What is this? Do I have a sleep disorder? My normal sleep schedule changes all the time. I don't think I have insomnia but I'm not sure what this is and how I should get treated for it. Do I even need to get treated? Is my sleep schedule so dangerous to my health? It really doesn't seem like it, but sometimes it gets very annoying (and boring) laying in bed trying to fall sleep. First I must say that I'm an extreme night owl. I feel the most alert in the middle of the night. Around 3-4 am is when I feel most energized. I work in the privacy of my own home so I don't have a schedule that I need to follow. But I normally don't go to bed until 8-10am. Even if I try, I will lay in bed for HOURS, unable to fall asleep and won't feel tired until at least 8 am. Then I will go to sleep and won't wake up until around 6pm. Sometimes earlier and sometimes later. But there are nights when I am tired. There are some nights where I just randomly fall asleep at 1 am. or sometimes even earlier. But when I do fall asleep at a decent time at night, I ALWAYS wake up at 3-4am when I feel the most energetic. I will be wide awake and stay awake throughout the morning until the afternoon then I will want to sleep. Occasionally, if I do wake up while it's dark out, I sometimes experience something called hypopompic hallucinations. That is when you wake up but are still dreaming and you're fully awake but you're hallucinating images from your dreams. They are always unpleasant images (such as monsters, demonic forces, insects and spiders) but I never have nightmares. That only happens if I wake up in the middle of the night and only occasionally it happens. Sometimes I will get on a normal sleep schedule but that will last for only a few days then I'll be back on the same schedule. This has been happening since my early teens and I'm 25 yrs old now. There has been times when I've been so desperate to fall asleep, like when I'd have a big meeting or interview the next day. I wouldn't be tired at all and would take something to help me get sleepy. Now I'm not into popping pills at all but I have access to xanax, valium, etc... and have taken these types of pills in the past to help me sleep. I guess the big reason why I'm not into them is because they don't do sh*t for me. I have taken these pills less than five times in my life. People who take these recreationally are very surprised to find out that after I take xanax for example, I will lay in bed for hours, unable to fall asleep. I don't even get a high from downer like medication. Nothing makes me fall asleep. Honestly, the only thing that has ever made me fall asleep in the past was Benadryl. But seriously, does anyone know anything about this sleeping disorder? Do I even need to see a doctor for it? I don't really want to be put on medication because I hate pills. Can anyone relate?
I can some what relate, i have alwyas had troubble sleeping and when i do get to sleep i always wake up several times until finally i just give up and decide to try to start my day (usually around 10 am these days). I also hate the idea of taking any pill to fall asleep, its really unnatural. What seems to be working for me is a little melatonin (natural) and try eating some foods with trytophan a few hours before bed, turkey being the most healthy source of this. Also i belive tryptophan can be found in a natural pill form as well. I dont know much about insomnia but it dosent sound to me like you have it because u can fall asleep just not when it would be most convinient for you (correct me if im wrong). Hope i could be of some help, feel free to PM me if you wanna talk my man im always lookin for company.
I don't know. I just sleep for days and then stay awake for days, but i've never had a problem with it... whatever works for you I guess. Have you tried breathing exercises? maybe that could help. I hope you find a way feel good with your sleep schedule.
I find that when I have trouble sleeping, it's usually linked to a series of different stressors, that when all added together, makes for a very confused mind. I also get that same way, laying in bed awake and trying to will my brain to stop working and get my eyes to close and stop seeing. Its especially hard when my partner is snoring and sleeping so soundly about three minutes into putting his head to the pillow. In the past, I've found that medications only cover up the deeper issues, I used to take Ambien but somehow I would end up staying awake and then hurting myself, falling asleep and then not remembering how I hurt myself. I found that pretty terrifying and decided to stop taking sleeping pills. I would suggest that you try meditation, focusing on a single thing, really trying not to let your brain network that single idea, but concentrating on it very hard in order to make your mind tired out. I also have experienced the same bouts of intense sleepiness, like sleeping for 10-13 hours in a day, for a few days in a row, and feeling all the worse for it. This hypersomnia probably has something to do with my depression, but some days, I just can't get the energy to get out of bed even if I wake up multiple times and see that's a nice sunny day out.
lol you mean "hypnogagic hallucinations" i get them too. and some of my friends have told me that they've had them as well, so i don't think they're that uncommon. one thing you can do when you realize your in the hypnogagic state is you can use lucid dream techniques to astrally progect your body. it can be pretty cool.
it doesn't matter when you are SUPPOSED to go to sleep go to sleep when you are tired what is there to consider? it's natural
A few bits I know about getting to sleep which may or may not help -Remain very active during the day, physically and mentally. Not in the evening, but mostly in the early afternoon -In the evenings, wind down. Turn the lights low, gradually decrease your activity, watch TV or do something relaxing -Don't eat too late. Have your dinner a few hours before you'll probably be heading to bed -ONLY go to bed when tired. Which after a few days of rigorous activity, you will be. Forget times for a while. Follow your body clock to catch up -Try sleeping in complete darkness aslong as you are comfortable with this. You can also add lavender and other calming scents under your pillow -If you realise you are "having trouble" sleeping, don't just lie in bed thinking about it and wanting it to happen. Get back up and do something for a while until you feel tiredness take over again. But don't eat -When in bed, don't think about the day ahead. Don't think about a meeting you're going to have or about how much sleep you want to get for the day As far as medication goes, please don't try using Xanax again. That really is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Xanax has all kinds of nasty side effects and is intended for mental disorders beyond your sleep pattern being a bit untidy. There are much milder meds that will be more effective in creating sleepiness. You could try something like Kalms, some natural remedies, or talk it over with your doctor and tell them you want something mild designed for sleep problems-but do research your medication before taking anything
