fasstrack Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 I'll be damned, but I'm still not sleeping enough---even with medicine. Woke up today like 4:30 AM, and I didn't have to be up till 7:45 or so. Falling asleep isn't the problem. It's getting up after a few hours and not being able to sleep again. I guess I should count my blessings,as some on here don't sleep at all sometimes... Quote
Scott Dolan Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 That's my biggest downfall, as well. I always fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. But three hours later *BLAM*! Sometimes I'll drift in and out over the next few hours...sometimes not. I do know one thing, though. My body staunchly refuses to get more than 6 hours of sleep per night, regardless. That said, my sleep HAS been better recently. I still wake up nightly at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30, damn near on the nose. But, I usually fall back asleep after a few minutes before my alarm goes off at 4:10. Though, I rarely wake up to my alarm. I'm usually turning it off about 4:07. Quote
fasstrack Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 (edited) Sorry, Scott. Truly. In my case I think 'this too shall pass'. But only when my brain is in recession. A possible use/reason for depression (until it takes on a life of it's own---another animal altogether) is as a failsafe mechanism to shut off an over-active brain (one that has a lot of stressors). When I'm going off in too many directions, or even when I focus on one, but exert too much mental energy, after a time the noggin says 'time out'---and that's depression time. It's also when I get some off my best sleep... Edited February 25, 2016 by fasstrack Quote
JSngry Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 So...you associate sleep with depression, and you do not want to be depressed. So perhaps there is a part of your mind where you do not want to sleep out of an aversion to being depressed? Can't hold me professionally accountable for bad amateur advice/armchair analysis/whatever, but if there's any validity to that thought chain, look at it with somebody who can give you good advice. Quote
fasstrack Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 38 minutes ago, JSngry said: So...you associate sleep with depression, and you do not want to be depressed. So perhaps there is a part of your mind where you do not want to sleep out of an aversion to being depressed? Perhaps you're right. Since depression itself is a form of sleep---and equally seductive---there are times when the Lorelei of sleep/depression seem mighty inviting. Those are times when my brain is in overdrive, and at first (as I indicated a minute ago) it seems like a relief from thinking/doing so much (and in my case so fast). I certainly do not want to be depressed at this day and time. I'm enjoying life way too much. But the price seems to be insomnia. Everything is a trade-off, no? Quote
jazzbo Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 Doggone it, people like you Joel! I'm lucky. I fall asleep right away and usually sleep seven or eight hours now that I'm again "retired." If I have a problem along these lines it's snoring. Oh well. So far not so badly that my wife won't sleep next to me. Quote
fasstrack Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 22 minutes ago, jazzbo said: Doggone it, people like you Joel! Quote
JSngry Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 34 minutes ago, fasstrack said: Perhaps you're right. Since depression itself is a form of sleep---and equally seductive---there are times when the Lorelei of sleep/depression seem mighty inviting. Those are times when my brain is in overdrive, and at first (as I indicated a minute ago) it seems like a relief from thinking/doing so much (and in my case so fast). I certainly do not want to be depressed at this day and time. I'm enjoying life way too much. But the price seems to be insomnia. Everything is a trade-off, no? No, not everything, not always. There should be no "price" to not being depressed (nor, really, to being depressed). I suspect that if you were able to internally refactor that equation, you might well be able to sleep when you're depressed, sleep when you're non-depressed. i.e. - sleep no longer associated with depression or the lack thereof = sleep as just sleep. That math makes sense to me. Sleep = self-imposed "symptom" or "price", that math does not make sense to me. Now what I don't know is if that equation is re-factor-able through self-examination/confrontation/whatever, or if's a chemical/hardwired thing, or if it's some of each. And I certainly wouldn't want to say that it's a one-size-fits-all thing. No way. But it seems that if sleep makes you happy, then be happy with sleep, accept it as being as simple as that, and see where that goes. I sill say there's something to be said for owning your insomnia like a boss. The only reason I decided to take control of mine was that I have ongoing responsibilities that require a reliably constant(ish) schedule. If not for that, hell, I wouldn't sleep except when I slept, and I'd sleep until I woke up. I've lived like that before, seemingly forever, in fact, and it made me happy, all of it. What's making me happy now is that I can meet the obligations of my responsibilities as they now exist. But when retirement comes (and if it comes in the form I envision it), fuck it. Quote
