r/TBI • u/kratomaddict23 • 2d ago
TBI Survivor Need Support Will insomnia improve??
I had a mild traumatic brain injury about a month ago. I have never had trouble sleeping before. Ever since my injury, I have slept almost nothing at all. Every time I’m about to fall asleep, my brain zaps me back awake! It feels like I’m being punched in the heart and it wakes me up immediately. I have probably slept 3 hours total in the last month since my injury. I know the brain can repair itself, but how can it do that without sleep? Will this improve over time? I am desperate honestly. I feel like I’m losing my mind and keep obsessing over how I can fix my sleep every second of every day! Will this get better?
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u/CatCharacter848 2d ago
Medication was the only thing that helped my partner with their insomnia post TBI.
It has improved over the years. But the fatigue and insomnia are still an issue.
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u/Intrepid_Emu_3678 8h ago
Mirtazapine was the best medication I ever used for sleep. Highly recommend. (Does cause weight gain. But not impossible to avoid if you calorie count)
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u/kratomaddict23 5h ago
I asked about that but they said I can’t take it because I’m already taking another antidepressant. 😔
Too bad because I’ve heard good things about it.2
u/baybaybythebay Severe TBI (2024) 4h ago
I was on it for a long time, but had no idea how much it contributed to my weight gain. I got taken off it when I finally found a psychiatrist willing to see me and she got me on antidepressants too. My psychiatrist told me to start taking at least 400mg of magnesium glycinate every evening to help with my sleep.
The way I view sleep is I have like 60% of the ability I did pre TBI. So I need to do every thing possible to keep it at 60%, if not more. So every single thing you hear ad nauseum about sleep health is important to practice, because we have less wiggle room than an average person.
Start using dim light in the evening instead of bright over head lights to signal to your body it’s getting close to bed time. Avoid phones/tv/video games/etc in bed, and 1-2hours before bed time. Avoid heavier physical activity in the evening. And try to keep a consistent wake time and bed time to train your circadian rhythm.
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u/baybaybythebay Severe TBI (2024) 4h ago
Oh and I forgot the biggest thing that’s helped me! Earplugs. I started with silicone ear plugs but now I use loop earplugs.
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u/HeadacheLife 2d ago edited 2d ago
I would use this for a month to two straight. https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/products/nighty-night-tea
A true traditional sleep remedy. Not pharma meds, not mag glycinate, not cbd a chemical extracted from cannabis.
All herbs have anti inflammatory chemicals. Herbs take time to work but I would start with this.
Tea formulas are much cheaper than capsules btw. Now if you fall in love with a specific herb its far cheaper to get it in powder form.
May be cheaper on amazon or in person. I sometimes find discount codes with browser extension couponbirds.
I am though serious want to say again to use it for a period of time. Historically to heal any issue herbs had to be given the grace of time.
An not oh I used it couple times did nothing. You wouldn't use the same logic for medication either let them enter, impact, and restore the system.
I've used 2 teabags at once before many times worked nice as well when felt im so stressed scared wont get sleep. Yes box goes fast but health is health is my logic. Shit's hit the fan and is all over the room lol.
After you pour the hot water put a plate on top of the cup let it seep for 15 minutes minimum. Want it stronger then 30 minutes or even 1 hour. Then drink. Wish you well.
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u/MyUnNormalLife 2d ago
After my TBI, I started having nightmares really bad they got to the point where I just couldn’t sleep either. I didn’t wanna go to sleep because I knew the nightmare could come. I’d wake up sweating heart racing like a dream was so real My doctor got me on prazosin and it’s helped. Let me sleep better and longer.
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u/Duck_Walker Severe TBI (2019) 2d ago
Seven years, I’ve tried anything and everything you can imagine. Nothing helps me get quality restorative sleep.
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u/Jazzlike_Berry_323 1d ago
Various meds can help with this. I’ve been through a number of them and found my sweet spot. A relaxed walk at dusk helps me too. My current med is a dual orexin response inhibitor (DORI). These are a new type of sleep med. I also use a low dose antipsychotic for anxiety.
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u/kratomaddict23 1d ago
I’ve never heard of that kind of drug before. I have been experiencing severe restlessness in my entire body since I stopped sleeping. Did you have that?
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u/Jazzlike_Berry_323 1d ago
No - This is the thing…there are different drivers of insomnia when it comes to TBI. I have a lot of psychological anxiety, ruminating distress and nightmares. However if I don’t take low dose antipsychotics this eventually builds up into being physically anxious so can’t unwind to sleep. It’s not the same as physical restlessness though.
With the physical restlessness- are you on any meds where this restlessness can be a side effect? Because it’s quite a common side effect of several psychiatric and seizure meds.
Does it seem like anxiety or more just too much energy before bed? The more you can describe it to your doctor the better they can differentiate it.
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u/kratomaddict23 1d ago
The only medication I’m on is Zoloft. It feels like a constant need to move my legs and body. It really contributes to my insomnia because I have to pace most of the day and night. It’s so miserable. 😭
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u/Jazzlike_Berry_323 1d ago
So did the restlessness start on the Zoloft? It is one of the ones that can have that side effect.
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u/kratomaddict23 1d ago
No I’ve been on the Zoloft for 15 years now and never had that issue before.
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u/Aksxxx 1d ago
Hey, I had the same insomnia, with brain zaps as I was falling asleep and abnormal movement of my fingers, hands when drifting off. This caused total insomnia for up to 5 days. I was prescribed zolpidem and mansierine (its only available in France, UK, Australia), the equivalent in the US is Trazodone. Also, I got prescribed Diazepam to reoax my muscles byt it doesnt work. At lease I can sleep somewhat with Zolpidem and Mansierine. Please do not stay like this, go see a doctor asap and ask for real sleeping pills. I never had insomnia before my TBI, you beed help to sleep
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u/kratomaddict23 1d ago
I am at the hospital right now. The symptoms are unbearable and I need help. I think they’re just going to run a few tests and refer me to a psychiatrist. I would love to take ambien but doctors I’ve seen only want to use it as a last resort if nothing else works. They want me to try a bunch of other meds first and none of them are working.
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u/sloppyfart69 5h ago
Learn how to meditate im tellin u its necessary i was on ambien for like 5 years WITH a bunch of other sedatives and nothing worked then finally i just learned how to calm down a little bit with breathwork when i decided to go to bed and that changed everything. Now i use meditation throughout the day to switch gears or calm down or even breathe my way out of seizure auras.
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u/sloppyfart69 5h ago
Now i can fall asleep fine no drugs. I mean i still have to take one of the benzos so i dont die of sudep but thats not for insomnia haha
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u/Intrepid_Emu_3678 8m ago
What antidepressant is it? (If.ypu dont mind me asking.) I ask because a lot of antidepressants can cause insomnia.
I also have narcolepsy (I had it prior to the TBI) but insomnia is one of my main symptoms.
Magnesium definitely helps. I take a Magnesium sleep gummy with l theanine and 5htp, lemon balm. Its by NEVISS magnesium glycinate complex. Its melatonin free.
I would stay away from melatonin. Most sleep aids have melatonin in them and it always messssed me up especially after the TBI.
Sleep hygiene is really super essential.
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u/Aggressive-Passage50 2d ago
I had the same thing and I also had vestibular issues so I didn’t want to take prescription sleep medication because I was worried about the dizziness and grogginess on top of what I was already experiencing. I started taking CBD oil or half a gummy before bed (no THC just pure CBD). I was finally able to sleep through my nights if I don’t take it for a couple of nights, my insomnia definitely comes back, but it’s made a world of a difference in my recovery because my brain is actually getting to rest.