Schizophrenia and Insomnia: My Battle for Rest
Hi Everyone! I'm Stephen. In this profoundly personal video, I invite you to join me as I share my experiences living with schizophrenia for the past 12 years. One of the most significant challenges I face is the struggle to get a good night's sleep, which profoundly impacts my daily life and overall well-being.
The Impact of Insomnia on My Life
I discuss how my sleep schedule has been severely disrupted, with my best sleep often occurring between 8 AM and 12 PM. This irregular sleep pattern affects every aspect of my life, from my eating habits to my cognitive functioning. My extreme tiredness makes it challenging to focus, think clearly, and create content for this channel.
The Vicious Cycle of Anxiety and Insomnia
Anxiety plays a significant role in my inability to sleep well. When I'm anxious, my heart rate elevates, and my mind races with rapid thoughts, making it nearly impossible to fall asleep. This lack of sleep then feeds back into my anxiety, creating a vicious cycle that can be incredibly difficult to break.
Insomnia's Effect on Schizophrenia Symptoms
I also touch on how the lack of sleep can exacerbate other symptoms of schizophrenia. When I'm exhausted, I become more susceptible to hallucinations and other mental health challenges. I must prioritize getting a good night's sleep to prevent my condition from worsening.
Reflecting on My Journey with Insomnia
Throughout the video, I share some of my earliest experiences with insomnia, dating back to when I first fell ill. I remember staying up until 3 AM, trying to tire myself by reading books or playing games on my phone. While my sleep has improved since then, I still face a constant battle.
The Impact on My Daily Routine
The extreme tiredness I experience affects not only my mental health but also my ability to maintain a consistent routine and engage in activities I enjoy, such as exercising regularly. It also makes it challenging to create content for this channel and maintain a regular posting schedule, which I'm working towards improving.
Strategies for Coping with Insomnia
Despite the struggles, I remain hopeful and share some of the strategies I'm using to cope with insomnia. These include exercising, watching comedies to relax, and drinking sleepy-time tea to help calm my mind and body before bed. I also emphasize the importance of being kind to myself and taking the time I need to rest and recuperate.
The Importance of Seeking Professional Help
I acknowledge that if my sleep issues don't improve on their own, I will seek the guidance of my psychiatrist. It's essential to prioritize mental health and proactively address any challenges. Seeking professional help is a crucial part of managing schizophrenia and insomnia.
A Message of Hope and Resilience
Throughout the video, I maintain a message of hope and resilience. I remind viewers that while the journey may be difficult, it's possible to navigate the challenges of schizophrenia and insomnia. I've faced similar struggles and have always found a way to overcome them, and I believe anyone can do the same with the proper support and strategies.
Conclusion
As I conclude the video, I thank those who have watched and supported me. I encourage viewers to prioritize their own mental health and well-being and to seek help when needed. By sharing my story, I hope to provide comfort, support, and understanding to others facing similar challenges and remind them that they are not alone in their journey.
#schizophrenia #anxiety #mentalhealth #depression
Stephen, great video. I struggle with sleep as well. Even though a lot of my medications for my schizoaffevtive disorder are sedating. It also really affects me cognitively too. Thank you for shining a light on this topic. I think it happens to many people with schizophrenia and schizoaffevtive disorder.
Thank you very much for watching and commenting! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
We will wait for you Stephen. Take as long as you need. Your videos are very helpful. Appreciate the insight.
Thank you so very much! I appreciate your support greatly!
