Bad anxiety and insomnia - please tell me how you got through this....

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Having a terrible time. Really feel unable to cope with it. Also really, really don't want to use drugs for it. Very scared of bad reactions and trouble coming off them again (I have family members in this position). How on earth can I pull myself out of this horrendous vicious cycle? Any hopeful stories? TIA

I do have a couple of lowest dose temazepam, which I could try to use one of to break the cycle. But I used half of one last week, and while it helped me for a night, it didn't solve anything and here I am....

I think it it is impacting on your day to day life this badly, then medication really is the only option.

I can understand why you’re scared, I was too, but they are life changing.

Thank you for responding. What meds did you find helpful? I've been looking at mirtazapine but am really scared by stories of how difficult it is to come off

I really don't want an SSRI. I'm pretty sure they don't agree with me.

I’ve been on Citalopram and Sertraline previously, I probably should have gone on them a lot sooner to be honest. Both worked and I’m not on anything anymore.

Is it worth having a chat with your GP about possible options?x

My GP prescribed the Sleepio app, you get it from the NHS website. I have gone from 3 hours 45 a night to 5 hours in a week. I'm delighted

What's the root cause of the anxiety? Is it something you absorbed/copied in childhood? Or is it something caused by your present situation?

I was really struggling at the start of last year, I’d taken a few hits emotionally and wasn’t able to get out from under it. I found and saw a therapist, which in itself was huge for me, taking that step. She was a really big help and she suggested mirtazapine to help both with the anxiety and the insomnia. I took it every night for several months and now very rarely take it. I didn’t feel any effects from reducing it. I have to say though, if you do opt for it make sure you aren’t doing anything the day after the first dose, it totally wiped me out!