Scott Dolan Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 As usual, Jim makes some salient points. Even if they are obscured by his..."Jimness". A buddy of mine said something years ago that has always stuck with me. "We're the only creatures on earth that go to sleep when we don't have to, and wake up when we don't need to." What other creature needs an alarm clock? Quote
fasstrack Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 31 minutes ago, JSngry said: I suspect that if you were able to internally refactor that equation, you might well be able to sleep when you're depressed, sleep when you're non-depressed. That sounds good on paper/in print. Not as easy as it sounds, though. I think staying busy and focused (and slowing down when one has to) is the best therapy for both insomnia and depression. Would that we all could apply that every day. As John Lennon said: 'Life is the thing that happens when you're busy making plans'... Quote
fasstrack Posted March 1, 2016 Report Posted March 1, 2016 Sleep holding steady now, with the medicine. One way to look at it is 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. But I vowed to myself to get off all prescription drugs by year's end, replacing them with natural alternatives. Lorazepam is addictive. Already I'm reaching for a pill before bedtime. Every night. That's a jones. I think I'll wean myself off and ride out any insomnia encountered thereafter. Good sleep, fellow insomniacs... Quote
fasstrack Posted March 15, 2016 Report Posted March 15, 2016 How are you insomniacs faring? I had a Lorazepam-free week, up until last night, when I woke up at 5:30 AM after a night of musical carousing. I needed to be up by 8, so I took the pill. I doubt that I'll do that again any time soon, as I am sleeping pretty well now without synthetic aids... Hope everyone is sleeping well too... Quote
page Posted March 15, 2016 Report Posted March 15, 2016 Last night I didn't sleep at all, fortunately I had a day off today. I'm pretty tired right now. Sunday I cycled a lot and that helped me to sleep some how. Glad to hear you are doing better sleeping. Quote
Scott Dolan Posted March 15, 2016 Report Posted March 15, 2016 Oh no! Sorry to hear that, page... Fass, I'm quite happy to say my sleep patterns over the last week have been really outstanding! Of course, I shouldn't have posted that out loud... I had my worst night the previous Sunday when I cut and pasted about two hours of sleep together. But since then I have been getting a pretty steady 5-6 hours per night. Fingers are crossed that the trend continues... Quote
Scott Dolan Posted March 16, 2016 Report Posted March 16, 2016 23 hours ago, Scott Dolan said: Fass, I'm quite happy to say my sleep patterns over the last week have been really outstanding! Of course, I shouldn't have posted that out loud... And there it is... Last night I slept four hours, and then BLAMMO!!! Wide awake, with absolutely NO hope of getting back to sleep. You all know what I'm talking about, unfortunately. Dead on my feet all day. Worst part being that I work on my feet all day (which I otherwise thoroughly enjoy since it's a huge reason why I stay in shape). Feeling like a zombie as I type this. Had intended to take my son to the driving range today, but that's out the window... I hope everyone else had a better outcome today. Quote
page Posted March 16, 2016 Report Posted March 16, 2016 My problem is more getting to sleep than waking up early. It seems I do not lay comfortably until it is almost morning. So I have enormous problems getting up some times. When I studied I used to set my alarm clock at 4 AM to study. I could never do that anymore. Well college days are long gone of course, but anyway I too feel dead on my feet when I haven't slept or slept short because I couldn't get into it. Quote
Scott Dolan Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 And here I am again. Four hours of sleep to the second, and wide awake! At least I have the option to go into work whenever. So I'm heading in three hours early this morning! Actually feel decent enough, but wasn't willing to lay in bed for another three hours... Quote
Scott Dolan Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 Zombieville... I'm hoping these liberally, but not judiciously, mixed Bloody Mary's do the trick tonight... Quote
Tim McG Posted March 18, 2016 Report Posted March 18, 2016 Chemo drugs combined with the steroids they give me keep me up at night. Jacks my blood sugars up. Quote
Scott Dolan Posted March 19, 2016 Report Posted March 19, 2016 You're going through chemo again? Quote
page Posted March 20, 2016 Report Posted March 20, 2016 So sorry to hear that, Tim. Tough on top of all the things you'll have to deal with already. All the best to you. page Quote
fasstrack Posted March 24, 2016 Report Posted March 24, 2016 On 3/18/2016 at 7:43 PM, Tim McG said: Chemo drugs combined with the steroids they give me keep me up at night. Jacks my blood sugars up. Sorry, man. I hope you get off it soon... Quote
Tim McG Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 On 3/19/2016 at 0:19 AM, Scott Dolan said: You're going through chemo again? Sadly, yes. There is no cure for Multiple Myeloma. All they can do is treat it. So, when my numbers spike, I have to go back for more chemo. It will be a for-life struggle. The new "normal" for me. But I'm still here...that is the most important thing. Quote
Scott Dolan Posted March 28, 2016 Report Posted March 28, 2016 2:35am and I haven't slept since 8am yesterday morning. Heading off for work! Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.