[MelH89]

As someone who took sleeping pills everyday for 9 years, I can proudly say that I fully came off Zopiclone in May (a week after my birthday). My last bout with insomnia was at the end of March (where I caught COVID). I’m a teacher so I find that I sometimes struggle to keep a proper sleep schedule on my breaks; I love sleeping in. At the beginning of December I finally came off my anxiety medication and I’m only taking Trazadone now. Well, here I am on Christmas break and of course on the last day of school I catch a bad cold. I had to take two COVID tests which had me moping around my room in quarantine for four days. On Saturday I literally spent the entire day in bed. I’m that person who needs to keep busy and when I get bored I tend to lounge around. Well for the past three nights, I have been having issues falling asleep. I went to bed around 10:30/11 and probably didn’t sleep until 4ish. I know I’m getting some sleep because I’m dreaming. I really found that Martin’s advice helped me in the spring and I know it will again, I just hate going through this! I felt so desperate last night that I considered asking my doctor for Zopiclone again even though I know that won’t solve the issue. I know that I have been feeling “low” lately due to a family issue, and usually when I feel down I’ll have a stupid thought about insomnia that sticks in my brain. When I’m happy and I think about insomnia, it doesn’t bother me. I’ve had three bouts over a period of 12 years, and this will be my fourth. Usually they go away in 3 weeks or more. This time feels different because I’m more aware of my cognitive behaviors so my anxiety isn’t too terrible (yet). I know that I will get some sleep and that will allow me to function. I know my body will adapt to the sleep deprivation and that I won’t feel the greatest for a bit. I know this will pass, but man I hate that initial few days/weeks where I’m trying to fall asleep but can’t. I really think I just messed up my sleep schedule and I’m definitely seeing a pattern form with my insomnia triggers. Also being sick and worrying it was COVID didn’t help. The issue I had in the past was that I used sleeping pills to try and get me back on track and have a few good nights sleep. I do realize now that sleeping pills are not the answer because I’ve been getting the best sleep since being off of them in May. So what can I do to help me fall asleep faster?

[Scott]

@MelH89,

Since you found Martin’s information beneficial in the Spring, are you now implementing those same techniques for this bout of sleeplessness? It’s not uncommon for stressful life events to cause a brief disruption in our sleep, especially those related to our health. Do you think that once your cold has passed and you become more active that your sleep will be restored? Have you considered establishing a sleep restriction window to build a strong sleep drive that will assist in falling asleep faster?

Scott J

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• This reply was modified 2 years, 12 months ago by Scott.

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