Zoloft insomnia ruined my life. Is zoloft insomnia destroying your life? Are you on Zoloft and suddenly find that you cannot sleep?
Did you experience more than a day of Zoloft insomnia?
Have you been unable to sleep for one day, two days, even three days? There is nothing worse than taking a drug to help you, and not being able to sleep.
How can you save yourself from this insomnia nightmare?
I think the first strategy that you can employ is to stay as far away from Zoloft as possible.
And that is not just for Zoloft, but for every type of antidepressant.
When your Doctor suggest that you take Zoloft, to take the edge off, or to reduce your depression.
Tell your Doctor that you want to first try exercise and diet to manage your depression.
Try out a month of walking, weight lifting and eating real food daily.
Do everything that you can to avoid Zoloft insomnia.
You do not want to experience that zombie feeling of being spaced out.
You do not need to walk into your office and not know what is going on.
You do not need to be rendered useless because of insomnia from anti-depressants.
It is in your best interest, to try and manage your depression in other ways.
Hopefully, your doctor is open minded and willing to explore an alternative treatment for major depression.
If you suffer the common side effect of Zoloft insomnia, you risk losing more than sleep.
You risk losing your job.
You risk losing your marriage.
You risk losing your relationship with your children.
You risk losing a lot more than your sleep.
So, do not treat the potential side effect of Zoloft insomnia lightly.
Plus, you might think that once you get off of Zoloft, your insomnia will just disappear.
Not so.
You can suffer with insomnia for years, even after you have stopped taking Zoloft.
It is almost impossible to have good days if you cannot get rest.
There have to be better alternatives to depression than anti-depressants!
Especially, when these side effects, like Zoloft insomnia, are documented.
Of course, Zoloft insomnia is not the only type of insomnia.
But you can be sure that insomnia is a known possible side effect of insomnia.
You owe it to yourself, to protect yourself from negative side effects of anti-depressants.
Lift weights to lift depression.
Deadlift to lift depression.
Eat real food daily to manage depression.
Antidepressants can help some people in some situations.
Antidepressants can also destroy people.
As mentioned, even after getting off of antidepressants, you can still be left with insomnia.
Even many years later.
So, whether your insomnia is a result of antidepressants like Zoloft, or from other causes, here are some tips for you to deal with insomnia.
The following article was written by:
Authors: Joanna Saisan, MSW, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Robert Segal, M.A. Last updated: June 2011
Insomnia Causes, Cures, and Treatments
Do you struggle for hours to get to sleep, no matter how tired you are?
Or do you wake up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours, anxiously watching the clock?
If so, you’re in good company.
Insomnia is a very common sleep problem.
It’s frustrating to toss and turn during the night, only to wake up bleary-eyed at the sound of the alarm and drag through the day exhausted.
Insomnia takes a toll on your energy, mood, and ability to function during the day.
Chronic insomnia can even contribute to health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
But you don’t have to put up with insomnia.
Simple changes to your lifestyle and daily habits can put a stop to sleepless nights.
Insomnia is the inability to get the amount of sleep you need to wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Because different people need different amounts of sleep, insomnia is defined by the quality of your sleep and how you feel after sleeping—not the number of hours you sleep or how quickly you doze off. Even if you’re spending eight hours a night in bed, if you feel drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia.
Although insomnia is the most common sleep complaint, it is not a single sleep disorder. It’s more accurate to think of insomnia as a symptom of another problem. The problem causing the insomnia differs from person to person. It could be something as simple as drinking too much caffeine during the day or a more complex issue like an underlying medical condition or feeling overloaded with responsibilities.
The good news is that most cases of insomnia can be cured with changes you can make on your own—without relying on sleep specialists or turning to prescription or over-the-counter sleeping pills.
Causes of insomnia: Figuring out why you can’t sleep
In order to properly treat and cure your insomnia, you need to become a sleep detective. Emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression cause half of all insomnia cases. But your daytime habits, sleep routine, and physical health may also play a role. Try to identify all possible causes of your insomnia. Once you figure out the root cause, you can tailor treatment accordingly.
- Are you under a lot of stress?
- Are you depressed? Do you feel emotionally flat or hopeless?
- Do you struggle with chronic feelings of anxiety or worry?
- Have you recently gone through a traumatic experience?
- Are you taking any medications that might be affecting your sleep?
- Do you have any health problems that may be interfering with sleep?
- Is your sleep environment quiet and comfortable?
- Do you try to go to bed and get up around the same time every day?
Common mental and physical causes of insomnia:
Sometimes, insomnia only lasts a few days and goes away on its own, especially when the insomnia is tied to an obvious temporary cause, such as stress over an upcoming presentation, a painful breakup, or jet lag. Other times, insomnia is stubbornly persistent. Chronic insomnia is usually tied to an underlying mental health or physical issue.
Psychological problems that can cause insomnia: depression, anxiety, chronic stress, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder.
Medications that can cause insomnia: antidepressants; cold and flu medications that contain alcohol; pain relievers that contain caffeine (Midol, Excedrin); diuretics, corticosteroids, thyroid hormone, high blood pressure medications.
Medical problems that can cause insomnia: asthma, allergies, Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, acid reflux, kidney disease, cancer, or chronic pain.
Sleep disorders that can cause insomnia: sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome.
