Being on anti depressants isn’t the worst thing in the world. And quite often a small dosage for a shorter amount of time (around 4-6 months) can help ‘even your keel’ so to speak, so the non drug methods of dealing with your anxiety work.
I was on a very low dosage of AD’s for 4 months, then weaned off at 1/2 strength for 2 weeks. This was so we could try for a baby.
I have managed to use the tools that the psychologist gave me effectively since. But as I am prone to PND due to having both a personal and family history of depression & anxiety, I will return to the “happy pills” if they’re needed.
I will definately take something if I have to but my problem is that I am so sensitive to that stuff that most I have tried make me totally out of it I recently had such a bad case of the flu that my doctor gave me some ambien to help me sleep the lowest dose they have and I cut it in half but I still was totally comatosed the first night and loopy for the next whole day!And I have had the same expierience with a couple of anti depressants so I am going to try extra hard to avoid them if possible.
One thing that helps my insomnia is falling asleep to the tv. (Luckily, DH doesn’t mind.) It not only distracts me from my tinnitus (ringing in the ears), but it really helps keep my mind off of whatever I may worry about when I’m left alone with my thoughts. A lot of times I will wake up again in the middle of the night, but I just turn the tv on again. (The turn-off timer comes in very useful here.) CNN and documentaries seem to work the best. It still takes a while to fall asleep sometimes, but at least I’m learning about something rather than stewing over not being able to fall asleep, which I’m sure only compounds the problem.
I do sometimes take Benadryl if I’m having a real problem, and that usually but not always works for me. When I worked in a hospital (15 years ago), a lot of patients were prescribed Benadryl for sleep so I think it might actually be okay for long-term use – unlike some other medications that are made specifically for insomnia. (As you probably know, Benadryl is really an antihistamine – anti-allergy medication – that has a side effect of drowsiness. It’s also great for nausea so you can use it instead of dramamine for sea-sickness – just remember that it’ll probably make you sleepy! I personally prefer ginger capsules for nausea, but if you’re in a pinch…)
Another recommendation I have is taking vitamins. I know it sounds weird, but I’ve been taking them for the last few months and my previously chronic headaches (and even the insomnia) seem to have lessened. Maybe it’s coincidence, but it can’t hurt. I prefer the Viactiv chews because I have a really hard time swallowing those yucky pills. The chews are almost like candy, though the multi-vitamin one does have a teensy bit of vitamin taste – not any worse than the taste of say, a clif or luna bar, though. I’m sure they are better absorbed than highly compacted tablets too.
I’m glad you plan to ask your physician for a referral to a pdoc – I, like many others, spent many miserable years not-very-successfully coping with major depression because I didn’t want to “resort” to ADs. There is less of a stigma now, but some people still think that willpower alone can cure any psychological problem. Depression, anxiety, and related disorders can be reactive (situational) but they can also just be plain biologically-based and some of us just have a chemical imbalance that will be much more receptive to meds than any amount of cognitive therapy. One thing I do suggest is to research any meds before you take them, if you elect to go that route. (There are a couple I would stay away from just because they have shorter half-lives and make you more susceptible to unpleasant withdrawal syptoms if you stop taking them, or even just miss a dose or two.) Let your doc know that you are sensitive to drugs so you can start extra slowly.
Good luck w/ your appt and let us know what happens. We are rooting for you!
The symptoms you have may be related to depression and anxiety. But one very often over looked thing is peri-menopause. The 10-15 years before menopause can have sleep disturbances, anxiety, many physical changes that seem like seperate disorders. When treated seperately the underlying problem isn’t adressed. Read up on it on line and see if any of it sounds like you. Talk to the doctor about it. It may not be depression/anxiety alone, that just may be a symptom. I have no idea how old youare but these symptoms can begin in the 30’s.
