lopi,

Sorry to hear of your struggles. I have done some of the same things.

I can be driven to madness by the over-stimulation from the ticking of a clock. My wife knows to accept that she may find clocks with the battery out. It ios like somebody has turned the volume up on the clock ticking. My brain just zones in on the ticking.

I take gabapentin (Neurontin) to help with this so I can get by brain to relax so I can sleep. I also have propanolol (anti-hypertensive) to help lower my blood pressure. It has spiked to 190/155. I have not had to take it in a long time because I have learned how to recognize the start of the over-stimulation. I avoid over-stimulation like the plague.

I agree about the struggle with quiet. It only makes the sounds more pronounced. Instead, I try to have a background noise that covers up these clock ticks and other appliance sounds. If I get caught in a problem like you had, I will be miserable to quite some time.

The clonodine is just an anti-hypertensive ( reduces high blood pressure). The Ritalin also sounds suspect.

My recent start with hormone replacement therapy has been very positive. I take bio-identical DHEA and Testosterone and it help me sleep and relax. I was low according to the blood work. I was in the low end of 'normal.' My physician wanted me in the upper end of the normal range. Sure seems to work for me.

HRT sure did wonders for my wife. Her anxiousness was reduced drastically. Over-stimulation is an anxiety reaction. Whether it is due to an adrenal-cortical hyperfunction or some other imbalance, it is exhausting and miserable.

I would highly suggest getting the hormone bloodwork done before starting clonodine or other meds.

My heart goes out to you.