Insomnia!
Classes have been going very well so far, my living arrangement is wonderful, and my internship is fitting into things quite smoothly. Things are busier now that the senate’s back in session so I’m not quite as bored. I’ve had only one problem, and, well…it’s a big problem!
I can’t seem to get any sleep. As of today, I haven’t really slept for three days. I’ve tried to go to sleep, but I just end up lying in my bed for hours and hours. I toss, I turn, I try to get comfortable but I just can’t seem to. It’s not that it’s too hot or stuffy…it is, of course, hot and stuffy, but that wasn’t bothering me for the majority of last week, when I slept just fine. It’s also not that I’ve been having anxiety or I have too much on my mind when I’m going to sleep, because, well…I don’t.
Yesterday, I actually got into a peaceful sleep at around 6:30 am (It was 6:24 the last time I had looked at the clock), but my dratted alarm was set for 7 (even though I didn’t have class that day til 10) and I couldn’t get back to sleep after I had to get up and turn it off.
Though I’ve been able to keep up with everything I’ve needed to do quite well, the lack of sleep has been affecting me physically. My whole body aches, my eyes burn and all around I just feel fatigued. I’ve tried everything I can- exhausting myself by going to the gym, reading before bed, just laying there with my eyes closed, but nothing’s worked so far.
I hate having to rely on sleep aids so this weekend I think I’m going to try a whole detox routine- massage therapy (and I need it- my body is in PAIN), herbal sleepy-time tea, etc. Wish me luck!
Did you know sleeplesness and fatigue is a symptom of heart attach in women? Just read that in the Doctor’s office!
Anyway, I’m concerned. I don’t sleep when I stay up too late and have an irregular sleep schedule. Perhaps try a regular bed time and turnign off the cell phone.
Mom
I have insomnia occasionally, and even have a very similar blog post about it. All I can say is that it catches up with you eventually.
You know in High School, I had similar issues- not being able to sleep. I ran through a bottle of Tylenol PM a week. I got off that, and life at USNA seemed to cure me, (being exhausted much of the time) but back at MD I had the problems again.
I really think part of the problem, for the three of us, is that we work so hard, that we have so many things running through our heads when we lie down to sleep. Sleep is the brain’s way of processing what has happened during the day and to refresh, but we tend to want to do the processing constantly!
One thing that has really helped me is a focus on discipline. In fact, I have turned into dad almost because of this- I get up every morning at 6 no matter what time I went to bed the night before, I do the dishes and have coffee while reading/writing blogs and newsfeeds (Sorry dad- no papers here!). I workout and shower and go to work, and then at night time, after 8- I stop working, no chores, no eating, no computer, no work at all. If I read, I read something unrelated to what my brain is focused on (no computer books, etc.) I usually end up in bed at 10 because of this, and that 2 hours of active rest helps me get to sleep.
You haven’t posted in a while–I hope this means you’re getting your rest at last!