General Chat

Good news is I am getting some sleep, but the bad news is I can't get off before 4am no matter what time I force myself awake!! How can I change this?

Hello Diana! What time are you taking tablets? It can make a difference. Mags xx

Hi Dianna ,oh sorry my lady LOL have you been to see a sleep specialist as there is a condition called owl syndrome , also have you been checked for narcolepsy as I have it and find it very hard to go to sleep before about 2 a.m and then only in 20min. intervals and fall into a better sleep at about 6am when everybody else is starting to wake up kind regards lara

Mags I thought of that one as i wasn't taking them til 4pm as it was the time I took them on the 1st day.... but I've adjusted that now so not sure what next. Seeing Doc on Tuesday and gonna ask for a lower dose just in case it is them! How's you anyway?

Lara - thanks for that info - Its a recent thing with me so not sure why but I too could and have slept from 6am - 3pm better than I would at any other time! Once I go off tho there is no waking me for at least 4 hours no matter how many alarms go off! :O)

Diana - When I was on 'the medication' my sleep pattern was all over the place - one of the side effects I think. (not only of the tablets but also feeling a bit low) Don't ask for a lower dose - you need it yet awhile with such a lot going on in your life at the mo. Do you take them at a 'normal' bedtime now? Do you actually go to bed even though you don't think you will sleep? I used to wander when I couldn't sleep - not always the best practice! - when I did think I might drop off - I was awake again by the time I got to bed! lol Stay in bed if you can. I used to listen to story tapes from the library - nine times out of ten I had to rewind in the morning! Go with the flow - don't try to run before you can walk. This depression lark is a sod - it doesn't go just because you tell it to. Hug and a milky drink (with voddie in) Mags xxx

Just to offer sympathy, when you don't get enough sleep it affects the whole of your life, doesn't it? I would aim for slow improvement, winding down hours before bed, write down anything bothering you (to clear your mind), well ventilated bedroom, try not to drop off during day, don't come on these Boards after 7.0 pm! Lily

Diana, It is a side effect of depression and the tablets you are taking. I know I have been there. It does get much better after a time. I used to go to bed at my usual time and read until I felt drowsy which would often be the middle of the night. Another trick I learnt was to have the radio on playing very softly in the background. I really feel for you but things will improve. I am proof of that. (((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))) Jean x.

I am a nurse and work one week of nights a month. Sleeping the wrong hours can really upset everything. I always buy Decaf coffee the week before I have to work nights and then find the caffeine kicks in when I need it. If you go to sleep during the day try to get up and do some physical activity personally I enjoy a swim. Being with people who are awake normal hours helps as well. Other than that you just have to get a liking for night time T.V. I listen to the learning Zone on BBC2. Main problem I had when I started working nights was eating all day and night. If you have an erratic sleep pattern you need to keep a food diary or similar. It is good to have a solid sleep even if it is at the wrong time - you will feel better than if you cat nap day and night. If the problem persists you should ask your doctor about melotonin a hormone that resets the body clock. I have used it with patients with irregular sleep patterns successfully.

Hi Diana, It helped me when I stopped drinking coffee after lunchtime and cut down on cola drinks. Have you tried watching cricket on TV - that sends most people to sleep. I'm having trouble sleeping at present because of some very noisy teenagers who congregate in the evenings and make a lot of noise further down the road. Last night, after they'd been shouting and screeching all night, one of them was riding a motor scooter around the local streets between 1 and 1.45 a m! Roll on the cold weather. They don't stop out then. CB >|<

diana, Lots of good advice on here. i wouldn't change your medication, your body is probablys till adjusting to it. Don't drink tea or coffee in the evenings, or too much alcohol, one may help you sleep, more will keep you awake. Don't come on here late int he evening, I find it stimulates my brain too much an keeps me awake. good advice to listen to music but better to listen to the relaxing tapes/CDs you can get . you will get there. (((((Hugs))))) Ann glos

Not sure if this helps ..... but when my son was 5/6 yrs old he started staying awake later and later every night.... sometimes 2/3 in the morning. We put a telly in his room and he had to go to bed at 8pm to watch it. It worked for him. He is always asleep before 10pm when need be The only drawback is that now he can't sleep without the telly on .... and neither can I. Music works for my daughter, she has her music on really low when she goes to bed, so low that she really has to concentrate to be able to hear it, which means she's not thinking about anythink else that may be on her mind. Problem with both of the above - we are all so used to having noise in the back ground ... we sleep through alarms. Elaine :-)

I used to have to sleep with the radio on, had to stop that when moved in with now husband. Usually found that radio 4 worked better than music, tended to find I'd comletely lost the gist of what ever they were talking about especially if it was interesting. Ros.