Ripley: mirtazapine withdrawal and reinstatement problems

[Ripley]

Thank you @ChessieCat for your message(s).

 

You're right. I will need to be more mindful of my hormones going forward. In truth, I need to check my impatience too as I probably knew it wasn't the best time for a reduction.  

 

I don't really think the reduction caused the insomnia but i went back to 6.75mg again as I know my subconscious anxieties play a large role too, so didn't want to leave a gap for them! And my sleep was much better.

 

I see you are very nearly done with Pristiq at 0.75mg from 50mg. That's well done and inspiring! I will take a look at your website and tapering programme.

 

Ripley

[ChessieCat]

35 minutes ago, Ripley said:

In truth, I need to check my impatience too as I probably knew it wasn't the best time for a reduction.  

 

Impatience can get the better of us at times.  I've had several times when it's happened to me and I've really appreciated the support and encouragement and reminders too from others.  It has helped me to stay patient.

 

36 minutes ago, Ripley said:

I see you are very nearly done with Pristiq at 0.75mg from 50mg.

 

I started at 100mg Pristiq.  And yes, I'm down to 0.75mg.  Doing an extra 3 weeks hold at the moment thanks to the suggestion of Dejavu.  Depending on how I am at the end of next week I might hold for a further 2 weeks.  I hurt my back 2 months ago and ended up with a bulging disc, had a cortisone injection, codeine and antihistamine for pain and sleep, a tooth extraction and reduced my Pristiq just before I hurt my back.  And my back flared up again 3.5 weeks ago.  Thankfully it is starting to settle down again.  I've been doing exercises for it, going to hydrotherapy and recently started doing 5 and now 10 minute stints on the treadmill at home throughout the day.  And I'm glad I did decide to hold because I've noticed a difference this week.

 

So yes, we do need to be patient.

[Malbec37]

Hi @Ripley sorry to hear of your struggles with this dastardly mirtazapine medication..I share your pain with this stuff, I loathe it and I hate that we've been left in this position when trying to come off when we are ready to be meds free but are finding it so hard due to the withdrawal impact...I'm sorry you are struggling so much with your sleep. Horrible to have nights of no sleep but well done for soldiering on 

 

What we want is to just be ok and stable right? I mean life is not suddenly going to become easy when we are fully off but at least we won't have to put up with horrible things like insomnia, nausea, fatigue and the rest because of trying to come off...as if life wasn't challenging enough 

 

You've done so well to get down to 6.75mg....what was your highest dose? So much less mirt going into your body every day so well done on that achievement!!

 

Stay in touch and stay connected, we have a similar journey going on 

 

Take good care and reply back if you get time 

 

Malbec x 

[Ripley]

Hi Malbec

 

Thank you for your kind message. Your sympathy and nice message made me feel better

 

I read your update and I know it's not easy for you at the moment. It's impressive you've been able to teach yoga when you've been suffering. I've done yoga myself on and off for many years but haven't done any in lockdown, when it felt like the rest of the world was doing it! I will make an effort and start again. I have felt with this Mirt/insomnia situation that it has been largely beyond my control but I think I could do more to help myself. I think you have been better in this regard, which is good.

 

I have only reduced  by 10% as I was on 7.5mg, so a way to go yet! But it felt good to be making even small reductions, so I think you will feel better then too when you're able to start tapering again. But even though you're holding, you're still laying the groundwork for the next step 🙂

 

I hope you stabilise again quickly and I will be around until we're both free of this stuff.

 

Ripley x

 

[Ripley]

Hi @ChessieCat

 

I looked at your tapering chart and it was very satisfying to see your steady progress! 

 

It sounds like you've had a lot to deal with physically so holding sounds a good idea. And I'm sure holding feels much better now at such a low dose than before. There is so little of the chemicals in your system now, especially when compared to a starting point of 100mg! I will be delighted for you when you're finally free! 

 

I hope your back feels better soon.

 

Best wishes

Ripley

[Ripley]

Hi @Malbec (again)

I forgot to ask you, how is your sleep these days? Do you ever get zero nights still? Do you feel a hangover the next day from 15mg? 

Rx

[Malbec37]

2 hours ago, Ripley said:

I hope you stabilise again quickly and I will be around until we're both free of this stuff.

