![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by garnet71 on April 24, 2009, at 22:28:31
Can bad sleep cause anxiety or does anxiety cause bad sleep? I'm such a light sleeper, I hate it. I have a lot of lucid dreams, though not as much recently, but it's like my brain won't let me leave consciousness. It always wants to stay on and be active instead. Then I used to be conscious of my sleep paralysis--and be paralyzed for a moment, sometimes longer, trying to move. I hated that.
I have a 2 story home and always sleep with my bedroom door closed. Even so, for example, if someone downstairs were to light a match, I instantly, well abruptly, wake up from the smell. Then I can't go back to sleep. I'm not really having anxiety now, but was like this for a long time.
Just wondering how important sleep patterns are to our brain function, but more specifically to anxiety. I know sleep is very important, but does anyone here know about this subject?
Posted by Phillipa on April 24, 2009, at 23:20:23
In reply to sleep and anxiety, posted by garnet71 on April 24, 2009, at 22:28:31
Garnet for me it's extremely important. Light sleeper as well ear plugs still hear things. I do think if anxious trouble falling asleep and waking up early cause my sleep is messed up from years of worrying about sleeping. Love Phillipa
Posted by desolationrower on April 25, 2009, at 0:00:33
In reply to sleep and anxiety, posted by garnet71 on April 24, 2009, at 22:28:31
well, we still don't really know why sleep is necessary, but yeah bad sleep->anxiety and vice versa. although, keep in mind subjective experience of sleep and actual quality are often very different.
-d/r
Posted by Zana on April 25, 2009, at 9:57:26
In reply to Re: sleep and anxiety, posted by desolationrower on April 25, 2009, at 0:00:33
My pdoc says a good 8 hours of sleep is always her 1st recommendation. Thats what I take remeron for. Anxiety can certainly interfer with sleep.
Hope you can get a good night. It makes a huge difference to me.Zana
Posted by jms600 on April 25, 2009, at 12:13:05
In reply to sleep and anxiety, posted by garnet71 on April 24, 2009, at 22:28:31
Anxiety can certainly cause insomnia and - with me in particular - poor/little sleep can certainly increase anxiety the following day. If I have a poor night's sleep I'm utterly useless the next day. My anxiety goes through the roof, I feel physically unwell, I have no energy (I guess that one's an obvious one). The only thing that helps is a good night's sleep the following night - no amount of napping during the day seems to help.
This is probably a silly question but have you considered sleeping medications or sedating antidepressants?
From what you have said you sound an ideal candidate for Agomelatine.
Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 26, 2009, at 14:45:07
In reply to sleep and anxiety, posted by garnet71 on April 24, 2009, at 22:28:31
Anxiety can cause sleep problems can cause anxiety (as I'm sure you're experiencing, unfortunately). But sleep problems are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I have read studies (and my very decidedly non-alternative psychiatrist has brought this up too) that sleep deprivation is a bit of a curative for depression. On the other, if you are in REM sleep a lot, you are not in stage 4 sleep, and that's the restorative part, the part that repairs our muscles and get things all nice and fixed up so we feel refreshed in the morning.
I am in REM sleep way, way too much. Trazodone is supposed to help that, and to some extent I do think it increases stage 4, but not enough for my liking.
Posted by sowhysosad on April 26, 2009, at 15:37:45
In reply to Re: sleep and anxiety, posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 26, 2009, at 14:45:07
> I have read studies (and my very decidedly non-alternative psychiatrist has brought this up too) that sleep deprivation is a bit of a curative for depression.
Yeah, I experimented with sleep deprivation earlier this week, limiting myself to only 3 hours. Although I felt physically exhausted, my mood was massively improved. My dopamine level in particular seemed much higher.
> I am in REM sleep way, way too much. Trazodone is supposed to help that, and to some extent I do think it increases stage 4, but not enough for my liking.
I think that's been my problem too- sleeping excessively but having tons of REM sleep. Ironically I've been on a tricyclic, which is supposed to improve depression by supressing REM sleep, but it seemed to have the opposite effect for me!
Posted by Phillipa on April 26, 2009, at 21:45:40
In reply to Re: sleep and anxiety, posted by sowhysosad on April 26, 2009, at 15:37:45
Never sleep deprivation for me as if don't get sleep no functioning at all the next day. Phillipa
Posted by manic666 on April 30, 2009, at 12:55:43
In reply to sleep and anxiety, posted by garnet71 on April 24, 2009, at 22:28:31
i am a crap sleeper , get up all the time for a wizz or walkabout, but having said that my wife only ever sleeps 3 to 4 hours every night an to her thats normal.
Posted by Garnet71 on May 4, 2009, at 21:19:48
In reply to Re: sleep and anxiety, posted by manic666 on April 30, 2009, at 12:55:43
well Manic-I wish I was like your wife and only needed 3-4 hours' sleep!! Lucky her!! my father was like that too his whole life.
So I slept 3 hrs. last night; had a long day and thought I'd go to sleep early tonight. So I just feel asleep for TEN WHOLE MINUTES...got woken up by a door closing....and now will be up 1/2 the night and only get 3 hrs of sleep again..that's the way it always happens. sleep 10 minutes-and can't fall back to sleep. yes, it makes anxiety worse I think...
I dont' get it! So would sleeping drugs mitigate being a 'light sleeper'? Not that i want to take more drugs..are there any alternative remedies? herbs? vitamins?
Almost everytime I get a chance to get a good nights sleep-wanting to catch up--it doesn't happen. But for some reason, I stopped having lucid dreams. I haven't been remembering my dreams very well either...does anyone know what that means?
I need my sleep!
Posted by Garnet71 on May 4, 2009, at 21:23:40
In reply to Re: sleep and anxiety, posted by Garnet71 on May 4, 2009, at 21:19:48
Hey - doesn't norephinephrine regulate your autonomous nervous system in part, effecting sleep patterns/breathing during sleep? What about about hormones and sleep - patterns vs. regulation/Melatonin?
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.