Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

[Croix]

Dear All
The purpose of this thread is as a meeting point for those that can’t sleep and it is late (I.E. AFTER midnight.)

It can be a useful space for users to share their issues with insomnia as well as coping strategies. It can also be a general space for users to converse and support one another throughout a difficult night.

Please note – for those that are just bored or lonely we already have a place - the BB Café, which I recommend instead of here

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/bb-social-zone/the-bb-cafe

Croix

[Emo]

Hi Everyone,

The last lockdown is harder than the earlier ones for me, I'm not sure why but I find myself worrying all the time. I am barely sleeping 3 hours a night or when I'm allowed to sleep. I am reaching out because I could use some advice on what to do next so that I can hopefully get some help with my dark feelings.

I have tried various services for someone to talk to but for different reasons I have not been able to get the support I need.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I could really use everyone's help please. I am just so tired and overwhelmed. When can I get some help to discuss my feelings and my awful thoughts? I would just like to get better.

Regards,

Emo.

[Guest_1643]

hi Emo

getting the right support, and finding someone who is helpful, supportive, and intuitive is hard - but not impossible. There are some good ppl out there who will listen.

Have you tried phone support at your local triage? Public hospitals have a psychiatric team 24/7 who can talk to u if u feel unsafe. Ive called them and happy to answer any questions about what that service was like.

there are also crises support lines related to different health concerns eg depression, anxiety, sexual assault, harmful or toxic relationships, eating disorders, and there is a line in Victoria called Friendline where you can just chat to a friendly volunteer.

There are also resources just for women which are pretty awesome, including phone lines and financial and legal support for women.

It is important to talk to smeone if something is nagging on ur mind, although i validate that its hard to find the right person to open up to. I have found support through the public mental health system, and also go to a support group which is excellent. It takes a few tries to find smething helpful, for sure.

[Emo]

Hi Sleepy21,

I really appreciate your suggestions on other ways I can get support. I know that my local hospital doesn't have anyone to help me with mental health due to budget cuts and they also don't have a social worker.

I will try to contact Friendliness if I can access a phone during their limited hours although I think it may only help with feeling not so isolated because I can't really open up to them about my life as it can be quite confronting for people who aren't trained to deal with it.

Thank you for replying to me as I'm feeling very overwhelmed as I'm all by myself with no one to talk to. I hope that I can return the favour for you one day. I hope your day tomorrow is all that you hope it to be. You are so truly kind.

Regards,

Emo.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Emo

sorry to hear that the public hospital isnt so good, that sucks.

Mental health nurses or nurses are also helpful, do they have one of those? A MH nurse really saved my life at the triage.

Friendline has extended hours atm 10am – 8pm, 7 days a week in victoria, not sure in other places.

It is definitely limited though and not rund th clock. social workers are so helpful, they are my favourite mental health workers, that sucks though that theres none at your hospital. At one point I was considering studying social work as I loved the way they helped ppl connect to tstuff. Thanks for ur kind wishes, hping today u are feeling a tiny bit less alone. It is not fair and not easy that it is so difficult to find someone sensitive and supportive to talk to.... I know that it is truly hard.

[Emo]

Hi Sleepy21,

Thank you for replying to me. It's an incredible feeling to have someone hear you and be willing to respond to you.

I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to get back to you. I've been in a very bad way, not just physically but emotionally. I didn't exactly ask them if they had a mental health nurse but I did ask the hospital about someone to discuss my problems with and they said that there was no one like that at the hospital so I'm on my own again trying to battle my bad feelings again.

I don't think being so tired helps me to think straight. I'm so sorry that you still have lockdown as I've found this last lockdown the hardest. I hope things improve for yourself.

Regards,

Emo.

[Harpbird]

Any one else struggling to sleep, going to be a long night tonight ahhhh

[quirkywords]

Harpbird

I stay up as long as possible but still I toss a d turn in b3d fir hrs before I sleep.

[Lillylane]

Hi Quirky and Harpbird,

I hear you! I’m also struggling a bit.

Trying to read a bit to see if it helps me get sleepy.

Glad to hear from you both though 🙂

How was your day today?
I kept thinking it was Friday all day.
It was freezing cold outside here.

LL

[Guest_1584]

l suppose a lot of you aren't sleeping alone so it's not always easy setting things up the way that works for you with two.

But l've had an odd discovery just this last few mths since my daughters been back. l've always hated things too dark my whole life. l like to be able to see a bit if l need to . But she comes and goes and has a few friends about too so l've been shutting my bedroom door of a night , which makes my room black.

Strangest thing , at first l hated it ,this is the first time in my life l've slept in total darkness but l'm sleeping much much better lately and actually miss the darkness of it now if l leave the door open.

rx

[Harpbird]

Hi guys,

why is it so hard to sleep. Be calm, go to bed, close your eyes, count a million sheep, no two million sheep. Bazinga wide awake .

ahhhhhhh