 

Thanks @Ripleythat's good to know that you're there...can be such a lonely journey so friends made along the way who understand the difficulties are priceless

 

Currently my sleep seems ok although I wake quite early and don't feel too good...stuck in a heavy wave at the moment and just pushing forward slowly hoping for stability 

 

I love teaching yoga but I HATE teaching yoga in a wave...awful anxiety fuelled experience that I've had to do too many times

[juneight]

Hi buddies, i know the low histamine is the key. I made too much mistakes about foods,especially easy perishable meats.

I am rearranging my diets according to a safe list below:

https://www.mastzellaktivierung.info/downloads/foodlist/21_FoodList_EN_alphabetic_withCateg.pdf

I found that i had some big disturbances after eating some foods supposing them waves due to drug history while holding the dose.You know they are very disturbing when they come out of the blue.In fact, a remarkable amounts of them arent wave.

So, have you noticed great improvements after starting a conscious diet?Why i ask this is because i feel some improvement after getting involved in low histamin diet.Now,it is the turn quercetin after some days.Tx

[Malbec37]

On 9/3/2020 at 1:46 PM, juneight said:

So, have you noticed great improvements after starting a conscious diet?Why i ask this is because i feel some improvement after getting involved in low histamin diet.Now,it is the turn quercetin after some days.Tx

 

Hi @juneight...I'm Malbec and follow Ripley's progress here on SA

 

I wanted to ask you about histamine as you mention above...a bit about me first: I'm trying to come off mirtazapine also, I have been on it 7 years at 30mg and currently down to 15mg and stable although I've been a year in WD and there has been a lot of intense waves of WD suffering...currently I'm getting ready to start a liquid taper using my brand tablets that my body is used to...this will start in October.

 

So regarding histamine the first thing I want express is pure frustration that, on top of the nightmare of trying to come off this terrible drug, we also have to think very carefully about what we eat as this can make things worse!? I've already given up gluten, alcohol, caffeine, sugar and dairy (granted none of which are good for us) and now I have to stop using high histamine foods! Can you explain to me a little more about your experience with histamine and how you noticed it making you ill as you have reduced the mirt? Also maybe anything you know about the idea behind histamine being a problem as mirt is reduced because of releasing the anti-histamine effects of the medication?

 

I think one of the things that upsets me the most is that some of the high histamine foods that I will need to stop using are really helpful in the withdrawal process! Like sauerkraut and kefir which are great for the intestine and very healing for the mind and body...it upsets me a lot that I will have to take these out of my diet which already feels quite restrictive. Also tinned sardines and anchovies...and avocados. These are all really healthy foods which we need to help us in withdrawal but we will have to stop eating them!? What will be left to eat ha ha 

 

At the moment I am very settled on 15mg so not noticing any effect of high histamine foods but would you say that as I start reducing down and getting below 10mg that I should cut these out?

 

Thanks SO SO much for any insights you can give me here or guiding me to any relevant information 

 

Kindest regards 

 

Malbec in UK

[juneight]

Hi Thomas:) You may know me from small FB group.

 

As you know, i have been tapering it for 1 year and taking steady anxiety supposing i have had waves due to the drug history although i hold my dose or go on tiny. In fact, they werent wave, they were all histamin rushes. You can ask me how i realized that issue. The answer is so simple: Bad experiences. I was doing low histamin diet, not taking gluten, daiıry or other suspicious things. Then, strange thing happened to me and my world felt apart. I took some fish from bazaar for two weeks in a row and i felt like a lorry hit me. I know they were fresh, but there was something wrong. Then wrote that the group on BB and Dave, the most experienced one you can find in this area, warned me he never consumed a meat of fish which is exhibited on cooling rack for some hours. Then, i got the trick, i realized that i was consuming so delicious chicken necks from the bazaar twice a week and you know i complained anxiety steadily. That was the absolute reason. Now you can ask me what i am doing now. I have stopped to eat both all histamin rich and liberating foods. The most reliable document you can find in this area is that:

https://www.mastzellaktivierung.info/downloads/foodlist/21_FoodList_EN_alphabetic_withCateg.pdf

 

I have reaarranged my diet to this list. Protein is so important. So, i have just started to eat fresh or freshfrozen meats. I have had contacts with industial ones to assure me they had freshfrozen their products. Now, i am only eating 2-3 hours slaughtered or fresh frozen chickens. I am away for fish sometimes.Now, my headache so debilitating that i cant write anymore. You can see the debate that is going on BB:

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=80102.2720

 

Examine it, then i can write you sth when i feel calmer.

 

Tx.

[Ripley]

 

Hi @Altostrata

 

I hope you don't mind my tagging you but I would greatly appreciate your view of my situation, which may well recur through my taper.

