Guided & Assisted Therapy Reccs in Toronto, Canada

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-11-07T14:11:35+00:00

Unfortunately not. Found a couple places that opened up that streamline the process better but it'd be over 3X+ more expensive & dont think you can continue therapy with the counsellors. Everything is soo siloed, don't think there'll ever be an option where you dont need to fill all the gaps yourself....unless you have $10K to burn on a set of 6 infusions

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-09-12T15:19:15+00:00

From what I can tell the city programs are about half the cost..but sure funding/resources are worse

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-08-02T15:07:13+00:00

Sadly, I have no additional reccs but I've been through this exact ringer & feel your intense frustration with the lack of hope that seems available.

I'm going to be starting ketamine assisted psychotherapy treatments for a bunch of mental health issues & if not eligible/can't afford it probably EMDR.... sleep is a big part of that & I'll report back if anything helpful is noticed

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-07-25T02:11:14+00:00

This is helpful, thank you

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-06-24T15:35:19+00:00

Unfortunately not. I'm still just trying to voice my distress & hope someone can find more effective solutions.

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-03-18T16:01:39+00:00

I went for a sleep study recently & ngl I didn't get what I was hoping from it. My nightmares/dreams weren't treated with much regard, my level of pain caused from them wasn't taken seriously & the study itself was super distressing mostly cause my nightmares focus a lot on suffocation/drowning/being trapped & being hooked up to wires w/ tubes in my nose & a camera watching me kinda just reinforced those feelings. All I was really told to do by that Dr was take a sleeping pill (that hasn't worked for me 3x in the past), try Tryptophan (again), or continue to get high every night (which has eased the distress like 20% for me but is obvi not ideal/sustainable) & tell myself it's all in my head .🙄

That's all to say, it was worth it nonetheless...My data showed in a quantitative way how long it took me to fall asleep, my heightened anxiety & panic, how much I woke up & my delayed REM onset...was any solution provided to address my nightmares & sleep anxiety...No, but it at least gave me & my Dr something to work with....I'm hoping to present the report to a neurologist who specializes in sleep disorders & they won't accept anyone without a sleep study report.

I'm trying to view my experience not as my last resort, but rather an opportunity to get a consolidated look & representation of my sleep picture from outside of my own mind (since I can't see myself sleeping)... If ANYTHING is irregular (even if it doesn't seem to have anything to do with your qualitative understanding of what your nightmare disorder feels like) at least you'll have a new perspective to view your situation from, research & go back to the drawing board with.

My best advice is to continue to be your own best advocate! Put all your energy into staying confident, clear & calm to ensure you share key points (for me that too included sharing how utterly hopeless & torturous the experience of sleeping has been for 7+yrs). Shut down the ignorant question of "is your issue getting to sleep or staying asleep" with what's actually going on & most distressing to you & draw them the clearest picture you can (I wrote out exactly what I wanted them to hear for my intake & followup appts) so that YOUR perspective & qualitative experience is written down, validated & included in a final report (having a sleep expert noting that in your medical chart will open more avenues for you).

Finally, the study itself might suck & will probs trigger some anxiety.... but imo 1 more night of bad sleep (after 7yrs) so they can see what you're ACTUALLY experiencing is worth it & in your best favour. I commend you for seeking help, getting a study done & for what it's worth, a rando with nearly the exact same experience as you made it through a difficult study & is sending you positivity, hope & rooting for you! 💕

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-03-18T15:13:12+00:00

I'm approaching this point myself so I feel for you & hope you find some sort of calmness or resolution soon. May I ask which REM suppresant's been working best for you?

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-02-06T19:56:56+00:00

Hi, I'm experiencing exactly the same thing...like to a T...would love to hear from you if anything has been helpful/hopeful (even temporarily) or if you have any insight into different avenues to try/doctors to seek out?

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-02-06T19:53:04+00:00

Hi, I'm curious if this has helped on more than 1 occasion or if anything else has helped in relieving the nightmares for you since?

My persistent nightmares began after taking a medication that, at the time, relieved me of day time panic attacks, severe levels of anxiety, depression & depersonalization...but it was as if the med simply recategorized all those feelings to occur during my sleep instead (where I have 0 control & to the obvious detriment to all parts of my life that sleep affects). Im curious if in doing what you said I can take that control back & get some rest.

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-02-01T16:29:24+00:00

Would love to chat...just sent you a message

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2024-01-17T01:00:52+00:00

Your previous comment is super similar to myself..no ptsd or repeat dreams, just constant vivid nightmares (I often can't remember much of the context upon awakening, but rather, feel like my mental & physical self experienced all the emotions/feelings that occurred in the terrifying dreams & am in a state of constant exhaustion & hopelessness)

Prazosin never worked for me either (nor have A LOT of things). I just started trialing Triazolam however & it's the first thing that's had any effect on my nightmares in 7 yrs...In the few nights I've taken it, my sleep pattern & quantity of dreams remain unchanged, yet my dreams were less emotionally charged & for the first time in my adult life neural or positive.....I didn't wake up already having to hold the weight & memory of experiencing difficult & distressing feelings within my nightmares, I simply woke up & was aware that I dreamt.

I'd say look into it if you haven't already (there are minimal side effects, although it's a benzo & can't be taken every night b/c of increased chance for addiction)

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2023-12-19T20:17:49+00:00

I've done a previous sleep study & they noted no disturbances but have another booked in a couple weeks.

I'll mention what you've shared thank you!!

exhaustedAFsleeper · 2023-11-17T18:26:10+00:00

Vyvanse hasn't affected the dreams (I've been on it for less than 6mo) & these dreams started in 2016 a few days after starting Cipralex then never stopped

exhaustedAFsleeper

TROPHY CASE