Sleep - if only

**Posts:** 3 · by **oxleas** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:30 am

Hi all

I'm a new member who has been attracted by the insights into my depression gained by reading these posts and the learning path.

I've fallen into a deep depression over the past 4 months or so and have been struggling to understand and come to terms with it. I now realise that this depression has been a recurring theme over my life and I've avoided it in the past by using alcohol and drugs, both of which I abandoned about 6 months ago.

The biggest impact at the moment is lack of sleep. I go to sleep OK but wake up wide awake after only 4-5 hours in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep.

What is it that causes this 4 hour alarm clock to go off. Is it just that I'm overdreaming in REM and its waking me up to stop me being overtired. If so it seems to be a self defeating mechanism, as I'm exhausted when I wake up. Is there anything I can do to go back to sleep or access the deep low wave sleep that my body obviously craves? I do not want to take sleeping pills and am trying various herbal teas before bed. I've just ordered the sleep programme and hoping against hope that this will help.

**Posts:** 5816 · by **Michael Lank** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:02 am

Hi oxleas,

A warm welcome to the Forum.

I'm pleased that you've gained so much from the forum and from the Learning Path.

Well done for making the change, in giving up alcohol and drugs and realising that these are not the way to beat depression.

As you correctly say, it is the excess REM sleep that will make you wake up early.

You say that you have been struggling to understand your depression - to me this sounds like the type of rumination that fuels the Cycle of Depression described in the learning path. So, perhaps you need to do less of that and more of the things that will ensure that your Basic Human Needs are met, so that the cycle is broken.

Best wishes

**Posts:** 3 · by **oxleas** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:37 am

Mike

Thanks for your reply.

Since I posted I've been through a lot more of the previous threads and have acquired a deeper understanding of the sleep issues.

As for the struggling - this was before I found this forum and the learning path. Its all pretty clear now especially regarding the cycle.

Re-reading the human needs has frightened me as I realise that I'm lacking in virtually every respect. I've become incredibly self centred and introspective and this has surprised me as I thought I was a fairly generous, laid back, balanced sort of guy. Amazing how the drugs can totally distort your perceptions of yourself. When the truth is laid bare in front of you it comes as a bit of a shock to say the least.

I've realised that I need external help with my problems and am going to look out a knowledgeable therapist who can help me along this rocky road.

All the best

**Posts:** 5816 · by **Michael Lank** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:54 am

Hi oxleas,

Thanks for your reply.

It's nice that things are becoming clearer. Although realising there is room for improvement in meeting your basic needs might come as a bit of shock, the other side of that is that it's nice to know that there are things that can be done that will really improve things for you.

In looking for a therapist it's important to find one it's important to find one who understands how to treat depression, rather than one who wants to delve into your past, increasing the rumination that's part of the cycle.

Depending on where you live, there may be someone on the forum who can assist, or you might like to look at the Human Givens Institute Register.

Best wishes.

Sleep - if only

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