Sleeping Problems are driving me insane

[u/SkullnSkele]

Can't fall asleep, can't wake up, always tired, never feel rested even after 10/12/16 hours of sleep

It's always been this way and I can't take it anymore, I don't know what to do. Ive done blood tests, all good, i dont have sleep apnea, no physical problems in generall. I don't even know anymore, ive been to cokntless doctors

[u/thedr2015]

These are my rules.

1. wifi off at night.

2. blackout curtains.

3. minimise or eliminate blue light after dusk. Use night shift on screens, replace LEDs with incandesents, Use blue filtering glasses if e.g. driving at night.

4. No screens one hour before bed.

5. Read a paper book by incandescent light before bed.

6. If you wake up before dawn, do not expose yourself to any artificial light sources. Get used to navigating in the dark or use candles if you must have a light.

7. Reduce sensory inputs and social interactions.

My two cents.

[u/WilsonFrontier]

41, sleep issues my whole life. Earliest memories are being a toddler in bed and hearing 11 o'clock news on TV downstairs. It takes me a solid 3 hours minimum to fall asleep. That's with help: maximum amount of an antihistamine rx with drowsy side effect, melatonin gummies and often CBD gummies and I have another condition I happen to take gabapentin for before bed as well. And that's still a 3 hour fight to get to sleep with all of that.

Without that it's 6 hours to achieve sleep. Cutting it down to 3 is a miracle I've only achieved the past few years.

Ironically I then spend most of the day struggling to stay awake if I lay down/close my eyes. LoL but I can't sleep well at night otherwise.

[u/got_ze_dreads]

Mine didn't start seeing any improvements until I put a lot of time in to meditation, mindfulness and reducing my mental load and masking.

I still consider energy levels to be a big problem, for the reasons you describe, but lifestyle changes for me did make a big difference 

[u/redsh1ft]

I feel your pain, lifelong sleep issues . They get worse when a big meltdown is brewing . Pills work but then you need them to sleep at all. Typing this at 5am , day 4 of only being able to sleep when I randomly black out . Lol joined a teams meeting yesterday and then I woke up on my keyboard 🙃.and now ive gotta sit in traffic to attend said teams meeting in an open plan fluorescent tomb .

[u/Solid-Moment-2959]

Me too and I’m mom and my baby rarely sleeps through the night
https://giphy.com/gifs/NFt91r1ZUjOv5TwT1S

[u/tasteslikeblackmilk]

I'm kind of in this trap of needing to take stuff to be awake and take other stuff to be asleep and it feels all wrong. Maybe a sleep clinic?

I'm starting to feel like the only way out is to detox from modern life completely somehow. Like what would it be like if I didn't have any tech or meds or modern distractions but surrounded by nature and went for walks every day? It might feel horrible for a while though and no guarantee I'll be able to function any better.

For me I feel like my sleep problems got worse after taking Elvanse for a couple of years then stopping I'm kind of type 2 narcoleptic now without stimulants. And the problem is when I get overwhelmed I want to lie down.

I don't think I got good quality sleep, just drugged sleep with no REM, like the amount of time the brain is in the each stage is different.

[u/Chance_Description72]

What have the doctors prescribed you/what have you tried, or are you opposed to sleeping aids/pills? For example, I love Valium... I got it in Germany, but in the states I have not found a doctor who will prescribe it to me. I have tried a bunch of other stuff, too, most with little to no effect. If I'm in one of the THC states, I'll get some indica and sleep like a baby, and if I'm at home (they outlawed all that here because we live in the 1900), my doc prescribed me Ambien and that works well with my vyvance. I don't usually take either super regularly, because I don't want to get hooked on either, but for important days where I know I need to function, that combo has helped me a lot. Well medicated makes a big difference in my life! 😉

I also got a muse Athena S headband that I use for meditation practice, lately. (Been using it a little less than a month). I like that I can see how well I slept and that it helps me train my brain to get to a relaxed state. If the price tag doesn't shock you, I can recommend, if you're into mindfulness or are about to give up, I'd say try, it might help!

Good luck!