Can't sleep anymore!

[DreamyEyes]

I'm extremely frustrated right now. I have been working night shift (11-7) for almost a year now, and I've never had problems sleeping during the day, until now. I generally go to bed around 8 am, and I was able to sleep until at least 3 pm, most of the time I would sleep until 4ish.

Well for the past couple of nights I've worked, I come home in the morning and go to bed at the same time I always do, and I pass right out... but the problem is, I can't stay asleep! I keep waking up around 11am. I try to fall back asleep and I can't. I can't figure out why all of the sudden I can't sleep during the day. I haven't changed anything.. I don't drink caffeine at night, I sleep with an eye mask and a fan in the background. I should mention that this past week I had 4 nights off in a row, in which I reverted back to sleeping at night, but I'm not sure that would be the reason I can't sleep much now.

I worked last night, fell asleep around 8 this morning, woke up at 11 and now I can't go back to sleep I'm really at a loss of what to do. Any advice would be appreciated!

[IdrilRN, BSN, RN]

I haven't slept for anything the last few days because of the heat wave here in the eastern US. Been waking up about 1pm and not being able to get back to sleep. Today was cooler, so sleep was better.

Tomorrow have stuff to do, thank goodness I have no work for two nights. Sleeping in the dark, there is nothing like it!

[Sehille4774]

OMG! That was me alll last week. My problem was mostly the heatwave. Even with the AC on it was so hot in my room. Yesterday was the first day i slept 8 solid hours...TG! the rest of the week it was 8-11 and then 2-7.

And I had 2 days in a row off...went back to sleeping at night. That's the hardest part..b/c why would you want to be on a night shift schedule when you are on a day off?? Yet if you switch back and forth then your schedule is out of wack.

When I get out of sync like that Melatonin 3mg I find helps alot...and it does regulate your circadian rhythm so your body can sleep deep enough to get that stage 3 or 4 sleep. It also has few, if any side effects, can be used semi-long term. Also no AM hangover.

I stay away from other sleep aids like tylenol pm (benadryl) and even Valerian which is an herbal sleep aid. You get dependent so fast...and then what the heck do you do when they stop working? I also would sleep really long, or be very tired long after I woke up. Not worth it.

[Sehille4774]

Afew things have helped, like cutting out caffiene and really making myself stay in bed when I wake up at noon.

I recently read that if your sleep issue is that you fall asleep but don't stay asleep that one strategy, like someone else mentioned is to fight the urge to get out of bet or get up.

I had been getting up, checking the internet, getting a snack..and then trying but not falling back to sleep for 2-3 hours.

Tried this yesterday and it did help me!

Also read in the same article about trying breathing exercises. Inhale for 5 seconds. Hold for 3 seconds. Exhale for 5 seconds. Ill have to try this more. But I did feel relaxed!

See my other post about melatonin.