[livingwith]

I have been having trouble sleeping for about 27 years ever since one night I was kept awake the whole night by my son who had an ear infection. The next night, when I finally got into bed, I was extremely exhausted but couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned for about 3 hours and finally slept for 1 1/2 hrs, that’s it. After about a week of this, I went to my doctor who prescribed sleeping pills for ten days to help establish my sleep pattern, but when the ten days were over, the pro...Read the full article

[Jlhmc]

Hello fellow insomniac. I've had insomnia ever since I had a panic attack that woke me up out of a sound sleep 40 years ago. I went for at least 5 days without any sleep. I began to hear voices and I was petrified. I was hospitalized at Bethesda Naval Hosp. for 10 months! Back then they didn't know much about insomnia, or panic disorder. The psychiatrists were outright cruel to me! I was only 18 at the time. I tried everything except acupuncture. I FINALLY was hospitalized again in my 30's, and my psychiatrist was wonderful. He put me on Doxepin, which I take every night, and Xanax as needed. I still have many nights where I wake up, but any amount of sleep that I do get I am thankful for. I can get by on four hours but it's difficult. Personally, I don't think most doctors take insomnia seriously enough. I was suffering from depression so badly that I dropped out of high school, and felt so alone for much of my late teens up until my 30's, due to insomnia. I hope that you find some kind doctor who understands, and gets you some relief. Just wanted to share with you because being an insomniac can feel so lonely. Not to mention the effects it has on goals, such as a career.
Sincerely,
Jlhmc