Fatigue anxiety insomnia and depression.

[Blknight.aus]

Anyone who suffers?

does it get worse when you're tired and cold?

how do you break the cycle?

[gavinwibrow]

Anyone who suffers?

does it get worse when you're tired and cold?

how do you break the cycle?

PM sent

[Fattima]

Anyone who suffers?

does it get worse when you're tired and cold?

how do you break the cycle?

For me yes it does.
I stay away from grog, worst thing you can do is self medicate. I've had a really tough year and that sparked a few issues for me. I've got back into a regular exercise routine, that helps me feel a bit better. I have forced myself to me more social (I have a tendency to isolate myself when I'm not in a good space) and get back into doing things I love doing like getting away camping.
It is tough and I'm not saying I've got the answers just what helps me.

Feel free to reach out anytime.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Dave,

Feel free to send me a Private Message at any time.

Regards
Lionel

[Tins]

Not the insomnia, I sleep too much. Getting up can be hard. Talking is good. Therapy is a better form of talking. Socially, as I live alone, joining a choir was the best thing I could have done. But talking. Having someone who keeps an eye on you.

Dave, this is a massive topic, and a few years back I tried to get a sub forum going, but I see it's too fraught with potential comebacks for Dave to risk it. Like others have said, feel free to contact me if you need. You are not alone with this one.

[BradC]

All 4. I manage the insomnia with Phernergan (and have been for 30 years). The others come and go as they please. I have tried a couple of medications over the years, all of which worked but invariably the cure was worse than the disease. I'd rather manage without them than suffer the side effects.

[RANDLOVER]

When I had a reaction to a covid vaccine that caused anxiety, sleeplessness, and loss of appetite. I've tried stuff you can buy at Colesworth, Valerian for sleeping and ashwaganda for anxiety, and lavender spray is supposed to be calming. At the pharmacy OTC (Over The Counter) for sleeping I've had "Restovit", IIRC if over 55 y.o. you can get Melatonin which is called "Circadan". From a doctor's prescription I've had "Temazapan". The natural stuff took the edge off enough for me that I only used one Temazapan, and the Restovit worked well enough for me that I've only taken half a pill at a time. Prayer also helps, which works on the theory that it is good to have something bigger than yourself to help you get through.

[350RRC]

I can relate to some of this, mainly the relationship between anxiety and sleep.

For a couple of months a year I'm collecting data on lobster boats out in the real ocean. Days worked per week can vary from 0 to 7, hours worked per day from 6 to 14. Departure time from 11.30 pm to 6 am, back in port from 10 am to 4pm.

A few years ago I noticed that I could not sleep the night before I left to get to the most distant ports. This situation did not improve over the ensuing days, the worst week I had would have been 3 hours sleep over 6 days and there was 4 hours of driving each way in the mix.

There is a lot involved in what happens on board, what has to be very accurately recorded, a lot is in the dark and the weather can be very ordinary. Every boat is different.

The anxiety about not sleeping was causing lack of sleep which caused more anxiety,,,,,,,,,,,,,,etc.

Got a script for melatonin (Circadin) which did nothing, was given stronger melatonin to use, did nothing,
then got a script for tamaz from longterm GP.

Half a tab when I'm concerned about not sleeping and in 30 mins I'm out like a light. I'm happy with 6 hours and happy to not feel drowsy after.

The interesting thing is that just knowing I have them 'in case' often means there is no anxiety and I don't take any.

It's a pragmatic approach but it works for me.

DL

[POD]

It might be worth pointing out that temazepam is a benzodiazepine, a sedative, so whilst it will probably put you to sleep it is probably not a great idea to allow yourself to become reliant on it for sleep. Like opiates, resistance will develop and increasingly greater doses will be required to achieve the desired effect, whilst the undesired effects will increase with the dose.

I have been finding myself trending toward depression of recent months, also experiencing insomnia. I associate it with changes in my life since retirement and changes in my body associated with ageing. I am trying to make changes in lifestyle to improve energy levels.

[NavyDiver]

Anyone who suffers?

does it get worse when you're tired and cold?

how do you break the cycle?

Breaking a cycle is one step first followed by the next. Everyone has opinions and some work or some and others are over no use to many.


I slept like the dead despite hundreds of people on warships and kids. I could also wake up with the right prompt happily.

Post exit from hospital I was so frightened I would never stand, walk or run that sleep was almost impossible to sleep. Honestly could not lift my legs for a month or two. While a wheelchair was better than being unable to move at all it was tough plus getting across a two lane each way road for coffee[thumbsupbig]

Melatonin failed until a nice Dr told me a trick. Lighs out, no reading, no TV, no radio and no talking in a dark silent room. As soon at those boxes ticked Melatonin knocked me out for 3 to 4 hours every time. I wake up at 4 am ish.

Breathing trick via 'Serenity' app was a bit helpful. Serenity: Guided Meditation - Apps on Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.serenity.guided.meditation&hl=en-US&pli=1)

Finding our happy/contented place is not everyone's happy place. Take my running bent for example. Reading my third line may give some understanding why.

Chatting with your GP is often the best start! Or finding a GP that fits you if yours doesn't rock your boat!

PS 'a bad place' is not where we choose to stay. Move it to a better place [thumbsupbig][thumbsupbig][thumbsupbig]

[BradC]

Chatting with your GP is often the best start! Or finding a GP that fits you if yours doesn't rock your boat!

Absolutely, and this applies to your entire support network. A decade and a half ago I was suicidal. I was referred to a psychologist who's first challenge was "So, go on. Don't talk about it, do it then!". I can see where she was coming from (*now*) but back then that wasn't what I needed to hear. Doctors of any kind are like shoes. Sometimes you need to try a few on (since we live in the land of #metoo, I want to be clear that's in the metaphorical sense) before you find the right fit.

Even then, I went to the same psych for 15 years, but when my son died it became clear she wasn't the right fit anymore (and we both agreed on that). My GP referred me to a guy who is ex-special forces and specializes in PTSD. I don't have PTSD because after 15 years of help I had enough introspection to know I needed help with the trauma and my GP knew enough to believe me. The process to deal with the trauma wasn't "nice", but it worked and I no longer need to drink myself to sleep every night. There is no longer any trauma to harden up as PTSD.

I still need help to get/stay asleep at night, and for me promethazine hydrochloride does that. It's a generic antihistamine. In me, doesn't build tolerance, isn't addictive and works. I started taking it topically when I was 25. I started taking it every night when Callum was diagnosed and I was taking enough (in concert with Jamesons) to tranquilize an elephant for years. About 6 months ago a pharmacist told me "less is more" and I tapered off from 75mg to 10mg. He was right (for me). If I stop it cold turkey it progressively takes me 4 nights to get back to a sleep rhythm. When **** gets bad I get back on it.

My GP said "if that works for you, it's not addictive, doesn't build tolerance so just go for it". It works for me and has done since about 2000 (mostly) on and off.

[Drewalkins]

I started walking every morning and keeping a notebook by my bed to jot stuff down before sleep—it actually helped more than I expected with feeling less wired at night.