Trying NOT to fall asleep
By coffeeshot
@coffeeshot (3783)
Australia
February 25, 2009 11:20pm CST
For the last few days I've had trouble sleeping so I've been going to bed at 3 and 4 in the morning. I also have a job that requires me to work after hours and normal hours. I have absolutely no sleep [attern and today I started work at 2 am with only 1 hour's sleep as I couldn't sleep when I went to bed last night.
After I finished work at 9am I had to go shopping with my mother then go back to work for a tutorial at 1pm. During the tutorial I drank a huge cup of coffee but had to fight so hard to stay awake! It wasn't like I was getting comfortable and nodding off, I just simply couldn't keep my eyes open! I had to keep shuffling around and blinking and scribbling on my notepaper to try to stop going to sleep! It was so hard...I never used to understand how people could fall asleep while driving but I totally understand now!
Has this ever happened to you and how did you deal wth it?
4 people like this
20 responses
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
26 Feb 09
The way I deal with it... I go to bed.
It was silly of you to go shopping with your mother.
You need to sleep.
And there is nothing you can do about it.
When I need to change my sleeping hours... I try to stay awake for as long as possible to make up for the difference.
For instance... if you were changing from day shift to night shift...
You would be going to bed at 10PM to get up at 6AM.
When you change to night shift
You don't go to bed at 10PM
You stay up the whole night.
By 8AM you will be so tired that you will fall asleep.
You get up at 4PM and you are ready for your night shift at 8PM
When you come home at 4AM... you don't go to bed.
You eat, watch a movie and go to bed at 8AM.
You cannot come from work at 9AM and go to a tutorial at 1PM.
It will kill you in 7 days.
@chrissieatu (1033)
• China
26 Feb 09
I agree with Aussies. All you need is the time to sleep. Let go of everything else and try to get some sleep. Besides, do not drink that much coffee during day time. That one of the problem I am having now. I try not to absorb caffeine lately. Otherwise, even though I am tired and sleepy, I still can not fall asleep.
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
13 Mar 09
coffee yes this has happened to me. I took care of my grandfather and he did not sleep for days on end so you know I did not sleep. I was so tired I had a heck of a time driving home. I had to keep slapping my face to stay awake. I should have laid down and slept at my grandparents before going home but I had not been in home in two weeks because I let my Granny go on vacation while I took care of Granddad.
@littleowl (7157)
•
5 Mar 09
Hi coffee'...I don't drive so have never experienced that problem, but am the same as you with my sleeping problems and find that although I am fine during the day at night on the computer often I have dozed off..which hasn't been to good as I have a laptop and it could always fall off my lap! littleowl
@longbangod (1785)
• Philippines
1 Mar 09
I haven't experienced this one. I really see to it that I could have at least 6 hours sleep at night to prepare myself for the next day activities.
I suggest you also have to add more time to sleep. Most of our body's organs function in some specific time of the day or during sleeping time.
@nick1in (195)
• Lucknow, India
1 Mar 09
This sounds just awful. You really need to cut back on these odd hours or else odd hours which are cutting into your sleep times will ruin your health. If something like this ever happens to me, then I just have an awful day next day. I am just not able to function properly and my work suffers. I try to keep "normal" hours. Drinking coffee does help me out to some extent. It does manage to keep me awake during odd hours especially during the long journeys. But, it never helps in keeping the mind alert which is necessary in the case of car driving.
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
1 Mar 09
i heared some guys who had almost accident while driving because he was fully asleep.that time he has music on and makes him sleep
.
.
@shyamlal (3533)
• India
26 Feb 09
Well its 5:16 am when I am typing this and I am still awake.. I tried to sleep for 2 hours ..and I am back from bed.. This is me for sometime now.. I feel it real hard to get an early sleep.. I spend too many time with my computer and its the main reason why I got into this situation.. I try to change it ..but after somedays it switches back
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
27 Feb 09
It has happened to me. Actually once when I WAS driving. I think I may have dozed for a fraction of a second, but it scared the daylights out of me!
There have been a few occassions when I was having problems sleepin at night and then the next day it caught up with me. It is not a good feeling at all.
I am really bad about functioning when I don't get enough sleep. Basically I get to a certain point of tiredness where I simply cannot function!
I think my tolerance for sleep depravation is lower than most people.
