Tired Of Being Tired.

[THEOjibway]

So it appears I might have insomnia. Or it might be panic attacks. For awhile I didn't do anything on my days off but sit and watch tv and take the dogs for an hour walk and that was it. Each time I'm off then I head to bed that night I have a restless sleep to the point where I'm just lying there and not falling asleep. I roll around and start getting mad. Then I feel some tightening in my chest and I start to worry about that. Then I'm literally too afraid to fall asleep and when I start to drift out the tightening reminds me its there and I jolt awake.

Last night I spent from 12 am to 5am jolting awake and within 3am I gave up and sat on my bed and didn't even bother trying to sleep. I did the remedies that usually help me go to sleep from focusing on my breathing. Picturing myself floating over sleeping sheep and counting them and having a very warm cup of milk. Usually does the trick but not last night.

Even bothers me when I actually decided to go out and get some air and I walked to my old house which was a good hour and a half there and an hour and a half back. I felt proud I actually did a walk that I use to before I drank and when I started drinking those activities stopped. oh yeah... I'm a recovering alcoholic as well. 6 months sober lol

Anyhoo.

I get lectured by my parents that I sleep in too late and I just nod because it seems everytime I talk about things that are bugging me they lecture me that Im too young for that and this at my age. But times have changed and any health issue can affect those who are young now a days. I'm 27 by the way... not that young. I know a guy whose 20 and has insomnia as well.

So I got lectured today by my father saying I need to stop going to bed so late because I sleep in and I finally said I didn't go to sleep late it was around 12 in the morning and because I had this issue for months now that the night before I had trouble sleeping so I woke up at 11 again so how was going to bed early going to help me if I was over rested as it was? He nodded and didn't bother arguing with me on it. But it gets tiring when they dont understand what it is. Maybe it's time to really tell them and just accept what they say. Like I caught up with my sleep by sleeping 6am to 11am today and I feel rested but know that I was still up all night. I guess when I worked the night shift my body chemistry was messed up. Once in awhile I'll be sitting there and I'm actually hungry! I use to eat my "lunch" at 2am and have a snack at 4am..... is that a theory that might have smacked me in the head? hungry so I can't go to sleep? Let me know folks and folkettes

[SpeedyJason]

I worked a night shift job too, having "lunch" at 2 am. I am younger than you (20) and also am an insomniac. I have been like this ever since I started using, but its gotten better the more clean time I have gathered. I'm not really sure it will go away for me because I have a lot of other issues that's wrapped up in it, but I really doubt its the "hunger" that is keeping you awake. Do you have racing thoughts that keep you awake? Nightmares? I found that I just kept thinking about stuff and it wouldn't let me fall asleep because I've had to hold every emotion in my whole life, and it just kept the anxiety and stress level up to a point where I couldn't relax enough to get to sleep for very long. And when I did sleep it was a pretty tortured night.

Congrats on your 6 months..ignore your parents, they don't know what they're talking about when it comes to insomnia obviously. I bet the insomnia will go away with time, and if it doesn't, I would consult a doctor.

[THEOjibway]

Thanks SpeedyJason . Cute avatar pic by the way. SO CUTE I love doggies. Have 2 myself.

Yeah. I do have racing thoughts in my mind. Like recently my new girlfriend hadn't kept in touch with me for almost a week and I was worried because she said she had gotten sick so I figured she might have something bad. I'm a bit paranoid as well. Always been. Anyways I was arguing with myself over night. Telling myself she's fine. And also for the fact that she was in university so she has to focus on it as number 1 for now. I agreed to these terms when I started dating her and knew it'll be tough for awhile. Anyways before I move on here... so I kept wondering if she was okay and I didnt want to keep emailing her knowing she wouldn't get them till she really logged on so I stopped. Only sent 2 to update her on life and ask how she was feeling.

Anyhoo. I was thinking about it all night. But even that isn't the issue. I sometimes suffer acid reflux and when I'm sound asleep it'll run up into my throat gagging me and i'll wake up suddenly not being able to breathe! I'm gasping for air and it doesn't come! 15 seconds later I'm finally able to catch my breath and by that time my heart is beating weirdly because it didn't get oxygen. So now I get paranoid when I go to sleep afraid I'll wake up again not being to breathe. But as of late I'm doing okay. I have been watching what I eat now. Sometimes I'll eat chips for a night snack then go to bed and the grease causes the acid to run up. I've also tried techniques that tell me to raise my pillow up so my head is tilted up more so it doesn't run up into my throat because most of the time my head is down flat on the pillow and so far it's been alright but I still get the worry thoughts running in my head. I've tried drinking warm milk which prevents the acid reflux from happening but still worry what if does happen anyway....