Topic: Sleep disorders.
Thomas3474's photo
Wed 12/03/08 04:10 AM
I was wondering if anyone else has sleep disorders.I often suffer from sleep paranoia where I wake up a average of once every half hour thinking there is people breaking into my apartment.I get out of bed and walk around and look around the apartment.I do it so often I hardly realize I am doing it.I also wake up at a certain hour and think my life is ending.Usually it is around 4:20 am.Due to my constant waking up and going to sleep I can often sleep 10-14 hours a day.Typically I just work and sleep.I suffered from night terrors through my teens and mid twenties.Anyone go through anything like this?

no photo
Wed 12/03/08 04:16 AM
Don't really need an answer to the following question, just something to answer for yourself. Have you ever had your house broken into, been robbed or mugged, etc? If so, could be stress from that coming through. That happened to me, not every night but off and on for years, still does on occasion.

Have you talked to your doctor? There are lots of things you can take to help you sleep. I have to take trazodone sometimes, it's an anti-anxiety drug that helps you sleep and in my case, I don't dream when I take it. Not saying drugs are your only option, of course, but a decent doctor can help you figure out a way to manage this.

Moondark's photo
Wed 12/03/08 04:35 AM
Night terror's I know of. I've not heard of sleep paranoia before. I don't know the answer to it. But I do know that if it is affecting your sleep enough to be affecting your life, get to a doctor to try and figure out something that works for you.

a7777's photo
Wed 12/03/08 07:53 PM
Sounds like you may have post traumatic stress disorder. The symptoms you describe are consistent with the disorder. People who have this disorder have had a life threatening experience at some point.

Marie55's photo
Wed 12/03/08 08:07 PM
I agree you need to check in with your doctor, all that broken sleep is hard on your body, you don't get any really good rest. The doctor can give you some med to help you sleep. You could also do some counseling to get to the root of the issue and deal with it, if it is PTSD (posttraumatic stress) then the counseling would help you deal with it and resolve the issue, come up with ways to work through the issue. You will be a lot happier if you find a way to work through it. Lots of sleep aids out there, Lunesta, clonazepam, others, trazodone works well like Suz said. But I think you should talk to your doctor and get some advice/help.

Good luck.

Holly4459's photo
Wed 12/03/08 08:16 PM

I was wondering if anyone else has sleep disorders.I often suffer from sleep paranoia where I wake up a average of once every half hour thinking there is people breaking into my apartment.I get out of bed and walk around and look around the apartment.I do it so often I hardly realize I am doing it.I also wake up at a certain hour and think my life is ending.Usually it is around 4:20 am.Due to my constant waking up and going to sleep I can often sleep 10-14 hours a day.Typically I just work and sleep.I suffered from night terrors through my teens and mid twenties.Anyone go through anything like this?



I work in a sleep disorder lab and this is a similar complaint of many patients...
You need to go to a sleep specialist (a doctor specializing in sleep medicine)- check you phone book - Pulmonologists are often associated with sleep labs and can refer you to one- also your general practioner may be able to refer you to a sleep lab.

Once you have an over night sleep study- they will be able to see the nature of your sleep patterns,
and what is causing you to wake up this way- and the fatigue it may be causing during the day.
It can be treated - and you should be able to have a more comfortable and restful night of sleep. But you need to go have that sleep study!

DaronLe's photo
Wed 12/03/08 08:40 PM
I use to suffer from the night terrors. It was due to the fact that I was actually suffering from anxiety panic disorder. I would have an anxiety panic attack in my sleep and wake up gasping for air. Scared me half to death. I realized I needed to go see a doctor. I was given a clean bill of health however I was diagnosed with anxiety panic disorder and put on two forms of medication. One to release more seratonin in my brain for calmness the other was to help me relax and sleep at night. The night terrors went away in about 3 days and I sleep a constant 8 hours now. I still have anxiety attacks but they are much more managible and happen less often. The whole key is that once your brain realizes there is no threat you will become more peaceful with your situation. I have been on medication for 1 month now and have seen a tremendous improvement. I feel for you because I went through all of that. This disorder will not kill you...if it did I would be long gone. Get some professional help so you can live a more productive happy life....I promise it will get better for you if you do that...Best of luck

Thomas3474's photo
Thu 12/04/08 04:02 AM
I do appreciate the information and feedback I have read.I have thought about going to see a sleep doctor but it is very expensive even with insurance.I will continue to do research and will probably see a specialist.I thought maybe if I just had a better job,or a better car,or apartment maybe it would just go away.Although as I get older it has seemed to mellow out a little.

I would like to blame it on post traumatic stress but it started at such a early age I honestly can't think of what could have triggered it.When I was in the military it made it much much worse.Once I was sleeping on my command post instead of the barracks and I had a night terror and it scared everyone out of the room.I woke up to the sounds of "come on out of there"and was greeting by a bunch of people pointing hand and shotguns at me.My friend said he saw me and said "you scared the sh** out of me.I have never seen anything like that".Because of that reason I rarely date and it's even rarer if I spend the night with a woman.Even if I do I usually stay up all night to keep from going to sleep.Sometimes I feel like those kids on "A nightmare on elm street".