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia we will always support rally around you, and I personally am praying for you. 💙🙏🫂
I just found your videos and I want to say thank you. You really help give me insight into what my little sister has gone through that she can’t explain to us. She has Down syndrome and she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis at the age of 13, it was scary and heartbreaking she, was gone for 3 years before the doctors we could get her back. She is 27 now and she was never able to express how she feels about dealing with this as she can’t still sometimes whisper to herself when left alone for a while. I’m very thankful for you, I hope you continue in good and better health
I have depression and anxiety and have always had sleeping problems as well. Recently I was going to bed around noon and waking up at 8pm, missing a lot of the sun and like you said, screwing up my eating schedule. After waking up at 7:30pm with an alarm and going to bed too late, I started to get tired more around midnight and was then sleeping in two increments, but now I'm sleeping only at night. Unfortunately, it's a cycle and I'm sure I'll be back to bad hours eventually. One odd thing I've heard works for some people is to lay on the floor or some other uncomfortable hard surface for like 10 minutes before trying to go to bed. It''s something about being uncomfortable and then relaxing into a softer surface that might help. For me, I still exercise most of the time even if I got pretty poor sleep, as long as it's not completely awful. If you're scared of getting into a traffic accident, maybe you can do some laps in your backyard, lift light weights, or skateboard in the driveway. Another thing is if you're not physically restless/agitated is to try kind of getting the next best thing to sleep which is relaxing your whole body in bed with your eyes closed and listening to quiet, relaxing music or a podcast so that your mind isn't bored and frustrated. There are podcasts specifically geared toward trying to help people fall asleep, so maybe one of those. Also, sometimes I play mental games with myself to take my attention off the fact that I'm trying to sleep. For example, I name 10 red things, 10 names that start with B, 5 cities I want to visit, a simple math equation, or something like that. I hope you feel better soon.
The vast majority of people with schizophrenia, up to 80%, have sleep difficulties, ranging from insomnia to excessive sleepiness. Getting a good night’s sleep is vital for your health and well-being. Obsessive thoughts and overactive dopamine receptors in the brain may keep you up at night. Taking the right medication, exercising, getting enough sunlight, and keeping a regular sleep schedule can help improve sleep quality. Thanks for sharing this very helpful video, Stephen and Take Care! 🙌❤👍
Thank you Jim! I appreciate your comments and support so very much. Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
My schizoaffective has been lifelong along with my insomnia. My best sleep window is starting to sleep at 3 to 5am until 11am or noon. Our cycles are not like others. I feel as if the schizoaffective circadian rhythm is on a 30 hour cycle compared to a neurotypical. We are square pegs trying to fit into round holes. Ive tried everything. I studied and taught traditional chinese medicine, qi gong, and massage therapy. Ive tried all the herbs, supplements and now meds. ive tried every alternative treatment. None of it helps 😮 and its sad, given ive never slept well in 42 years. I sympathize deeply on this topic. Im on a sedative atm and its the only sleep im getting also. Forced sleep isnt great sleep. We tend to make more adrenaline too, and are also more unable to break it down. I am looking into taking a beta blocker more regularly to help with that. Maybe the thought process from here must be, your cycle and rhythm is yours and yours alone, and putting stress ontop of it to comply to a world we are not built for, isnt fair to us. It has taken me a long time to try and accept my rhythm. Its ok if it takes you time to find and accept yours too.
Thank you so much for sharing. I really appreciate it. I hope you have a happy and healthy rest of your day.
Hey Stephen, stay strong buddy🌄
That must be awful. I do sleep, but I keep waking up repeatedly in the night.
I have changed my life for the better thank you Stephen I have paranoid schizophrenia and paranoid personality disorder it is hard for me to trust people I am learning how to trust again my mental health is getting exponentially better thank you for educating the public about mental health awareness a lot of people don't know understand about schizophrenia.👍
Thank you so much for commenting and sharing.
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia no problem brother I have changed my life because of you Stephen I am starting to get help that I need to have I have paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia to it was getting exponentially worse I was suicidal and now I am not I am proud of you Stephen.👍
Trazadone medication to go to sleep helps me 100%
Thank you.
You are such a Hero Stephen!!
I have the same problem. I take meds so I can’t sleep and feel drugged and it’s the worst feeling in the world. It’s kind of like sundowning syndrome which is very common in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Thank you so much for sharing and your support on my channel. Have a happy and healthy rest of your day.
