[JustWannaDisappear]

I have kind of an odd question. Many times when I sleep I'm not fully sleeping. I'm very aware of what's going on around me and my head is full of thoughts as if I'm talking to myself during sleep. I usually wake up stiff, tired and with a headache. Anyone else do this? I'd like to know if there is some sort of name for it and why I do it.

Yes, I have this quite often (but without the headache). I do wake up tired though, and exhausted mentally. It's as if I didn't really get beneficial sleep. Perhaps it has to do with whatever sleep cycle we are currently in? Either way, I prefer a more deep sleep that actually provides rest!

[Perna]

Doesn't sound like you are getting down to lower levels of deep sleep:

http://psychology.about.com/od/state...leepStages.htm

I would talk to your doctor, have him check any medicines you are on? When did this start?

[Mylifeisdepressing]

Sometimes when I'm really depressed and I just don't know what to do and I want to die, I go to sleep in the afternoon. But like you, I never actually fall asleep completely, I feel like I am sleeping but I am just sort of in a daze, I'm still aware of things... Then when I wake up it's the worst feeling in the world. I'm so depressed and I feel like I've been like this, in that sleepy daze, for at least 2 hours but I look at the clock and it's been 15 or 20 minutes. And it feels terrible. I would like to know why this happens.

[growlycat]

Being aware of dreaming and being able to control the dream itself is called Lucid Dreaming...but what you are describing sounds a little different?

[JustWannaDisappear]

Originally Posted by Perna

Doesn't sound like you are getting down to lower levels of deep sleep:

http://psychology.about.com/od/state...leepStages.htm

I would talk to your doctor, have him check any medicines you are on? When did this start?

I'm not sure when it started. It seems it been a really long time, possibly years. It just bothers me more now that I have kids and have to be responsible and all that junk

[DrFrank]

"my head is full of thoughts as if I'm talking to myself during sleep" can be the entire explanation.In order to fall quickly into a deep sleep our minds need to be fully relaxed which requires the elimination of almost all thoughts,especially stressful ones.It's important to start this process at least 30 min. before you get into bed.

[happiedasiy]

Try using a tape recording device on your nightstand next to your bed. If it can only record for a 2 hours get one that last for 4 hours or more, you can purchase/even rent these items at a spy store.This might give you information you need to handle sleep talking/and other issues that you are not aware of. I talk/curse/and have full conversations with myself. Not only that when i stay with my ex on the weekends he has conversations with me that I am not aware of!

[RaggedyAnn67]

I went to a sleep study part for this. I found out that my RERA (*I am afraid I don't know what the acronym stands for) is 17 times per hour. Basically, I go from almost awake to deep sleep and back and forth that many times in one hour. For me, I experience what you discussed in your post, but it has gotten to the point that I now have hypnogogic dreams. That's where I almost wake up/wake up and hallucinate. I can't tell the dream from reality.

[costello]

Well, I came to start a new thread in the sleep forum, but it looks like this thread is very similar, so I'll add my question here. I posted it in the schizophrenia and psychosis section as well.

Some background info the folks in the sz forum are already familiar with: my son is 26 yo and taking 7.5 mg of olanzapine (Zyprexa) - up from 5 mg a couple of weeks ago because he was having rage problems.

Here's the question I posted in the sz forum:

My son just told me that he's been having a sleep problem for the last couple months. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas.

There have been a couple of nights when he didn't sleep at all, but the major problem is that when he does sleep, it's not deep or satisifying. He says he doesn't think he's getting to REM sleep.

The way he describes it, he's just lightly dozing all night, and he's always on the verge of waking. He links it with the feelings of stress and anxiety he's been suffering.

Most worrying is he describes it as being like the sleep he had right before he went to Albuquerque. In December 2009 he suddenly decided to move to California. He ended up attempting suicide in Albuquerque and was hospitalized for over a month. He had quit his medication cold turkey two months before and began drinking heavily. He's saying that during that lead up time to the Albuquerque trip, he was sleeping badly - exactly like now. At the time he attributed the lack of sleep to the alcohol. Now, though, he's not drinking at all, and he's taking his medication regularly.

He mentioned the sleep problems to the pdoc yesterday. The pdoc wants him to take a brisk walk daily. He says he's walked today.

I have a history of chronic severe insomnia myself. Literally since childhood I had difficulty falling asleep. And once I got to sleep, I had trouble with early waking. My insomnia disappeared on a low carb diet. Literally from day one. So I've suggested he try eliminating sugars and processed carbs for a few days to see if it helps. I fear it won't help, though, because his problem sounds so much worse than mine.

Ideas? Suggestions?

[chaselovely9]

Have you looked into something called sleep paralysis?