Is there any cure for Depression and sleeplessness?

yorn · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 15

I've been around enough to see people complain about it, but not often enough to read about any real methods of healing these problems trough medications.

Anyways, I am a terrible sleeper, I used to lay wide awake till 2-3 AM all days, and then wake up around 2-4 hours later feeling like a worthless piece of s**t.
Nowadays I’ve gotten past that problem by doing all kinds of things such as eating and waking up in the morning the exact same time every single day.

But one of my problems still remains. I wake up about 3.5-4.5 hours post going to bed every single night. And that problem in itself causes major depression/anxiety within my overall mental health.
Also my physical health is being affected by it. In such ways as that I catch on every single flue my body happens to come across (lowered immune system).
(In vitro) the lowered immune system keeps me from training. Which makes me physical achievements slowly degrade?

I am yawning all day long, and I experience trouble when focusing at work in school (currently at the Swedish Equivalence of the first College year).
I hate my choirs, my burden of work that I have to carry out every day. I hate myself for not being able to sleep.
But on the rare occasions when I manage to sleep more than 6 hours, I can cope with my burdens and "get along/move on" in life.

daley · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 18

Hi there Hunter

Have you looked at the discussion currently running on here called 'Sleeping!!' I used to believe that sleep deprivation caused my depression, and I used to get VERY wound up about not sleeping, and very desperate/demanding (a bit like you now).

But I've come to realize it's more complicated and that the sleeping problem is actually as much (or, even, more) of a symptom, as a cause, of my depression.

Remember no one ever died from lack of sleep and try to calm down if you can.

Sounds to me like you need to talk ALL of this through with your doctor. If you find it hard to explain in person, why not print out the message you just wrote on here, and hand it to your doctor.

I would have thought any doctor would be willing to prescribe you a couple weeks' worth of a sleeping pill given how distressed you are (unless they consider you to be an overdose risk - which may well be a concern judging by some of what you have written here).

When I go onto anti-depressant medication (SSRI - fluoxetine) it can make my sleeping worse at first and I routinely get sleeping tablets (Zopiclone), to help me through the first couple of weeks (I don't always use them - just nice to know I have them in case things get desperate). It is quite common for the two to be prescribed together, according to one GP I have seen.

yorn · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 15

Thank you, thank you very much *bows*.
Yes, sorry if my letter appeared demanding or cocky in any way. My desperate ways of thinking may more or less suppress my humbleness. Actively I don't try to be a jackass.

I try to be as humble as I can every day. Speaking of something else - I mostly take crap because of it, but that's a whole different story.

This reply of yours has really meant much to me.
Thank you again

Marie · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 25

Often depression can be minimized by physical activity – it can boost your mood, make you energetic, it can also make you feel a lot better about yourself – and help you sleep better.

All you have to do is pull on your walking shoes or become a part of a workout group. Walking is a great way to alleviate your depression since it acts on your brain, affecting changes just as an antidepressant would. Scientifically, it stimulates what is called the ‘vagus nerve’ in your brain and this improves the function of the brain’s emotion sensors and also the heart. Exercise in the form of walking also de-stresses you by giving you more stamina and relaxing you mentally. Researchers have proved that exercise can definitely improve your self perception and your symptoms of depression will reduce gradually.

Even though drugs are good at relieving depression you have to worry about side effects – we all know that. But the effects of exercise as a therapy are long lasting. I mean, you don’t relapse into depression. Also, walking needs no prescription from your doc….and its cheap!

Leo · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 13

I agree with you Marie. Its true that any kind of regular exercise gives you more energy and increases your sense of well-being. Exercise really relieves symptoms of depression and helps you sleep better. And after a good nights rest, you can think more clearly and be alert through the day. You feel less nervous and anxious too. Not only that, you start looking better without the worry on your face, and when you look into the mirror, you feel a lot beter about yourself. Many doctors advise you to take up an exercise routine for a start, instead of medications because for one thing, medications are not cheap and for another, exercise helps in many ways. And as you rightly mentioned - "walk" is cheap Smile

The best thing to do is ask the doc to tell you, based on your specific condition, what would be the most practical and comfortable exercise routine you can handle. Physical therapists can also help you develop an exercise plan.

robin · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 26

Hi,

I didn't think you seemed cocky. Just a bit desperate and wound-up and wired. I know it can get like that when you haven't slept for days.

Do you think you will be able to explain the sleeping problem to your doctor?

yorn · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 15

Yeah, when I’m not sleeping correctly. I know I’m less smart, less creative, and more profound to make mistakes and misjudgments. Also I have this major blast of headaches which keeps me from thinking as effectively. Resulting in that all I ever look forward to is, going to bed.

After a while this clockwork spiral of boring days turning to sleepless nights starts to (literarily) get on my nerves.