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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Guy on December 8, 2010, at 18:39:15
Fifteen years ago, after experiencing extreme rebound insomnia from sleeping pill withdrawal, I developed a phobia of lying down. I now take Zyprexa to help me get to sleep, and clonazepam in the middle of the night to help me get back to sleep. Every time I try to wean off meds, I am stricken by a SUBCONSCIOUS FEAR. The anxiety attack is so awful it brings on thoughts of suicide and makes me a nervous wreck all the next day. I have tried meditation, hypnosis (what a joke!), yoga, acupuncture, mega-vitamins with Dr. Hoffer (R.I.P.) and blah, blah, blah...nothing works. I usually have no fear when I go to bed (while on meds), but when I awaken in the middle of the night, the fear sets in if I don't fall asleep again within about 20 minutes. My symptoms the next day are horrible: inner agitation, headache, knot in stomach, nausea, and dizziness. Zyprexa helps kill the fear at higher doses, but also gives me flu-like symptoms and makes me fat, impotent and lethargic. It's a love hate relationship. I really want to recover, but seem to be at the mercy this f***king phobia. I have twice gone ten days or more without any sleep whatsoever in an attempt to get off meds. However, rather than get more and more tired and sleepy, I get more and more agitated to the point where I am going to suffer a heart attack. Please, does anyone have a suggestion?
Posted by Keith Talent on December 9, 2010, at 23:49:57
In reply to Phobia has destroyed my life, posted by Guy on December 8, 2010, at 18:39:15
I feel for you. Not sure who said it first but "Management begins with a precise diagnosis." Have you been comprehensively interviewed by a psychiatrist and, if so, what diagnos(i/e)s w(as/ere) made? You don't have to suffer in this way.
Posted by Guy on December 10, 2010, at 13:14:09
In reply to Phobia has destroyed my life, posted by Guy on December 8, 2010, at 18:39:15
Thanks for you response Keith. I have seen at least ten psychiatrists, although only one on an on-going basis. They all take one look at my history and basically try to rush me out the door as fast as possible. I have been diagnosed with pretty much everything except psychosis. This includes personality disorder, GAD, panic disorder, phobia, PTSD, bi-polar and med-induced akathesia. I am 57 but have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that won't live very long. Chronic stress kills.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 10, 2010, at 14:47:02
In reply to Phobia has destroyed my life, posted by Guy on December 8, 2010, at 18:39:15
I assume you've tried all the usual meds for anxiety? eg. Lexapro. Although SSRIs are not sedating, they can reduce phobic anxiety. They do for me anyway.
Do you sleep with someone or alone? Not sure whether that makes a difference.
Posted by bleauberry on December 10, 2010, at 17:43:51
In reply to Phobia has destroyed my life, posted by Guy on December 8, 2010, at 18:39:15
This sounds like a chronic low cortisol condition to me. Too long to discuss here, but do some google research on adrenal fatigue and hypoadrenalism. Cortisol is our stress hormone. It allows us to handle daily physical and mental stressors. When it is low, the body tries to compensate by making adrenaline and epinephrine instead, which is why the fears, phobias, anxieties, and insomnias dominate in low cortisol conditions. The antipsychotics and benzos actually make the condition worse over time, though they help for a few hours, because they further suppress the adrenal glands and cause even less cortisol...that is until the med wears off at which time there is a cortisol rebound that feels like intensified phobia, fear, nervousness, and insomnia.
Cortisol has a profound effect on our neurotransmitters, sort of like the conductor of an orchestra. So if cortisol is messed up, everything will be in chaos. Depression is almost certain. When the fears/phobias are momentarily calm, depression is usually not as severe either. When the fears/phobias are temporarily really bad, the depression will be too.
That's my take on it. I think it would be wise to get a 24 hour 4 sample salivaa cortisol test, which you can actually order on the internet yourself, and go from there. These tests cost between $100 and $150. They tell you a lot.
Posted by FluffMama on December 14, 2010, at 22:54:56
In reply to Phobia has destroyed my life, posted by Guy on December 8, 2010, at 18:39:15
Hi Guy, if you are willing to go to a group that deals with phobias, I know one that has helped me go from being afraid to leave my home and living with my parents to being able to move out and drive, visit friends, etc.
It is called Recovery-Inc. and has nothing to do with recovery from alcohol. It's free! Based on the teachings of Dr. Abraham Low, who noticed that patients of Dr. Freud didn't recover, but his practical approach to phobias DID help his patients! And he covers sleep issues too in his books, but it is the groups that really help reinforce the principles.
Posted by hopefullynow on December 15, 2010, at 7:15:37
In reply to Re: Phobia has destroyed my life, posted by bleauberry on December 10, 2010, at 17:43:51
Good point bleauberry, as always :).I had the same problem with plain generalised anxiety
and along with Anafranil a low dose Licorice was wonderful.> This sounds like a chronic low cortisol condition to me. Too long to discuss here, but do some google research on adrenal fatigue and hypoadrenalism. Cortisol is our stress hormone. It allows us to handle daily physical and mental stressors. When it is low, the body tries to compensate by making adrenaline and epinephrine instead, which is why the fears, phobias, anxieties, and insomnias dominate in low cortisol conditions. The antipsychotics and benzos actually make the condition worse over time, though they help for a few hours, because they further suppress the adrenal glands and cause even less cortisol...that is until the med wears off at which time there is a cortisol rebound that feels like intensified phobia, fear, nervousness, and insomnia.
>
> Cortisol has a profound effect on our neurotransmitters, sort of like the conductor of an orchestra. So if cortisol is messed up, everything will be in chaos. Depression is almost certain. When the fears/phobias are momentarily calm, depression is usually not as severe either. When the fears/phobias are temporarily really bad, the depression will be too.
>
> That's my take on it. I think it would be wise to get a 24 hour 4 sample salivaa cortisol test, which you can actually order on the internet yourself, and go from there. These tests cost between $100 and $150. They tell you a lot.
Posted by henryo on December 18, 2010, at 23:51:13
In reply to Phobia has destroyed my life, posted by Guy on December 8, 2010, at 18:39:15
D-Cycloserine and therapy
This is the end of the thread.
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