Posted by Guy on August 14, 2007, at 15:01:21
It is so frustrating to have phobia (of insomnia), panic (when I don't sleep) and generalized anxiety (from having all those stress hormones racing around my body all day long.) The bottom line is that if I knew how to relax, I would be off my meds within a few weeks and live happily ever after. As it is, I have to sedate myself constantly just to get the sleep I need to function. Even with the doxepin and clonazepam, I am alway keyed up. I try to practice the relax response (RR) by meditating etc., but I never seem to be able to reach a state of deep relaxation. No calm moments for me--just a constant knot in my stomach and a persistent headache. I think part of the problem is that the benzo blocks stage 4 sleep, which is the most important for a calm nervous system. Yet without some anti-panic med I'm a total basket case. I'm wondering if anyone has ever found a really effective way to achieve deep relaxation. The books I've read make it sound so easy, but I just can't seem to get there.
poster:Guy
thread:776239
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070808/msgs/776239.html