Insomniac's Corner

Hi, bipolar. 12-5 without waking up . . . . . awesome indeed. Isn't it something how little we are very grateful for. Yes, 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep is a big deal. I don't think I've had that in a few years.

I wonder how many out there have experienced other people blaming them for their sleep difficulties. That kind of criticism has come my way over the years. It's true that there is such a thing as good sleep hygiene. But, for people with true sleep disorders, all the effort in the world at good habits doesn't fix the problem. People have told me, "Well, you just stay up to late!" Most of the time, that is not a voluntary choice. Even on days when I have gotten up at 5:30 a.m. and have been busy all day, it gets to be 11 p.m. and I can not sleep to save my life. As a child, I would sometimes go off to school without having slept at all through the night. My parents imposed strict rules on going to bed at a set time. That didn't matter.

Most people do not understand what it is to live with this chronic problem. But they are quick to assume that the problem is caused by bad habits. I wish that were true because habits can be changed. But this is something about our brains that cannot just be changed. Then, to top it off, the problem gets way worse, as you get older.

Maybe some out there have sympathetic family/friends who don't fault you, but I've not found much sympathy.

Sooooo tired all the time, yet can't fall asleep at night still. Finally fall asleep around 4AM, then up at 7:30 to take my first pill, then never fall back to sleep.

Hi rose-I think I only slept because I took the melatonin and some xanax. I try not to take the xanax unless I haven't slept or anxiety is really bad. My recent situation is what stirred up all the anxiety, depresssion, insomnia...ad you said people do not underdtand. I have tried nap/no nap; go to bed early/late; watch tv/don't watch; read/don't read; eat late/don't eat; I avoid all caffeine late in day but I don't drink soda/ciffee anyway. I am doing my breathing, counting tricks again...am going to try yoga again. Oh, and I dint have sleep apnea, etc

I'm starting to think I should give melatonin a try.

I guess we've all read those magazine articles with all the pat advice. This problem is chronic and sometimes no strategy at all gets it under control.

Just check with your pdoc about melatonin. It was my psych md who recommended it and the dose that eas ok with my other meds. ..probably because I'm trying to avoid ambien or sonota. Nothing wrong wit h them, just afraid once I syart, will never be able to sleep without them...may have to give in and take sleeping pill like twice a week. How crazy is that, lol, where I'm thinking as long as I can sleep 2or3 nights a week, I don't need to worry about the rest.
Wishing all of us insomniacs at least a few hrs of straight sleep tonight.

Oh, ps, something I did try that helps me relax, no one laugh! I live scents so I have had some success, at times, with buying the lavender/vanilla spray to spray on bedding/pillows. I don't like the real strong floral scent, this is milder, I don't use much and sometimes-before recent major stresser-it would help me relax/or fall asleep.