 

I made a reduction of 0.15mg to 6.45mg 9 days ago, which seems to have gone badly. Previously, I haven't really felt these small drops and have only reduced by 1mg since the beginning of June so pretty slowly. 

 

In the first few days after the drop my sleeping reduced to about 5.5hrs a night and 3 of the last 4 nights have only been 1 or 2 hours (the other was 7.5hrs). I have had my period though which never helps. 

 

My question would be should I go straight back to 6.6mg and assume I've failed on this attempt? Or would you try to wait it out as it was a small drop and 10 days ago now? (Or is the size of the drop irrelevant when it comes to de-stabilisation? Could I make things worse by going back to 6.6mg?)

 

I'm worried as this seems quite a bad response to what feels like a very conservative taper. I'm starting to feel nauseous and emotional again with tiredness so would like to improve things if possible. (Perhaps I should mention I tried melatonin around midnight and 1am on a couple of nights I wasn't sleeping. I know this isn't the right time to take it and I won't do it again as it didnt work.)

 

I'd be very grateful if you could suggest my next step.

 

Sincerely

Ripley

 

[juneight]

Have you ever tried to do low histamine diet and taking Lipozomal Vit C support? I think this is helping me to cope with most sxs like anx., depression etc. Looking at your history, i dont think your disturbances are because of last tiny cut, imho it is because of the drug history or sth you ate high histamine. It is my two cent. If you agree with me keep a diary what you ate yesterday and then go on.

 

https://www.mastzellaktivierung.info/downloads/foodlist/21_FoodList_EN_alphabetic_withCateg.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1BQ3EdkM4yBbgLb80HPE1JNbbAuFtp4j_KNgL_RXgyk70IhYPSopa_OKQ

[Malbec37]

@Ripley sorry to hear things are so tough for you. You're being so careful and conservative so it must be a bit disheartening...perhaps @juneightis right about trying a lower histamine diet to see if it helps...it does seem to be a thing for a lot of people trying to get off Remeron so worth a try.

 

Sending you strength and wishing you luck

 

Right here with you

 

Malbec 

[Altostrata]

Very possible you'll stabilize in a few days. If not, you could go back up in dose a bit.

 

Your nervous system is telling you it needs time to get used to the gradual changes you made. It may be time to make a long hold and let it settle down.

[Ripley]

Thank you @Altostrata for your reply. 

 

I decided to go up to 6.6mg last night as I was starting to really struggle with lack of sleep and I hope this is the quickest way back to stability. I find insomnia can become debilitating in a matter of days.

 

Thank you @juneight and @Malbec37 for your diet suggestions and nice messages. I haven't noticed any correlation with my diet but I'll add this to my diary and see if anything becomes apparent. I remember having 2 nectarines and an apple in the late afternoon before a particularly bad night and I know some people have problems with fruits and sugars, so perhaps i need to watch this. 

 

Anyway, I'll be holding where i am for a while and proceeding even more cautiously. 

 

All the best

R

[Starboy17]

Tapering mirtazapine is not as clean cut as people imagine.  I'd take all the advice with a grain of salt.  I've found that food sensitivities are run of the mill particularly when tapering mirtazapine, then there's the whole physical, and mental withdrawals that defy belief. 

 

My strongest advice would be to:

 

1. Don't get caught up obsessing over the symptoms, the rumination will just make an unpleasant journey torturous, besides you will likely experience periods where you feel overwhelmed and want to give up entirely. Yes, its common to experience increased anxiety, depression, thoughts of self-harm, restless sleep, insomnia, hot/cold sweats, muscle aches/pain,  etc Remember these are just withdrawals.  If you taper conservatively, you're far less likely to be hit with withdrawals that will be debilitating in the long run.  Nonetheless, withdrawals are not pleasant and can be daunting at times.  Remind yourself that you will heal and that many before you have not only experienced the same or worse but have gone onto make a full recovery, it takes time.

 

2. Exercise according to your ability at the time, not some idealized fitness goal that denies the reality of your tapering symptoms. You may need to keep a exercise journal and only increase exercise incrementally. i.e walk around park for five days a week for 15min one week, then up it to 20min the following week or fortnight. 

 

3. Try mindfulness meditation this has been incredibly helpful for many people tapering off any antidepressant(s) including myself

 

4. Avoid alcohol or any other drugs altogether.  They not only delay healing but you could end up switching from one poison to another.

