Chronic insomnia but not depressed

[TimHh]

Hi, new to this forum. I have suffered from severe insomnia for nearly 20 years with levels fluctuating from mild to extreme over the years. I do not suffer from depression though which is commonly associated with insomnia. I am generally an anxious person but not in the extreme.

My problem with insomnia is complex. If I have a mattress that is nice and soft I'm usually able to fall asleep and get a few hours rest, but this has not occurred for me in 12 months now, as I feel that my mattress is just not right for whatever reason. I load it up with foam overlays to soften it, but if I feel the spring beneath is too firm, I still cant sleep, I just cant seem to switch off and fall asleep. I have bought and sold 6 mattresses alone this year in 2021 and have not been content with any of them. I am at my wits end trying to get enough sleep to survive each day. I run a business and it impacts that negatively aswell as my relationship with my partner. I am constantly fatigued, this in turn stops me from exercising as I'm just too tired to do so, a self perpetuating vicious cycle. The problem is so limiting that I no longer travel anywhere as I just cant sleep wherever I go, it really is a terrible feeling of being trapped in this problem.

I have tried everything to try and address my insomnia, from natural supplements, to CBT therapy, even a sleep study overnight stay, some 10 years ago. I didn't sleep at all during the overnight stay at the sleep clinic, so thought they would be able to diagnose a course of treatment for me, but all they said was perhaps take some anti depressants, I was shocked this was all they could offer, which brings me to my next point.

My partner has has recently suggested taking an anti depressant, so I went to my GP and asked him about that and he agreed and prescribed me SSRI antidepressant, so now I am sitting here wondering whether or not I should be taking an anti-depressant to treat my chronic insomnia??? im not depressed at all (or at least I don't think so) and its scares me that it will alter my brain architecture for the worse, rather than for the good, but perhaps its worth a shot? Will increasing my seratonin levels cure my insomnia?? I'm really in the dark about anti depressants and their ability to help curb or treat insomnia. I would really appreciate some help or advice as to what to do. Thank you all for listening to my story, I just hope I can find something to help me beat this problem.

Cheers, Tim

[Croix]

Dear Tim~

Welcome here to the Forum (a little light reading for late at night:)

As someone recovering from PTSD, bouts of depression and ongoing anxiety together with physical pain I'm not unacquainted with the wee small hours.

Over the years I've been prescribed many different sorts of medications, and for me anti-depressants either did too little or too much. I guess the trick is to find one that helps you sleep, but does not leave you hung over the next day or longer.

Trying different meds is a tedious busines, tailing off one then slowly introducing another.

I'm glad I persevered as eventually I was put on one that did help. It allowed relaxation exercises I'd been taught years ago to actually work, and more often than not I'd get to sleep, at least for a fair number of hours - with no hangover.

So while under medical supervision some people will try, I did and eventually am happy wiht the result.

Please bear in mind I'm talking from a sample size of 1 🙂

Please let us know how you go

Croix

[The_Bro]

Gidday Tim - thanks heaps for posting, takes some courage to bring it all out like you have.

I was in a similar position when I had my own retail business, but was able to improve things a lot with exercise.

I have three questions to ask you:

1. Have you considered diet? I know from experience that sugar in the evening is a real pest for sleep as the sugar hit subsides and your blood levels go awry. Maybe an experienced naturopath or nutritionist could help.

2. What are you thinking about that is stopping you sleeping? There must be lots of brain activity, maybe subconscious goings on that you are not consciously thinking about.

3. Exercise? - you did say that you are too tired to exercise. Another trigger that makes me wonder about diet. Maybe you might set little exercise goals - eg setting a time for an evening run then beating it, so you go to bet later feeling you have achieved something!

Anyway this is pretty superficial but how often are complex issues solved with a simple remedy?

I sincerely hope your condition improves with time,

If you try any of the above, it would be great to hear back from you!

Bye for now, The bro