Category: Health and Wellness
Now, I think this (or something like this) has been posted on the board but here I go anyway:
For one reason or another, I don't sleep through the night. I mean,I must sleep somewhat because I don't remember much the next day. After self-study (I know that's wierd) I learned that I do most of my sleeping in the early morning hours (Rem sleep.)
Anyway, I wake up tired. That's an understatement; I'm dragging the whole day.
Now, I've always brushed it off by saying:
"ah well...I'm just not a morning person."
What I'm asking here is are there any tricks of the trade, so to speak, to make sure I'm getting a full night's sleep?
It should be noted that I've tried going to bed earlier with no good results.
Am I worrying for nothing?
Are you totally blind? Many totally blind people have chronic sleep disturbances because of a disturbed circadian rhythm due to lack of light perception.
yes, the light does have some to do with it. It also depends on if you have a routine during the day. For example, a lot of the blind folks I know are unemployed, and since they don't have a routine, they can sleep in the day time, if they want. Before I had a job, I did that sometimes, and got myself totally nocturnal.
But Margorp, I don't think you're worrying for nothing. Getting good sleep is important. Here are a couple ideas, to take or leave as you wish. You can try natural things like chamomile tea, or warm milk. Both have chemical properties that help you relax and sleep. Then there are things like over the counter sleep medicines, like Unisom. Most drugstores have a variety of those. And some people go as far as prescription sleep meds, at least for about 10 days, till the body gets used to sleeping at night. If you do anything involving medicine, whether it's OTC or prescription, try it when you know you won't have a lot of activity the next day. that way you can see how your body will react to what you've taken.
I agree with the last poster. I take Seroqual to help me sleep. Bu it has a few side affects. I take it for my depression to.
well I'll try the natural things. And, I have light perception and have a routeen; I go to college.
Sleep is still important, but I don't know of any college student, blind or sighted, who doesn't have a somewhat messed up sleep schedule. *Grin*
Yeah, mine is qute messed up too! i may need to try something like that! I tried to take a tylanole, but that didn't seem to help. I dont want to go as far as medication, though, I guess I'll just have to see what happens, right now it's because I'm not doing anything, but when I start class, hopefully I can adjust. I am taking class at night, though, which I think will be fitting for now. Also I have some light perception, but it's not really a lot.
I guess I should have mentioned that I have had this problem for years.
I too have had sleep problems since I was a kid!!! For example I woke up at 2 this morning after going to bed at 9, its annoying because this afternoon I will be tired!!!
Ugh!!! and i work tomorrow so I'm hoping I can sleep tonight.
I've had the problem for quite a while but I've learned some things like what and what not to eat and all that.
I'll be giving it a shot.
It's all about eating for your blood type...it's interesting.
I've had the same issue since i was little. I think it is a blindness thing eve n though when i was younger i had very good light perception. I honestly don't know what to atribute it too... the brain and signals possibally. Mellatonan is a good option. It's medication, but it is a natural chemical found in your brain and in your thanks giving turkey. it will help your body sleep. hth
Candi
Well one thing I've done is stopped eating and drinking before bed. I've tried this for 2 days now and I'm already starting to see results!
I mean, I know this isn't gonna make me a "morning person" but it's something.
Also, as I said, eating for your own blood type is important though it's difficult.
The chemical ofund in turkey on Thanksgiving is actually triptifan, but it does the same thing as melatonin, as I understand it. I, too, have a weird sleeping schedule.
Turkeys must have no trouble sleeping then. Lol.
Hahaha. I thought my sleeping problems were attributed to sleep apnea, so I went and got tested for it, ocnsidering I was told that I had a tendency to stop breathing in my sleep for a few seconds at a time. turns out I don't have it. so, to this day, I'm wondering why I'm still tired all the damn time, no matter how much sleep I get.
There could be a few things that contribute to your lack of sleep. Sleeping affects your immune system, diet, ability to function, and your body growth. There may be an idiosyncrasy, also known as a habit, that you need to do or fall into before going to sleep such as listening to music, exercising, or reading. It's not good to fall asleep to noise though, because then it will be harder to wake up.
