My worst enemy.

[yv0nne]

Sleep is my worst enemy at times like this but my best friend when we do manage to get over our differences!

I'm wide awake. It's 2AM. I've been awake since 6:30AM. I was awake until 3:30AM last night.
Anyone else out there suffering from an inability to sleep like a regular person?

As it stands, I'm sitting here watching Bar Rescue. I love long weekend TV marathons At least my dog is curled up at my feet to keep me company. When you consider the fact that he's happily sleeping, I suppose it's also sort of like rubbing salt in the wound!

 

[zombiemann]

As a manic depressive I go through phases where I MIGHT get 8 hours of sleep... a week that is. I know your pain well. My advice: Go to your local grocer and in the tea isle look for Celestial Seasonings "Tension Tamer". It helps sometimes. I wasn't impressed with "Sleepy Time" lol. I do recommend herbal remedies over crap like ambien*. A "natural" sleep is by far more restorative than pharmaceutically induced. Also when insomnia strikes the TV and computer are about the worst things you can do. Especially backlit screens like on a laptop or LCD/LED monitor. The combination of light and eye movement trick your body into thinking "it's daytime, I need to stay awake"

* Am I the only one who finds it hilarious that Ambien lists "drowsiness" as a side effect?..... I mean, ISN"T THAT THE FREAKING POINT? lol:crazy:

 

[yv0nne]

Definitely know I'm not supposed to use cell phones, computers or TV. I usually allow myself roughly 2hrs of 'black' time (have the room completely dark) to try to sleep but it is just so frustrating to lay there wide awake.

When I was younger, my sleep was much worse. My doctor offered to prescribe a sleeping aid when I was 17 but all I could think was I would be dependent on it forever if I started taking it. I have tried the melatonin pills but never tried any of the tea out there for it. Perhaps that will be my next step.

I have survived (albeit zombie-like) on as little as 2- 4hrs of sleep a night regularly for most of my university years. Now I'm done with school but still can't sleep. Is your lack of sleep where your username is from?

 

[Kazooie]

I heard taking a hammer to the face is a great solution to sleeping issues!

 

[Jaemie]

* Am I the only one who finds it hilarious that Ambien lists "drowsiness" as a side effect?..... I mean, ISN"T THAT THE FREAKING POINT? lol:crazy:

lmao.. So true.

I've always had anxiety dreams, so sleep has never been relaxing for me. But I also have insomnia frequently. Meh... I read, or poke at the computer more (bad, I know), or just lie in bed like a dork. :meh:

 

[zombiemann]

Oh, I should have put in a disclaimer for cat owners. The Tension Tamer tea I referenced in my first post has catnip in it. To humans it is a relaxant, obviously not so for cats. Mine goes absolutely ape when I make a cup.... it's actually quite amusing to watch him. I don't let him drink any, just the smell is enough to send him racing around the house like his tail is on fire.

 

[j28Photography]

My work schedule used to be all over the place as I work in hotels and we are a 24/7 operation. A few years ago, I was losing so much sleep that I went to a doc and they prescribed Zolpidem (generic version of Ambien) and it worked magically!!!

I would only recommend taking one unless you want a pretty powerful trip, then try 2. Good luck and hope it gets better for you!

 

[Tee]

I'm having horrible sleep patterns as well. I'm a night owl but my job requires me to be up way to early. Two weeks ago I had surgery and was off for a week, popping vicodin and sleeping to my hearts desire and staying up as late as I wanted. I went back to work and I'm so screwed. I'd stay up till 3am, get up at 6am and go to work, come home and nap till 7pm and repeat the cycle. And weening off the vicodin...very hard. I can see why people become addicted.