[Moreta]

I have a fear of an impending crash. The past 6 weeks have been crazy, working 2 jobs, getting 6-7 hrs of sleep a night. The only thing that's keeping me up during the day is the Provigil. I've tried everything there is for sleep, but nothing works. I actually bought some Zzzquil the other day. I took it at 8:30 pm and finally went to bed at 12 am. I am seriously having a hard time getting up in the morning b/c my back dr added Gralise (gabapentin) to the mix and it makes me so groggy. Thank the gods for Provigil. I used to go to bed around 9 when I took one Geodon at lunch, but I had to change that b/c I can't take an afternoon nap around 3 anymore.

I just know this can't go on forever, and I'm not sure what to do about it.

[Trippin2.0]

Please set aside me time to practice some much needed self-care. It could be as simple as an uninterrupted bubblebath, 30min reflection/meditation. I couldnt sleep for s.h.i.t, been averaging 4hrs a night since I was 15, but learned from members here how to adopt a sleep ritual and schedule. And as long as I perform the exact ritual at (almost) the exact time, my brain knows its time to shutdown for the night. If you can, some exercise is great before bedtime, and also improves mood. Please look after you.

[Confusedinomicon]

Trippin has an awesome and informative post.

Sleep maintance is good, and uninterrupted sleep is better. Its best to try and achieve it without medication because it messes up your REM sleep. If you try melatonin you have to lay down right away and should be asleep within 30 minutes. Sleep rituals, I think, help the most. Good luck on catching those to Z's.

[MommaR]

Can you guys give me some examples of sleep ritual? I am desperate to find a way to teach my body to sleep!

[Confusedinomicon]

First you pick a time to sleep.

Say, you want to sleep around 9.

Then you do something relaxing and immediately go lie down after that activity when you want to sleep....

Your bed should ONLY be used to sleep and have sex. If you have a spouse it could be a good time to practice some quick love-making because that can help with satisfying sleep. Or some other self care. (Baths, showers, meditating, watching your favorite show, putting the kids to bed and then doing something relaxing, knitting, dishes? if that relaxes you...anything, really)

Try to do the same thing every night before you sleep and then try to lie down around the same time every night. (The sex thing you could probably do once a week. I have read that scheduled sex can actually be very fulfilling and that it doesn't need to be spontaneous all the time.)

At first, you will not feel tired when you lie down. You will probably lay awake for a few hours because you just don't feel tired! That is why you have to persist and continue with the schedule and TRY really hard to lay down by your designated sleep time. If you do it enough you will soon realize that your body will turn itself off. Your body will begin to associate 9:00 as sleep time and the activity you do before will help prompt this interaction.

When I was actually trying to keep a sleep schedule I would lay down around 11:00 pm and be asleep by 11:30 pm. Taking my pills at night prompted me into sleep. My body associates the action of taking medication with "lights out". I actually have a very hard time sleeping if I don't take my meds.

Another thing to note:

DURING WEEKENDS DO NOT OVERSLEEP/STAY UP. If you sleep at 9:00 every night during the week, do it during the weekend, too. You want to stay consistent with your sleep schedule so you don't confuse your body.