Unable To Get Sleep Due To Vivid Dreams, Took Melatonin, Still Not Working. What To Do ?
Hi there. I have just woken up for the 5th time tonight after dreaming. It is 4am and i have a 7.45am start at work. I am having many vivid dreams which are waking me up and disturbing my sleep. I have take. 2mg of melatonin brandd as Circadin, designed to be a slow release. I feel very tired and am not sure why the melatonin is not working. What can i do to prevent this tomorrow night. I have been diagnosed with depression and insomnia but have been feeling happy during the days and before bed.
Hi, Sleep disturbances is one of the cardinal signs of depression, characterized by multiple awakenings especially in the early hours of the morning. This is due to a deficiency of the deep sleep stages (3 and 4). Taking sleeping pills might be effective now, but in the long run, they would further deteriorate the deep sleep, and only exacerbate the problem.
As i have mentioned, sleep disturbances is a part of depression. Hence to cure them, depression needs to be addressed. Thus you might not have depression 'and' insomnia, instead 'only' depression.
Please visit a psychiatrist for further evaluation of your symptoms and management. Under proper supervision, there are effective methods of treating depression, both pharmacological and psychotherapies. Sleep hygiene methods and relaxation techniques might be additive.
Melatonin alone may not help you to get adequate sleep if you have depression. You seem to be waking up early in the morning and then cannot go back to sleep, which is again a symptom of depression. The symptom of vivid dreams that you describe occurs in anxiety, depression or in alcohol use. Hence, it is important that other groups of medications are tried. Taking melatonin alone for depression is like taking paracetamol alone for malaria, you will target one symptom but not the disease itself. Just like malaria needs chloroquine group of drugs for specific treatment, depression needs antidepressants for specific cure.
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Unable To Get Sleep Due To Vivid Dreams, Took Melatonin, Still Not Working. What To Do ?
Hi, Thanks for using healthcare magic. Sleep disturbances is one major symptom of depression so until your depression is not recovered , it is difficult to have sound sleep. So you should consult psychiatrist for detailed evaluation and management. Doctor may advise you to have anti depressant medication like sertraline or agomelatin or escitalopram or may advise you to go for counselling and stress management. You should also do good sleep measures to have better sleep. I hope I have addressed your concern. Thanks.