WTF? Sleep patterns have swung the other way..
WTF? Sleep patterns have swung the other way..
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Funk

Original Poster:

27,617 posts

238 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
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For weeks I've been struggling with insomnia and not being able to get to sleep. When I DID sleep, I struggle to wake up in the mornings, feeling groggy and disoriented. It would take me some time to 'get going' and I'd be running on only a few hours' sleep a night.

This week I'm getting to sleep just fine, but now I'm waking up every couple of hours. I woke up at 4am this morning, back to sleep and awake at half five then back to sleep and awake from 7. I'm on annual leave at the moment so don't even need to be up that early. How can I just get a normal nights' sleep, around 6-7 hours?

It's doing my head in!!

jet_noise

6,075 posts

211 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
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Dear Funk,

you're not alone, is there anything more difficult to get than a good nights sleep?

I suffer from this myself (predisposed to it due to medical condition and had depression). Simple things first - no caffeine p.m., not too hot/cold/uncomfortable in bed. There are loads of common sense (and not so) tips if you search.

Are you worrying about stuff?
I found that setting aside, say, 15 minutes early evening to write mine down and what I was going to do about them - action/delay/reject a help. Tick off any previous ones you've sorted. Shows you've achieved something and sort of puts a barrier between them and normal thoughts, a bit like the classic todo list you learn in time management course.

What works for one person may not for another. Try things, you never knowsmile
Have you seen your GP?

someone elses troubled sleep, made me chuckle,

regards,
Jet

Driller

8,310 posts

307 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
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Another one here, it's a bd isn't it?

For the last week I've been waking up at 4.30am and just turning over and over until I get pissed off and get up at 6 or 7 totally knackered. It's as if someone turns the light on at 4.30, sleep over.

Night before last it was 2.30. That was really annoying.

RemainAllHoof

79,982 posts

311 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
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Do the warmer nights have anything to do with it?

Try this CD, anyway: Natural Sleep Inducement

It's great for getting you to sleep, I've found.

Funk

Original Poster:

27,617 posts

238 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
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I do wonder whether the warmer nights are responsible. All my windows are wide open at night and have been for a couple of weeks.

This morning I awoke at half four, six and eight, having fallen asleep around midnight. Grrrr.

Sheets Tabuer

21,384 posts

244 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
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Terrible isn't it, I'm getting 4 hours a night recently and can hear a badger fart two counties over which wakes me up.

Not to worry though after 4-5 days of very little sleep I find my body wants 10 hours in the end.

Funk

Original Poster:

27,617 posts

238 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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Well after a long period of being 'up and down', I went to see my GP as per Jet noise's recommendation. I've been struggling with motivation, under huge amounts of pressure from a number of angles and had some really 'dark days'. My work has suffered in the last couple of months, and I don't really feel like my 'normal' self.

My GP has prescribed me Citalopram, but having read the side effects and feedback from people who're on it, I'm actually concerned it might not be the right approach for me. The problem is, I really do swing from having periods of positivity to very, very low periods. I don't know whether I should start the Citalopram or not.

Any advice anyone?

RemainAllHoof

79,982 posts

311 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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YHPM. Well, you will in a mo.

The Major

2,947 posts

201 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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get well and truly rat assed before bed.

After I do that I always sleep well.




try it, you never know, it might even be good for you.

Funk

Original Poster:

27,617 posts

238 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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RemainAllHoof said:
YHPM. Well, you will in a mo.
Cheers chap, have replied.

P924

1,272 posts

211 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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I was like this, the only thing that helped me sleep was alcohol. But that gets expensive, quite quickly.

What I can suggest, is that you get up at the same time (right time) every day (including weekends), and do some exercise. I don't mean 30 minutes of walking, I mean a good cardio workout or weight session. You need to feel like you've worked at the end of it.
Since Ive been doing that, I'm much better. I still wake in the night (3 times last night) but get back to sleep almost straight away. last week, I wouldnt be in bed before 2 or 3am. Now, I'm falling asleep on the settee at 11. smile
Good luck.

LordGrover

34,148 posts

241 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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I'd guess the inverse is true - cut out the alcohol for a good nights sleep.
I've been waking up for a pee several times a night, most nights, for a few years now - annoying but I usually get straight back to sleep again so not so bad. I find going to bed a little earlier helps - I think takes the pressure off having to get to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow so I can relax more. I reckon I get a good 6.1/2-7.1/2 hours a night which is pretty good for me.

carmonk

7,910 posts

216 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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A couple of years ago I had a short period of not sleeping, and I mean not sleeping. In a week I slept 5 hours max and I was so tired at work I once physically couldn't get up from my desk and go next door for a meeting (just as well, apparently, as it was st). I was so tired it was actually physically painful. Then suddenly it was OK again and I was back to sleeping solid for however long I decide to spend in bed. Which is often too long - recently I went to bed at midnight and the next thing I knew it was 12:45pm the next day, just like that.

Driller

8,310 posts

307 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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All of my insomnia problems have disappeared completely since I started wearing earplugs at night. I realised that I must have been very sensitive to all the little noises in the night, dogs barking, house settling etc. I sleep right through without waking up once now.

It sounds stupidly simple but give it a go it might just work.

Big_Dog

995 posts

214 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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I have been struggling with sleep for a while now and find audiobooks and Klipsch noise blocking headphones to be the answer. Maybe earplugs would be just as good.

mattikake

5,109 posts

228 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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Interrupted/inconsistent sleep patterns are completely normal. It's a system that demands you get up at 8am and work for 8 hours, without fail, that is abnormal. And don't let any amount of capitalist BS spin convince you otherwise.

Naturally, if you didn't get much sleep, no problem, just grab a few hours in the afternoon. There is no rulebook for sleep. No reason to feel bad or guilty. Nor even for having a day off because you had FA sleep the night before... although best advised to call it one of those "24-hour" bugs. wink

Waking up in the middle of the night is a healthy attachment to your evolutionary up-bringings - it's good for group survival to have one member of the troop randomly wake and act as a sentry for predators/rivals.

Circadian rythms vary for everyone and they vary day-to-day.

Not being able to get to sleep or unable to stay asleep could mean you have issues with caffine, alcohol, weight-related problems etc. but it's more likely to mean nothing other than your brain decided so... and therefore, it's everyone else's problem, not yours!

8 hours sleep a night is what you need implies the system. Turd. They just don't want you falling asleep in the middle of work.

Driller

8,310 posts

307 months

Friday 10th June 2011
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Good post, I like your style! clap

slipstream 1985

13,747 posts

208 months

Sunday 12th June 2011
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hot milk?

hidetheelephants

35,689 posts

222 months

Sunday 12th June 2011
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Surprised no-one has suggested a good wk, or even an average one; this is PH after all.









I neither confirm nor deny that this has or hasn't worked for me.

Mobsta

5,614 posts

284 months

Sunday 12th June 2011
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Focusing on your breathing, thinking of nothing else, can be helpful in getting back to sleep if you wake up in the night. Give it a go.