Sleep Problems

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2006
Sleep Problems
11
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 8:01am
Anyone else have a really difficult time sleeping? By the end of the night I am so tired I fall right into bed and crash. However, every couple hours I wake up, and I have nightmares, not to mention the baby tends to wake me up occasionally (He's excited because he's learning to walk, and wants to wake up and play sometimes... plus, he just cut two teeth). I've been trying to only take my ativan on an as-needed basis, but I eat half a pill almost every day. I'm afraid that I might get addicted to it if I start taking it at night, too. Any thoughts?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 9:15am

I wouldn't worry about becoming addicted to the ativan as long as you're taking it as prescribed & not taking more than what's ordered. Many of us have had temporary spells of poor sleep & taking the ativan may help. It doesn't mean you will be taking it every night, forever:) This will pass.


There's alot of sleep info in our *coping tips & tricks* folder below. I have to have a set

 

 


 



Avatar for peoplearenuts
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 9:47am

I have recently been having insomnia. No nightmares when I do sleep. I have been taking Xanax to fall asleep until I find an anti-anxiety med that works. I wouldn't worry about the Ativan unless you're exceeding the recommended dosage. If you feel you need more, talk to your doctor. With a little one and a job, you have a lot on your plate, so it's understandable your sleep is a little disrupted.

Is the Ativan supposed to be taken one whole pill at a time? Have you tried that? Maybe that will help your night time sleep. I have tried taking 1/2 a Xanax and it doesn't do it, I need a whole one.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2004
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 12:09pm

Yes, I've had sleep problems for years. I was over on the Insomnia board every day for awhile a year ago.

Some ideas: sometimes writing out your thoughts and daily problems before bedtime/ sort of a journal helps to get those obcessive thoughts out and so you can get to sleep easier.

I heard this idea over at the insomnia board, then recently I learned of a new theory about Generalized Anxiety Disorder, that scans show high levels of activity in areas of the left frontal lobe (associated with language). The theory is that in anxiety disorder, negative or obcessive thoughts about problems and conflict get "stuck" in your left brain, because somehow you are not crossing the problems over to right brain which activates a physical response like crying etc. to release the psychological stress...writing it down or doing some kind of expressive art...sort of finishes the cycle and allows you to process the stuff with your right brain.

It was just interesting to me, because my creation of art seems to sort-of work that way for me...I never feel the highest levels of anxiety when I'm working on art or writing regularly.

Also don't eat for a few hours before bedtime.

Good luck & Hugs,
Dee

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2006
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 12:18pm
It's just rough trying to get in an exercise routine or anything because I am usually so busy. I don't nap. I might try reading before bed like I used to, although usually I'm so tired my eyes are impossible to keep open by the time my baby goes down for the night. lol.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2006
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 12:22pm
My doctor started me off on half a pill, and I suppose I will try it before I go to bed tonight and see if it helps. :D I usually only take it once a day, yesterday I didn't need it and today I haven't taken any, so ... maybe I'm just paranoid about the addiction.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2006
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 12:26pm
That is definitely an interesting theory - I have been trying to write more to release some of the tension. I didn't think of trying it before bedtime, but I think I'll do that too. Thanks for the suggestion.
Avatar for peoplearenuts
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 2:28pm

That is so interesting! My dh (who has ADD and suffers from depression) and I were talking about how important creativity is. I was saying that even though my work might be considered creative by some people (I'm a desktop publisher) it's just work to me, and that it's been years since I've done anything really creative just the sake of doing it. I used to be really into photography, and I did all kinds of crafty stuff like making potpourri, etc (it kills me now that I had time for that, those were the days). I have been feeling for a long time that I don't have enough creative outlets.

Have you read a book called "The Courage to Create?" My dh said it's really good. I was saying how one of my coworkers who has anxiety said her MIL told her that in the old days the men in the white coats would have taken her away. And dh was saying that the fear of being packed away in an asylum was probably a big motivator for people just to deal with whatever mental difficulties they were having - if you let people know about it they'd label you as crazy. I said that might be true, but if you look back in history many of the most creative and successful people in history have suffered from depression, learning disabilities, etc.

It turns out my therapist is an art therapist. We are going to start doing some art therapy. She said that she's found highly articulate people are often so controlled about how they express things, and that having them do something artistic is another way to get them to express things that they won't (or can't) express verbally.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2004
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 3:33pm

I have tons of art supplies and scrapbooking stuff lying around, but I hardly ever have time to use it unless I'm taking an art class. LOL Unfortunately this semester and next are going to be pretty packed with other subjects...this is a good reminder that my sanity will thank me if I can squeeze in some art!

I'll look for "Courage to Create", sounds interesting!

Smiles,
Dee

Avatar for peoplearenuts
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 3:42pm
My therapist had me do a collage during our session last week. When we were done she asked how it felt. I said "I was stressed, it felt like work." LOL Mostly because I knew I was on the clock while I was doing it. She said it didn't even occur to her that a collage would be so similar to my work (page layouts etc), so next time she's going to have me work with charcoal, which I don't have much experience with. She said she was surprised at how I just whipped through it, and didn't expect to see such a "finished" product in 20 minutes.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
In reply to: toroia
Sat, 11-04-2006 - 5:49pm
I think that getting enough sleep is sooooo important to our well-being.

Sheri Ann

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