I’m sure we’ve all dealt with this, no?
It seems to happen to me every 6-8 months or so and how it happens is pretty much the same. I’ve had it for the past three days, though the way I slept last night, I think it might be over.
For those who don’t know me, I’m a bit of a night owl. One, it was the way it was when I worked at the newspaper. Two, I’ve found it’s some of the best time to do job hunting things because there’s no noise around. So, I’ll go to bed, usually around 2-2:30 a.m. or so.
The past three days have been fully different. Try anywhere from 4:45 to 5:30 or so.
It’s maddening.
Allow me to give you a look into an average sleep attempt for me when I get into this pattern.
- 2 a.m. (approx): Go to bed.
- 2:30 a.m.: Give up, either read some, go on the computer or play some games on the phone to try and get my eyes tired.
- 3 a.m. (approx): Feel tired, go to bed. Toss and turn. Become wide awake. Get a million thoughts in my head. No sleep.
- 3:30 a.m.: Repeat my 2:30 a.m. things
- 4 a.m. (approx) Try bed again. Toss and turn. Wide awake. A million thoughts.
- 4:30 a.m.: Play some games on the phone in the dark, hoping the light of the phone will make my eyes tired.
- 4:45-5:30 a.m.: Somehow fall asleep.
- 9-10 a.m.: Wake up. Can’t fall back asleep.
That’s tough.
Last night was awful. I finally threw in the towel and got to my computer and started tapping away on a fictional story I am working on — one in which I hope I can turn into a book or a small novelette.
Then it happened.
It was late this time — maybe close to five and I felt myself starting to nod off. My head bobbed and I felt extremely tired. Was it finally catching up to me?
I turned off the computer and went to bed and was out like a light.
Then, I got more then seven hours of sleep. This is one time where being unemployed worked out well for me. There was no alarm or anything, there was my body saying — this is it. Catch up, rest up and let’s get rid of this insomnia crap.
I think it’s gone now, which is something I am extremely happy about. Time will tell tonight, but usually when this happens with me, the long night of sleep is what finally turns me over.
At least that’s what I can hope.
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I’d die!
Insomnia hits me before “big events”. I think I worry that I will oversleep and be late. Or I have performance anxiety before a presentation. The worst part is that “if I went to sleep right now, I’d have 5 hours of sleep” and then repeating that two or three hours later. Right before the alarm goes off, I’ve almost always fallen into a coma like death sleep. Oh I hate it when that happens!
Linda Medrano recently posted..Mick and Me
Get off of your computer and all other electronic devises for at least a half an hour before you attempt to lie down and go to sleep. I’ve been told this should help you fall asleep better since it takes me forever to fall asleep after I’ve crawled into bed.
Paul Myers recently posted..Flashback Friday
I have insomnia from time to time. I generally have no problem falling asleep, but have trouble staying asleep. It sucks…..