Waking Up Asleep

So today started off interesting. I woke up while I was in the middle of a 'dream' or while my subconscious was still stirring around. Last night I went to 'sleep' feeling stressed out (which is normal for me) and it took me a few hours until my body would let me pass out. My back was in knots and my thoughts were spinning very fast. Again, very normal for me, especially at night time. When I woke up, I looked at the clock and could have sworn it said 2:00pm. I was very upset as, since being laid off, I have started volunteering on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 1:45pm, so that meant I overslept. At the same time, in this same subconscious dream/haze/whatever it was, I thought I had a conversation with a former colleague of mine who I am using as a reference for an upcoming interview. Once I finally snapped into reality, I realized it was 11am and I had not spoken to this former colleague. Very interesting experience. You gotta love stress and the things it does to your mind and body. Any way, I went into volunteer as usual and had a nice time with the retirement home folk. I had started that a few weeks ago when I realized that for the sake of my sanity, at least the little that is left, I needed to do SOMETHING outside of the house during the week. I have to say its the best thing I've done for myself in a really long time. I love the older population as they are so loving and genuine. I am still on 10mg of Lexapro and have not begun taking Cymbalta. I read online that Cymbalta has some side effects which scare me. In general, medicine scares me. I think I'm going to stay on 10mg for a week, as my Therapist suggested, and then decide if I want to go down to 5mg (which would be the path to weaning off) or if I want to start Cymbalta. I'm taking that one day at a time. I've also done something for myself that was long overdue- I booked an appointment with a TMJ Specialist in mid-September. A year and eight months ago I experienced Vertigo for the first time, and it scared me to pieces. As a result, I visited a ENT who then referred me to an Audiologist to be tested for Vertigo. She found two different types in my inner ear, and performed an Epley manuever on me. Ever since, I have still had fullness in my left ear and I get light headed pretty often and easily. It's annoying, but I've just learned how to 'deal with it' for the time. I believe that it may be connected to TMJ as I was diagnosed with that a few years back. Stress, again, most likely the root cause as I grind my teeth at night (my least favorite habit)...combine that with the deathly fear of getting a mold done (I've had a few people tell me I would gag, and I am so afraid of gagging or throwing up that I won't do it), and you get me. I am glad I have FINALLY made this appt with a TMJ specialist to help determine if TMJ is the cause for my ear and dizziness, or not. Either way, it will be nice to know. My jaw is often sore on the same side where my ear is full, so I am hoping that means there is a connection and he may be able to help me. I'll make sure to share those experiences on here as well in hopes that I could help other people who may be going through something similar.