sleep apnea and anxiety

loopylooloo · Post by **loopylooloo** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:12 pm

Once I get used to my CPAP (maybe looking at a BiPAP next week) I'm wondering if it will help my anxiety. I know why apnea would cause anxiety, of course, but wondering if anyone has had experience with it? Also, I had more hypopneas than obstructions. is that another condition other than OSA or are they all just lumped together? Thanks! (P.S. i have anxiety issues already and no need to encourage me to use the CPAP with any scary statistics. I'm trying to get acclimated as best as I can.

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:31 pm

It helped me a lot. Before I got my cpap I was constantly "freaking out" over stuff I couldn't control (anxiety attacks I now se looking back and knowing more about it) After I got settled into my cpap therapy about 3 months I realized I was suddenly doing stuff that would have wrecked me 6 months before.

What was the best thing was learning about Centrals one gets as one is falling asleep. Knowing they happen, when they happen I no longer get out of bed and eat everything I can get my hands on because "OMG I am freaking out about SOMETHING" now it is "Oh crap a central, settle down body" pet the cat, turn over and go back to sleep.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:37 pm

Hypopneas are little apneas, and most of us have them and often quite a bit more of them... they're kind of incipient apneas that just don't disturb us as much, but they are still 'events' and should be followed.

ddk · Post by **ddk** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 4:57 am

I find the opposite. If I'm stressed or anxious I can't get to sleep with the mask on. I need to lay down and relax for a few minutes and slow my breathing. It's only when I get a blocked nose and find it difficult to breath out that I start getting anxious about therapy.

knightlite · Post by **knightlite** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:10 am

[quote="loopylooloo"] I'm wondering if it will help my anxiety. I know why apnea would cause anxiety, of course, but wondering if anyone has had experience with it?

Yes, it has helped me a lot. Before cpap I would be up all night trying to avoid medication to go to sleep . This went on for years, now I rarely take a pill and I get 6 or so hours of sleep. Things seem to get clearer and I start doing the stuff I avoided (anxiety attacks). Mood improved slowly . I also cleared my head and decided my health was more important than a couple of glasses of wine a night. So I've decided to drop all alcohol -period .
That was a big one for me , socially and all. My doctor had been pressuring me and I knew this day had to come my A1c was above 7 .
After 65 years I've started to cook for my wife and I enjoy it.
Night time bathroom trips have dropped to one .
My addiction to reading cpap forms have increased but I feel it will drop off one day (LOL).
Anxiety during the day and at sleep time have dropped a lot, the wine was my medication of choice but I had Xanax and other stuff for backup.
Still working on the bad stuff. That's life/
good luck on your journey.

caffeinatedcfo · Post by **caffeinatedcfo** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 6:21 am

My mood has improved dramatically - not much gets my blood boiling these days (2.5 mos into CPAP).

RestedRebel · Post by **RestedRebel** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:53 am

caffeinatedcfo wrote:My mood has improved dramatically - not much gets my blood boiling these days (2.5 mos into CPAP).

I concur. Being well-rested and energized makes me able to handle daily and/or stressful routines that used to make me anxious.

John from Brookston · Post by **John from Brookston** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:22 am

BlackSpinner wrote:What was the best thing was learning about Centrals one gets as one is falling asleep. Knowing they happen, when they happen I no longer get out of bed and eat everything I can get my hands on because "OMG I am freaking out about SOMETHING" now it is "Oh crap a central, settle down body" pet the cat, turn over and go back to sleep.

I'm still working on those. I've gotten to the point where I don't leap out of bed panting in a panic, but it's difficult still not to wake fully and go "What was that?".
I was on benzos for anxiety but I kicked those to the curb a week ago.

loopylooloo · Post by **loopylooloo** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:44 am

John from Brookston wrote:
BlackSpinner wrote:What was the best thing was learning about Centrals one gets as one is falling asleep. Knowing they happen, when they happen I no longer get out of bed and eat everything I can get my hands on because "OMG I am freaking out about SOMETHING" now it is "Oh crap a central, settle down body" pet the cat, turn over and go back to sleep.
I'm still working on those. I've gotten to the point where I don't leap out of bed panting in a panic, but it's difficult still not to wake fully and go "What was that?".
I was on benzos for anxiety but I kicked those to the curb a week ago.