 

5. Stress, is good in small doses generally, but can throw you for a six if you're not careful.  As much as is humanly possible, avoid conflicts, this may seem counter intuitive to healthy boundaries however, the CNS is already sensitive.  This then leads to the next recommendation

 

Self-care - is not a luxury when it comes to tapering mirtazapine, you may find yourself easily fatigued, irritable, or dealing with a whole gamut of symptoms.  I've found tapering mirtazapine has forced me to get to know myself more.  Particularly on an emotional level, which i think guys are taught to ignore, this likely explains why not only males but also females ended up on medications in the first place. Often I've had to treat myself as though I'm my own best friend, the negative self talk can be unrelenting this alone has thrown me in a spin on a number of occasions. Self-compassion has been one of the most helpful for me when I'm experiencing negative self talk re: my life goals, or not achieving the goals in the time frame I wanted.  I've met many blokes who feel like a failure simply because they experience mental health issues, this imagined tough guy persona bs was only ever a myth anyway. I know guys who fought in war that took mirtazpine and experienced how challenging tapering this med can be .  Its not easy but is doable.

 

 

I've tried different supplements, diets etc all to varying degrees of what maybe considered helpful. None I would recommend simply because i had mixed results, even throughout my taper those symptoms still come and go, the only difference i noticed was their intensity. The lower I got the less severe the symptoms were (mostly) I had to give up coffee for a bit, then later I found I could reinstate, only months later I had to stop again.  This also included different supplements and foods. Just be mindful that as the body heals you may need to adjust your supplements, food, exercise

 

 

 

 

[Ripley]

Hi Starboy17

 

Thank you for your message. It's very kind of you to take the time to write me these notes. 

 

The sharing of experience and a proper understanding of these drugs through this site is so valuable. It upsets me to think about the bad medical advice I received, compounded by my own ignorance, which led to me having this sensitized system and propensity for insomnia. I guess I would have to add 'acceptance' to your list of points to remember.

 

Are you still holding at 1.6mg? Do you feel pretty stable? 

 

Thank you for writing.

 

R

[Ripley]

Hi @Altostrata and @ChessieCat

 

I'm sorry to tag you (both) again but I'm in need of some reassurance that I'm doing the right thing in holding now at 6.6mg (now day 5). I just want to make sure I shouldn't increase more to 6.75mg - I imagine that could lead to more instability?

 

To quickly summarise, I've had another zero night last night, a few hours' sleep the night before and zero before that - all since my updose. So it's 4 next to zero nights in the past week and it has changed my life. Just 2 weeks ago, I was living a normal life and getting 7-8 hours a night. I now feel like I'm back in January when I was suffering terrible withdrawal. It feels like my life is unravelling again and I feel so unwell and scared as to how long this will last.

 

You will see the reductions I've made in my signature and dates. I'm shocked it has become so bad. I was trying to do a @brassmonkey taper. Is there any reassurance you can give me?

 

I've avoided melatonin as I'm worried about a paradoxical reaction, given my sensitivity and that Mirt is already supposed to be sedating. Do you think I'm worrying unnecessarily about this?

 

Would you expect this to settle down soon or could I have upset things for a while? My husband is angry with me for taking these pills in the first place, and I'm angry with myself. I never imagined this situation. I wonder how I will get down to 0mg at this rate.

[Ripley]

I hindsight, I was accepting sporadic zero nights as my 'WD normal' when perhaps I should have read them as signs to keep holding. I've been trying to figure out how I got here....and how long this might last. 

[Altostrata]

Ripley, what is your sleep pattern? How many days has it been disrupted?

 

How are you taking mirtazapine? Are you making your own liquid? If so, how old is it? If you have tablets, are they expired?

 

 

[Ripley]

Hi @Altostrata

 

Thank you for your reply. I realised when I got your email that I hadn't given the detail you need, more of a description. 

 

I slept well last night so feeling calmer today. I'll wait and see how the next night or two go before going into the further details, if that's ok. I really hope I won't need to trouble you again with this. I guess we'll see...

 

I take the suspension made by Rosemont by the way and am careful about storage and expiry.

[Malbec37]

5 hours ago, Ripley said:

I slept well last night

 

Hi Ripley great news you slept better last night! You so deserved and needed that 

 

Just a thought but there is also a very good support group on Facebook for mirtazapine withdrawal called 'Mirtazapine withdrawal and support group'...you might find it useful 

 

Hoping you have another good night tonight 

 

Malbec

[Shebon]

Hi Ripley:

 

Just a thought because I recently encountered this -- do you take any thyroid meds?  If so, Check out what I ran into recently with thyroid issues...

