I’ve had this since I was at least five years old. Sometimes it’s fairly mild, feeling like I’m "driving" my body (like driving a car) instead of inhabiting it. When it began, though, it was more like panic attacks - extreme fear, dissociative feelings but no loss of memory. Usually it was at night when I was trying to go to sleep and didn’t have anything to distract my mind. I had to remain perfectly still, barely breathing, and no part of my body could touch the rest (arms away from body, legs apart) and if I stayed that way long enough, it would gradually pass.

I have only recently discovered that this actually has a name - all I had been told before was dissociative disorder. I also have severe depression, chronic with acute episodes. I’m on Lexapro, Xanax, and ProVigil with Ambien CR prn for sleep.

Anyone with depersonalization disorder who has found a medication that works well?

P.S. No, I don’t like taking meds but I’ve tried going off MANY times and the result was BAD.

I go to bed and my mind wont rest, its happening so often now its killing me.Its takes me a minumum if 2 hours after i go to bed before i will fall asleep.This is a type of insomnia or sleep disorder am i right? I dont want medications to make me sleep but its so frustrating i want to put my head through a wall to knock me out so i can sleep.What do i do?

I was diognosed with Bipolar disorder about 9 years ago and my doctors started trying different combinations of medicines and doses. Nothing every really worked for me; either it made things to extreme (over anxious, shaky, etc) or did nothing at all. After about 2 years of the up and down and nothing working, I got tired of never knowing how I would feel when I woke up every morning, or just feeling the same, that I quit taking meds all together. Shortly after that, I stopped going to my psychiatrist. Much like others who have Bipolar disorder, I thought that I could just deal on my own, but after all that time of trying and trying everything, I’m at the end of my rope and back to square one. I need to be on medication. I dont know whic med I need, and I dont have insurance. I dont know what to do, but I cant deal with the constant mood swings anymore. My work, my relationships, and even my physical health are paying for it. I havent been sleeping, and Im so sore everyday. Whats left?

I have a health anxiety disorder and cant stop thinking that there is something wrong with me. I feel i am going mad. I am on medication for depression but nothing is working. I cant sleep and just feel anxiety from the moment i wake up to the moment i go sleep, (when i do eventually get to sleep) its causing problems at home with my husband because he trys to understand but doesnt what do i do.

My friend has some form of insomnia, and cannot sleep in the night. He is refusing to take any from of sleeping pill or any such medication because he is somewhat of a natural food fanatic. Is there anything he can take that will make him fall asleep, or even sleep better? What do you suggest?

I have a hard time falling asleep anytime before midnight to 1am and need about 9-10 hrs of sleep to feel "normal", but my 2 year old son wakes up at 7 am. I can’t seem to get to bed earlier because I’m just not tired yet. I’m going to try using melatonin (1mg) to get my body clock reset. Has anyone tried this? How did you feel? Oh, I have bipolar disorder, and my inordinate sleep need is caused by my medication. I am not "lazy"…
My psychiatrist had suggested that I try using a new sleep medication that affects the production of melatonin, but he also said I could try the OTC supplement first.
I just went off lithium to get pregnant (not preggo yet, won’t be trying for another month), and am still taking Lexapro and Seroquel. The prob is that, no matter what time I take my meds at night, I still don’t go to sleep at a reasonable time. I looked up something called "delayed sleep phase syndrome", and think that’s my problem…

Hi All,

For the past four months, I have been experiencing sleeping disorder. Normal bedtime for me is about 9:30pm. And I usually sleep at least 8 hrs (sometimes I go up to 10hrs). but for the past four months, I still go to bed the same time but I wake up as early as 3:00 o’clock dawn and I cant to back to sleep anymore! To make up for the missing hours of sleep, I would go to bed early the night after (like 8pm) but the problem is I will wake up earlier like 2am or 2:30 dawn. As a result, I always feel dizzy and irritated due to lack of sleep. I don’t want to drink sleeping pills. I want to solve this issue without taking any medication.

Oh by the way, I am not sure if my recent problems got an effect on this. I have been through and still going through work and emotional stress. I’m trying to find out ways to release stress like gym, etc.

Appreciate advice. Thanks a lot!

Well lets start at the beginning: I used to smoke about 1/3 pack of cigarettes a day for a maybe 2 years. I quit and shortly after i started having these small twitches when i lay down fully awake,tired, and while i was asleep; mostly in my left arm and leg. Its been about 3 months now since then and the twitches are becoming more severe. I can feel the electric pulse in my brain now and sometimes they are discomforting. The twitches are now full body twitches, sometimes a single twitch and sometimes when im in a deep sleep its like rapid fire 3-5 times; 98% of the time occurring when i lay down tired or not and they stop on their own.

I am a little lazy, limited exercise, yet i stay in pretty decent shape and most of the time watch what i eat. Also i still smoke but not nearly as much, maybe a pack every 1-2 months.

I know you’ll need more info so:
age: 22
Sex: male
Weight:185
Height: 5′ 9"
Allergies: none
Medication: none
Disorders: none
Sleep schedule: wake up at 12-1 pm, go to bed between 3am and 5am
Stress level: a little stressed

I’m probably going to see a doctor about it anyways.

Doctor perscribed me this medication because I don’t sleep hardly any. He said it will put me to sleep, but Im pretty sure some obgyn perscribed this to me years ago and didn’t help at all - what are your experiences with it?? Did it Help put you out for the night, did you feel dizzy?? I already know it’s an anti-depressant, but was perscribed for my sleeping disorder…

I can’t sleep at all! My panic disorder has been keeping me up late at nights to the point where even if I’m completely worn out, I can’t get to sleep because of attacks! And I have my first volleyball practice in one day and that starts at 10 am! Any suggestions on how I could get to sleep without using sleeping pills (since they might interfere with my medication)?