[Nola22]

I'm not quite sure if I'm asking this in the proper section, but it seems it may fit. Does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with severe exhaustion brought on by grief and stress? I cannot rest, and when I do sleep, it is not quality sleep, or I sleep far too long. I cannot relax--my brain and body refuse to allow that state in even the minutest sense. I am usually the sort who relaxes by reading, and then passes out to sleep.

I hope that someday I may feel back in life enough to be of some help here; until then, perhaps you may be able to help me? Thank you.

[Christina86]

Have you tried any sort of meditation, mindfulness or breathing exercises to deal with your bodily stress and mental fatigue?

Have you talked to a doctor? You could consider sleeping meds, but not necessarily needed.

Have you got a good bedtime routine to relax yourself?

[Nola22]

Hi Christina,

Thank you for your suggestions. I had a feeling someone might ask about my bedtime routine, and the honest answer is no. The closest I come to any kind of routine is reading until sleep is inevitable. I think that's a habit I've not only developed through life, but also when I've been in school, as I was usually trying to squeeze as much work into my conscious hours as I could stand. When my life was "normal," and I wasn't immersed in this unreal existence that I am now due to the grief in which I'm drowning, reading before passing out had become more for pleasure than work, so there was an element of relaxation to it. Now, my eyelids are peeled back, I'm fitful, sorrowful, and scared, and rest is elusive or overwhelming, whatever it decides to be.

I've taken muscle relaxers a few nights to knock myself out, but I don't wish to develop a habit. Valerian Root is not effective right now. As for your other suggestions, I guess I've been too frayed to even attempt them--my emotions are not easily wrangled at the moment, and to be honest again, I haven't the patience or attention span. I guess I keep hoping I'll just wear myself out to the point of sleep, and that is what happens sometimes, but not until 6 AM.

I'm not trying to fight what you're saying. Everything seems unreal to me right now. I think you've made some sound suggestions, it's just I'm not a rational person recently.