 

We will get there!

Best regards,

Shebon

[Ripley]

Hi @Shebon

 

Thanks for your email and thinking of me with your suggestion. I'm glad you've figured out the issues with the refills of your thyroid meds so you can hopefully eliminate future problems with this. I don't take any other drugs apart from Mirt. so, in my case, all roads lead back to horrible Mirt unfortunately!

 

My sleep has thankfully settled down again but I guess it was a big sign that my system is too fragile for tapering at the moment. Insomnia seems to be my only withdrawal symptom so there wasn't much warning that things were going wrong until they already had! 

 

I'll be holding for a while now - I'm thinking maybe til after Christmas? Maybe I should hold for 6 months but that feels like such a long time when I want to be reducing. I don't really know how long. I think the only thing I have to go on is the random nights of insomnia that have lingered and are seemingly triggered by something minor like my period or staying up a bit later - if they settle, maybe it'll be time to start again? 

 

Hope things are going well for you generally Shebon and @Malbec thanks for your last message too, hope you're doing ok.

 

All the best

Ripley x

[juneight]

How interesting one suffers anxiety, another suffers depression while others suffer sleep issues. I have waited the anxiety to stop after 5 months hold and havent seen any no remarkable differerences then. I hope it settles down some for you and feel better soon. If there is only one but big sx like that, it could make us to rethink pushing again. Fingers crossed.

[Ripley]

It is interesting @juneight. Apart from different physiologies, it may be related to the different dosages individuals have taken? With lower doses affecting histamine/sleep and higher doses the norepinephrine/anxiety levels. Perhaps symptoms can evolve as the dose changes? I'm sorry your anxiety hasn't reduced after a 5 month hold, that's a long time. Hopefully it will reduce as your dosage does? R

[Starboy17]

Hi Ripley,

 

I only just updated my signature which reflects my recent tapering.  I'm glad the fatigue lifted and the fogginess, I'm hoping to taper again in the next 5 days or a week.  I have a law exam coming up so i need to ensure I'm functional, sometimes that's a tall order.

 

I think anger is totally normal given the extreme levels of pain & discomfort ppl experience tapering off these drugs.  Be kind to yourself, you took them, like most of us did, ignorantly.  How could you? Doctors are lied to by big pharma, many are now beginning to see the real effects it has their on patients.  Nonetheless, progress is progress, just keep on tapering & self-caring and you'll be off mirt.

 

Peace 🕊️

 

 

[Ripley]

Hi Starboy

 

Thanks for your message. I notice you have been experiencing severe withdrawals even with a micro-taper! (Although your earlier drops were large.) You're not far from the end now though.

 

Do you find your sleep is affected or is it other symptoms?

 

Good luck with your exam.

 

Ripley

[Starboy17]

Hi Ripley,

 

Admittedly, I've had some personal challenges over the last 3 years which i feel has contributed to my protracted tapering schedule.  Though i do believe that tapering has its own unique challenging components on its own.  Sleep quality has certainly been affected throughout my tapering, though thankfully it improves on its own.  I suspect that mirt ruins sleep architecture and this is confirmed in not only in my own experience but also many others who report the same.  

 

As you can see my initial tapering it was haphazard, and having to reinstate on a couple of occasions only made a challenging journey more arduous than it need be.  I also realized after a year of diluting the soltab in water it was not suitable for me and i endured unfathomable suffering.  On the other-hand micro-tapering has been more beneficial and I found compounded capsules to be far more superior, I only wish i used a compounding pharmacy at the beginning, but alas that's not the case.  

 

I'm now convinced that provided that the withdrawals are only moderate then its likely more helpful to continue tapering. Surely, there's a psychological component where people are too anxious to taper again and yet don't get any noticeable reprieve from their symptoms despite long holds. My cousin is an ex herion addict and she would regularly tell me about folks who were too frightened to stop using methadone due to the withdrawals and they just lingered on a small dose. My cousin coined the term 'dangling'.  Sometimes I've had moments where I'm suffering from withdrawals but was able to distract myself with going for a short walk or meditation & miraculously the symptoms near faded completely.  I think that's how the bulk of us heal, incrementally.   

 

I'm glad you were able to get some sleep.

[Santino]

Hi Guys

It is true what Starboy is saying. 

The healing is slow but the process of improvement is sure. Symptoms change with time but if you have not kept notice it is difficult to understand the changes so any wave makes you think you are wors and all the your fight is for nothing. For me that was the most important symptom which i had to fight off. My Psychanalist, My wife, Parents, sister everyone was pushing for me to restart the meds and i would find solace and support only on the people i found online here and the secret FB group that we have. 

