Grrrrr......... 3 Hours sleep since Friday morning!
Discussion
I've got really bad insomnia the last few days. Just can't seem to shake it. I only seem able to sleep in the early evening for an hour or two... discovered that yesterday!
Even when I'm really tired, really late at night I just can't nod off. I feel like some kind of zombie
I didn't really want to take sleeping pills because firstly if they don't make me sleep I'll be driving with little or no sleep, and I've heard they can make you nod off but not actually 'sleep' if you see what I mean.
I'm now totally wired on coffee and red bull - a healthy, nutritious breakfast if ever there was one - but really would appreciate a decent kip at some point this week 
Anyone else get these bouts of sleep deprivation?
Even when I'm really tired, really late at night I just can't nod off. I feel like some kind of zombie
I didn't really want to take sleeping pills because firstly if they don't make me sleep I'll be driving with little or no sleep, and I've heard they can make you nod off but not actually 'sleep' if you see what I mean.
I'm now totally wired on coffee and red bull - a healthy, nutritious breakfast if ever there was one
- but really would appreciate a decent kip at some point this week Anyone else get these bouts of sleep deprivation?
Yep, have had this for a couple of months now. Longest was 72 hours without sleep. The thing is, it's gets more frustrating as time goes on...then you'll never nod off. Knowing that I have to be up at 05:00 and I'm still staring at the clock at 03:00 gets on my t!ts.
Been to the docs a few times and all they ask is if I'm stressed..I'm not. Oh, did I mention mine is partly due to RLS? THE most annoying thing on the planet.
I feel for ya...It's gutting.
Been to the docs a few times and all they ask is if I'm stressed..I'm not. Oh, did I mention mine is partly due to RLS? THE most annoying thing on the planet.
I feel for ya...It's gutting.
I went through it for about a week a couple of years ago. It was the strangest thing - I Wasn't stressed at all, but just could NOT sleep.
As someone above said - I'd be staring at the clock with 0400 written on it, knowing I had to be up in a few hours, absolutely nackered, but not going to sleep.
I tried some of the herbal sleeping things and they did work, but put me in such a deep sleep that getting up was near on impossible, and I had THE weirdest dreams that freaked me out.
Fortunately it went after a week or so, but at the time did worry me.
As someone above said - I'd be staring at the clock with 0400 written on it, knowing I had to be up in a few hours, absolutely nackered, but not going to sleep.
I tried some of the herbal sleeping things and they did work, but put me in such a deep sleep that getting up was near on impossible, and I had THE weirdest dreams that freaked me out.
Fortunately it went after a week or so, but at the time did worry me.
I cant get much sleep, 3 hours broken from about 8 hours in bed, some nights an hour tops, this has been going on for over a year so far.
If i want to get to sleep, it wont happen, my best sleeps are when ive trained, got a load of carbs in me, go to watch tv and i just nod off unintentionally.
Seems for me, that i sleep best when i`m not in a bed, on an office chair, the floor or sofa sat upright are the best for me.
I feel for you as i know how lathargic it makes you day to day.
If i want to get to sleep, it wont happen, my best sleeps are when ive trained, got a load of carbs in me, go to watch tv and i just nod off unintentionally.
Seems for me, that i sleep best when i`m not in a bed, on an office chair, the floor or sofa sat upright are the best for me.
I feel for you as i know how lathargic it makes you day to day.
Chilli said:
Apache said:
RLS?
Restless Leg Syndrome.Difficult to describe, but a feeling of NEEDING to move your legs whilst in bed. Picture the scene...your brain may be ready to shut down, and your absolutely knackered,.....but your legs won't ket you. Drives me mental.
Is RLS just a name you've dubbed it?
Dale19 said:
I cant get much sleep, 3 hours broken from about 8 hours in bed, some nights an hour tops, this has been going on for over a year so far.
If i want to get to sleep, it wont happen, my best sleeps are when ive trained, got a load of carbs in me, go to watch tv and i just nod off unintentionally.
Seems for me, that i sleep best when i`m not in a bed, on an office chair, the floor or sofa sat upright are the best for me.
I feel for you as i know how lathargic it makes you day to day.
I've tried to make my stomach feel full and contented before bed too. Warm milk, toast, cups of hot chocolate etc.If i want to get to sleep, it wont happen, my best sleeps are when ive trained, got a load of carbs in me, go to watch tv and i just nod off unintentionally.
Seems for me, that i sleep best when i`m not in a bed, on an office chair, the floor or sofa sat upright are the best for me.
I feel for you as i know how lathargic it makes you day to day.
I even tried curry and lager in desperation at 4am on sunday night
I always sleep after a curry. Nope Lying down and relaxing are not the same.
Learn some relaxation techniques. You can do this easily and cheaply by a little online research but if you want a quick fix then book a session with a hypnotherapist (yes, I am a practising hypnotherapist) who should be able to resolve this very quickly and easily.
RLS is also treatable by Hypnotherapy. I saw a lady last month and although it wasn't the main reason she came to see me I included some treatment for it and she reckons she has seen about an 80% improvement.
Learn some relaxation techniques. You can do this easily and cheaply by a little online research but if you want a quick fix then book a session with a hypnotherapist (yes, I am a practising hypnotherapist) who should be able to resolve this very quickly and easily.
