Sleeping Problems

[IJ Reilly]

because you napped.

is there something about the statement DO NOT NAP that you fail to understand? don't nap, be tired for one afternoon of one day, suck it up and get a great night's sleep.

Sorry, but this is terribly simplistic. Napping does not cause insomnia! When I've been afflicted with bad insomnia, I cannot nap during the day, no matter how exhausted I may be -- and I still don't sleep the next night. After a few days like this you begin to feel like a zombie. The frustration become intense. If napping truly is an option, then you are probably not such a hard case.

Melatonin is not a panacea, particularly since you don't know how much is actually in any given supplement, but it has occasionally seem to help me at least reset my circadian rhythm when switching time zones frequently. I find that 8 hours before bedtime is about the right time window, which is why I suggested ~midday. (As I'd probably want to try to go to bed around 9 so I could actually get 9 hours of sleep and still get up at 6). I'm usually up much later, but not when my sleep quality has been poor.

FWIW melatonin certainly doesn't "put you to sleep" in any way, for me at least it seems to just help to take the edge off and lets me get to sleep even when my body would otherwise not be ready to do so, as in the case of being thrust in a new time zone every other day.

I also find that total darkness (i.e. not even any LED alarm clocks) and some optional white noise help me too, but I don't suffer from extreme insomnia.

You turn in early! I know, melatonin does seem to help for some people. I find it does make me a bit drowsier, but that it does little or nothing to help when insomnia strikes. Even the antihistamine sleep aids are ineffective, and they make you truly wobbly (well into the next day). Of the pills you can pop, only Lunesta an Ambien actually work for true insomnia.

Total darkness is important and is recommended by sleep experts. Getting the clock out of the bedroom is useful too. I had one of those clocks that projects the time on the bedroom ceiling. This is the insomniacs worst nightmare, so to speak! I also stopped our grandfather clock. As much as I like the sound during the day, when I started to have problems sleeping, it was driving me nuts hearing the hours chime away. The weird part is, it never bothered me before.

Insomnia is a very bizarre and deeply frustrating condition. People who've never had it just don't know. Before I experienced it, I certainly didn't. So when somebody says, "skip the nap and you'll be fine," I just have to laugh.

 

[shecky]

Sorry, but this is terribly simplistic. Napping does not cause insomnia! When I've been afflicted with bad insomnia, I cannot nap during the day, no matter how exhausted I may be -- and I still don't sleep the next night. After a few days like this you begin to feel like a zombie. The frustration become intense. If napping truly is an option, then you are probably not such a hard case

its not simplisitc at all, maybe you just missed my point. the fact he can nap means he is not a serious insomniac (as you allude to), it means he has bad habits that he needs to suck up and get over, namely napping in the middle of the day. same thing happens to me when i nap, i never get to sleep before 3 or 4 AM that night.

 

[IJ Reilly]

no sleep for me.

**** me.

Will you see a doctor? I can tell you are reluctant, but if your doctor agrees, you are probably a candidate for Lunesta or Ambien. After a few nights of good (sedative-induced) sleep, you might get your head straight and not need it anymore. It's worth a try. Then when you get to your Spring break and the pressure is reduced, you can try to return to your old sleep habits, without the pills. I'm not a pill pusher, but this stuff really works, and taking them for a while until you can work out your other issues sure beats living like a walking corpse.

 

[IJ Reilly]

its not simplisitc at all, maybe you just missed my point. the fact he can nap means he is not a serious insomniac (as you allude to), it means he has bad habits that he needs to suck up and get over, namely napping in the middle of the day. same thing happens to me when i nap, i never get to sleep before 3 or 4 AM that night.

I didn't miss the point. I'm saying that napping doesn't cause insomnia, which is what you said in so many words. Falling asleep at 3 AM after napping during the day isn't really a bad case of insomnia, it's an example bad sleep habits, which as you've illustrated, can be readily corrected. A real insomniac sleeps little if at all -- and skipping the nap, assuming he can get one, isn't the cure. It may help a little, but it's not a cure.

 

[balamw]

You turn in early!

I wish. Most of the time I'm up past midnight and only get 6 hours or less, but not when I've been having trouble sleeping or I feel, like the OP, like I might actually need a nap in the evening.

B

 

[shecky]

no.... what i am saying is i do not really think he is an insomniac, he just has crappy sleep (or lack of sleep) habits and right now is caught up in the cycle of nap/bad sleep/tired day/nap/bad sleep/tired day...

 

[macmama]

Hmm, I've somehow been functioning on less than 6 hours of sleep a night since the start of the semester...
But with all this talk of sleeping trouble (both here and the "What's wrong with me?" thread), I'm not sure if I'll be able to get to sleep tonight.

Heh. I'm with you, Counterfit. I rarely ever got more than 6 hours of sleep as an undergrad, and it was cool. But to each their own, which is why it's great that BigPrince is getting a diverse pool of advice here.

Hope last night went okay, BP.

 

[IJ Reilly]

no.... what i am saying is i do not really think he is an insomniac, he just has crappy sleep (or lack of sleep) habits and right now is caught up in the cycle of nap/bad sleep/tired day/nap/bad sleep/tired day...

I see. Well, that's possible. I'm not a doctor and I try not to play one on the Internet, but I have gone through this myself and in the course of it, was forced to learn a few things. Going more than a few nights in a row with little to no sleep is, I think, more than bad sleep habits. He's probably got what a doctor would call acute insomnia. But I've been suggesting a doctor visit to get himself a diagnosis, and some medical help if necessary.

 

[BigPrince]

thank you everyone for your concern and advice. Starting tomorrow I will no longer nap at during the day. Someone suggested to not be home during when I would normally take my nap and be with people and be engaged in something, which I think will be a great approach to help me.

I've taken all my Mid-terms and have a concrete plan to set everything straight.

If after one week of not napping fails and I still cant sleep at night, then I will seek medical attention.

Thanks for all the support guys.

 

[yojitani]

Hey Big Prince:

Looks like this has played itself out already here, but I' thought I'd add in my own 2cents... I had a very similar problem last semester that was compounded with stress (the clinical kind). I can't tell you strongly enough to use this spring break to establish a better sleeping pattern. If you don't, not only will you find that you remember very little of the semester in terms of what you learned in classes etc. but you could also damage your nerves and cause yourself all sorts of additional psychological problems (in addition to not sleeping etc).
Also, I don't know how your work/study is arranged, but you are going to need to set yourself a more rigid schedule to prevent yourself from burning out. Especially since you are a student, make sure that paid work takes a back seat to studying. Don't let the work interfere with sleep or study!

YT

 

[BigPrince]

No Napping past two days and slept well, but still haven't gone to sleep early but was able to sleep in, woot woot.

 

[macmama]

Glad you've had some success! Hope you can fall into a good routine.