Sick of getting no sleep

[ricksimons]

Hi,

its 5 am and I cant sleep. So my story is I have recently been diagnosed with depression but I know I've always had it. I've never really been able to work and I'm approaching a point in life where I am struggling to find  a purpose.

I have an inheritance in the form of property which is where I live. Currently I'm facing a lot of debt because I didn't have parents around to teach me about money when I was younger and here I am ten years later with no clue.

been thinking about selling it for a while as it only costs me money I will never have. I don't know how to live.

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[Anny]

Hi ricksimons,

You say that you've been diagnosed with depression I hope that  means that you are in the care of health professionals.....yes?

Try and sleep when it's dark and wake when the sun is out - as nature intended! There are lots of other things recommended e.g night time routines , reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol,  addition of foods in your diet that enhance serotonin , exercise  and minimising electronics ( blue light ) at night . I struggle with this too , for me I believe it's stress related. If it makes you feel any better if I am still in bed 5am - I'm doing really well! 

About the finances. Often I think nobody teaches us how to manage them. You're not alone. Owning a property puts you in a better position than most, you have to take advantage of that . There are lots of options e.g taking in a boarder for extra income . Talking to an expert is the way to go I think.  I know that financial advice can be obtained from many sources . I'm not sure if I can mention budget info places on this site by name but look into it . They can guide you through a plan.

You can change your life - be brave and make a decision to fix just one thing today. 

Hope I have helped in some way. 

Anny x

[Zeal]

Hi ricksimons,

It sounds like you have insomnia. Insomnia and depression often go hand in hand, unfortunately. I had insomnia when I was 19, and sometimes find it hard to sleep a few years on. I had a mental illness which brought on the insomnia, and now that I am well, I get much better sleep overall. Not being able to work is hard. Going to your GP to ask about your sleep problems is a good idea. They can refer you to a sleep centre/clinic, and may ask you to do an overnight sleep study. I did this a few years ago, and found it helpful.

Try to do light physical activity during the day so that your body is more willing to rest at night. When I am very inactive during the day, I find it harder to get to sleep. This may seem a strange question, but do you snore? If you live alone, this is hard to determine. Some heavy snorers have Sleep Apnoea, which greatly affects a person's overall health and wellbeing. It's important to look into this in order to rule it out. I hope for your sake that you don't have Sleep Apnoea 🙂

Your stress levels would also play a part in your sleeplessness. When your body is in a near constant state of arousal, sleep is very difficult. Have you tried listening to soft music while you fall asleep, or reading a boring unstimulating novel? It's important also to sleep in complete or near complete darkness. Anny suggested eating foods which aid in serotonin production. Three foods I know help with this are bananas, cherries, and cashew nuts.

Make sure that your bedroom environment is comfortable and conducive to good sleep. Your room shouldn't be too hot or cold, and noise is also an issue. Sleep problems can develop over time and become ingrained. Try not to do stimulating things in bed, such as watch TV. Also, writing down your worries before bedtime can be a helpful way to get the thoughts out of your head. Having a pre-sleep routine is good. Use the hour before you plan to go to bed to get yourself ready: putting on PJ's, having a shower, maybe reading etc.

Lastly, try not to think and worry about not sleeping. This is tricky, but important. Worrying about not sleeping makes the situation worse as it increases anxiety and makes you less likely to fall asleep. This is a vicious cycle. Also, avoid looking at the time when you're lying in bed.

I read in a sleep brochure that consciously trying to keep your eyes open can actually induce sleep.

Good luck,

SM

[Just_Joe]

Hi

I don't profess to know all the answers and I can only relay to you what I have experienced over the years through professional help.

Since my breakdown sleep was not always possible, however through a combined use of prescription medication and some self hypnosis type activities I have been able to get to sleep.  How much I get relies entirely on how well I can relax my mind before I go to bed.

 I try to stick to a regular time to go to bed then practice my sleep techniques, such as listening to calming type music, utilising relaxation exercises such as breathing techniques which incorporates listening to a guided experience which combines talking, music and listening to yourself breath.

I was at first sceptical but after focusing and simply following the spoken instructions I soon found myself getting off to sleep a bit quicker each time.

By learning how to clear your mind helps you to stay asleep longer as your mind isn't going flat out thinking about things you were able to repress during the day.

I strongly recommend you speak quite frankly with your Doctor as there is so much they can do for you to get you started.

With regard to you money issues we all face those so book into to see your accountant is a great step as you can always get in a boarder to help with the bills.

I know this isn't much but I hope it helps as once you can get your sleeping back under control and waked refreshed each morning your on your way to a better outcome.

Good luck, stay positive and above all, focus on "Onwards and Upwards".

Cheers

Just Joe