Insomnia (Photo credit: EasyPickle)
Falling into bed at 2AM and waking up at 6AM isn’t good for me; or anyone for that matter. Understatement? I know.
Why do I have insomnia?
I have too much to do and not enough hours in a day. Anyone else have that problem?
Whatever this is, it’s leaving me foggy. The only way I know how to explain the sensation of sleep deprivation is to say, “I am like the walking dead. I am in zombie mode.”
I am sleepwalking through my days and nights until nights turn back into days. Always trying to get one more thing done before turning in. It’s not working.
Between the hours of 2 and 6 in the morning, I am wakened by my six year old. He crawls into bed next to me, “I just want you mommy,” or “I had a bad dream.” Which is kind of cute but acknowledging his need rips me out of my cocoon of rest. Another 10 minutes relinquished.
Operating on 4 hours of interrupted sleep is not healthy. Again, an understatement. It’s a wonder I can function.
The sleeplessness started with back to school and has progressively worsened.
Sleeping in till noon on Saturdays and taking naps on Sunday afternoons, is no longer working to supplement my sleep life. It’s not a good long term solution to insomnia but I hadn’t considered that insomnia would be a long term problem.
Not good. NOT good. Not GOOD.
According to my recent health assessment, just to name a few things:
- I need more iron in my diet.
- I need to drink more water.
- I need to get more rest.
My energy is drained. I just want to sleep. I crave a good nights rest. Eight hours please, charge it to my account.
To make matters worse, I’ve increased my caffeine intake so I can get stuff done. Work gets done on autopilot sometimes. Home life is done with a lot of effort and mental self talk. My poor family … I am crabby and irritable which isn’t fair to them.
I find myself hitting snooze way too many times which means we have to rush every morning. My reluctant riser and the slow mover get anxious of the pace. I’m like the White Rabbit checking his watch. Screaming, “We’re late. We’re late.” Morning Madness
sleep (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)
Thankfully, I have the days between Christmas and New Year’s off. And I started my vacation sleeping in till noon. Maybe I can catch some extra zzzz.
Something’s gotta give. Can anyone relate? How do you combat insomnia and avoid sleepwalking through life? Oh and I’d prefer to do it without adding more caffeine or worse by adding meds. Open to suggestions.
Photos from Zemanta
the Jotter's Joint 
Well…I totally missed this little dandy of a post! My December is all a blurrrrrrr…..
Sleep is critical. I think there is a difference in “being in the zone” can’t sleep and “unable to relax” can’t sleep. I know we’ve chatted, but you are right…NOT GOOD – which deserves all caps. I’ve been in both modes: “being in the zone” and “unable to relax” places of sleeplessness. But, the “being in the zone” lack of sleep seems to energize me for a while.
The only solutions I have found to sleeplessness include:
1- Work out any relationship issues floating out there. The sooner the better.
2- This may be super hard for you, but start bed routine for yourself at 9pm in hopes that you’re close to sleep at 11pm.
3- Based on studies that I have read and unfortunately agree to, lose the “blue” lights as you’re winding down: iPhone screens, computer screens, etc. Studies show that they make brain activity increase. Tough medicine for a writer.
4- Read a relaxing, non-thought-provoking fiction as you nestle down. No self-help books on your night stand. Or book-writing strategies. Ahem.
5- Pray until you fall asleep. Pray, pray, and pray some more.
You know I had some pretty tough years with mental stress due to bad relationships and such. These are the things that help me find balance, sanity, and rest.
xoxoxoxo,
Tal
Thanks TLC for all your concern and advice. I am making every attempt. Bedtime starts at 9:00 for the dudes. And it’s after they’re down that I can start my bedtime process (maybe 10ish) if I don’t want to see my honey. But I’m trying! Can’t wait to hear about your January “something”.
I can relate to your problem, Gail. =[ I don’t drink much caffeine, and as a result I sometimes find myself nodding off during work. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a solution. Sleeping in on days off to catch up on all the lost hours of sleep seems to work best. I had four days off and on each day I’ve slept till noon. Today I woke up at 1!
🙂 My first second day of vacation I slept till noon. The flip side is I stayed up later. But wrapped all my presents. I plan on having a few more cozy days in the next week. Thanks for reading Zen.
You’re right Gail, it can’t go on. No suggestions from me but I’m sure you’re considering many. Every best wish.
Thanks for reading and for the well wishes Roy!
Before I went on holiday I had about 3-4 months of insomnia. Sleep only between 2-5. I was getting pretty ugly and miserable. I did a little research and found it’s not uncommon in “women my age”, who are pre-menopausal. Had a chat with my GP about options then went on holiday. Found a regular pre-sleep routine while in Spain and once I came home stopped jumping on the computer to do Blog stuff after the Fashion Mister went to sleep. I am still sleeping really well. The two times I haven’t since being home have been when I did get on the computer after 10:30 at night. My brain just won’t shut down after that. I’ll be keeping the quiet time before sleep as I feel like a whole new person now. All those things that used to make me crazy don’t and I’m better at solving the problems that come up at work.
Try developing a quiet time routine for yourself (a half hour on the couch watching something mindless, works for me) before bed. And consider talking to your Dr….just DON’T start taking sleeping pills, they aren’t a good option. If you think you might be pre-menopausal consider what role the changing hormones are playing.
I feel your pain and hope there is sleep at the end of your tunnel.
Laura
Thanks Laura for the tips. I will definitely be talking with my doctor … I was hoping it would have passed by now. Quiet time routine would be good. I’ll have to work on that. My only challenge is my husband works three nights a week. So the end of his day is pretty late. It’s usually around 10P when we finally get to connect. Sleeping pills? Nope. Not interested. Thanks again …
That does make it tough when you are trying to maintain a relationship on different schedules. I hope you find some sleep soon.
I can relate- being a 15+ year sleep apnea patient. With sleep apnea you don’t stay awake – you just never get completely into a real sleep. Stop breathing, oxygen levels drop, and you get up in a fog. Something’s gotta give.
Sent from my iPad
Yes … something must give. I feel for you. I didn’t realize that’s what it was like.