Rock bottom

[wowfudge]

I posted recently about feeling overwhelmed by everything that's been going on - working ft, studying and work going on on the house. Did the exam last week, was okay but I don't think I will have passed. Not feeling any better with it out of the way, not sleeping very well - waking several times and often not able to get back to sleep. Stressed and anxious still. Dr has prescribed temazapan today to try to break the lack of quality sleep cycle and talked about the risks and possible issues. I'm really looking forward to decent quality sleep tonight, but I'm scared in case it doesn't make a difference to how I'm feeling.

hope it helps. Often we feel better if we have had some sleep.

I woke three times. So disappointed as I was really looking forward to sleeping. Feel crap today.

Thats a shame. How many times have you been waking up recently. And how long does it take you to get back to sleep?

Thanks for the flowers earlier - I appreciate them. I've been waking several times - at least two, usually three or four. I can't remember the last time I slept through. Typically I think it takes twenty minutes, sometimes more, to get back to sleep I think. If my brain kicks in and I start thinking about things then I can't get back to sleep. I don't look at the clock if I can help it. If I can't get back to sleep and it's after 5am, I give up trying to sleep and go and make a drink.

I am wondering if something other than what's going on in my head is waking me - but it's not something constant I notice once I'm awake. I wear earplugs as I have always been a light sleeper though. Think I'll try sleeping in a different room tonight.

Are you staying off electronic devices for an hour before going to bed? The blue light interferes with production of the sleep hormone.

Yes I am. I woke twice last night

Sorry to hear that. It will take several days for the medication to take effect. It might also be worth spending some quiet time before you go to bed and actually asking yourself - "what do I want to worry about" - you can then make a list and promise yourself to give everything some proper thinking time during the following day. That way you may be able to train your brain to worry about things during the day rather than at night.

Temazepam is a Benzo not an AD so it doesn't take several days to work. It should work with 1/2 hr and be out of your system pretty much by next morning.
You could ask GP for stronger dose but I found that wearing a sleep mask helped me during night time waking, especially at this time of year when it is so light (light hits eyes and brain wakes up) when I was taking Temazepam.
There are the hypnotics / Z drugs that might work better such as Zopiclone but Temazepam has muscle relaxation action qualities, so would guess that your GP knows what they are doing in specifically prescribing this over a z drug. Suggest you go back to your GP and discuss.

Yes, I think I might have to do that. I sleep in a very dark room - blackout curtains, etc so I do do all the things you are supposed to.

Went back to the doctor's. Saw different doctor who asked what exactly was I expecting to get from going back to see them? Well, I'd like to get a good night's sleep. She was really rather aggressive, said she wouldn't have prescribed temazapan as they are the strongest thing that they can give and there's nothing else she could suggest if they hadn't worked. Then said I must be really on edge when I started crying. God it was awful.