Bad bedfellows

Thursday, August 8, 2013 Permalink

The lack of sleep-is-linked-to-weight gain issue has been in the media again. And no, it’s not just because many insomniacs get up and demolish a tub of ice cream in lieu of sleep. Rather it’s about the effect that the lack of sleep has on the brain and the way it responds to stuff – like temptation.

Either way I’m screwed.

I cannot remember the last time I was asleep before 2am. Fortunately as I’m not working (other than for myself at home) this hasn’t been a huge issue. However, it’s really pissing me off. Last night at my mother’s – while lying there until about 3.30am I wondered if this whole ‘6-8hrs of sleep straight’ thing was really a necessity. Perhaps I could become a napper.

I actually nap well (which I know impinges on my sleep patterns). As I contemplated getting up, opening my laptop and hitting the vanilla diet coke I decided I could probably function quite well on several 2-3hr naps each day rather than sleep in one entire burst. That way the individual sleeps would be less important and I wouldn’t have to lie there stressing about my inability to doze off.

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I’ve always been a bad sleeper. I tend to expect it and usually plan for it.

Sensibly and maturely I often rely on red wine to help me sleep – occasionally having more than my 2 standard glasses in attempt to doze off within 2hrs of hitting the sack.

The odd sleepless night doesn’t bother me – though was more problematic when I had to be on a bus or train at 7am the following day and function in public for 10hrs.

However it’s particularly grating at the moment as I haven’t actually slept well or properly for about a month.

I blame my mother. Well… in all honesty it’s not exactly her fault but you may recall I’ve been staying at her place while she’s been recovering from a hip replacement. Initially I struggled to get comfortable in the different bed and different surroundings. A ticking clock pissed me off for several nights until I removed the battery.

My ‘bedfellow’ (in the room down the hall) didn’t help. I’d listen to see if she was sleeping or if she was on the move and needed to get out of bed. However, as she was also sleeping badly we had many a 2am conversation.

Last week I spent two nights at my own place – neither night I slept before 4.30. (At which point you wonder if it’s worth even trying to sleep!)

At her place in between she was up and we were chatting. “It’s 2 o’clock,” she said. “Oh that’s okay,” I replied, “not too late then!” I explained that I was feeling quite comfy and happy just lying there. Of course the following night I felt completely different – uncomfortable and unsettled when 2am came around.

I’m mostly at my place this week, which is probably better for mum as she can get up and make a cup of tea or a hot lemon drink and have a read if I’m not there. And I can head to the bath or write if I can’t sleep.

The insomnia thing isn’t new to me. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I know what I should be doing and I’ve tried them all. Hot milk before bed, warm bath before bed, no computer before bed. I lie there for a while before I eventually get up. I have a notebook near my bed in which to record my bursts of inspiration, but… nothing really works. I try not to nap during the day but then get so tired by 4pm I literally fall asleep. I try getting up at the same time each day, but with few commitments it’s hard – particularly when I’m so tired on waking.

It’s occurred to me before that – when I lie down to sleep – is the only time all day my brain stops processing what I’m doing (I’m sure others are the same). Suddenly it’s momentarily empty of ‘stuff’ and free to wander.

I’m undoubtedly at my most creative when I lie down to sleep. Many a daytime nap has been thwarted by inspiration. The notebook on my phone contains pages of blog post ideas – many of which barely make sense in the light of day. I go to bed and I think and think and think. In fact, as I get more tired my thinking becomes more frantic and less rational. Even I cannot make sense of seemingly sensible ideas which pop into my head. I’ll be midway through a thought and realise I can’t remember how it came about. Scenarios run through my head with no meaning at all.

Like I said – I have very few daytime commitments at the moment. I can write whenever. I do expect however, that my sleeplessness contributes to my lack of weight loss. I use vanilla diet coke to get me out of bed each morning and sometimes plan exciting snacks to keep me enthused and energised. My morning exercise has suffered; but it’s more the lack of routine which worries me. I could happily live forever sleeping between 3-8am with the odd nanna nap during the day. But, it kinda feels wrong and I don’t know why. So for whatever reason I’m aiming to get back into what-is-for-most-people a normal routine. Sleep by / at midnight and up at 7am. Fingers crossed.

Are you a good sleeper?
Do you need routines or regular sleep patterns?

 

20 Comments
  • Jo Tracey
    August 8, 2013

    Absolutely hopeless. If I’m away I’m worse- & plan for it with half a sleeping tab (over the counter type). The rest of the time I rely on herbal tabs. I hit the sack early and generally wind down with a book & a nip of scotch, and then sleep in 90 minute- 2 hour blocks, waking regularly. I’m always tired. Always.

    • Debbish
      August 8, 2013

      The waking thing must be annoying. I was supposed to go and do a sleep study a few years ago as I was ‘waking’ really tired all of the time. But in reality it’s the ‘getting to sleep’ which bothers me. Once asleep I’m fine – which is a relief.

      Although I openly admit to using wine to help me sleep I’m bizarrely anxious about taking any tablets to help me sleep (no idea why and it doesn’t even make sense to me!). In fact, an over-the-counter antihistamine helps me sleep but for some reason I’m loath to take it even when I have sinus trouble.

  • Jess
    August 8, 2013

    Usually I am a good sleeper, really tired and straight to sleep. I had insomnia last night and I hate it. When I get it it drives me crazy. I have friends who are married who both stay up every night until 4am sometimes later. And sleep until 10. One is studying and the other does evening shift so they plan their whole life around different hours. They just had a baby who they have adjusted to the same hours. It is almost like they live in a different time zone!

    • Debbish
      August 8, 2013

      Jess I found it interesting – when I pondered over it last night – that even though I don’t really need to keep ‘normal’ hours, it felt wrong not to. So many people do shift work and always have altered sleep patterns, I don’t know why I’m applying the SHOULD concept to it! I guess if it fits in with your lifestyle then why not?!

