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mental health being so cruel

well here i am another early morning as they all are anything from about 3am onwards but has been many many years since i slept past 7am as i always wake up with something going around in my head. for some reason i never seem to get peace in my mind and am always flapping about something due to my depression and anxiety so do all sufferers feel like this?. i looked forward to retirement for quite a few years but now ive got it cant do nothing because of my conditions and there are not many days i just wish i wasnt here just to get some peace of mind. do most with anxiety and depression flap so much like me or is it just me?. have a good day everyone and hope nice things happen to you all.
Replies
My problem is that, even though I'm constantly physically exhausted, I can't sleep for more than 2-3 hours at a time, day or night. I keep waking up, sometimes I can go back to sleep, other times I can't. The only way I can deal with it is not to get upset about it. I sometimes just pray or check my emails or listen to soft music.
I find that I don't have to accept thoughts and worries going on around my head. I can soothe myself with gentle reminders of my many blessings and this really helps me. I'm not saying that this will work for everyone, it just does for me. Perhaps we each have to find out own way of coping. At least you know that you are not alone. Look after yourself.
I often wake wake up at 3/4 am and if I get irritated by it things are worse. So I try to remain calm and try to meditate very gently and mostly I fall back to sleep. Sometimes though I have to take a half dose of clonazepam but I avoid doing so as they are addictive. I also try not to nap during the day.
best wishes.
I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with your mental health, this community is here to support you and you are absolutely valued on here. Mental health can be cruel, and so can sleep problems, but you can absolutely beat them.
I'm glad that you have certain things like your iPod that help you eventually get to sleep. You might find this resource from the NHS useful, it has some good tips about combating sleeping problems that are simple to implement and could have a positive impact.
I'm sorry that it took so long for your depression and anxiety to be diagnosed, but if your GPs and psychiatrist haven't been able to help you enough have you considered getting another referral? A new psychiatrist might have a different approach that works better for you.
Alternatively, there are services from the third sector like charitable organisations that offer fantastic support and could help you on the way to improving your mental health, see this page from Mind for further details.
Also, Samaritans offer a 24/7 phone line that will provide support if ever you want to just talk to someone.
And of course this community is here as well, we always welcome your contributions and will treat yourthoughts and feelings with the respect you deserve.
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I have more trouble getting to sleep in the first place myself. But will wake up around 6am every morning with flashbacks and intrusive thoughts flooding in. And at that time, what can you do? Too early to get up, too late to try and get back to get to sleep... I put the radio on but can only have it on very quietly so as not to disturb the neighbours.
I wish I could totally erase past events and start fresh, but I don't know of any service that offers that treatment yet!
That's no problem
Have you had an assessment from an OT to determine any mobility aids that might be able to help you?
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Here's an article by the Sleep Foundation on the link between anxiety and trouble sleeping.
Have you ever tried any techniques such as improving your 'sleep hygiene', or sleep restriction? I can give you some advice and post some resources if you think that might be useful?
Are you interested in perhaps speaking to a therapist at all? That could help tackle all three problems, and you can make a self-referral without having to speak to your GP first.
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