Posted by Fi on November 22, 2001, at 17:30:33
In reply to Sleepless nights... anyone have them?, posted by kid_A on November 19, 2001, at 12:02:52
People vary, of course- for me, I sleep badly if I am on the edge of getting depressed. Or just bog standard stressed and doing what anyone 'normal' would do in finding it hard to get to sleep.
I cope by following my usual wind down routine in the evening, which includes not drinking caffeine, avoiding anything too intellectually or emotionally demanding late on (I am *taping* the Sopranos as I write- will watch it *early* evening tomorrow). Then the bedtime routine of hot bath etc.
If I do find myself tossing and turning during the night, I try not to be too impressed by my insomnia. And if I cant sleep after (say) an hour or so, I get up, make myself a hot (not caffeine) drink, and do something boring, such as
ironing or washing up (sorry- that's washing up dishes in UK-think it may mean something else in US?!). For a while, then try bed again.Or as a half way step,I turn the radio on to something a bit interesting (not just music)- for me, thats' the BBC World service but of course views on that will vary!
If you go for watching TV or something,it mustnt be too interesting or it wakes you up too much and you can also want to *stay* up! I know someone who slept badly due to back pain for a while, but then was better and could have slept thru the night but wanted to get up to catch his favourite programmes!
This also helps me if part of what is keeping me aware is worry- things get out of proportion when you are lying in the dark half awake.
You do get tired in the day if you dont sleep properply, and I think there are mixed views on whether or not you should nap during the day,if you are able to.
It can be seen as a way of coping, or as undermining your sleep at night and making it even worse. I suppose you could try both and see which
suits you. Personally, I would nap in a chair (so I'm not too comfortable) and limit it to up to an hour. If I go to bed during the day, I sleep soundly
for a couple of hours whether or not I'm sleeping properly at night, feel dreadful when I wake up and sleep badly the next night.Anyway, another thing which is a little reassuring to me is knowing that lots of people sleep badly, and will be awake at the same time as you.
My mother even told me about a friend who does all her baking at night!I dont know anything re the meds side of things- for me, its a sign I may need Prozac (or more) if I wake up particularly early several days/nights running.
But over to you and your pdoc on that...(sorry about odd line breaks in this - I'm not coping well with typing where I can only see a wee bit of the text. And the lines seem to go on forever...)
Having said all that, I have got engrossed in Psychobabbling- should have gone to bed at least half an hour ago! So not following my own advice...!
fi
poster:Fi
thread:14076
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011117/msgs/14193.html