Mental Health, Physical Health, and Insomnia: A Perfect Storm

I have bipolar disorder and panic disorder. I am going through perimenopause and have IBS. If that were not enough, I also have an undiagnosed medical condition with all sorts of annoying symptoms. Now add in hypothyroidism because I’m not having enough fun with all the other diagnoses. Having multiple medical issues aggitates insomnia and generates the perfect storm.

All of these things affect my sleep. Together, it adds up to a perfect storm. It’s 1 big circle of symptoms with each condition impacting the other. Round and round it goes, agitating me to no end.

Multiple medical issues causing and agitating insomnia

I was enjoying a period of time when I slept through the night on a normal schedule. I was sleeping for hours without waking. That suddenly stopped recently. Now I am waking 3 or 4 times in the early morning hours. It isn’t as bad as it was before, but it’s still annoying.

Not getting enough sleep agitates my mental health issues. Mental health issues can cause insomnia and fatigue. Perimenopause can cause insomnia and fatigue. Hypothyroidism can cause insomnia and fatigue. Insomnia and fatigue are symptoms of all of these conditions I have. While I have had insomnia for most of my life, it is agitated by all of these fun things. Yay!

Treating the root cause

Effectively treating insomnia usually involves treating the root cause if known. While I have never been able to effectively treat it, I daresay the combination of conditions wouldn’t be easy to keep under control at all times.

Perimenopause is a state of perpetual change. I cannot take hormone replacement to treat it. I am simply left to deal with it. Mental health issues include a certain level of anxiety that never goes away no matter how well my mental illnesses are controlled. I am newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism and just beginning the journey to get it under control.

Controling multiple illnesses

I don’t see how it would be possible to keep all of this in check at all times. Knowing that med changes are inevitable over the years, I know change is expected. I expect the treatment of hypothyroidism to be the same. Adjustments will be needed over time. Perimenopause and menopause are going to take me on a roller coaster ride for a few years, and all I can do is throw my hands up and try to survive the ride.

All of this adds up to a perfect storm destined to cause a lifetime supply of sleepless nights. It seems my path in life is to endure decades of insomnia-fueled fatigue. Realizing my plight only worsens my mental health. And just like that, it keeps the circle going round and round. Physical health affects mental health and mental health affects physical health and its effects are driving me mad.

Lost at sea with a raging storm of illnesses

Each new medical issue affects my mental health and I seem to have 1 diagnosis after another. As the storm rages on, I am tossed back and forth like a ship adrift in an angry sea. I feel battered by tumultuous waves of illness after illness and the many symptoms keeping me awake and suffering with relentless fatigue.

Do you have multiple medical issues that agitate insomnia and conditions affecting your sleep? How do you cope? I would love to hear your tips and tricks for weathering the storm.

Please share your story and comments below.