KoriaDesevis's Journal: My trip to the doctor

I got to the doctor's office about a half an hour before my appointment, after misjudging the traffic. Since the doctor was running an hour behind schedule, I got to sit for an hour and a half. :/ Anyway, when I finally saw him, we played 20 questions.

"Getting lots of exercise?"
"What about your caffeine intake?"
"Allergic to anything?"
"Worried about anything?"
"Any major changes at home or work?"
And so on.

He decided that I am likely just in a bad habit at this point, and he wants to break the pattern. So, he prescribed a very mild antidepressant for me to take at bedtime to try to disrupt the pattern. If that does not work, he will up the dose in a week. If that still doesn't work, I get to go on to a specialist and will probably be dealing with a sleep study.

I *really* am not too hip to the idea of taking antidepressants. I am willing to follow his advice, though. We shall see how it goes.

Q - but I can type more than that for my subject

[Red Warrior]

Have you tried good old fashioned sleeping pills? Insomnia seems to run in my family (I don't know if it has a genetic component or not, but it sure seems that way), and I have gone through phases like that. I find that sleeping pills (Unisom) do the trick. Out for 8-10 hours at a pop. I don't do that until I'm desperate, because they work exceedingly well, and I would likely sleep through the house falling down.

Antidepressants.

[enforcer999]

Koria,

Before you choose to take them you need to talk to a friend of mine. Actually, he is my best friend and he knows about this stuff. I will forward your link and I hope he posts.

I am so concerned about these drugs. You are a vibrant and intelligent woman that has an imagination. It is not uncommon for people like you to feel stressed or depressed. Intelligence might have something to do with it.

I am concerned about any drug because of my work. If you choose to take one than it is fine

Re:Antidepressants.

[KoriaDesevis]

please excuse the rant.

Actually, I appreciate your thoughts on this. I don't like the idea of taking antidepressants. I don't feel the least bit depressed or stressed - I just can't sleep through the night to save my life. When the doctor recommended antidepressants (albeit a very low dosage), I was not exactly excited by the idea.

I'll take any advice/suggestions/rants that anyone can offer me. If I can get through the night without having to take pills, I'd much rather do that.

Re:Antidepressants.

[Scott Lockwood]

There are newer SSRI/SSNRI drugs that are perfectly safe, and don't have a drastic effect on you. I'm taking one. I've taken them for years. They're very safe.

That said, if you run 3 to 5 miles a day, after work, you will not only sleep like a baby, but eventually you'll need less sleep in general.

Antidepressant or Anxiolytic or sleep aid?

[Centrifuge]

Hi Korea! I am the friend that Enforcer talked about, and she asked me to comment here. Please be patient with me; I am not used to the /. format yet. First off, I want to let you know that I am not a medical doctor, so any advice I have should not be construed as "medical advice." However, I am a cognitive neuroscientist (Ph.D.), and have worked in the behavioral pharmacology field for several years at Johns Hopkins. I do not do that work now, but have kept up with the literature. I am glad that your

Sarah's Sleep Tips

[SarahAnnAlien]

I've had insomnia... well, forever, I think! Treated on and off for the last fifteen years. These days it's pretty well under control. Here's what helped, and what didn't:

Things that help me sleep (note that most of these are not drugs!):

A regular schedule - this is the one thing that helps me the most.

Quiet time before bed - if I'm busy right up until bedtime I always have trouble sleeping.

Warm milk/bananas/turkey - these will occasionally work

Enya - will sometimes help me sleep.

Hard Rock - paradoxic

this will sound insane

[ellem]

don't look at your clock.

turn it away from your view.

when you wake up at 4AM I bet the first thing you do is look at the clock. Stop that.

And the stress in your life is that you can't sleep, which, not surprisingly is waking you up.

keep us posted in this. anti-depressants seem an odd choice here.

Re:this will sound insane

[KoriaDesevis]

Actually, this doesn't sound all that insane. It makes some sense. You're right, the first order of business for me is to look at the clock.

Re:this will sound insane

[ellem]

Me: no, no... Don't look at the clock
Koria: So as soon as I awake I should look directly at the clock?
Me: No. You aren't to look at the clock at any point.
Koria: So you're saying as I sleep I should look at the clock? That doesn't make sense. I should look at the clock as soon as I am conscious.
Me: *fizzle*