sleeping in shifts

[[te...]]

So the new pattern I've noticed over the past 3- 4 days is I am sleeping in short bursts of a few hours at a time.

 

I tried taking that trazodone my Dr prescribed Wednesday night & Thursday night, it didn't knock me out, so Friday night & last night I tried without it. The similar pattern is happening.

 

It generally takes me a long time to fall asleep... or at least I think so. I lay down between 9-10, and I might be lightly dozing but I wake up a lot. Then I actually get to sleep sometime after 11-sometimes midnight (last night it was earlier). I sleep through a regular sleep cycle and wake up remembering a dream. Then I fully wake up, realize I slept and am glad about this, and check my phone clock to see how long I slept (probably need to stop this, lol). I then try to go back to sleep. I am generally sleeping in 90 minute to 2 hour shifts, then waking up and repeating. Last night was:

 

Fell asleep between 9-10 (husband confirmed this, he was awake doing stuff on a tablet).

Woke up at 11, wasn't sure if slept but remembered husband was on tablet and then saw he wasn't anymore so figured I slept, lol.

Fell back asleep, woke up and remembered a dream and it was 1:30am.

Dozed, checked clock it was 2:30am.

Felt like I was awake the whole time from 2:30-4, but husband woke up too. We talked a little, realized my stomach was super empty and hungry,  thought maybe eating would help. Got up and ate crackers.

Laid back down at 4:15am. Husband got up. Fell back asleep!!! until 6:30, woke up and fell back asleep a few times, finally got up at 8ish

 

I have no idea how many hours this equates to, but I'm guessing anywhere from 5 to almost 7. I feel like I got enough, but I wish it was more straight through! I need to stop feeling the need to check the clock to see how long I slept. It's like I have this obsession now to make sure "i'm getting enough." It might be cool to have a fitbit or something to track this, but I think sometimes more information just makes me more crazy.

 

Anyone else have this happen frequently, and is it a symptom that will eventually stabilize? As for my dreams, they are not disturbing or scary. I always have weird, funny dreams and these dreams are consistent. I also used to always remember my dreams before benzos. I guess my body wakes me up a lot after REM sleep naturally.

 

Also, I should mention, could zoloft be doing this? Started zoloft a week ago. Believe it's probably exacerbating this insomnia. Started taking dose earlier in the day to try and make this better. When I had my long shift of being awake last night (between 2:30am-4am) I didn't get anxious or frustrated or feel crappy. I actually felt oddly happy, and kept thinking about positive things like wild animals and nature and vacations. My brain was a little wired but not "fight or flight" feeling, more like "life is good" feeling, and I felt like I had enough sleep, but I wanted to try for more.

 

Oh lord. Life was so much easier when I passed out for 8 hours and didn't think about it! Every night now when I lay down I am filled with dread about getting enough sleep!

[[Ch...]]

Our problems are very similar and I am trying to adjust and not get worked up. Hopefully it will get better with time. Also, it is possible that the Zoloft is playing a role. Best wishes.

[[te...]]

Good to know I'm not alone! It helps to know others are going through this, and that it doesn't last forever. I think the not getting worked up part is key. I made some rules for myself about not going on the computer and looking things up and reading a certain amount of time before bed, and when my thoughts start to circulate around sleeping and potentially stressful topics, I focus on my breath and mantras. Mindfulness!

[[me...]]

That is almost identical to the sleep I am getting. I have rarely slept over 3 hours continuously over the last month or so, as far as I can tell. My dreams are somewhat crazy and vivid, but rarely unpleasant. BUT--I am getting enough sleep to feel okay.

 

Try to quit obsessing about sleep--if you are feeling okay, getting enough of something to do what you need to do and get through the day, there is absolutely no point in worrying about it. I keep somewhat track of my sleep, but a lot is guesstimates as I hardly ever look at a clock. This is helpful over the long term so I can see trends, and possible issues with things I take or do, but I really don't fret much about the quantity unless I don't feel well the next day.

 

I'm sure for both of us, our sleep will continue to evolve, and improve. That is what I have seen so many others go through. It just takes time and patience, and not mucking things up with drugs.

[[te...]]

Thank you so much for validating me!!

 

Even when I don't get continuous sleep, if I get enough, I feel ready to get out of bed and tackle the day. Also, I don't feel as anxious and panicked about it, which is probably a good sign.

 

The only problem is, I need to stop reading everything I can find on here about insomnia..I was trying to read how people recovered over the long haul, and someone had mentioned some fatal insomnia disease, and I googled it and it scared me so much! I know it's rare, I always do this to myself! It helps to know that sleeping in shifts is OKAY and lots of people do this! It also helps to remember it's going to be OKAY no matter what.

 

I told myself yesterday I needed to stop researching horrible diseases and conditions. I need to put a block on the medical websites!

[[me...]]

 

The only problem is, I need to stop reading everything I can find on here about insomnia..I was trying to read how people recovered over the long haul, and someone had mentioned some fatal insomnia disease, and I googled it and it scared me so much! I know it's rare, I always do this to myself! It helps to know that sleeping in shifts is OKAY and lots of people do this! It also helps to remember it's going to be OKAY no matter what.

 

Ha ha--I picked up a book about that yesterday at the Library, couldn't resist! actually read a bit, a dumb thing to do, but I put it back. That would be the worst thing in the middle of the night! It is fatal FAMILIAL insomnia, very rare hereditary disease. Sorry if anyone has never heard of this, please erase your brain. 

[[al...]]

You probably have as much chance of getting hit by lightening WHILE being eaten by a shark when it comes to the odds of having that fatal insomnia disorder. I would be more afraid of getting hit by a meteorite while in bed trying to sleep. Erase that fear from your mind.

[[te...]]

haha, thank you for your replies, meowie and aloha

 

you guys are probably both right. and you know, I have a fun fact...if you go to yellowstone national park, your chances of being attacked by a grizzly bear are actually slightly higher than your chances of being struck by lightening! ha, just random thing I learned. I went to Montana this summer (not yellowstone, but up in glacier) and was terrified of bears! we carried bear spray everywhere and I was still paranoid. we saw 0 bears, but saw a huge moose, for which bear spray is not effective. I need some mental bear spray for these sleep fears!

 

The eaten by a shark thing made me laugh too, aloha, because i live in an area notorious for great whites. but i don't surf or swim in the ocean here. I actually really like sharks!

 

so glad you guys are here!