Insomnia Ramblings

22 July 2008
I cannot get to sleep. Again. Insomnia seems to be plaguing me ever since the move. Maybe it's because there is always so much to be done. I feel like all I do is go, go, go!

But, what am I really accomplishing? Not a whole lot. I mean, yes the unpacking and decorating and settling in need to be done. Along with the cooking and cleaning and laundry. But, I never get it all done. I feel like I am not a good enough wife or mom; because if I was the house would've magically transformed itself into perfection by now. The sane side of me realizes that there is probably a year or more worth of remodeling work to be done here. But, the housewifely side just wants it to be done and to be home already.

So, I lay in bed and think about all the things that need doing. Worse yet, it's beginning to rub off on Ashley! That cannot happen! Especially with school right around the corner. So, this week instead of trying to very quietly putter around the house, I am making myself stay in my room. I only got out of bed tonight because I seemed to be bothering Dan and I had to go to the potty. For some reason I feel like if I just lay there long enough I'll finally drift off. Great theory, I drifted off after 4am this morning after being in bed by a little after 10 last night.

As a result, I feel like a zombie until about noon. Getting up to see Dan off to work at about 5:30 is a trip on less than two hours sleep. Coffee is my friend! So, my I suppose stress induced insomnia is causing me to be less productive, thus more stressed. It's a vicious circle! Does anyone have any advice on how to get out of this awful cycle? I am a tired, cranky, desperate woman!

3 comments:

L2L said...

I feel you, I am a military wife who goes through the same thing and actually in that phase right now as his return quickly is approaching. What usually gets me back into a normal sleeping routine is setting a bedtime, for me I need to be asleep by 1030 or I am up all night long, also setting a specific time to wake up and sticking to it, the first week is really hard when you have little sleep but it seems like by the 9th day my body clock starts waking up and slowing down at those appointed times. I also find reading and limiting myself to one cup of coffee in the am works well also. And remember, the mess will be there waiting for you tomorrow but a day wasted in a child's life is gone forever!!!!

Anonymous said...

This sleep-stuff is getting me upset as well. My GP doesn't know what to do either (other than more meds) I went to a sleep-study (expensive!) only to find out that they cant help unless you have apnea. I read Gayle Greene's book Insomniac, and, boy, can I relate. I heard from a friend of a friend that she (Gayle) is recommending a new book: I Want to Sleep - Unlearning Insomnia by Dr. Siegfried Haug. Has anybody read it?
jane

Anonymous said...

Have you ever considered acupuncture for your insomnia? Acupuncture is a wonderful treatment for insomnia that people don't often think about. I've helped a lot of people with insomnia. Often they fall asleep right then during treatment, but they almost always report getting to sleep faster and staying asleep through the night. You should look for a good acupuncturist in your area.