Sleep

riverbelow · Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 6:45 am Post subject: Sleep

I have a really hard time going to sleep at night, its hard to explain but i'll try. Whenever i turn off the t.v. or radio my mind goes crazy, stupid thoughts and situations run through my mind for no apparent reason, i've tried focusing on one thing and trying to clear my mind but it doesn't work. I've tried leaving the television on but it distracts me also. My current solution is staying up all night every other night so that i'll be exausted the next. (i know this is not good)

I've begged my mom to take me to the doctor but she doesn't understand my situation, i can't tell her that i've been depressed for two years, or how much i hate myself, she thinks that in order to be depressed that there needs to be a reason. I thought this myself for a long time until i found this website.

Can anyone give me advice, or relate?

_________________
"How can you hide from what never goes away?"

"There's nothing I hate more than nothing, nothing keeps me up at night, I toss and turn over nothing."

spurs · Newbie User Joined: Jul 16, 2006 Posts: 46

yeah i can relate to your sleep problems...i go to bed at 7 or 8 am now and then sleep all day if i have nothing on, or if i have to get up i just go without sleep - or like 2 or 3 hours.
i just get massive anxiety about sleeping. i've had times when i was really stressed about stuff which stopped me from getting to sleep and i would lie there all night not being able to stop thinking...and now that anxiety has trasnsferred itself to anxiety over sleeping itself even when i have nothing else to stress about. because i am so worried about getting a good nights sleep this stops me from going to sleep. it's horrible. whenever i try and plan to go to bed early my body just fills with adrenaline even if i'm dead tired - it driveds me insane.
sleep deprivation sux. it has completely fuked with my uni schedule - i miss so much class because of it. sleeping during the day means you get less sunlight which makes depression worse, but then going without sleep is so painful. i just used to take sleeping so much for granted and now i realise how lucky i was.
i take valerian tablets(a herbal remedy - u can get it from the chemist) which sometimes helps(taking calcium foods/supplements around bedtime is meant to be good). meditaion and breathing and relaxation excercises also help but sometimes i just can't be bothered with these if i'm already depressed.
anyway you just have to get to the root of your anxiety which is easier said than done.
are you able to see a psychologist?cuz this would help sort out the anxiety and depression.
i strongly reccomend giving meditation a go too - if you can find a place that runs classes.
hope it makes u feel better tht ur not the only one:)

maggie · Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Sleep

spurs · Newbie User Joined: Jul 16, 2006 Posts: 46

one more thing - excercise really helps you sleep better.
days when i excercise i find i have less trouble getting to sleep than when i've been inactive. if you try and do an hour of really intense excercise evryday or as much as you can this might help.
also keeping yourself mentally stimulated helps- like not stressing about your problems but being engaged in ideas outside of yourself.
when i have really interesting conversations, or am just working really hard on an assignment, or reading alot, this makes me so mentally exhausted that even if i am stressed i sleep better than when just focusing on my own problems.
also iwent to the doctor about insomnia and was prescribed sleeping tablets(which are also used as antidepressants), and while they do just make you conk out, i always felt really wierd the next day.
and i found it impossible to get up the next morning because they make you want to sleep too much. so i would suggest herbal remedies are better than drugs.
hope this helps.

pinkputter · Intermediate User Joined: Aug 09, 2006 Posts: 129

I agree..... I feel like inhibited during the day....even though on the inside my minds going 100 miles an hour, and so I guess I dont exert enough energy to make me tired....cause then at night im not tired at all. And not getting sleep that night affects me during the next day....its like a vicous cycle.

depressedman · Newbie User Joined: Dec 04, 2005 Posts: 6

My problem is that I have no trouble sleeping, but staying asleep. I have been dreaming a lot, which is common with depression. Dreaming releases huge amounts of stress hormones. The brain will signal you to wake up if you are dreaming too much to prevent this. No matter what time I have been going to bed, I have been waking up around 3 am. The only benefit is that I get a bunch of stuff done around the house before I have to go to work at 7am. But I end up being tired throughout the day.

Nina · Newbie User Joined: Oct 20, 2006 Posts: 9

I have the same problem. Especially sinced i worry about school constantly, i mostly end up falling asleep much MUCH to late. I wished i could just leave the damn place to get my peace Crying or Very sad

michel18 · Newbie User Joined: Sep 29, 2006 Posts: 22

if you have trouble sleeping when theres no so called
"distractions" and its completely quiet i have a suggestion for you.

I have a fan in my room that works every night all year long.

The little/medium sound does wonders for me.
Without it i take much longer to go to sleep.

some people may see this as something i shouldnt rely
on but why not...? i can use it every night if i want to, except on some occasions im not at home.

let me know it helps you.
i think youll be surprised alot.
just my opinion.

Michel

dez-i · Newbie User Joined: Oct 29, 2006 Posts: 3

I have problems sleeping aswell. Sometimes not going to bed until 6 or 7am. I figured it's probably stress and depression.

The television and radio bothers you whether they're on or off? Have you tried getting one of those cds that play soothing sounds like ocean waves and soft melodies to help people sleep? I've been thinking of trying one myself.

Don't be afraid to visit the doctor in spite what you're mother may think... it's your health... maybe try going on your own if it's too much of a problem?

Quixote · Advanced User Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 450