what do i do?

[lolacat]

I can't seem to fall asleep anymore. I tried for 2 hours last night and again today I have been lying in bed for an hour or more trying to fall asleep and I can't when I am desperately exhausted. I don't know what to do about this, I need sleep so badly but I can't sleep and it's not like I can take benadryl or something

Comments

[patagonia]

I was there just last week. I think the anti depressants are starting to take effect and I think they're helping! It was a tough decision for me to make, but now I'm glad I did. Elliot had a HUGE fit just now and I actually got through it without feeling like I'm on the edge.

[lolacat]

i wd like to avoid it but maybe should reconsider :P

[nutmeg]

Man, I remember that feeling from when E was a baby and I only had him.

I'm assuming you are co-sleeping, so you can't zonk yourself out with some benadryl. Maybe daddy can give you a night off so you can get one night of sleep? I've had a lot of trouble sleeping this week and resorted to benadryl (which I needed anyway because of the hives, I guess)... one night I took it at like 11 and I still couldn't fall asleep until after 2.

I'm sorry... being so tired can exacerbate an already low mood.

[lolacat]

for real :P thx...

[need4cognition]

I had insomnia postpartum with James. It was awful. I didn't handle it well. Alcohol was the only thing that sort of alleviated it.

If one benadryl will give you a decent rest, then take it and drink a bunch of water. I don't think one pill will stop your milk production.

Is taking Holly to a hotel one night and getting somewhat decent sleep an option?

Is it time to reach out to a mental health professional?

None of that could be helpful, but it sounds like something has to give.

[lolacat]

I am seeing a therapist who has made some great suggestions but they will take a little while to kick in.

Thx...

[faithandworks]

As someone who takes 2-3 hours to fall asleep when things are *settled*, I would really recommend some form of relaxation/self hypnosis CD to listen to when you want to sleep. It's the only thing that has got me through this pregnancy, and there's part of the one I have that states you'll wake immediately if you need to so I don't think there's a danger of being too zonked out, if that makes sense? I still wake in the night, but the sleep I get in between is a LOT better quality, and it doesn't take me anywhere near as long to fall asleep in the first place. Really helped short-circuit the "far too exhausted to sleep" cycle I got into when E was having her bad patch.

[aslant]

i have no helpful advice, just a lot of empathy. i am so, so sorry you are going through this and i hope it lightens up soon. hang in there, mama. we're all rooting for you.

[lolacat]

thanks!