My apologies for joining this discussion after it seems to have concluded but I've been away.
I experience sleep problems, often..very often, managing to get around four hours sleep per night. I fall asleep quite easily but awake after around four hours. I suspect that in my case this behaviour is a symptom of a straightforward and relatively mild depression. Furthermore, I believe that its connected to Ataxia in two ways. [I have SC ataxia] Firstly I hold to the opinion that ataxia brings depression with it as one of its symptoms. Secondly, I think that its quite understandable for us to get depressed about our state, particularly If we've had a troublesome day. So Its a double depression whammy, the first coming as part of the Ataxia package, the second our response to the burden of the condition.
How do I cope? I don't very well and so miss a lot of sleep.However, I sleep best when I've been in some form of social situation, when I've been with others who have due to their presence diverted my attentions away from myself. I haven't sought the doctor's help as I don't wish to head along the sleeping tablet highway. Here in the UK there are over the counter sleeping tablets you can purchase which taken occasionally retain their potency, Nytol is one I've tried and it worked on the two occasions I used it.
Good luck. If you come across a method or substance that works feed the information through this site, I and perhaps others would like to know about it.
I take 200 mg of Sertraline daily. I originally started taking it several years ago, as I was on a beta-blocker for a heart problem. A side-effect of this beta blocker is depression. Eventually I had heart surgery to repair my problem. I was feeling better, and then found out my husband had terminal cancer (our children were 12 and 14 years old when he died). I stayed on the anti-depressant and eventually (ten years ago) was diagnosed with ataxia. I've been on different doses over the years, but find 200 mg is the correct dose for me. It's not a happy pill, as I still have ups and downs. It just helps me deal with the frustrations and challenge of my ataxia better. ;o)
That's the way I look at it too, it helps me deal with the frustrations and challenges.
We each have to manage as best we can, with whatever it takes. I know from
experience the toll long term depression takes, and I don't want to go back there!
rose said:
I take 200 mg of Sertraline daily. I originally started taking it several years ago, as I was on a beta-blocker for a heart problem. A side-effect of this beta blocker is depression. Eventually I had heart surgery to repair my problem. I was feeling better, and then found out my husband had terminal cancer (our children were 12 and 14 years old when he died). I stayed on the anti-depressant and eventually (ten years ago) was diagnosed with ataxia. I've been on different doses over the years, but find 200 mg is the correct dose for me. It's not a happy pill, as I still have ups and downs. It just helps me deal with the frustrations and challenge of my ataxia better. ;o)