A great place to start Disorder information source Rated and Reviewed Sleep Links Entrance to all monitored Sleep Forums Search all of Sleepnet.com


Insomnia Forum
Posting


Archived Insomnia Forum10. To post a new topic go to the Insomnia Forum Homepage.

Re: Advice please - another bad patch

Posted by Cassidy on November 07, 2001 at 08:46:47:

In Reply to: Advice please - another bad patch posted by Lynne on November 06, 2001 at 00:13:46:

Lynne,

So sorry to hear about your recent bad patch. Please hang in there and remember how far you've come. Also remember how much you're helping others by your posts. I know they have given me much strength and determination. This is a minor setback. Please reread Jack's posts in Forums 1, 2, and 3. Although he is doing great, he had bad patches for up to 6 weeks for over four years. So I think this is just how this whole insomnia thing works itself out.

Also, if you get a chance please reread the physiology of sleep section in Gregg Jacob's book. I think sometimes we get so focused on following rules that we forget why we are following them. I always get up at the same time every morning. However, if I can't keep my eyes open, then I go to sleep even if it is an hour away from bedtime. Also, I may sleep on the couch if I'm comfortable. I find that if I get a couple hours on the couch then I'm not so anxious when I get back to bed. (Actually, this is always the way I fell asleep when a good sleeper.)The point is to keep things natural, rather than a checklist of steps. Even the pre-sleep routine, if it is done as just another step before sleep then it will not work. You have to really enjoy your pre-sleep routine and it really has to have a calming effect on you. You also have to keep yourself active at night before your pre-sleep routine. This will increase your prior wakefulness and make you more sleepy.

I'm droning on and on, but I really think the main part of the "cure" is breaking the obsession and actually enjoying things again even if you're not always "at your best." I know that I still can't enjoy things as well since I'm so focused on sleep. But I'm getting better. I'm getting in control by simply not caring. There is nothing I can do to make myself sleep. It has to happen naturally. So I'm planning my days to the hilt doing things I enjoy (this is key; you can't just do time fillers in anticipation of another night). What do you/did you really enjoy before all this happened? What do you want to do? I really like snowboarding, so I'm going to snowboard every weekend this winter to get awesome at this. Snowboarders never sleep anyway since they're so crazy and high on life! I could learn a great deal from them.

Anyway, sweet dreams and I know this will pass!!

Follow Ups:


Archived Insomnia Forum10 To post a new topic go to the Insomnia Forum Homepage

  • IMPORTANT : Information not intended as medical advice. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder you should seek care from a qualified professional. Read Terms of Use.
  • The Sleep Forums are not to be used for commercial purposes.
  • Commercial products and services are not endorsed by Sleepnet.com.
  • Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.


Copyright ©1995-2005 Sleepnet.com., All rights reserved