Sleep Deprivation--Routine Deprivation

by routine, I mean our daily activities that are basically the same day in and day out.

It's 3:15am and I'm obviously sitting at my computer instead of sleeping. Not a totally surprising thing but no longer a frequent occurrence.
Quickie now...I'm 23 days out from surgery. Thanks for the well wishes, but I don't want to concentrate on the fusion.
I brought it up because the pain meds are Messing With My Sleep Pattern Big Time. I slept over seven hours daytime today...not conducive to night time sleeping.
My choices are walk on a level area for 15 minutes, sit at the computer for 30 minutes, (whoo, just from tonight I'm about three months ahead) and then I get to lay in bed or on the sofa...

When you are laying flat on your back most of the day, ya can come up with the strangest thoughts! Oh wait! That's usual for me to do

I've been thinking of what will more quickly rock my yacht...sleep deprivation or my routine being shattered to bits. Lack of sleep--over two or three days--is a danger to me. I do what I can to protect that aspect of my stability. Power naps without guilt is one of them.

Now comes the routine--by no means am I in a rut! However having every bit of my activities curtailed is rattling an ugly drum right now...I'm getting frustrated, feeling pitiful, and jealous of anyone who can walk to the mailbox.

My question is this if you care to share;
What do you find to be the most harmful to your stability...and I'm not even sure that is the best way to express my question. Is it sleep deprivation or prolonged deviation from your usual routine?

I will share that it surprised me that my routine changing left me feeling more vulnerable. There's 42 books, half of which I've read, I listen to my calming music, meditate, light incense, play my flute, watch some on the telly...but it's not the same
Shoot! Am I even making sense??
Maybe I'm just on my decorated pity pot? It's purple porcelain with pink flowers on the tank and a red seat...I also installed a CD player, and have a holder for cold drinks

A wee bit of an addition here, but I did not realize that staying within my comfort zone was so critical for me. I'm the type that will jump into trouble in a New York minute, but that is probably part of my routine, also...

I thank you if you've read this far!! How many trips to the loo did ya make until ya finished this post?
Yeah, I'm grumbling but I'm also curious if and how these type changes affect you.

Cap

Interesting
you certainly type very well that's for sure. I hope the op went well and you're recovering well.

A break in my routine doesn't bother me at all... it's sleep I can't do without. At the moment I'm having very bad nights and can't sleep much and woah its hitting me hsrd. Constantly feel faint and a bit dizzy, can't concentrate.. oh I'm just a wreck. so the lack of sleep has in turn disrupted my 'daily routine' anyway because I struggle.


Take care,
Molly

I have the most trouble at night, in the middle of the night like you're having a tough time of it sounds like. I get the weird thoughts when it's dark and quiet and there's not many good distractions. All my boogeys seem to gang up on me then.

It sounds like you're getting an okay amount of sleep, much of it being in the day and I think while you're ill/recovering that's okay? I can see how it might add to the feeling of things not being in control/"normal" but just being ill does that for me. I remember when I was out of the hospital and how topsy turvy things were for 6 months until the surgeon and I figured out all my problems and set them straight.

My vote is fora break in routine being most disruptive to me.

It's funny, now that I've been back as a student for so long the summer really bothers me. Even though school is stressful, the routine of going to class, having projects to work on, etc., makes for a nice pattern to life. When summer hits, I might be taking classes, or I might be doing independently study, but the lack of routine takes its toll.

What's funny is that a good prof friend of mine from my undergrad years feels the same way. There's something about the routine of the fall and winter semesters that helps one structure things. I'm pretty sure he's an OCD and anxiety sufferer as well...which means we're good friends, but he would be a terrible supervisor for me.

Sleep I can do with or without...I don't mind naps, though I don't like when they get too long. I also probably work too much, since I let day spill into night and keep on working away.

hum. interesting question!

I hadn't thought about it until now, but I think a break in my routine really throws me off. Which is weird, because i don't think of myself as having much of a "routine". But weekends often get really hard, crazy, and dissociative for me. Maybe it's because I have this "free time" on my hands and am not sure what to do with it??

((((((((((((((((((((( Capp )))))))))))))))))))))))))) Hope you are feeling better soon.

Sleep deprivation is worse for me, by all means. I should sleep 7-8 hrs each night, but due to work and otehr circumstances I sleep 5-6 hrs. SO I pile up lack of sleep during the week. When it comes to friday I'm boiled up! ...and I also work on saturday morning.

Second that. Sunday nights are the worst. Anxiety is getting to me some right now.

I don't mind lack of routine as much as I mind lack of sleep...
Not much of a routine when its summerholiday... But not getting enough sleep is breaking me up much more. I haven't been able to sleep enough for over a year now, though. I usually fall asleep between 1 and 2 am - as earlier then that I'm usually to anxious to go to sleep and then wake 3 to 5 hours late from a nightmare...
I get the being sick thing too, 2 summers ago I was in bed all summer... That doesn't help things for sure.
So, for me a routine helps but I can do without, not enough sleep is far worse.

Thank you for sharing with me!

It's helping me work through this weird time...weird in that I feel so out of sorts. I'm not glad that health problems started this, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to think and hopefully learn from it.
It's 3:19am and here I sit at the computer...slept two hours. Oh Joy!
I'm keeping naps to short ones so I'll sleep better at night.

The steady erosion of my routine is now beginning to anger me somewhat--now that's a mature statement, isn't it? I don't cling to anything being done on a certain day at a certain time--nothing wrong if anyone does, though--but there is nothing familiar or comfy in my days, or nights for that matter.

Oh heck, maybe I'm just getting old...no wait! I'm already old!...and need to get off my butt (mentally) and accept that it's going to be this way for awhile.
Set in my ways?

Cap

Capp, I've had insomina issues before because of anxiety, and I find that the short naps really help. Even on a couple of hours of nighttime sleep, one or two short naps during the day can help stabilize things.

As you already know, though, it's those long naps you want to avoid. They can mess you up.

I fell into a deep nap last week at the library while I was still stressing out about my move. Woke up and for about half a minute I honestly didn't know where I was. I stared at the ugly speckled library carpet and just thought, "I'm in a strange place, wherever this is." I'm just glad I wasn't drooling on myself or anything...though that has happened to me in the past, embarassingly enough.

Not sure if my stories help, but hopefully they're good for a good laugh or two.

I suppose you already tried doing sports... Did you?

thanks for making me laugh...
the drooling is a major oh-no! kind of moment for me. 'course I can use my being an antique as an excuse...there are benefits to being old.
but there's always some kid that has to ask their parental unit why I'm napping and drooling while sitting in my car--gee, kid, it's a warm day and the sun shining in my eyes relaxed me. ya better be glad I'm not driving and drooling (joke--some folks would take that statement seriously)

Shhh..don't tell anyone but I slept Six Hours last night. If I could I'd jump up and down! I believe my surgeon would be happier if I clap my hands in delight instead...
Clap! Clap!...oops, that word used to be synonymous with an STD.

Cap

Stefano, what kind of sports?
I used to absolutely love playing soccer--although I think it's called football elsewhere?
I was no lady when I played it... some of the injuries most likely have contributed to my problems now. It is worth it, though!
Ooh, nothing better than running down that field with one thing on your mind--GGGOOOAAALLL

Cap