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5 days in a row with about an hour sleep each day. I know because I play a guided sleep meditation and wake up an hour and a half into it. I’m relaxed but sleep is just not happening, except for the once be night around 12 to 1. Talking to a doctor again today. Really need to speak with an expert and do some tests. Not sure this CBT is working, but still not taking sleeping pills.
Thank you, Scott. Your answers are greatly appreciated. I will see what I can do about extending tonight. I guess with 4 days of very low sleep, there’s no guarantee on that but I’m going to try.
And then your idea about getting out of bed sounds good. I just need to work on funny activities that I enjoy.
Yes, I have been using the “so what” for my anxiety thoughts in general, and in the daytime I have been able to do more normal activities.
Have not been getting out of bed as much as recommended. I go to bed around 10:30 pm and get up around 6 am. My one hour of sleep tends to be from about 12 to 1, and then I will get up by 2 for a little while, then try again. Last night I fell asleep briefly a second time, but then had a nightmare that woke me up (haven’t previously had many nightmares). I tried some more after that but not much luck.
I think I have some trouble finding enjoyable activities in the middle of the night. I suppose now I will go for a walk to get my day going.
Am I okay with 1.5 hours/sleep for a while? I can say “so what” to that?
Yes, I got Covid Dec 30, and then had 4-5 sleepless nights in a row. I was afraid to sleep. Now, I don’t feel afraid, but their seems to be lingering anxiety. Even that seems a lot better now than before.
I have not kept a diary, and I should start. I have not had a 0 hour sleep day in more than a week, an improvement, but 1-2 hours is pretty much the norm. That alone does make me a little anxious. As I understand, perhaps this is no big deal and I should learn to accept that? (For now)
I took Trazadone a couple of times but hated it. I am taking 1/4 tabs of Ativan for anxiety and not exceding 3/4 total per day (yesterday none, today 1/2). My feeling is a small does provides some calm and “may” help sleep onset.
Just still not clear how to get more than a couple of hours, and hoping maybe my anxiety will steading improve and then so will sleep. At best, I can at least say I know more about what to expect, and am pretty functional even without sleep, but definitely not where I hope to be yet.
Good question. I’ve had 3 days in a row with 2 or less hours, wondering when I will finally have a night with more hours. I’m relatively calm about it and without drugs these last few days, but is this plan going to eventually start to work? The sleep drive will do its thing?
This is so similar to me but my problem started at the beginning of January. I had one sleep day four days ago that may have been as much as 7 hours, but split into 4-5 sleeps. Last 3 days have been around 2 hours.
I didn’t use anything last night or today for anxiety, and that is a first, at least since a couple of weeks ago. I too feel the drugs did little for me.
I’ve been venturing out more now, and today going for a massage. I suppose if I fall asleep during the massage it might be okay. Yesterday, I had a 45 min nap plus about 2 hours of sleep.
I know I am not the same as you, just glad to share and exchange ideas. Overall, I’m less afraid to do more, and striving for more normal daily activities. Walked 40 min today. Did some writing and singing, and now going for a massage.
Oh, and I forgot to add that previously I was CONSTANTLY monitoring my pulse rate with a pulse oximeter, even as I was trying to drift off to sleep. It is clear my anxiety and pulse rate have lessened since I stopped using that blasted thing! I went to ER a few times (first for Covid), and they found I a very healthy.
Thank you for your support. Last night was the first night I didn’t take anything, Prevoiosly I had tried wine, melatonin, ativan, trazadone, chamomile tea, magnesium and tylenol pm. I slept maybe a little over 2 hours, and I also had a short nap yesterday (still had the magnesium and chamomile tea, but sleep was not until much later in the night).
I am realizing how I am functional still, and I don’t need to worry, and that by knowing this, it will help me to more easily fall asleep.
And indeed, I had many other peculiar habits fueled by anxieties. Previously I was scared to sleep where my wife might not hear me. She sleeps in another room (I had Covid), and I would prepare a mat on the floor. It was very uncomfortable!
I have found some guided meditations by Jason Stephenson on YouTube have helped me relax and drift off, but sindknt play them too loud, as I can also tune them out this way.
Anyways, thank you. It’s good to know I am not alone. And great to get that affirmation that I don’t need the drugs.
Thank you very much for your reply Chee Hung Yeong. I watched quite a few videos today from this website, and I appreciate the affirmation that you followed the advice and it worked for you.
I would say the biggest challenge has been the anxiety generator from not sleeping, but at the same time I’m starting to understand that it is possible to have a decent day even if I didn’t sleep the night before. And I don’t need to be so anxious about it.
It also opened my eyes about how much I was trying to prepare to sleep well by doing so many things in hopes one of them might make me sleep better. And it sounds like there’s a strong likelihood that that was actually what was making it more difficult, because I was so emotionally involved in everything.
I did take a 45-minute nap today, which I know goes against the rules, but I’m going to consider a win at least for today because it’s the first time I did that since December 30th.
As best as I can tell, the situation tends to be quite intense in the beginning and gradually gets easier to manage, and the sleep along with that gradually improves as well.
I really don’t like taking drugs. I always took less than they told me to take so far. For example, I have been taking Ativan in quarter tablets for anxiety. I hope to taper that off as quickly as possible.
