Work has me stressed lately. That's as much as we'll as we'll say about that end of things.
The effect it has on me, however, has been interesting if I can manage to look at it objectively. It always seems to affect my sleep first. I either wake up multiple times per night, can't get to sleep at all, or have the most elaborate, awful dreams.
The dream last night involved full-on murder. It's someone I'd really rather not murder, if it's all the same, and I'm awfully fond of them. Not just a quick sort of murder, either. Long, drawn-out, hands-on, involved and detailed murder, with a plot, a backstory, and vivid scenery. I was rather happy to wake up and realize it was only another (awful) dream.
This dream was so intense, that when I was woken up at 6am by the sound of Ben crying and wanting out of his crib, my limbs didn't respond very well to commands. I was actually weak for a few minutes as my body grudgingly let my consciousness back in the driver's seat.
I went through a areally bad period a few years ago where I seemed to stop sleeping with any regularity. I couldn't fall asleep at all, or I'd wake up what felt like dozens of times per night.* We did everything we could to fix it. Ambien, Lunesta, a new pillow, a new mattress. Fans, heaters, humidifiers. Lavender scented oils, no food after 7pm, no caffeine at all, no spicy foods, no nothing. After a few visits to the doctor, and a sleep study, they deduced... I had insomnia.
Thanks!
It went away on its own in about 6-8 months, but I've had periods where it's briefly reappeared. This is one of them. I can fall asleep in seconds these days - I strugle to read a few pages in a book, but I wake up multiple times per night, and feel awful when I finally wake up for good around 6am. Jeff has been wonderful - he lets me sleep in on weekends, sometimes until 9am! (If you have a kid, you'll understand. If not, enjoy your damned sleep.) I get to bed early enough, last night I dozed off on the couch about 8:45, and finally went to bed just before 10pm.
I don't know what I can do but try to minimize the stress in my life. That means quitting, which isn't going to happen.
*Hundreds, if the sleep study is any judge.**
** I'm turning into an astrisk person. Uhoh.
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