Also, light perception and melatonin seem to be a common problem among the visually impaired that have a lack of sleep. And, being very disstressed also leads to a lack of sleep. So instead of lying down and waiting for sleep to befall you, you should really try and concentrate on relaxing.
It's better to sleep at night because your body senses it's still day from the photons from sunlight, so it takes more time to restore. At night, your body knows that this is in fact the correct time to be sleeping, and will actually restore itself. This is why when you sleep during the day and wake in the day, your still a bit tired awhile after you wake.
I hope I've helped you some.
hmmmm, yes, maybe concentrating on relaxing will help me ... but lately, I've fallen asleep at anywhere between 7:30 and nine in teh evening, but not too much later.
Okay, thought I'd bring this topic out of the graveyard for an update:
I set my alarm radio thingy for that hourly thing and it puts me right off to sleep...I am still not a morning person but the point is I can get to sleep and wake up with not to much trouble.
I'm all for the natural sleep adis. Quite often, if I find that I'm having a hard time sleeping, I drink a glass of camomile tea, followed by a low dose of myllotonin. Forgive me. I have absolutely no idea how to spell that, but perhaps someone knows what I'm trying to say. *laughs*.
I know what you mean...interesting.
But I've also heard that it doesn't work for a lot of people, but the same can be said about almost any other method out there. It's just a matter of finding what works best for you.
Some say warm milk but I think that's nasty.
I do too. I don't know how babies can drink it. Lol.
I will say this for benifit of anyone on here in your teens or early twenties:
Recently my wife and I read that teenagers' body clocks are basically set to not be morning people. It's as though you all get better sleep for staying up late and then getting up late. I'm extremely iffy on blaming sleep on being blind; that was done to me an awful lot, and while the psychology people on here can speak to this more precisely, I can certainly say that when I had insomnia it always had to do with major amounts of stress.
For the one on here that says you stop breathing in your sleep? Basically that's why they sent me in to get tested. Were you all hooked up and stuff? Not all Apnea is a giant chain-smoking fat dude ... I'm about average in all ways and apparently you can have had it forever and not know. I'd get someone else to take a look if you or your insurance can pay for it. Don't let 'em write you off with "Well there's a blink, it's gotta be cause s/he's blind ..."
sleep issues are apparently pretty common now. My fife tracks this stuff a lot more than I do , so I can't remember the numbers, but I wonder if some of the blind / sleep thing is a myth. Of course I can see if you're not working and have no offspring, how your schedule gets messed up, but that has happened to several sighted people I know. They told me of weird talk shows that come on in the middle of the night, at hours you or I would either be sleeping or out carousing ...
But the blood type thing? I've never heard of that. Sounds interesting, wonder if it's a new fad thing, or if they've got some science behind it now.
I've always been a morning person, all through my youth and now early adulthood. it's rather annoying, actually. I would love to sleep a little longer than six hours a night.
Never been a morning person myself.
I wish I could say the same. Lol. I really don't want to be, but can't help it...
hmmm
Yup, I was hooked up with at least half a dozen electrodes on my head, a velcro belt around my chest and abdomen with electrodes that plug in to them, two taped to each leg, a pulse oxymetry device on my left index finger, a microphone near my throat, tiny oxygen and carbon dioxide monitors near my nose and mouth, and some electrodes near my eyes to keep track of eye movement during the night. I'm shocked I got any sleep through that damn test, and getting that shit out of my hair was a nightmare, but i'm glad I got it done.
I might have to get more glue out of my hair in the near future because I'm planning on being tested for mild epilepsy, which means undergoing an electroensephalogram to see what my brain wave activity is like. If that comes back normal, I'll proceed to having a CT scan, an MRI, and a pet scan done. okay, rant about medical equipment over. lol
Wow! That sounds pretty rough.
It sure doesn't sound like any fun.
Good luck!
I'm so glad I get my head shaved. Yikes.