Hi everyone,
I have recently (within the last 3 months) experienced several life stressors (work stress, shingles, bereavement) and my sleep has just gone to pot. This has happened once in my life before (during Covid) but was rectified by a short course of zopiclone. This time I have continued to struggle with sleep - often only getting a few broken hours a night. This has triggered anxiety and I am experiencing absolutely horrendous anxiety at night which terrifies me. I am also getting anxiety in the day which I am less resilient to as I am exhausted.
I started a CBT-I course for insomnia but the night time anxiety prevents me from taking the 'laid back' approach to wakefulness that they want me to achieve. I can read, watch tv etc but ultimately I am sat there at 3am with a racing heart, nausea, numbness etc. My anxiety in the day is also getting worse.
I am having talking therapy but only one session in. I have been doing this sleep course and relearning healthy habits about sleep. I am doing all of the good lifestyle stuff to try and improve my mental health.
Last night and today have been particularly awful with sleep and anxiety. I feel so so anxious and frightened that I'll be stuck like this forever. I am literally terrified and ruminating on worst case scenarios. I have spoken to several GPs, a MH nurse and sleep coach. No one is offering me consistent guidance and I feel so at sea.
I also found out that I am around 5 weeks pregnant with a much wanted baby. I feel numb. All I can focus on is my anxiety.
I am due to speak to the GP again today. Previously they indicated that antidepressants were only useful for anxiety when the person also has depression (which I don't feel I do - when I get a good natural sleep, I feel fine). However I am now desperate to feel better and feel really scared. I can't look forward to anything in my life.
Does anyone have any experience of taking anti depressants for anxiety or taking them during pregnancy? I do not want to hurt my baby. I would be so grateful for any experiences.