I have gone through this weird evolution of sleep. When I was younger up until the first year of undergrad, I would be able to fall asleep fairly easily and stay asleep. In high school, as I mentioned in a previous post, I would go to sleep right after school, skip dinner, and sleep until the morning. I attributed this with the emotional and mental exhaustion of being in school. I was grateful for this, as it allowed me to escape to a weird dreamland for a few hours.
During my second year of college, I began to experience early morning awakening. On most nights, I would wake up at 3:00 AM on that dot. My eyes would open wide and were greeted by the soft orange glow of my digital alarm clock. This was unappreciated as I typically started my day at 5:30 am to commute into New York City and my last class ended at 4:00 pm so I would not be home until 6:00 pm. Even though I was exhausted, I was afraid to go to sleep early, but it did not matter. At this point in time, Austin and I would only see each other one day a week, typically Fridays. This caused some tension as I would often fall sleep in the middle of our hanging out.
Once I graduated college, I seemed to have developed sleep maintenance insomnia. Where I could fall asleep at my regular bedtime but would wake up multiple times during the night: 12:00 am, 2:00 am, 4:00 am, 6:00 am, and now I am fully awake. My primary care doctor said it was due to my change in schedule and it would take some time to adjust. I really hoped she was right (she was not). A year later, I started using over the counter sleep aids because I was apparently too young to warrant a prescription.
About three years ago, both Austin and I began to struggle falling asleep. We would lie in bed and watch the clock go from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am staring at each other or staring at the wall. Neither of us wanting to speak in hopes that at any moment sleep would envelop us and the sound of each other’s voice would ruin those chances.
Next, perhaps it was due to moving to a new state and entering graduate school, I became a light sleeper. The sound of the floor creaking, Austin’s breathing, the wind, the rain, and my own heartbeat would wake me up. If I am lucky, I will go back to sleep maybe an hour later or it will take me 2 hours. It also seems as though an hour before my alarm goes off is when I have the best sleep, which only makes me angry (where the eff was that the whole night?).
I also sometimes talk in my sleep which does not help anyone. I am usually yelling at someone, giving orders, or asking a question. It is also weird, sometimes, I can hear myself and remember what I was saying. Austin tries to make me realize I am dreaming but dream-state me is really insistent and belligerent.
Every night, we take over-the-counter sleeping pills, which we take more than the recommended dosage. We have tried Melatonin, Valerian tea, meditations, and podcasts. We bought a new bed and blackout curtains. We try to end our night by 9 that way we can hopefully fall asleep by 10:30/11. We do not take naps because we will definitely be up all night. We also try to exercise daily, but it is hard to feel motivated when you feel physically exhausted.
The longest I have been up is two days and it can happen easily. My days already blend together, without sleep I feel like I am having an out-of-body experience. I finally worked up the courage to tell my new primary care doctor and I think she is trying to avoid prescribing me anything as well. Honestly, I am scared too and I have not pushed for it. However, being up at 4:30 am now- I would rather have something to help me sleep than continue to be tired throughout the day, look forward to going home, and then hitting the pillow to no avail.
I am open to suggestions!
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Categories: Mental Health & Wellness
Muted Mouthful 
I did read somewhere that it’s quite natural to have a period of wakefulness in the early hours. I have on occasion got up and done some writing (in my pyjamas, of course!). At least I’m productive that way.
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I envy that! Sometimes, I write a little story or have a worthwhile idea. Most times, I’m just disheartened 🤦🏾♀️.
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Thanks for sharing. Yeah, you gotta gently confront PCP… they prescribe rx sleep meds to kids, so the “you’re too young” response is bull. I hope you and Austin find a solution that works 🤞🏽sleep definitely impacts quality of life
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Thank you for reading! I agree, sometimes they make barriers that do not exist. I need an action plan, I tend to waiver too easily.
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Assertiveness can be uncomfortable sometimes but that sure beats feeling exhausted every day
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sleeplessness is difficult. for me, it’s one of the early signs that my depression is acting up. repeated wakenings are exhausting, so i feel for you. i have a prescription for THC/CBD and that really helps, but an over the counter remedy that sometimes helps is calcium-magnesium supplements. 333:167 calcium to magnesium, and I take two. I hope you find something that works; this is brutally hard on the body and spirit.
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I appreciate you sharing, I definitely will look into both of those. I’ll have to do a follow up post ❤.
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I don’t know what to say because I’m in the same boat. Insomnia, medication, sleep-talking (in my case sleep-laughing), but I haven’t had the misfortune of waking up randomly and having to wait a while to go back to sleep. Exercise doesn’t always help tbh. Weirdly, what I have found to work is talking.. a whole lot. Social exercise is the only exercise that does wonders. Long talks with not just one but maybe a few others, long walks, combine them for best results I guess. Being socially exhausted helps, that’s all I know so far.
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That instantly made me anxious 😬. Much to my chagrin, I speak with people all day, everyday; by the middle of the day I am ready to crash. When I am home, it is almost like having a second wind without the perks of being productive. I do like the idea of walking and talking, that I may have to give a try. The conversations would have to be lighthearted nonsense that I won’t overthink 😏.
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Oh, no, no, no. Trust me, lighthearted ones will give you a rush and excite you too much to even want to go to sleep. You’ve got to do an in-depth dissection of the human nature so that your brain will be exhausted. 🤣
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I’ve never experienced this so I don’t really have any home remedies. 😦 But maybe you could push your doctor more to get prescribed something that will actually work. Doctors can some times be jerks and not care until you make them care. I’ve seen some content with during the bare minimum but this is your health and it definitely sounds like you need a better solution. If not, maybe it’s time to find a new doctor, one who actually listens to your concerns and finds a solution. I hope you find something soon!
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I’m also a light sleeper. It doesn’t help that I’m in a college dorm, where drunk people talk loudly at 2am and slam doors. I’ve been turning on my fan as a form of white noise, wearing a sleeping mask, and taking melotonin. Even that doesn’t knock me out fully.
For me, my insomnia is caused by anxiety and a bad sleeping schedule. I would wake up at 3am then 5am then stay awake until 9am then fall back asleep this summer. Racing thoughts kept me from falling back asleep. It’s been better since I started school, but now I’m being woken up by loud kids instead of my own brain. 😦
Insomnia is so frustrating. I’m envious of my roommate who is a heavy sleeper and passes out as soon as she hits the pillow. I’ve been drinking coffee to cope and go to bed super early.
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Anxiety combined with inconsiderate neighbors can really be the worst. I hope you can find some peace soon and catch some serious ZzZz’s.
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Thank you! I’m hoping that as classes become busier, my dorm will quiet down
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