Sleep anorexia?

LegacyUser

Hi

I am going through a huge amount of crap right now (few people in my life v close to me very sick, relationship probs, work probs) and have found myself having problems with my sleeping. I know that's not unusual with stressful times, but this seems a bit different. It's like I am forcing myself not to sleep, even though I know I need to.

I have a theory that because sleep is pretty much the only thing I have control over these days, I am controlling it to a degree that is unhealthy. My big problem comes because I seem unable (or willing) to relax to sleep, but also I find myself up late trying to keep myself awake. It's kinda like I'm scared to sleep. I do have quite a lot of vivid bad dreams. Part of me knows I should go to see a doctor, but tbh I don't want to be given sleeping tablets, because again, I'm scared of sleeping, of losing consciousness. Plus I reckon they could easily tell me to take time off for stress and I don't have time for that to happen.

I guess I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas, or had been through something similar? I know people will possibly tell me to try to tire myself out, not drink caffeine, etc. but I don't think that's the problem. I am tired, I just won't let myself sleep...

Dragan

How much sleep are you getting a night at the moment?

LegacyUser

I get about 3-4 hours, depending. At weekends I lie in, but that's what it is, lying in. I don't really sleep all that much more.

username123

Why dont you go to a doctor? Its sounds like a sleeping disorder, if you had an eating disorder people would say go to a doctor, so go for a sleeping disorder.
If its a control issue then maybe you need to work through it with a professional?

Besides, you cant be doing your immune system any good not sleeping, the body needs sleep.

MJOR

defo see the doc it doesn't sound good for you

banshee_bones

It is understandable that you are anxious about falling asleep if there is alot of stress in your life right now but I would also suggest you to see a doctor who would either prescribe you some sleeping tablets in the short term or perhaps refer you to a counsellor/pyschologist in the long term that would help you get to the root of your sleeping problem

Susannahmia

controlsleep wrote: »

Hi
. It's like I am forcing myself not to sleep, even though I know I need to.

......
I guess I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas, or had been through something similar? I know people will possibly tell me to try to tire myself out, not drink caffeine, etc. but I don't think that's the problem. I am tired, I just won't let myself sleep...

I have the same problem when it comes to sleep. I am being treated for anxiety and depression and it is slowly improving so for me it was an anxiety issue.

aoibhebree

This is something I've had problems with too from time to time. Try leaving the light on in the room, and maybe some music on, and just lie back and chill out on your bed. You might drift off to sleep, but at least if you have weird dreams the light will be on when you wake up, and it won't feel like you've "forced" yourself to go to sleep. And even if you don't drift off, you're still getting enough rest to keep functioning. The last thing you want to do is make yourself more stressed that you're not getting enough sleep!

LegacyUser

Maybe you have something bothering you that you havent dealt with guilt sometimes keep's a mind racing/nightmares etc. Try taking up a hobbie guitar or something it helps me.

LegacyUser

Im guilty wide awake thinking of awful things.... the beer doesnt help only adds to the habits try going sober completely.....

Overheal

I kinda have had the same issue, where I'll stay up well to the point of exhaustion to avoid that hour or so of just lying there while your mind races on about all the crap going on in your life, but I would easily get 8 hours of sleep out of it and not be night terroring so I dont know what you have

One thing I have found that makes me feel really tired, and gives me a great sleep, is writing/typing - if something is bothering me that much I'll open up a word doc and dump it all down on paper, stuff it in a folder and never think about it again. Catharsis can be a beautiful thing, because often whats keeping you up is your brain's compulsion to express itself.

Quazzie

Overheal wrote: »

if something is bothering me that much I'll open up a word doc and dump it all down on paper, stuff it in a folder and never think about it again.

This is also good for putting things into perspective as its good to look back in that folder about a year later and realised that the problems that were massive to you back then really were insignificant

LegacyUser

hi everyone, op here... thanks for all your posts... nice to know I'm not a total weirdo in this! I've made an appointment to see a doc and a counsellor... pity I'm research student so have to wait for openings for appointments. No doc til Monday, counselling on Friday. Hopefully this will sort itself out in due course...

I do have a journal where I write everything down (well, not EVERYTHING) and it does help, marginally...

I know this is silly but I also want to point out I don't drink, or smoke or anything like that... I'm also not a user of women!!!

Again, thanks everyone...

LegacyUser

I'm going through something similar at the minute.
Some weeks ago, I was woken in the middle of the night to be told that a really close family friend had died very suddenly and unexpectedly.
I haven't had a full nights sleep on my own since.
I stay with boyf most nights now, and only stay on my own 1/2 nights.
Trouble with that is that he's too reliable and the one night he wasn't able to help me, I almost had a panick attack.
I think my sleep panic was made worse by the fact that I thought I didn't have him as back up just because I couldn't stay with him.
But there are some nights even when I stay with him that my sleep is very broken or I twist and turn all night.
I hate feeling dependant, and from about 7/8pm, I start stressing about whether I'm going to sleep or now.
It's affecting everything. I'm so tired during the day and at weekends.
In the first few weeks, I had a bit of a bust up with a colleague. That's not like me, but I just snapped.

I probly should go to doc or cllr, but tbh I really can't afford it right now.