Stress/Depression and nightmares

CocoRumGirl · 07-25-2005, 02:04 AM

I'm not sure where to post this, but here goes...
I always have problems sleeping, which I am sure is related to my depression. I'm also under alot of stress. I have a good job, but it is emotionally and physically exhausting. I'm getting ready to go back to school...it never ends. I hardley ever sleep more than 2 hours at a time, usually not more than 4-5 hours a night/day, depending on when I work. (I work night shift at our local hospital.). I was in the ER a couple weeks ago with a major asthma attack and panic attack combination. My doctor has told me to reduce stress. Lately, like the past 3 or 4 days, everytime I fall asleep, I'm having nightmares. Things like airplanes blowing up and crashing to the ground beside me, or people being after me. Does anyone else have nightmares when they're under too much stress? Could this be related to my depression also? I take Cymbalta, but if I'm not careful about timing the pill with a meal, it makes me so sick for the rest of the day. It doesn't seem to be working very well anymore anyway. I am so tired, and everything just seems so dark. Sometimes I wish I could just sleep forever. Sorry this got so long. Thanks for reading if you made it this far. It's midnight here now, so I guess I better try to get a few hours sleep. Goodnight, ladies.

just_me · 07-25-2005, 02:24 AM

Hi Daisy!
I so hear everything that you are saying.. since you work in the emergency department, I take it you have access to the medical library. A bit of research will show you that sleep disorders are not unusual with PCOS. You see, sleep is induced by hormones, and what is messed up in us with PCOS??? you got it! The thing that got me the most is that I am exactly like you, in that I get about 2 hours sleep, am up for 2, then maybe, if I am lucky, I can fall back to sleep for another 2 hours. About once a week I pull an all nighter. Not that I try to, I simply can not sleep! Now the question is, are you sleepless because you are depressed, or depressed because you are so exhausted? it can work both ways, you know. Regardless of what the order is, if you fix the sleeplessness, you can handle the depression better.
a few tricks that work for me.... a hot bath before going to bed.. RIGHT before.. some nights I try to skip it, thinking I am too tired and will have no trouble sleeping. But I always end up getting up around 3 am and hopping into the tub! If I just did that at 10pm, I would have been sawing logs long before then! grrrrrr!
Also, I have started taking vitamin B complex, with folic acid, and it has helped with both the depression and the sleeplessness! I still need a bath at night, but at least now once I get to sleep, it is a good sleep... not the one I was getting before!
Have you had a sleep study done? Maybe you have restless leg syndrome or something like that that will not allow you to get a decent sleep. That was what they discovered with me.
The nightmares could be caused by the depression, or stress, or simply because of lack of sleep. Most of the time nightmares are our brains trying to work out stuff that is going on in our real lives. In other words, your brain doesn't stop thinking, it is not getting any rest... have you tried to write down your nightmares, to figure out what your brain is trying to tell you? They don't have to have any deep meaning, just your mind going through what ifs... and frankly, living in a city in the states, and working in the ERI can see where your dreams might be coming from... the threat of terror attacks must always be in the back of your mind.. I don't know for sure, I am up in Canada, so I am guessing, but maybe just the threat is lingering in the back of your mind, and you are working that out every night in your nightmares...
That is my 2cents worth, I hope you can get something out of this that helps you!
Tracey

mmariee88 · 07-25-2005, 03:16 AM

Hey I take Cymbalta too, and I have noticed that if I take my pill then go to sleep I have bad nightmares. This has not happened with any other meds, as I have taken many antidepressants. I am Bipolar and have trouble sleeping cuz my mind races, a mood stabilizer helps eith the sleep. Can you get your doc to give you sleep meds? You might want to try a new anitdperessants, Effexor works really well!!!

CocoRumGirl · 07-25-2005, 03:39 AM

Thanks for the input. Tracey, let me clarify. I don't work in the ER. I had to spend half the night down there when I had the attacks on the floor that I do work on. We had a code and I was doing CPR when I had the asthma attack. I had the panic attack when I couldn't breathe and breathing treatments and my inhaler didn't help. I have tried hot baths. It works while I'm actually in the tub. It seems I get my best sleep there. LOL. I haven't had a sleep study, but I did have sleep apnea. It resolved after my tonsillectomy. I slept much better after that. I guess I should have added that the problems restarted after my fiancee and I broke up 6 months before our wedding day. Everything's been going down hill after that. My mind races when I try to sleep. I like to burn some incense at bed time. It seems to relax me a little, but not enough.
Mmariee...I too have been on several different antidepressants. I am on something for sleep too. My doctor gave me restoril, but I'm still having problems. I think I'm going to change doctors soon. Maybe she will be able to get it straightened out before I completly lose my mind. Thanks for the replies.

Gunnie · 07-25-2005, 03:57 AM

Sandy,

I have a very stressful job also, along with a stressful family life. When I was on anti-depressants, I think it was Effexor, I started having nightmares, and I hardly ever get them. Then all of a sudden it was happening like every 2 weeks. It may be your medication, compounded with the activity of your busy job, and the PCOS. Just let your dr. know who prescribed the anti-depressent and see if that is a side effect. I was switched immediately when I told my dr.

heather090702 · 07-25-2005, 01:52 PM

I know what you're saying! I sleep TERRIBLY! I always have horrible nightmares, slasher film nightmares, emotional nightmares, physical nightmares and psychological nightmares. It is neverending. Lately I have been doing a little better since I started taking my anti-anxiety meds. To me, a non-professional, it sounds as though you are suffering some pretty good anxiety yourself. Is that what your med is for because I have never heard of it? Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I am right there with you and that I hope things become less stressful for you and you are able to work things out. If you need anything, please ask! We are here for you!

Heather