When I was working my coworker would be up all night with her children and come to work the next day and manage to function. With me, when I had nights like that, I think I came in late or called in sick. I just couldn't do it.
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Most people suffer from insomnia once in a while. You need to be careful though especially if you are driving. I was rear ended a few weeks ago by a man who fell asleep at the wheel after working too many hours. Luckily, we were both unharmed, but it could have been much worse. I'll usually take a couple of tylenol pm. They knock me out pretty fast and I usually get a good night's sleep. If it continues, I'd see your doc who could probably prescribe something temporary to help get you through the rough patches.
@mercuryman3a (2477)
• India
27 Feb 09
The human body is not a machine, though many of the body parts are much more efficient than the best machines made by man. The heart, lungs, liver, brains etc keep working for 50, 60, 70 or even 100 years without ever stopping, but that does not mean that we should abuse them and give them rough shod treatment. if you care for them, they will care for you. The body mechanism will break down if not cared for so give your body adequate rest. There is no end to work. sometimes yo have to let work wait.
@debfeaster (184)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I too have suffered with not being able to sleep and then being totally exhausted. If fact just this week...LOL! My mother was a nurse and she told me to take benedryl...it makes you sleepy but is non habit forming. It works for me. I have also used an advil pm and that seems to help too. Don't get me wrong I still struggle now and then but not nearly as much as I used to. Give it a try and I hope it helps you out.
@Xxmookie621xX (269)
• United States
27 Feb 09
oh my god,yeah when ever i go to school and fall asleep late, i just want to crash, because your sitting for so long, and you eventually get comfertable.
@hemantpatil (48)
• India
27 Feb 09
hi.. i also face the same problem with me for many times. But, you know once i was just saved by fractions of seconds. i slept while driving and was just about to have an great accident, but was saved... THANKS GOD..... from that day onwards i give top priority for rest. After all life is the most precious gift we have recieved from god.
suggestion:- take a break oftenly or have a leave at job when you are really tired.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
26 Feb 09
I'm sorry to hear that. I have had that problem for quite some time too. I get so tired sometimes though and fall right to sleep. I think alot of it has to do with every day pressures of life. I work alot to keep my mind off of it.
@mummymo (23706)
•
26 Feb 09
I have had troble sleeping for years coffeeshot which leaves me itching to sleep at the most inappropriate times! Nowadays that doesn't matter as much as I can't work or drive anymore so it isn't as dangerous. lol How to cope? Well we all do that differently I guess but I used to overdose on caffeinne to keep me awake when I had to but that has its own problems when it came to getting to sleeep!
Hope you can get your sleepwhen you need it sweety xxxx
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
26 Feb 09
hi coffeeshot! I used to have less sleep before and sometimes will fall asleep while I am working on my rush orders especially when I am beating the deadline. I drink lots of coffee when I am in this situation but it really does not help me. I usually get a few minutes of sleep, like a power nap just to at least rejuvenate me. There is this one instance when I had just a few hour of sleep and have been up for more than 12 hours. I had a dinner invitation with my mother in law and at that time, she was not yet my official inlaw. As we were dining, I was conversing with her and then the next thing I knew, my husband was nudging my shoulder, trying to wake me up. LOL..I had fallen asleep at the dinner table. OMG, it was really embarrassing. No amount of coffee can make me stay awake..all I need is a few minutes of power nap that's all.
take care and have a great day!
lovelots..faith
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
26 Feb 09
Well this has happened to me a few times in the past. Normally, I try to always get 8 hours of sleep. But sometimes when work demands it, I do stay up late and deprive myself of sleep. The only thing that really works for me is eating sweets, but that's really fattening. Coffee doesn't work unless of course I add a lot of sugar and milk. I think the best thing to do is grab a few hours of sleep just so you are mentally healthy for whatever has to be done.
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
26 Feb 09
Hi coffeeshot,
Lack of sleep can be very dangerous. I some go through that not being able to sleep and then the folling next two days I keep falling asleep, it just catch with you when you don't want it, your sleep pattern is up in the air and you have to try and sleep whenever you can.
Tamara
@agrant10 (1476)
• United States
26 Feb 09
This has happened to me several times, but I was able to make it through the day and go to bed when I got home. It sounds like your schedule is very eratic. Try drinking some warm milk before going to bed maybe this will sooth you and help you sleep through.