  • Char
    August 8, 2013

    My sleep patterns are way better this year than last year. A lot is because of a better hormone balance but it’s also because a couple of hours of running just takes it out of you. I had to laugh about the bit where what you wrote the night before barely makes sense the next day. I’m totally convinced some days that I’m almost a genius at midnight but by 8am reality hits.

    • Debbish
      August 8, 2013

      Sometimes if I’m really tired and think I might go to sleep I don’t rouse myself to write down my ‘brainwave’ but then – no matter how much I think I’ll remember it using word association or whatever – I NEVER remember it the next day. But yes, as I get more tired I start thinking very weird things. And then I’m like, “Why am I thinking that donkey should be changing its hairstyle?” And so forth!

  • Vanessa @ babblingbandit.me
    August 8, 2013

    I really feel for you Deb! Sleeplessness like that is hard emotionally and physically. I’ve gone through phases of being both a good and bad sleeper. Currently, while I’m in hopsital for depression, I’m not sleeping well at all. I’m very restless and can’t get into the deep sleep that lets you wake up feeling refreshed.

    Have you tried sleep meds like tempazempam? They are only a short term fix but might help you get into a better pattern.

    Psycho therapy could also be a help. Maybe there are underlying issues affecting your ability to really relax and get into a deep sleep?

    Hope you get some improvement soon!

    • Debbish
      August 9, 2013

      Thanks Vanessa. I’m not sure I want to go down the sleep medication route, but I did buy a meditation and relaxation podcast yesterday so I’m hoping that helps.

  • Thehungryma
    August 8, 2013

    You obviously need to move to the United States, you r just living in the wrong time zone!! Just kidding. I wake too early, my only sleep problem currently. Quality of our sleep was also the main topic of conversation at this week’s meeting at WeightWatchers. Sometimes I sing myself to sleep. Did u know dehydration will wake you up from a dead sleep? Best to stay hydrated, it’s a real simple solution.

    • Debbish
      August 9, 2013

      I’m trying to imagine singing myself to sleep. Dare I ask what you sing? Probably something calming and not Lady GaGa?!

      On the dehydration front I do wake up thirsty a few times during the night but always have water on hand. Fortunately when I wake I usually go straight back to sleep. Even after a visit to the loo!

      • Thehungryma
        August 9, 2013

        Ha ha!! I love love love Lady Gaga!! How did u know??? I sing myself to sleep with show tunes from Gypsy, Suessical, etc. my roommate in college on e taught me a technique to falling asleep, it works sometimes. You imagine a blackboard, imagine yourself drawing a big circle and in the circle you write 100, then you erase the number and write a 99. And so on. No one ever gets to 90.

        • Debbish
          August 9, 2013

          Really? I’ll have to try that one. I know of a similar one where you picture numbers (like large numbers in an elevator) and watch the screen counting backwards. My problem is that I try to count slowly so my mind has time to wander between numbers and I lose my place!

  • Lou lou
    August 9, 2013

    Hope you get some zzzzzzzz

    • Debbish
      August 9, 2013

      Thanks. xx

  • Shira
    August 9, 2013

    My fingers are crossed for you too that the 12a – 7a sleep schedule can happen! I definitely eat more when I’m tired, so getting seven hours a sleep is a priority for me but I always have to plan in advance by turning my mind “off” at least two hours before bedtime by not checking emails, not surfing the internet, etc. That approach has worked, and now I’m usually asleep by 10:30p and up around 5:30a or so to hit the gym before work.

    • Debbish
      August 9, 2013

      Wow, what a great routine you have going Shira! I hope to get there. I’ve had routines (of sorts) in the past – when I’ve just suffered ‘typical’ insomnia, which for me is just about taking a couple of hours to get to sleep. I don’t mind that. It’s the constant lying in bed for 4-5hrs that frustrates!

      Deb

  • @Kanga_Rue
    August 9, 2013

    I’ve had bouts of insomnia throughout my life, but nothing as chronic – unless you count not sleeping longer than 3-hours at time for the 18-months from Pickle’s birth.

    I may have mentioned before, that I found Paul McKenna’s book & CD “I can make you sleep” helpful. It needs to be read, not skimmed, though, but could be worth a try – link here: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/I-Can-Make-You-Sleep-Paul-McKenna/9781402784521

    I still nap occasionally, as I find I get cranky if I have toddler induced debt. Sleep-cycles run for about 45-minutes, so napping in multiples of this (e.g. 1.5/2.25/3-hours etc can help ti wake feeling refreshed.

    • Debbish
      August 9, 2013

      I actually had a phone app which I put on my bed to monitor my sleep cycles when I was sleeping better but waking tired. I’m not sure how accurate it was but it was interesting to see the peaks and troughs the next day!

  • Satu
    August 12, 2013

    Luckily, I haven’t been suffering from sleepless nights lately. That is probably partly because I pop a tricyclic antidepressant every evening to prevent my migraines. It makes me sleepy which is a good thing.

    That said, I have never been a good sleeper – I don’t usually fall asleep immediately when I go to bed. I’m sure I can also blame my mother – I think I got my bad sleeper genes from her! 🙂

    Recently I found a surprisingly effective way to fall asleep – listening to a progressive muscle relaxation mp3 when I’m in bed. I got the tip from my mom.

    I found a good free mp3 from Darthmouth College’s website : http://www.dartmouth.edu/~healthed/relax/downloads.html#muscle

    • Debbish
      August 13, 2013

      Oh, I’ll suss it out Satu. I’ve started listening to a podcast I bought by Jennifer Polle, which does actually help me doze a bit. (In a good way!)

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