How I cured my insomnia
Based on my own experience and all that I have read, I believe that the vast majority of sleep disorders occur due to an underlying psychiatric condition. I have GAD, which used to wake me up every night after 4-5 hours of sleep. I couldn't rest and properly recover and I couldn't lead the active lifestyle I love. The only thing that gave me sleep was Xanax, which can't be your go-to option because of addiction that comes with regular use. So I went to see a GP and she prescribed my Trazodone but to no avail. At that point, she referred me to psychiatrist and that's when things drastically changed. I was prescribed Escitalopram (an SSRI) for treating underlying anxiety disorder and Chlorprothixene (an anti-psychotic) as an auxiliary drug exclusively for sleep. After 3-4 weeks of SSRI treatment, the effect started kicking in. I don't have the middle of the night awakenings anymore. I don't always take Chlorprothixene. The overall anxiety background went away and my mood stabilized. That's when I realized that I actually had a depression for years apart from GAD (because now I can compare my state before and after). TL;DR – I strongly suggest that people see a psychiatrist first if insomnia shows up. Take care and sleep well!
Hi! Thanks for sharing your story with us -- I'm so glad to hear that you were able to get to the bottom of your insomnia. The causes are different for each of us -- for some there are physical factors involved, and for others it can certainly be psychiatric or a combo of both.
Just curious: Did you ever have a suspicion that you might be depressed prior to starting the escitalopram? I also have GAD -- it can be so draining! -- and am so grateful that I could access the support I needed to find stability. Therapy was a huge part of that process for me ... did you ever explore that yourself?
Wishing you peace and restful nights ahead! -Melissa, team memberMelissa Arnold Hi and thanks for replying! Answering your question ― yes, I had been depressed before that but with periods when I thought my depression went away, although it never did ― it would only transform into a lingering, quiet and chronic phase from time to time ― I only realized it during the treatment. I was almost always withdrawn from society, outside my job. totally inactive other than sport, with constant apathy. From my knowledge middle of the night awakenings are the hallmark of depression, so yes ― that also gave me suspicion. But although depression and GAD often stride side by side the treatment from one is almost always the treatment for another ― SSRI. I was so afraid of starting Escitalopram and I can certainly claim that my fears were baseless. SSRIs are a very young class of anti-depressive drugs and they have very high standard safety profile unlike, say tricyclic anti-depressants, like Amitriptyline, which can even induce long QT syndrome. The only side effect of Escitalopram I've had was extremely dry mouth at the start of the treatment. Gosh, you must have felt like a new person when the fog of apathy began to lift! The fears surrounding SSRIs are still so widespread ... and while each person is different, most tend to do pretty well once they find the dose and variety that is best for them. 😀 Positive stories like yours can make a big difference for people who are struggling but scared to take the step. I would also add for others reading along that you don't have to be "married" to medication -- if it's not for you, you can tell your doctor you want to stop, and they can help you come off of it safely.
We are always here Benevolent, if you need us in the future or just want to stick around to participate in discussions. Thanks again. -Melissa, team member
