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

[missep123]

One of my bad habits was that when I knew I had to get up early the next day I kept waking up in the middle of the night to check what time it was and calculate in my head how many more hours of sleep I had left! Does anyone else do this/did this?

[mmMekitty]

Hi Missep,

I get too anxious & know if I have to get up earlier than I might usually wake on my own, I am sure to either or both not get to sleep early or wake too early, & then not get back to sleep, still thinking I will wake late, & of-course, be too tired during the day, & not concentrate well when I am at the scheduled appointment, or whatever, ...I figured out early, it only makes the anxiety worse if I check the time during the night.

I really don't like to use an alarm to wake me up.

Sometimes I have asked someone to phone me early, before arriving at my place, just to be sure I am awake , up & dressed in time.

Since being up on time to have time to get ready, is my responsibility, & I don't like to rely on someone phoning me, or alarms, or leaving curtains open so when the day brightns after sunrise, I might notice, ...I think my worry wakes me instead!

So, I try to schedule things for later in the mornings or afternoons. My anxiety still might bug me about being on time, but it is easier to be on time, albeit in a last minute rush!

mmMekitty

[mmMekitty]

Oops, I did it again!

I was getting so tired I could barely keep my head up again, so...

I wanted a rest, put my legs up, but I went into a deep sleep earlier this evening, listening to my book... & I dropped off before I even knew I was doing it, & slept two hours, & felt I had to come from a long way, & in the dark & quiet I usually do't experience anymore, because of the problems with my sight & hearing. It felt like tunnelling up through the earth. I'd actually like to stay there longer, for the quiet I heard & the actual blackness I saw.

But, no, woke up & everything starts up again, sights, sounds, feelings, physical & emotional, then smell & touch - the whole of my bit of the world pouring in.

I've been up since, having decided to finish modifying my temporary profile picture, as usual, just for fun. I had an idea, & wanted to give it a go. I was determined to permit myself to be less precise as I once would. Can't anymore, & it strains my eyes to where they get really irritated. Still, it took hours. I'm sure people won't believe that, just looking at what I did. Yes, I got dinner, went to the little room, did some of my exercises, was distracted by neighbours, my book, & wanting to skip ads, get a drink of water, meds, eyedrops, & to see who was posting on the forums, Maybe it was two hours, really.. still, it's after 1:30am, because I accidently touched my phone & it said so.

Yet, I'm getting tired again. What may happen though, is that I will go into my bedroom & not be able to sleep.

We'll see...

mmMekitty

[britishtvfan]

i've struggled with sleep just like my mental health (well depression, anxiety & paranoia anyway) since i was 12 in 2011, when i was in year 6 (primary school). if i go to bed early, don't have coffee, whatever, i still can't sleep. i have insomnia. i haven't tried any sleeping medication except for those Seremind which are natural lavender tablets (not really a medication as you can get them over the counter), for me they did nothing & it said take them for 2 weeks which i did. my psychiatrist recommended melatonin for me, since your body already has that & it's a small dosage, then if that didn't work, try a prescription sleeping medication. i'm scared to. i'm used to staying up late because it's the only time i really have to myself when i'm not bothered by people, like i don't have to eat or walk or whatever, i can have time to myself.

[missep123]

I am sorry you have been feeling this way robthomaslover! I heard that eating a few pistachios before bed has significant melatonin in them (I am not a medical professional but I heard that it helped a few of my friends!).

There is also a meditation I listen to on youtube 'Guaranteed sleep in 12 minutes' the narrator's voice is slow and deep and it tends to help me lull myself to sleep.

In saying that I'm sorry I know you might have tried all of these but thought I would post this just in case

[monkey_magic]

I'm up late tonight. Lots of yawning but no sleeping. Not tired. Had a nap during the day. Today was a work day, it was alright, got through it ok. Tomorrow is a day off then back to work Sat. I'm pretty awake ATM, not sure when I'll sleep.

[mmMekitty]

Oh, it is getting late! I've lost track of time, again.😼

Sometimes, when I'm not sleeping, but if I can feel reasonably comfortable, I do find it useful to simply lie down & just 'take a break' from this endless 'doing something'.🐱

I think, I'm not a real busy person/cat, but I'm always doing or going to do, haven't done yet, wanting to do, ...fidgeting too, rarely still anymore. It's even very rare for me to not have some music or book or tele programme on,, & so I'm not hearing my own brain (through my tinnitus). Even while writing a post, such as this one, I feel I am not fully focused, but hearing the fan, being annoyed by what my vision is doing, thinking, now I know how late it is, I've got to take my meds, & ought to be getting ready for bed...🙀

Wouldn't it be nice to have a little break?🙀

I must be really tired, thinking like this... after a long day, shopping, walking until it hurt too much...that sort of thing. I dozed earlier, but it rarely feels like enough.🙀

I hope I surprise myself & get to sleep quickly.🙀

mmMekitty💤

[missep123]

I had a good routine and then oops I realised for the past week or two I have slipped back to my old habits. Oh well, I will make sure to re-incorporate good sleeping habits again like journalling!

[mmMekitty]

Hi Missep,

Interrupting a routine is so easy - that's what I think is why they are so hard to begin & maintain. & there isn't anyone who sticks perfectly to any routine. So, gently, encourage yourself to keep at it.

I used to write a lot, spilling everything onto the page before going to bed. If any thoughts arose, I would say to myself, I wrote them dowm, so no need to go over them again, now...tomorrow will be soon (often too soon!) enough. I had to watch for when I'd get very emotional, because that could keep me awake longer, too.

Hoping you sleep well, 😸most nights,

mmMekitty

[quirkywords]

I have tried writing down all my thoughts before bed but there way too many and would take me all night write them down. Plus the more I write the more I over think.