Anxiety and depression: Two of the most common causes of chronic insomnia
Most people suffering from an anxiety disorder or depression have trouble sleeping. What’s more, the sleep deprivation can make the symptoms of anxiety or depression worse. If your insomnia is caused by anxiety or depression, treating the underlying psychological issue is the key to the cure.
For example, maybe you’re using sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep, which disrupts sleep even more over the long-term. Or maybe you drink excessive amounts of coffee during the day, making it harder to fall asleep later. Oftentimes, changing the habits that are reinforcing sleeplessness is enough to overcome the insomnia altogether. It may take a few days for your body to get used to the change, but once you do, you will sleep better.
Habits that make insomnia worse:
- drinking a lot of caffeine
- drinking or smoking before bed
- taking naps during the day
- an irregular sleep schedule
Some habits are so ingrained that you may overlook them as a possible contributor to your insomnia. Maybe your daily Starbucks habit affects your sleep more than you realize. Or maybe you’ve never made the connection between your late-night TV viewing or Internet surfing and your sleep difficulties. Keeping a sleep diary is a helpful way to pinpoint habits and behaviors contributing to your insomnia.
All you have to do is jot down daily details about your daytime habits, sleep routine, and insomnia symptoms. For example, you can keep track of when you go to sleep and when you wake up, where you fall asleep, what you eat and drink, and any stressful events that occur during the day.
Adopting new habits to help you sleep
Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool. Noise, light, and heat can interfere with sleep. Try using a sound machine or earplugs to mask outside noise, an open window or fan to keep the room cool, and blackout curtains or an eye mask to block out light.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Support your biological clock by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, including weekends. Get up at your usual time in the morning even if you’re tired. This will help you get back in a regular sleep rhythm.
Avoid naps. Napping during the day can make it more difficult to sleep at night. If you feel like you have to take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes before 3 p.m.
Avoid stimulating activity and stressful situations before bedtime. This includes vigorous exercise; big discussions or arguments; and TV, computer, or video game use. Turn off all electronics at least an hour before bed.
Limit caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Stop drinking caffeinated beverages at least 8 hours before bed. Avoid drinking in the evening. While alcohol can make you feel sleepy, it interferes with the quality of your sleep. Quit smoking or avoid it at night, as nicotine is a stimulant.
Insomnia cures and treatments: Neutralizing anxiety when you can’t sleep
The more trouble you have with sleep, the more it starts to invade your thoughts. You may dread going to sleep because you just know that you’re going to toss and turn for hours or be up at 2 a.m. again. Or maybe you’re worried because you have a big day tomorrow, and if you don’t get a solid 8 hours, you’re sure you’ll blow it. But agonizing and expecting sleep difficulties only makes insomnia worse. Worrying about getting to sleep or how tired you’re going to be floods your body with adrenaline, and before you know it, you’re wide-awake.
Learning to associate your bed with sleeping, not sleeplessness
If sleep worries are getting in the way of your ability to unwind at night, the following strategies may help. The goal is to train your body to associate the bed with sleep and nothing else—especially not frustration and anxiety.
Use the bedroom only for sleeping and sex. Don’t work, read, watch TV, or use your computer in bed or the bedroom. The goal is to associate the bedroom with sleep alone, so that your brain and body get a strong signal that it’s time to nod off when you get in bed.
Get out of bed when you can’t sleep. Don’t try to force yourself to sleep. Tossing and turning only amps up the anxiety. Get up, leave the bedroom, and do something relaxing, such as reading, drinking a warm cup of caffeine-free tea, taking a bath, or listening to soothing music. When you’re sleepy, go back to bed.
Move bedroom clocks out of view. Anxiously watching the minutes tick by when you can’t sleep—knowing that you’re going to be exhausted when the alarm goes off—is a surefire recipe for insomnia. You can use an alarm, but make sure you can’t see the time when you’re in bed.
Insomnia cures and treatments: Using supplements and medication wisely
When you’re tossing and turning at night, it can be tempting to turn to sleep aids for relief. But before you do, here’s what you need to know.
There are many dietary and herbal supplements marketed for their sleep-promoting effects. Although they may be described as “natural,” be aware that sleep remedies can still have side effects and interfere with other medications or vitamins you’re taking. For more information, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
While scientific evidence is still being gathered for alternative sleep remedies, you might find that some of them work wonderfully for you. The two supplements with the most evidence supporting their effectiveness for insomnia are melatonin and valerian.
Melatonin. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that your body produces at night. Melatonin helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin is also available as an over-the-counter supplement. While melatonin doesn’t work for everyone, it may be an effective insomnia treatment for you—especially if you’re an extreme “night owl” with a natural tendency to go to bed and get up much later than others.
Valerian. Valerian is an herb with mild sedative effects that may help you sleep better. However, the quality of valerian supplements varies widely.
Prescription sleeping pills for insomnia
While prescription sleep medications can provide temporary relief, it’s important to understand that sleeping pills are not a cure for insomnia. And if not used carefully, they actually make insomnia worse in the long run. It’s best to use medication only as a last resort, and then, only on a very limited, as-needed basis. First, try changing your sleep habits, your daily routine, and your attitudes about sleep. Evidence shows that lifestyle and behavioral changes make the largest and most lasting difference when it comes to insomnia.
Authors: Joanna Saisan, MSW, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Robert Segal, M.A. Last updated: June 2011
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