For over 3 weeks now, I cannot sleep normal hours - maybe sleep 4 am to 8 am. and then long nap in afternoon and then of course can't go to sleep again till early am. I try to go with the flow, but its hard to have a life (what is that anyway) when I sleep such weird hours. Anyone else sleep challenged???

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), December 14, 1999

Answers

A change in sleeping patterns is one of the signs of Depression. I'd consult a physician if I were you.

-- (a@little. advice), December 14, 1999.

tossed and turned every night for hte last two years

-- tired of worrying (harlyman@bellsouth.net), December 14, 1999.

I don't understand. That's my NORMAL sleep pattern........

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 14, 1999.

I am not a doctor nor do I play one on t.v. That said, I have used melatonin for several years. Stress damages the pineal gland's ability to produce melatonin. Then sleep deprivation agravates the stress problem. Try taking 3 mg. of melatonin 20 minutes before you want to go to sleep. You can take more (you might need more you might need less), but don't take more than 5 mg. because then it will tend to keep you awake. If I'm having a really tense time, I also take a capsule of kava kava. Works great. No hangover from these. Melatonin is actually good for you. Do a little research on the web or at your health food store.

-- mostlylurking (mostlylurking@podunk.texas), December 14, 1999.

Sheri,

I hear ya. Haven't had a good night's sleep in months. Hang in there.

Regards,

-- trouble (we're@inforit.com), December 14, 1999.

Sheri,

I've used valerian tea on occasion to help relax me enough to get a good uninterrupted night's sleep. I like it because it doesn't give me 'weird' dreams, and I don't wake up groggy as one sometimes does if a sleeping pill has been used - just refreshed and rested.

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), December 14, 1999.

Hey babe dont sweat it, I'm almost 80 never sleep over 4 or 5 hrs, retired about 20 yrs....Just enjoy what you got while you got it!!!!!

-- don sweattit (donsweattit@ZZZZ.net), December 14, 1999.

Yes.

Could it be the caffe lattes?

;-D

Diane

(Forgot camomile tea on the Prep list... Sheesh!)

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 14, 1999.

HOPE...is the feeling, that the feeling that we have won't last forever. Prayer will ease your stress as you understand that what is about to happen is in God's hands.

-- not this time (y2k@hope.com), December 14, 1999.

Your not having trouble sleeping, you are getting as much as you need. From your question: you get 4 hours between 4 am and 8 am then take a long nap in the afternoon. It sounds like your day is just a little different and it is not working for you. The first thing that you could do is stop taking the naps. If you do some type of activity just prior and durring your nap time, you will not fall asleep. This should delay your sleeping until 8pm - 9 pm. Do not have any coffee, tea or caffine soda after 6 pm. This will help you to fall to sleep. Also Take a look at your medications, ask your pharmacist if they cause you to be sleepy or to stay awake. If they do either, change the time that you take them. If you take something like Anacin(aspirin)[it contains caffine], or weight loss products(contains a stimulent), you may want to change the times that you take them or change them to another product.

Sure, altered sleeping patterns are a sign of depression but it is also a sign of other problems. If you feel ill, by all means go see your doctor, but if you feel fine, start by eliminating the naps.

Unfortunately, if you have a baby, this is a normal sleeping pattern and it should take about 18 more years to fix this problem, or not.

-- Ned P Zimmer (ned@nednet.com), December 14, 1999.

They say that if you can sleep nights, you don't understand how serious the problem really is.

-- walt (longyear@shentel.net), December 14, 1999.

Melitonin washed down with a bowl of single malt scotch. Works for me.

-- Bill in South carolina (notaclue@webtv.net), December 14, 1999.

I'm sure if I hadn't done any prepping I would have trouble sleeping right about now.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 14, 1999.

LadyIllogic-

Get bent.

Regards,

-- trouble (we're@inforit.com), December 14, 1999.

Thanks for the support! To answer some of you - not depressed, just concerned - would NEVER consult a doctor (am an RN and know how bad that system messes you up - don't work in it anymore after 20 years in the trenches). Don't take ANY meds and NEVER have! It actually is nice having that time late night, early morning with no phone calls or demands on my time, but does get a little challenging finishing my preps in daylight!

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), December 14, 1999.

Sheri, I agree with not taking meds if you're not sick, but would you give the same advice to an insulin-dependent diabetic or someone c a bp of 200/100? "The system" isn't too bad for someone with an appy that is about to pop.

-- Lurking (Inthe@shadows.com), December 14, 1999.

I play one of my Martha Stewart tapes and it puts me right to sleep.

-- Bubba Smith (duck&cover@tshtf.com), December 14, 1999.

try deleting your bookmark to Bok's chatroom...

-- a (a@a.a), December 14, 1999.

Allllright Bubba! Score another Martha Stewart joke! Didja notice that the Martha Stewart recipe joke gotcha quoted on a polly-troll thread? Classic!

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), December 14, 1999.

Sheri- I'm on more or less the same schedule. I think with me it's the kids. They don't get off to bed till 10, and the chattering goes on for an hour after that. After that it's so quit and peaceful I want to have time to enjoy it! But then again I do spend many of those hours worrying...Sigh...

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), December 15, 1999.

The time you go to bed may have a lot to do with the problem. From sunset till about 10 PM is a natural slowing-down time. (Called Kapha in Ayurveda.) Then about 10 PM a very different energy cycle starts, which is much more energetic. (Pitta) It really is good to be in bed by 10 PM, especially for anyone who has trouble falling asleep. If you stay up till after that it is not easy to sleep, and you may not even feel like going to bed.  And of course late to bed is late to rise. Rising aftr dawn, when another cycle of Kapha energy begins, gives most folks a very lethargic mindset. And sleeping during the daylight hours, other than a short nap for the older folks and kiddies, is imbalancing. Ben Franklin was right about "early to bed and early to rise."  If you are open-minded to new information like this, just try it for a few days and see how it goes. I used to be a confirmed night-owl, but after trying this, no more.  I do occasionally have trouble sleeping on nights after time on the bboard etc. reading more dire stuff about Y2K. A capsule of Kava Kava really works wonders at such times. (Wouldn't get into it as a habit, though.) 

-- Shivani Arjuna (SArjuna@aol.com), December 15, 1999.