Insomnia Forum Posting

Posted by beth on January 31, 2003 at 07:05:47:

In Reply to: Re: To Ellie posted by A-B on January 31, 2003 at 04:56:08:

i agree, we have to make the medical community more aware. i was initially treated by an MD who specializes in sleep disorders. after he ruled out a physical cause for me (and he was very kind and did listen to me), he referred me to a psychologist who he had hired part time in his office to help the patients who didn't have apnea, etc. she was affiliated with a local college specializing in sleep disorders. they had me answer all kinds of questionnaires, etc. i visited her every 2 weeks for months. i was already put on klonopin by the MD, and the type of therapy she practiced was basically "talk therapy". it didn't really help, although she was very kind and sympathetic.

when i realized how addictive klonopin was and had such a hard time withdrawing, both these docs were surprised. they insisted i was on a "baby dose". maybe my withdrawal problems were mostly psyhological, but i'm sure there was a physical component as well, since getting off the trazodone later was much easier.

anyway, after i quit seeing these docs and had gone to several others (8 total, including psychiatrists), i began to despair of getting any help from the medical community. i knew my insomnia was caused by anxiety, so i read "the books" and you know the rest.

i did take the time to write letters to all the docs who tried to help me and shared the titles and auhtors of the books that helped so much. even the sleep docs had not heard of the two books that really helped me, so i hope they have read them and are now recommending them to appropriate patients. i know the first doc (who lives in my neighborhood) bought the books so hopefully we can spread the word so those that could be helped by these methods don't have to go on suffering.

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