On being a high functioning insomniac
I can’t blame it on the kids. It is only one out of every 10 or so days they wake up from dreams, water, etc. I can’t blame it on my husband, because, even though he sounds like a tug boat coming into harbor, if he is on call at midnight for ad launches (like his job often requires….. works tech support for an ad platform server) and is not coming to bed, I still can’t sleep. I have suffered for years. Tried stopping caffeine after 2, tried calming routines. Nothing really seems to work. For years, I have lived as a high functioning insominac.
Except when I am not. And, right now, I am a beaten down dog of an insomniac.
Here is the thing about insomina. It sucks. And it will catch up with you in one way or another.
You can become immune most of the time. You learn tricks to function on less sleep. I generally have the patience and the “talent” to fake it and be “on” when I have to pull it together.
But every couple of months, it catches up with me. My eyes go blurry when driving. I can’t complete a sentence (although even when I am “on” I have trouble doing that….), my patience wears thin, my body shuts down…… but still does not allow sleep.
Now, my immune system has shut down enough that I am fighting another round of staph infection (on my finger from a bug bite). My entire hand swelled, was red and infected. The pain is now gone, and I am able to type again and open jars/packages, but for a few days there it sucked…..
I am ready to go back to being a high functioning insomniac…… or, better yet, get a good weeks sleep…..
6 Responses to “On being a high functioning insomniac”
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My husband is similarly afflicted. I am not usually one to push pharmacuticals, but have you tried any sleep aids? My husband won’t, he needs to be able to easily rouse himself in case of intruders, annoying dogs or waking child (or so he claims). I just think he’s being stubborn. Ok, I don’t, but I wish there was something that could help him.
And i hope you get better sleep soon.
followthatdog’s last blog post..I’m raising an addict
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I hear you. I suffer a similar fate and every so often it catches up with me. But, I just can’t turn off at night, despite how tired I am.
I hope you feel better soon and can get back to high functioning on little sleep!
CynthiaK’s last blog post..A random evening
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I do that, too. In cycles. I hate it. I sometimes wish i could just turn my brain off.
The Mother’s last blog post..I Won the Mom Lottery!
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Have you seen this series from Psychology Today on cognitive therapy for insomnia? Worth a read:
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/200905/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-insomnia-part-2-stimulus-control
The Mother’s last blog post..I Taught my Baby to Spell in Utero!
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Thank you so much all. It is good to know I am not the only one. Oh, The Mother…. thanks for the link. I am going to try to apply these…..
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Super blog! I am {loving|enjoying} it!! We will come back again
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