Afraid to sleep

[Munro]

Hi. Im new here. Ive recently started getting tingling on one side of my face and after 2 doctors not having a clue it was decided i have nerve pain and i would just have to deal with it. I googled this condition and it scared the hell out of me. Ive now noted waking up with a dreadful headache. Now im too afraid to go to sleep because i dont want to wake up with these headaches. I saw a new doctor today and he suggested i was suffering from anxiety and he is going to send me for mental health assessment. In the mean time i am terrified to sleep. Any ideas please? I am desperate.

[blondguy]

Hi Munro

Welcome to the forums and good on you for having the courage to post too!

Im sorry for the delay in you receiving a reply.....we are usually pretty quick

Its awful when we have a repetitive headache...regularly...that we cant explain. That said....you are proactive with your health by seeing your GP....Good one Munro!

My background is chronic anxiety for 13 years followed by depression (under management from my GP).....just to let you know out of respect.

If I can ask if you have any current or recent mega stressful events happen in your life? This may be an underlying reason for the headaches.

I understand the confusion with your feelings and your doctors point of view. This would be a terrible place to be in Munro. Can I ask if your GP provided any information about his diagnosis of anxiety?

If you could provide any additional information about any stressors on your life we can help you more effectively

There are many gentle people on the forums that can be here for you. The forums are also judgement free too!

I hope you can post back with any more thoughts or questions you may have 🙂

My kind thoughts.....(in the meantime please be gentle to yourself and have a good sleep..you deserve it)

Paul

[Munro]

Hi Paul. Thank you for your reply. As for stressful things in my life..well i am a Forgotten Australian . 1 of over 500thou kids bought up in orphanages and foster care. There was an awful amount of abuse. I believe that my stress has always been simmering inside but i was too busy with my kids as a sole parent to notice. Now they have grown, bam. So no surprise really. My doctor gave me a script today to start for anxiety. It seems one starts low dose and works up..i must admit that im a bit edgy about starting these meds but i will. Thank you again for the shoulder..it means a lot.

[blondguy]

Hi Munro and thankyou for posting back too

Im really sorry about the early part of your life. You are stronger than I am Munro. I am 58 and trying to rebuild my life a piece at a time. I cant even begin to fathom what you have gone through in your life

I have had revolting symptoms of anxiety when I was in my 20's (in the 1980's) and I always thought I could self heal and I was wrong. My GP (female) gave me a serious kick in the butt for trying trying to self heal for 13 years and also put me on a small dose of a antidepressant to help me get some peace back in my life...

I had bad problems driving in traffic...sleep quality was awful....I guess I was a nervous wreck that continually refused meds....to my shame.

You have a good doc Munro. Even if you want to keep the dosage at a small level that is up to you....especially if you are feeling better.

I started posting on the forums 2 years ago after being made redundant. I was just looking for some people that also had what I was suffering from. I never thought for a moment that I would end up being a volunteer . I was a mess

Can I ask if you have one or two (or more) people that are a support network for you when times are tough?

I think I have about 3 people that I can count on if my depression revisits me.

The meds are nothing to be overly concerned about Munro. People take meds for high blood pressure and diabetics take their insulin. Our meds are no different.

Thankyou heaps for the super kind post about me being a shoulder... It means a lot to me Munro 🙂

I really hope you can stick around the forums....we all learn off each other. Even though we are arent enabled with immediate chat, its great to have you as part of the Beyond Blue forum family

you are not alone by any means Munro

Paul

[Munro]

Hi again Paul. Your story is oh so similar to mine. Im 59 and back when i was 23 i literally melted down. I had horrendous anxiety attacks and ended up on some hefty meds and thankfully i had a good doctor around! I ended up with agrophobia as i was terrified to even go check my mail. I never told anyone back then the childhood secret i harboured because it was still so secret and no forgotten australian was game to speak up. Since then of course it hit the news and just recently the royal commission into sexual abuse wound up after 4 years. Its been a very emotional time for a lot of people. I offer my hand in friendship reading your experience..i ask..is it because the stigma attached to mental health that isolated so many? Thankfully we have places like this now. Rest assured, i appreciate from deep in my heart you sharing with me and trusting me with your personal journey. It really has helped me pick up just that little bit knowing there are people that are prepared to open up. Yes i do have a bit of support from my grown daughter . She is a gem but i hate to burden her at times.

[blondguy]

Hi Munro

Its a small world. I was also 23 when the chronic anxiety fired up. Its a nasty condition and hard to understand especially in those first few years. As you mentioned the stigma associated with mental illness has resulted in some sufferers becoming isolated including myself.

After all we are not exactly the life of the party when we are suffering from this awful condition. In the 1980's the focus/awareness on mental health was no where near what we have now....thank goodness

Its lovely to have you as part of the forum family Munro 🙂 I hope your sleep quality doesnt deprive you of the peace you deserve in your life

My Kind thoughts

Paul