Daronle thanks for that post.I have been thinking of what you said and it fits into something I remember a while back.I remember waking up one time and it felt like a elephant was sitting on my chest.I think I was having a anxiety panic attack like you did.

no photo
Thu 12/04/08 04:07 AM

I do appreciate the information and feedback I have read.I have thought about going to see a sleep doctor but it is very expensive even with insurance.I will continue to do research and will probably see a specialist.I thought maybe if I just had a better job,or a better car,or apartment maybe it would just go away.Although as I get older it has seemed to mellow out a little.

I would like to blame it on post traumatic stress but it started at such a early age I honestly can't think of what could have triggered it.When I was in the military it made it much much worse.Once I was sleeping on my command post instead of the barracks and I had a night terror and it scared everyone out of the room.I woke up to the sounds of "come on out of there"and was greeting by a bunch of people pointing hand and shotguns at me.My friend said he saw me and said "you scared the sh** out of me.I have never seen anything like that".Because of that reason I rarely date and it's even rarer if I spend the night with a woman.Even if I do I usually stay up all night to keep from going to sleep.Sometimes I feel like those kids on "A nightmare on elm street".

Daronle thanks for that post.I have been thinking of what you said and it fits into something I remember a while back.I remember waking up one time and it felt like a elephant was sitting on my chest.I think I was having a anxiety panic attack like you did.



Hiya Thomas! Go see a doctor, just your regular doc, it's a good place to start. Tell him/her everything you've said here, you'll be amazed at what they can do. This is affecting your whole life and it sounds like it's time to deal with it.

I have pstd and anxiety attacks, it sounds familiar to what you're going through. I really can't remember all the causes of my pstd, either. But, for the most part, at least I have the symptoms under control. flowerforyou

no photo
Thu 12/04/08 08:40 AM
I have a sleep disorder. Dont know why but have had it for awhile. I can go days without sleep. Drs have prescribed medicine the helps but worry about the "Addiction facter". Now I have a problem with over the counter sleep meds. Tylonal Sleep. Im afraid of whats its doing to me. I go friday to dr and hope I can get the help I need. Funny thing they worry about addiction but fail to take in account OTC Meds.

AngieH79's photo
Thu 12/04/08 10:56 PM
I think it's the town you live in :wink:

{{{Thomas}}}

Thomas3474's photo
Fri 12/05/08 01:24 AM

I think it's the town you live in :wink:

{{{Thomas}}}


290 days of overcast skies don't help much do they Angie?

cutelildevilsmom's photo
Fri 12/05/08 01:31 AM
Edited by cutelildevilsmom on Fri 12/05/08 01:35 AM

Don't really need an answer to the following question, just something to answer for yourself. Have you ever had your house broken into, been robbed or mugged, etc? If so, could be stress from that coming through. That happened to me, not every night but off and on for years, still does on occasion.

Have you talked to your doctor? There are lots of things you can take to help you sleep. I have to take trazodone sometimes, it's an anti-anxiety drug that helps you sleep and in my case, I don't dream when I take it. Not saying drugs are your only option, of course, but a decent doctor can help you figure out a way to manage this.


I take the trazodone occasionally also.good stuff.I too suffer from anxiety/panic disorder and have awoken from sleep ready to run like the wind or with my heart beating a mile a minute.No fun.

no photo
Sat 12/13/08 03:45 PM
i suffer with a sleep and anxiety disorder and other mental illnesses which i wont go in to. for sleeping i have zolpidem and chloral hydrate and have lorazepam for my anxiety which does help.if you want to talk, feel free to email me xx debbie xxflowers flowers

no photo
Sat 12/13/08 05:46 PM
I used to go through real bad cases of "night terrors"- it's kinda like sleepwalking, but you're totally freaking out and screaming and the whole bit. Some would get SO bad that I'd actually fall off the bed, which has happened a couple of times.

The funny thing is that I don't remember said events at all the next morning. In fact, I'd call B.S. on someone who'd come up and tell me that I freaked out the night before.

But now I just go through bouts of insomnia with the occasional "sleep paralysis" now and again.

no photo
Sun 12/14/08 02:10 PM

I used to go through real bad cases of "night terrors"- it's kinda like sleepwalking, but you're totally freaking out and screaming and the whole bit. Some would get SO bad that I'd actually fall off the bed, which has happened a couple of times.

The funny thing is that I don't remember said events at all the next morning. In fact, I'd call B.S. on someone who'd come up and tell me that I freaked out the night before.

But now I just go through bouts of insomnia with the occasional "sleep paralysis" now and again.


i get night terrors and sleepparalysis and its not pleasant, i sympathise with you flowers flowers flowers

Redshirt's photo
Sun 12/14/08 02:18 PM
I don't know anything about "night terrors". Do have sleep apnia and use a bipap to help with it. Also have restless leg syndrome and take meds for that.

My ex had RLS real bad. The meds they put her on before the sleep study made her have nightmares.

Best advice...Talk with a Doc.