RLS is also treatable by Hypnotherapy. I saw a lady last month and although it wasn't the main reason she came to see me I included some treatment for it and she reckons she has seen about an 80% improvement.
Do you have an alarm clock you can read easily from bed? If so, try covering it/getting rid of it.
I used to get bouts of 'unable-to-sleep-ness' and one of the worst things was lying in bed effectively clock watching and working out how little sleep I was going to get with each passing hour. This made me even less able to sleep and helped perpetuate the cycle.
It may not work for everyone but I went from one of those big red LED clocks to one without a light and my mobile as an alarm so I have to actively check the time rather than just happen to glance at it. A big improvement for me...
I used to get bouts of 'unable-to-sleep-ness' and one of the worst things was lying in bed effectively clock watching and working out how little sleep I was going to get with each passing hour. This made me even less able to sleep and helped perpetuate the cycle.
It may not work for everyone but I went from one of those big red LED clocks to one without a light and my mobile as an alarm so I have to actively check the time rather than just happen to glance at it. A big improvement for me...
I had a very bad bout of insomnia a couple of years ago bought on by work stress (Did not realise it at the time) and had less than 10 hours sleep in 2 weeks.
I eventually overcome that bout by using strong sleeping tablets, i tried everything else but nothing worked.
I still suffer occasional problems but if i catch it early with a couple of nights using tablets i can hold it off. Best thing i did was change job though, it happens very rarely now.
Its a horrible thing to suffer with, its almost like being pissed all the time but not a 'fun' pissed, just completely drained of life.
I eventually overcome that bout by using strong sleeping tablets, i tried everything else but nothing worked.
I still suffer occasional problems but if i catch it early with a couple of nights using tablets i can hold it off. Best thing i did was change job though, it happens very rarely now.
Its a horrible thing to suffer with, its almost like being pissed all the time but not a 'fun' pissed, just completely drained of life.
Edited by paul99 on Tuesday 5th August 12:35
Dale19 said:
I`d give it a few more days before you try something then bud, i dont like consuming anything man made so i wont use any sleeping pills etc, but theres only so much you can take.
Try to limit your stimulants too or your never going to break the cycle.
I know, but I've also got to function at work!Try to limit your stimulants too or your never going to break the cycle.
See a doctor if this insomnia keeps happening. I've suffered from insomnia my entire life. Growing up I always put it down sharing a room with a brother who snored, then stress from GCSEs, then stress from A-Levels. At no point did I think it could be caused by something else. Then in my mid-twenties I started having problems with headaches upon waking up, so I went to see a doctor. The first thing the doctor asked was "do you suffer from insomnia?". Naturally the answer was yes, so the doctor did a few tests.
Turns out that my body doesn't produce anywhere near the normal level of melatonin, which is why I wasn't sleeping (the headaches were just a temporary thing bought on by stress but exacerbated by the lack of sleep). At the time melatonin supplements wern't available so I was prescribed an alternative which had other side effects so I stopped taking them and just put up with the insomnia again. It wasn't until ten years later that I found out that melatonin supplements ARE available, but getting them in the UK is pretty difficult so I started ordering them from the USA.
They are by far the best thing I have ever taken for insomnia, and I'd highly recommend them. I still suffer from occasional bouts of insomnia but those bouts are much more managable.
Turns out that my body doesn't produce anywhere near the normal level of melatonin, which is why I wasn't sleeping (the headaches were just a temporary thing bought on by stress but exacerbated by the lack of sleep). At the time melatonin supplements wern't available so I was prescribed an alternative which had other side effects so I stopped taking them and just put up with the insomnia again. It wasn't until ten years later that I found out that melatonin supplements ARE available, but getting them in the UK is pretty difficult so I started ordering them from the USA.
They are by far the best thing I have ever taken for insomnia, and I'd highly recommend them. I still suffer from occasional bouts of insomnia but those bouts are much more managable.
Edited by branflakes on Tuesday 5th August 12:43
Suffered from chronic insomnia for most of my 20s, fortunately my body did compensate after only a few days, kind of really bad 4-5 nights, one good night, 4-5 bad nights.. etc, etc.
My advice...
No caffeine after mid-day.
Eat your evening meal before 8pm, if you can't (going out), avoid a heavy meal.
Cut down on your sugar intake after 9pm and any snacks.
Keep fluid intake to a minimum after 9pm.
Buy some blackout curtains that clip onto your existing set.
If you have a TV in the bedroom, remove it. Same goes for a computer.
You need to make your bedroom a place where you sleep and nothing but sleep.
To really get me to sleep, Camoline tea at about 9pm, really chills you out and you're well ready to sleep.
Works for me, even on bad, bad days full of stress I still get a good 8 hours.
My advice...
No caffeine after mid-day.
Eat your evening meal before 8pm, if you can't (going out), avoid a heavy meal.
Cut down on your sugar intake after 9pm and any snacks.
Keep fluid intake to a minimum after 9pm.
Buy some blackout curtains that clip onto your existing set.
If you have a TV in the bedroom, remove it. Same goes for a computer.
You need to make your bedroom a place where you sleep and nothing but sleep.
To really get me to sleep, Camoline tea at about 9pm, really chills you out and you're well ready to sleep.
Works for me, even on bad, bad days full of stress I still get a good 8 hours.
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