Keep strong Stephen! God is with you!
Thank you very much! I appreciate that!
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia It's a pleasure.😁
I can't wait to get my glasses so I can see again thank you Stephen for helping me out I have changed my life because of you Stephen I know you are younger than me i am proud of you for what you have accomplished your family should be proud of you Stephen I know I do thank you Stephen keep up the good work you are a King stay strong.🦁
Thank you so much!
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia you are very welcome Stephen I have changed for the better thank you are a inspiration to me Stephen I have paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia it is very hard to trust people I am learning how to trust again thank again stay strong king. 🦁
Such an important topic. You are right, things will get better. Breathing exercises sometimes work for me, even just 5 minutes when I can. Get well soon 🙏
Thank you very much!
I've been thinking about you Stephen and have missed not seeing your videos. I watch another KZhead creator named Lauren, a young woman, whose channel is called "Living Well with Schizophrenia". She is very knowledgeable about her condition and posts videos about herself and what she is dealing with. She also discusses the different therapies she has tried or is currently doing to manage her symptoms. Check her out. She may be able to give you some advice and relate to you as someone who has a similar diagnosis. I appreciate your videos. Hope you start feeling better soon. Take that walk and ask someone to walk with you. Hope to see you soon.
Stephen, what time do you take your clozapine, my son takes it at night and it helps him sleep and not be so sedated in the morning. Try listening to relaxing music at night, it might help, talk to your dr. Sleep is extremely important, best of luck, you will get through this, you are an amazing, brave person!
I take all my meds at night around 8pm which has been working for me so I am not as tired during the day. Thank you very much for your kind words and support!
If you are taking atypical antipsychotics, that will badly affect your sleep. They reduce seratonin, eventually depleting it altogether. Seratonin is necessary for sleep and waking cycles, as well as mood regulation, among many other things.
Really feel with you there man, sleep is so important and we feel terrible without our usual sleep routine. something we take for granted when it's going well. Really hope this goes better and back to normal for you my friend. One thing that might have helped with me is listening to an audio book or reading a book before bed. one tip i've heard is if you're in bed for about 25 minutes and can't sleep, then get out of bed and do something else before you feel sleepy. Try exercise when you can in the day to tire you and let out energy. but i wish you the best with this stephen. always put yourself and your health first before thinking about others. Take care my friend
Thank you very much for your kind words and suggestions! They are very helpful! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Have you thought about talking to your doctor about melatonin?
I haven’t, but I will. Thank you for the suggestion!
Stephen you take as much time as you need between filming your videos! We will wait for you! And your viewers want you to rest as much as you need! I'll be praying for you and i hope you get enough rest to feel better ❤ Sending you HUGS from ND!
Thank you very much! Your words of kindness and encouragement mean so much to me!
Games and tv aren't probably quiet ing you nor really relaxing. People like them because it's the way to bump up emotions. What about offering a little bit of your time to others, do something useful, like for example hoovering in your bedroom? Are you praying? Try to know your faith.
I hope i get better
I wish i wasnt sick my ilness destroyed my life
You’re my crush ❤️
What are your hobbies, Stephen?
My hobbies include playing video games, reading, watching TV, and walking around my neighborhood!
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia Nice! What do you like to read?
700.000 wow!
Thank you for sharing.
Hiya, I’m new to the channel. I’ve always had a deep interest in the way the brain operates, internally and externally (sounds funny). Has it ever crossed your mind of schizophrenia being a spiritual battle? Rather than a physical one taking place in just the brain? This isn’t my definite belief, but through things I’ve seen, heard, learnt, and even experienced, I’m starting to lean more towards that. I could be wrong! But if that sounds somewhat plausible to you, I hope you find more of what you’re looking for through it.
Stephen, tenho esquizofrenia há 11 anos. É possível comunicação com você, através de e-mail?