Anyway i am glad Juneight is doing good tooo and many of your comments do not sound like the end of the world. That shows that you have understood the process and slowly living through it. Wish you luck guys and be sure that one day you will be normal.... same as i am now. I can rejoice with  my friends, family and my KIDS.... and i am able to continue this big fight called life. There are surely things that bring you down but as long as you are able to control yourself without meds all of these battles are welcomed.

All the best my friends.... keep on fighting.

Santino

[juneight]

You are a hero and such a good heart for me Santino...

[Santino]

15 minutes ago, juneight said:

You are a hero and such a good heart for me Santino...

Come on Juneight.... you are making me blush. I know what it is to be there... so whenever i see the possibility i help. I told you i had my friend to whom i would convey anything, so in our situation it is always important to reassure yourself from real people that you are doing the right thing.

For me this January will be the third one in a row without Mirt and any other psych meds. Life is as good as it gets... 🙂 Yours will be the same tooo.... 

Hang on bro...

[Ripley]

Thank you @Santino for writing even though you're through with Mirt. and congratulations on being nearly 3 years free! It's great to hear life is good for you!

 

Thanks for your message @Starboy17. I really hope a hold will make things more manageable going forward, even if it doesn't get rid of symptoms entirely.

 Sorry to hear about the problems with Soltab. 

 

[Shebon]

Ripley:  Glad your sleep has improved -- I think waiting is a good idea for you.  I think waiting before reducing will also bring some healing.  

 

Starboy:  I had the same issue with Soltab in water.  I made it 80 days and then crashed.  Went back to the tablets and have now made it to 1.60 mg.  Things going in life do add another concern when tapering.  We want to be functional and well rested.  And a law degree exam would heighten anxiety even without tapering.  

 

Santino:  So glad you have posted here.   You made it off while doing a slow, sensible taper.  A big congrats!!

 

I ran into a snag about the middle of September.  My Synthroid med has made me go hyper.  So backed down on that and waiting for things to stabilize again.  Will wait before I do another reduction.  I've had thyroid issues forever so I know the highs and lows of the medication.  

 

Stay well everyone!

Shebon😃

 

 

[Ripley]

Hi everyone

 

I wonder if anyone might be able to help me, although I feel I'm probably alone with this particular aspect of my withdrawal.

 

It relates to my 'fragile' sleep and the clocks going back an hour here in the UK. You may remember that I'm currently holding at 6.6mg - and things had settled down nicely. I was sleeping 7 to 8 hours a night - going to bed at 9.50pm, taking my mirtazapine and lights out at 10pm and waking groggily about 6.30/7am. I have stuck to this routine closely as part of my sleep hygiene efforts.

 

If I went to bed earlier than 10pm i had no problems at all. However, if i went any later i would have a night of insomnia and perhaps 1hr of sleep. This even happened if I went to bed just 10 minutes later!! I know this seems completely irrational and I was credulous about it myself and couldn't believe it for a long time! But I keep a diary of these things and it happened without fail many, many times. So I had to accept it and just be very strict about being in bed by 10pm - like some weary old Cinderella! 

 

You can probably guess where this is going... Last night, my 10pm was 9pm with the clocks changing so I went to bed at 9.20 and hoped for the best. Insomnia struck and I got about 1 hour of sleep. A couple of nights before, I had managed to go to bed at 10.10pm and the same thing happened! The other nights had all been fine with 7 to 8 hours as I went at my usual time. 

 

Firstly, I am still surprised that I can go from regualar good sleep to near total insomnia over a slight lateness to bed. Has anybody else had anything similar? Anyone?? I don't believe it's psychological after all this time.

 

And secondly, what should i do going forward on this new time? Do I start going to bed at 9pm (my old 10pm)?? I dont feel very confident in effecting a shift in my body clock to the new time given my repeated experiences.

 

I don't really want to go to bed at 9pm as our child usually goes to sleep between 8 and 8.30pm so we have a short evening to ourselves anyway and my husband won't want to go to bed at 9pm either! Not sure I have a choice.

 

I feel very low about this as it feels like I have no robustness to my sleep at all after all these months. How can I taper successfully when it's this 'fragile'? I can understand hormones or stress having an impact (and they do) but this seems strange. 

 

Thanks for reading this. Any input greatly appreciated!

 

R

[Ripley]

I meant to say I was 'incredulous'! My brain is addled today.