Stress Center Peer Support

Sleep issues can, I suppose, have physiological or psychological origins and I sure don't mean to play physician or shrink. So these are just my thoughts. First, I'm inclined to trust nature. Sleep may not be so great one night or two or three, etc. But then the brain will say "Enough" and order sleep. Try and give it a chance. If you wake up, relax and try and think of pleasant thoughts. Trust the brain and body to get the necessary sleep.

Next, you can do some things to help it along. Some claim warm milk before sleep helps, meditation before sleep can help, and enough exertion of energy during the day so that you are actually tired at the end of the day may help.

Wish you the best.

Tina, I miss you. I don't have anything to contribute to this post other then Tylenol PM, but I miss you.

I miss you too, always. Truth is my sleep has been disrupted. Too much to tell, but I almost regularly wake up in the middle of the night. Sometimes I'll just go over my Gratitudes till I drift off again. Other times I get up and write a page in my "Book," go back and know sleep will come, as it does. When the wind is howling or rain is splashing, I like just resting and listening. On nights you are working I think of you and your stunning strength, determination and accomplishments.

KATM02 wrote:I feel you about not sleeping i've always had sleeping issues with falling asleep and now I'm waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety and unable to go back to sleep worried about how I'm going to get through school with this sleep issue. My doctor gave ne trazadone for a while but it made me shaky and off. I just want to sleep one night through I feel sorry for anyone with sleep issues. If u have any advice on exercises or things to take to help sleep I'd greatly appreciate any advice at all.

Well I started walking a lot and trying yoga... on demand for free. I found out I am very low on iron which I read can cause insomnia and anxiety so I stated iron and a multi vitamin and calm magnesium an anti stress drink. And I bought power to sleep pm, but I started sleeping again Thank god! so I have not tried it yet my husband has and said it works good and does not make you groggy in morn that’s why I bought it check it out on Amazon has great reviews and all natural. I have been drinking sleepy time extra with valerian a tea and it relaxes me before bed.

I am happy to report its been a year and I am back to normal. All I been doing is staying on top of taking my vitamins and eating better. Being deficient can cause oh so many issues like anxiety symptoms, not sleeping, even other illnesses my life was falling apart was told by many doctors just anxiety I was fainting, heart issues, hair falling out, loss of wt, even abnormal paps ( animmia causes low folic acid which can bring on cervical cancers to start.) all from vitamin deficiencies low iron causes low folic acid, low on your B's. my ferritain level (type of iron test) was a 7 now a 60. No more heart racing or palps i am Sleeping great, no more fainting. Went to 4 hospitals no one tested me for this yes all my blood work kept coming back normal so they said just anxiety and gave me Meds. Please go have these simple test done by your doctor. Ferritain level should be 50 or higher. I did not sleep for 4 months would go 6 full days with out sleep than few hours here and there. I hope this can help someone who may be going through the same thing. It took me months to feel better don't get dis courage. Takes a while to build your immune back up.

dear lexi:

I am so glad you are feeling better now !

I have not slept well for several years and I have no idea if I could even fall asleep at all without
the sleeping pill I take every night. Very scary to take the sleeping pills, especially after you read
up about them and find out that they are to be prescribed for short term use only. I have been
taking Lunesta for quite a long time now. I used to take 1 pill, now I take 1/2 a pill each evening.

I am taking prescription medications for anxiety/depression/mood disorder which I will be
eliminating entirely within the next six months. Wish me luck. I cannot stand the doctors just
throwing the pills at me either. Pills, Pills, Pills. My psychiatrist sees me once every three months
for a few minutes and then writes up a new script for all of my pills.
He barely even knows me

I am 51 years old and I take more pills than anyone in my
entire family. Sure I have had those panic attacks and anxious episodes, along with
depression and a "mood disorder". Sure I have had those trips to the Emergency Room
for all of the above, plus migraines too. Sure I have been admitted to the Behavioral
Health Center after I had a "nervous" breakdown. But that was 5 years ago and I am ready
to move on instead of standing still.

I too am iron deficient . I was so iron deficient that 3 years ago I had to
go to the hospital to get a blood transfusion
I now take two iron pills each day.

I am also B12 deficient. I recently took a series of
monthly B12 shots to raise the level of B12 in my system. I think that they told me that having
those 12 monthly shots would give me enough B12 in my system to last 5 years?

I am going through menopause, also, and I am
very convinced that hormones play a large part in how you feel, whether it be sleep or anxiety
or depression.

I have nodules on my thyroid, but I do not take any kind of thyroid medication at this time.
I have heard that the thyroid is very important and that if it is not working properly it
can really mess up your health. Does anyone know any more about the thyroid and how it works

Well, after my sleeping pills are gone I am going to start taking melatonin to see how that
works out. I am working on the program right now for the second time, I am on Session Four.


Lynda