overtime, my body does this, so, perhaps, stagger it and give your body a break for a day or two when taking it regularly. It might give your body the extra relaxation and for a better chance and quality sleep (quality over quantity) ,no doubt worth a try and pay more for the better quality Magnesium. Otherwise expect it to be more of a laxative. Why not try it, but again, I do hope this just will pass for you and anxiety flare-ups usually do for us and we learn to live with this beast.

You're welcome and feel free to post but that was a good idea to turn off the devices at bedtime as that alone can make for a rough nights sleep.

Oh and naps DO count if possible.

And, of course, not rush to reply or need to reply at all just feel better and try to not worry too much, easier said than done, I know that but this feeds the beast.

[Scissel]

OK so this just came to me and likely you already know this, but try to limit caffeine too close to bed time and avoid taking the Sertraline also too close to bedtime.

Almost 10PM here and I'm also going to do the same and turn off my computers and calm my environment and enjoy some Chamomile Tea.

Remember: welcome sleep and don't chase after it, let it come to you.

Be well