ok, so pain sucks...really bad. Depression sucks...even worse. Insomnia...well insomnia sucks in indescribable ways.
It's a vicious cycle. A sucking vortex, if you will. You hurt...You're depressed...and then you can't even sleep when you are so tired that every day you wish you could be like Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher and pull your sweater over your head and bang your head on the desk.
Everyone else in the house is asleep. My snoring husband, my attitudinal 13 year old, my overly precocious almost-6-year-old, heck even my co-insomniac 11 year old managed to fall asleep. For crying out loud, I've got a dog AND a cat sleeping right next to me. How is this right? In what universe are there organisms that don't enter a resting state.
And...the kicker is...I take sleeping pills. Huh? you say. Yes...and they aren't...flippin...working!
And I have to get up at 5 am...
caffeine, here I come. Just give me an IV drip.
End rant here...but I may be back if I'm still up in the morning.
Hi Lilybit I can’t sleep either. Ive cut out cafeine, alcohol, all sweet stuff. I used to get so angry that everyone else is asleep and partner snoring but have gradually gotten used to it. I now listen to my favorite music, go this site of lovely FM people and try to keep up a routine to help sleep. Im so sorry that sleeping tablets don’t work for you. Just letting you know I sm thinking of you. So good luck. Soft hugs Mary Michelon
Hi Lilybit, I have had chronic insomnia all my life. I have learned that sleeping pills only work about 20% of the time according to numerous studies. I also took a class on good sleep habits - one thing that is suggested is to figure out how much sleep your body actually needs. Most people will say 8-9 hours for adult but that isn't always the case for everyone. A lot of people require more or less. For me, I do just fine most of the time with 6 hours sleep as long as about every 10-14 days I get 8 hours. Another thing I learned was to figure out what time you need to get up and then count backwards to figure out your bedtime. So if I need 6 hours of sleep and need to get up at 6am for work, I would go to bed at midnight. That was something I wasn't doing, I was going to bed too early. If you find yourself laying in bed for 20 minutes and not going to sleep, try getting up and going into another room and do a very quiet activity, such as light reading. When you feel sleepy again go back to bed. Repeat if needed. This has really helped me on a lot of days. Lastly, I always knew I was sensitive to caffeine but I didn't realize that caffeine has an 8 hour half life. That means 8 hours after that cup of coffee you still have half the amount of caffeine in your system. I cut down my caffeine intake (during a vacation from work so it made it a little easier) and only have 1 cup first thing in the am. I think that has helped as well. Anyway, just some things I do to help. Hugs!
Hi Lilybit, you are right about it being a vicious cycle. When I am unable to get the sleep that I need, the extra pain comes in at full throttle. Which brings on depression…if I can’t get comfortable enough to sleep, then up I go to try to tire myself out by reading, etc but I am already tired but can’t sleep! I have found a product at GNC that is a powder form of magnesium that you can mix with liquid & drink a bit before bedtime. It is called Tranquil something or other-lemon flavored & great in hot tea. I have been drinking it for a week & it does help me a lot. I also make sure to take my pain tablet by 6:00 so that I won’t be in pain & not able to get comfortable. That way when I am ready for bed at 9:00-9:30 I should be able to sleep. Now, if I could only find a remedy for my dear husband’s snoring…
HUGS from Deb
Sorry you had a difficult night/morning. I have resolved to accepting that I can't sleep and doing enjoyable things that make me happy while I'm up, like watching TV, being on the computer; and Yes, I completely agree that it is frustrating. I, also like you, have to be up at a certain time every morning and wish I had an IV drip of caffeine as well. Depression, pain and fatigue are a vicious cycle and they co-exist with eachother often times. I don't really have any advice to offer, but I find I get some of my most creative ideas when everyone is sleeping and I'm able to focus on my inner thoughts, if I can get past the frustration of everyone being able to sleep but me when I want to sleep so desperately.
Also have problem with sleeping. Take amitriptylene which does help with sleep. I find it does not necessarily help with getting off to sleep, but once I am it keeps me asleep, because my body is so relaxed. If I can't get to sleep quickly it is usually cos I have too much adrenaline going round my body. In this case I walk around a bit to get rid of excess adrenaline. Hope this helps.
I found a way to force myself to sleep, but it is slightly unpleasant.
I had to have an EEG & the appt was at 7A & I must be alert to drive to the hospital 26mis away. Well, I get there & the ladies paste their electrodes all over my head, & I happen to be wide awake, I cannot relax or sleep! One of the ladies told me to pant until she tells me to stop. I don't know how long I panted, but I do know that my throat became extremely dry & when I tried to swallow it felt like I tried to swallow sand & I was very lightheaded & I had to stop panting & it worked!!!
Clothespin for hubby! I'll have to go by GNC...thanks for the tip! Deb said...
Hi Lilybit, you are right about it being a vicious cycle. When I am unable to get the sleep that I need, the extra pain comes in at full throttle. Which brings on depression...if I can't get comfortable enough to sleep, then up I go to try to tire myself out by reading, etc but I am already tired but can't sleep! I have found a product at GNC that is a powder form of magnesium that you can mix with liquid & drink a bit before bedtime. It is called Tranquil something or other-lemon flavored & great in hot tea. I have been drinking it for a week & it does help me a lot. I also make sure to take my pain tablet by 6:00 so that I won't be in pain & not able to get comfortable. That way when I am ready for bed at 9:00-9:30 I should be able to sleep. Now, if I could only find a remedy for my dear husband's snoring... HUGS from Deb
It is absolutely amazing what we will do in order to fall asleep.
Luna01 said:
I found a way to force myself to sleep, but it is slightly unpleasant.
I had to have an EEG & the appt was at 7A & I must be alert to drive to the hospital 26mis away. Well, I get there & the ladies paste their electrodes all over my head, & I happen to be wide awake, I cannot relax or sleep! One of the ladies told me to pant until she tells me to stop. I don't know how long I panted, but I do know that my throat became extremely dry & when I tried to swallow it felt like I tried to swallow sand & I was very lightheaded & I had to stop panting & it worked!!!