What are benzos? I am on Ativan and have only tried it a week off and on when needed. I hope to be done with it completely. The anxiety hits a lot in public...like I am afraid I'll freak out in front of people.

kaiasgram · Post by **kaiasgram** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:53 am

loopylooloo wrote:What are benzos? I am on Ativan and have only tried it a week off and on when needed. I hope to be done with it completely. The anxiety hits a lot in public...like I am afraid I'll freak out in front of people.

Benzos, or benzodiazepines, are a class of anti-anxiety medications that include ativan, valium, xanax, klonopin and others.

John from Brookston · Post by **John from Brookston** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 12:13 pm

loopylooloo wrote:
John from Brookston wrote:
BlackSpinner wrote:What was the best thing was learning about Centrals one gets as one is falling asleep. Knowing they happen, when they happen I no longer get out of bed and eat everything I can get my hands on because "OMG I am freaking out about SOMETHING" now it is "Oh crap a central, settle down body" pet the cat, turn over and go back to sleep.
I'm still working on those. I've gotten to the point where I don't leap out of bed panting in a panic, but it's difficult still not to wake fully and go "What was that?".
I was on benzos for anxiety but I kicked those to the curb a week ago.
What are benzos? I am on Ativan and have only tried it a week off and on when needed. I hope to be done with it completely. The anxiety hits a lot in public...like I am afraid I'll freak out in front of people.

I was on Klonopin. 1/2 a MG at bedtime. After 3 months and finally dialing in a mask/bedroom decor/pillow/room temperature combo that was conducive to hose sleeping, I spent 2 weeks at 1/4 MG a night then cut it out entirely.

Sir NoddinOff · Post by **Sir NoddinOff** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 12:41 pm

John from Brookston wrote:
I was on Klonopin. 1/2 a MG at bedtime. After 3 months and finally dialing in a mask/bedroom decor/pillow/room temperature combo that was conducive to hose sleeping, I spent 2 weeks at 1/4 MG a night then cut it out entirely.

That's great news John. Congrats! You were originally on 1/2mg per night which is why you were able to get off in two weeks. I generally advise caution to anyone who's taking that amount or more every night to taper down very gradually. One to two months is not unusual for people who are heavily into benzos, even if only at nighttime for sleeping. Talk to your sleep doctor, pharmacist or GP about a gradual program that is safe and allows your body to rid itself of these drugs at a reasonable rate. Many benzos come in Rx'd liquid forms for those that want to be step down in smaller increments over time.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:07 pm

I know that cpap vastly improved my mood and temperament.
I used to be quite "hormonal", who knew it wasn't those hormones?

loopylooloo · Post by **loopylooloo** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:32 pm

Sir NoddinOff wrote:
John from Brookston wrote:
I was on Klonopin. 1/2 a MG at bedtime. After 3 months and finally dialing in a mask/bedroom decor/pillow/room temperature combo that was conducive to hose sleeping, I spent 2 weeks at 1/4 MG a night then cut it out entirely.
That's great news John. Congrats! You were originally on 1/2mg per night which is why you were able to get off in two weeks. I generally advise caution to anyone who's taking that amount or more every night to taper down very gradually. One to two months is not unusual for people who are heavily into benzos, even if only at nighttime for sleeping. Talk to your sleep doctor, pharmacist or GP about a gradual program that is safe and allows your body to rid itself of these drugs at a reasonable rate. Many benzos come in Rx'd liquid forms for those that want to be step down in smaller increments over time.

Will I have side effects when I wean off the Ativan? Oh dear...kind of wish I hadn't started it then. I don't want to be reliant on it. Between the CPAP, possible thyroid issues and all the issues that have gone with it over the last several months I am a mess. I only take a quarter of a .5 mg (mcg?...I'll have to look) pill

Freebird99 · Post by **Freebird99** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:59 pm

After reading the forum, good to hear there's hope of getting off the meds with the Cpap machine...
I'm on two meds at the moment... Hopefully, the Dr. can ween me off.

I'm still tired using the Cpap however, I think I have more energy and less attacks.

Cheers!

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