...Or are you waking up?

[syzygy_lj]

Today was a beautiful sunny day, and I had an unexpected day off, thanks to a student flaking on me for the third time in a row. There were so many things I wanted to do today. I thought about going to the park, or wandering around the neighbourhood, or reading my book on the patio. But what I ended up doing was sleeping. I slept this entire

Comments

[platypus]

Ugh. I know how awful it is to feel sleep-deprived. I have some tricks to get my brain to shut up when it's doing the hamster-wheel thing, but I don't really know how to stay asleep, other than taking drugs. I sometimes resort to Benadryl when I want to be sure I'll be tired enough for bed by a certain time, but I have to take it early; it sometimes doesn't make me sleepy for a good two hours or so. And if I take it a lot it becomes less effective.

To make myself stop thinking about things I'm worried about and what I'm doing tomorrow and snippets of TV shows and songs and books, I play stupid little games, like trying to name three things found in a grocery store beginning with each letter of the alphabet. (I vary themes; sometimes it's a zoo, or place names, or whatever.) It has to be something that'll keep my brain just occupied enough; if it requires too much concentration, that will keep me up, but if it's too boring my mind will start wandering again. So I'll accept some pretty stupid answers, or move on to the next

[syzygy_lj]

I've tried all kinds of relaxation techniques, like the line around the body. Counting my breaths sometimes works. I count up to four and start over. In- one. Out- two. In- three. Out- four. And I keep a pen and paper (or my iPod, which has a note app) next to my bed for the hamster-wheel moments.

(Hamster wheel is pretty apt-- it really does feel like my brain is doing that.)

[nonelvis]

I have to say, the only thing that helped me with this was meds, and now it still happens, but less so. The stuff I take occasionally is trazodone, which is a failed antidepressant but works well as a sleep aid -- apparently it's non-addictive, too, but I only take it when I get desperate because I just don't like the idea of having to take sleeping pills on a regular basis.

The most common explanation for the sleeping behavior you describe is stress, by the way ... not that I was ever able to reduce my stress enough to fix the insomnia.

[syzygy_lj]

The thing is, I am not that stressed. At least, I don't feel that stressed-- maybe I am and don't even know it. Teaching private ESL classes part-time isn't really that stressful a job. Not like working at the bookstore.

As for meds, several people have recommended Melatonin, which is the hormone your pineal gland excretes when it starts getting dark, and I started taking it last night. I also used a sleep mask and white noise. I slept a bit better, but I was still exhausted when I woke up this morning. I think this might take some time.

[purpletigron]

Have you investigated light therapy? I know at least one case where light therapy has turned someone's life around after 20 years of symptoms such as this combined with ME.