theguardian.com/books/2019/...
Another interesting article which includes the fact that our natural sleeping pattern used to include a wakeful period in the early hours. Once you learn to accept it, you stop worrying so much. Where have we heard that before? But it is true...
This article made me feel a lot better about not sleeping the required. 8 hours!!! But concerned about sleep industry...I wonder how much it's worth? Another project fear!
How much it is worth? A large fortune - at the expense of our pockets, not our improved sleep...
I reckon you're spot on there Pro, my thought exactly, selling bags of nothing!
Does anyone take sleep aids? My internist (gp) put me on non addictive Trazadone, but it might as well be a sugar pill. After all, pain will override Trazadone every time 🙄
I don't, have never felt a need for them. I know a few people take something occasionally to break the pattern if their aren't sleeping well. But if you aren't careful you end up with the problem of having to wean off them so care is required. Paying attention to "sleep hygiene" will make a big difference - and such measures tend not to have adverse effects.
The only reason I agreed to try Trazadone is because it's non addictive. Do I need to be weaned off of a non addictive sleep aid? I am trying to develop a sleep schedule. I'm hoping that helps too. The night before last I slept for 5 hours uninterrupted. It was glorious! Last night I was awake for most of the night because of pain. No rhyme or reason to this disease.
The only way to find out is to try if it claims to be non-addictive. However, I have my doubts since wiki says
"While trazodone is not a true member of the SSRI class of antidepressants, it does still share many properties of the SSRIs, especially the possibility of discontinuation syndrome if the medication is stopped too quickly.[31] Care must, therefore, be taken when coming off the medication, usually by a gradual process of tapering down the dose over a period of time."
and while wiki has some downsides these sort of things are usually reliable. This agrees:
Interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
I am particularly interested in this topic as I have gone through various sleep patterns over the years. I used to be one of those who fell asleep easily, stayed asleep without interruption, and had many dreams, especially in the morning.
Then through my work I developed PTSD from hearing stories of sexual harm over a period of 20 years. This resulted in sleep disturbances, usually in the form of night terrors that would wake me. It would sometimes take hours to get back to sleep.
Went to a Sleep Clinic where they wired me up and observed, with a follow up appointment with a nurse practitioner that shared the results and made recommendations. It was noted that I would stop breathing in the throes of a dream/nightmare.....she recommended I change my field of work (something I couldn’t simply do at that time).
I went on to discover and consume different types of cannabis (usually indica strains), before bedtime. I had started to engage in sleep avoidance strategies due to my fear of having nightmares. Worked like a charm, no more nightmares.
Now that PTSD is behind me, my latest challenge is waking up at 2am to take my pred, followed by urination every 1.5 hours after that. (sigh) With all the interruptions I often wake up feeling untested and dozy. Some days I just sleep in later to try and “catch up” on lost sleep. Let’s not forget the advent of new medications that can also mess with a good night’s sleep. I’m just thankful I’m retired and can nap whenever I please....that certainly takes the pressure off regarding a need for a good nights sleep.
When I was doing my English degree, there was one mediaeval text (sorry can't remember which) that confused us because it obviously described people in a household getting up, chatting and drinking in the middle of the night. The tutor explained that during the Middle Ages people went to bed early and then got up for a couple of hours before settling back again. I rediscovered this pattern for myself when I went on pred. I really found it was better to go with the flow than to try and fight it.
I read in one of Doris Lessing's books a description of being, I think, in the Middle East and wakening in the night to a gentle murmur. Turned out all the women were assembled in a courtyard outside, socializing without their men or their children....
My problem is staying awake
I can sleep for 10 hours at a time then have a night when I dont sleep for more than 4 hours .
I dont worry if I sleep or not just take it as it comes.
I agree. There's just no point getting worried. However I'm retired and live alone so I can suit myself in every way. It must be so much more difficult for those with work or family commitments.
Luckily I have built in alarm clock 5.00am awake TV on 6.00am get up preds and breakfast rest leave for work at 8.00am .
Retire 6th July cant wait .
I bet you can't. The one good thing about my getting these ailments is that I was already retired when they started. I wouldn't have lasted commuting with PMR.
Very interesting article. I've never had trouble falling asleep, but did need a sleep aid when in a high stress job just prior to my retirement almost ten years ago. I'd wake around 2 or 3 am and fret about things done or not done. When I retired those issues disappeared and I was able to get back to sleep without too much difficulty when those middle of the night wake up periods occurred.
With PMR I again have occasional nights where I'm awake for a couple of hours at 2 or 3 am. I occasionally get up for an hour or so and read, but most often I just relax in bed thinking pleasant thoughts and trying different relaxation techniques. There's no rhyme nor reason to when it occurs. I don't fret about it though. After reading this article I'll fret even less.
My doctor son in law told me this when he and my daughter were sleep deprived with their baby. It makes sense and it’s usually 4 am ( when God is listening) my meditation teacher told me.
Yes, in early literature such as "The Canterbury Tales" and Shakespeare, there is talk of the "first" sleep and the "second" sleep.
I have learnt to enjoy the hour in the night when I read a book undisturbed or listen to the radio on my phone. for me it is resting in bed, rather than undisturbed sleep.
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