Do you sleep well?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
Walnut Creek, California
October 17, 2018 12:38pm CST
As a psychologist, I'm aware that sleep disturbances are one of the symptoms of depression. Some people, when they're down, can't sleep. Others, when they're down, can sleep 14 hours a day and don't want to get out of bed.
I recently lost someone in my family, so I'm going through Kubler-Ross's "stages of grieving." My appetite is down, my desire to isolate is high, and I'm smoking (cigarettes) more than usual. Bummer.
But my sleep patterns have hardly changed! I think I'm sleeping a bit longer than usual (8 or 9 hours, v. my usual 7), but I have no trouble getting to sleep, and I awaken looking forward to the day, even if I enjoy lying in bed and letting a few extra dreams pass through my mind.
Do you sleep well? Do your sleep patterns change after a loss or a trauma? Do you ever wonder what would help you sleep better?
20 people like this
25 responses
@ptrikha_2 (47062)
• India
19 Oct 18
@LadyDuck having a sound sleep is a must. Perhaps some days you can just put off all your alarms and have a big- 10 to 12 hours of sleep!
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
18 Oct 18
@TheHorse I guess when I don't have a lot on my mind. Some nights I will toss and turn and my mind will be racing with thoughts.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Oct 18
@LeaPea2417 I have really vivid dreams right before I wake up in the morning.
2 people like this
@Freewings (399)
• Xian, China
17 Oct 18
To be honest, I don't like to sleep unless I'm very sleepy. But not liking to sleep doesn't mean I can't sleep well. If I want to sleep, I can fall asleep in 2 minutes.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Oct 18
@Freewings We need both deep and light (REM) sleep to be fully energized.
@Freewings (399)
• Xian, China
17 Oct 18
@TheHorse 6 hours. But in fact, 3-4 hours of deep sleep can enough make me keep energetic throughout the day. And basically I get a deep sleep every time I sleep.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (47062)
• India
19 Oct 18
On weekdays, I sometimes sleep only 5 to 5.5 hours and feel lazy in the day. This is owing to balancing Kids/family and Office responsibilities. So I try to cover up and average 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep on the weekends.
I think this is not a good situation but sometimes, we have to manage with the situations in life.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47062)
• India
21 Oct 18
@vandana7 so you have your own work or business now?
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47062)
• India
21 Oct 18
@vandana7 I am pretty afraid of the court case bit- they go on for years. I know one among my relatives which has been going on since last 15 years and no solution seems in sight - only lawyers seem to be benefitting.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Oct 18
Mine is back and forth. Sometimes I sleep great.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (47062)
• India
20 Oct 18
@TheHorse I think if one wakes up feeling fresh and not tired, that is a good sleep indicator. Sometimes too much of a sleep also impacts us negatively.
@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Oct 18
@TheHorse It seems to make no sense most of the time. Just some nights I cant shut my brain off.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83064)
• United States
17 Oct 18
I sleep fairly well and have no trouble falling asleep. I did have sleep issues when my mom was dying but other than that I'm back to decent sleep each night.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
As a rule I sleep reasonably well. Falling asleep is rarely a problem....waking up around 3 AM and not falling back to sleep has been problematic from time to time.
Stress has influenced my sleep patterns as well.
An elderly woman told me how to solve the 3 AM wake up and it's been mostly successful. Drink a large glass of water just before going to bed....you will wake up around 1, pee and fall right back to sleep, seems to work 90% of the time. I'm a convert.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
@TheHorse I don't think milk would have the same effect. The point is to hav to get up to pee. If I waken around 3 AM for some reason I'm done...can't fall back to sleep...2:30 of 4 AM. No problem...but when I awaken and see that it's 3AM I mentally groan....it's going to be a long night.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47062)
• India
20 Oct 18
@TheHorse @Morleyhunt
Milk can sometimes be heavy on the tummy for a few individuals.
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
17 Oct 18
I have a hard time getting to sleep, and staying asleep. My best sleep is in the daylight morning hours, when I get a chance to nap after getting the boys off to school. That doesn't happen often though. This is when I have my lucid dreaming, and I love it. (Usually.)
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Oct 18
@cindiowens Why is that?
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
17 Oct 18
@TheHorse Ah! I wouldn't know sleep at 6 AM. I have to get up at 5:20 AM every morning.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Oct 18
My sleep is consistent: bad.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Oct 18
@JohnRoberts Are they still there? Have you tried "milk therapy"?
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Oct 18
@TheHorse My sleep was destroyed years ago by relentless noisy neighbors.
2 people like this
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
18 Oct 18
I have depression many years ago and I don't sleep for 10 years in the beginning, now with medication, I sleep 10 hours a day and I also sleep soundly and have dreams.
1 person likes this
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
18 Oct 18
@TheHorse yes I can say I work in the daytime and sleep at night like a normal person.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Oct 18
@wongchoiyee Good to hear. I do too.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
I used to have a very sensitive sleep schedule. It has been one thing in my life though that has gotten better with age. Now I can fall asleep when I'm supposed to and sleep through to the time I'm supposed to get up even if my schedule changes.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47062)
• India
20 Oct 18
@koopharper maintaining a steady sleeping schedule is a good thing.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47062)
• India
21 Oct 18
@koopharper yes sometimes what is a big issue ceases to be one after a number of years.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
26 Dec 18
@TheHorse
I am so so sorry for your loss. I have not slept good in a long time. I try different things and even if I am very tired I do not sleep good. Once I fall asleep is good but then when have to get up and go to the bathroom I have a hard time getting back to sleep. I also put my alarm clock close so can hear the alarm and turn off my white noise machine at a certain time so I know I will hear the alarm clock.
