Need Sleep

Published

Specializes in E.D..

I've always suffered from mild insomnia, but it's getting ridiculous! I just entered my first semester in an ADN program. I am sooooo exhausted at the end of the day that I should just crash in bed. But, the opposite is happening! I lie there until about 2am and cannot, for the life of me, turn my brain off! When I do finally nod off, I wake up every hour or so. Needless to say, I feel like a zombie each day.

Anyone else out there have a problem with "thinking" too much? I'm beginning to think something's off in my brain chemistry. Going to my GP later this month for a physical, and I'm going to mention it to him. I've used Ambien before for my insomnia, but it's not something I want to make routine. But, this lack of sleep is seriously starting to mess with my ability to function...plus, it's wreaking havok on my already vulnerable emotional state due to the tremendous load of nursing school. I cry every single day now over the most ridiculous things.

Okay, shutting the computer down...fixing a glass of warm milk...looking for some stinkin sheep to count...wish me luck...PLEASE!!!!!

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I can relate........I can't turn my brain off either, and it is worse the night before clinical, and the night after clinical. The night before, I just lie there and think about what might happen the next day, and then the night after I'm done, I lie there and think about the pt I had that day, and go through everything that I did and what I might have done better. Anyway, good luck with you sleep tonight! Hopefully I 'll be able to sleep too!

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I crashed and burned one time due in part to sleep problems. I've always done shift work so sleep problems are a given for me. However, everyone needs a minimum amount of sleep. I was falling asleep at the wheel between full time school, full time and part time work, all over the clock, seven days a week. I highly suggest that you ask your primary physician for a referral to a sleep specialist. Of course, this is assuming that you have researched, and tried unsuccessfully, the usual remedies for sleep problems. Good luck.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

bennnnaaaaadrrryyyyyllllll

im sleep deprived right now

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I have started using Melatonin supplements recently and they have done wonders for me. Either that or like you said, take some benadryl and a hot bath. I hope you can free your mind and get some sleep. :yawn:

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i feel for you!! i know you didn't want to take ambien or anything--but i take tylenol p.m. if i cannot calm down before bed. i will do the same exact thing, and lie in bed thinking about everything i did the entire day!! it is crazy! if you get that bad off, i would at least give it a try when you really need to sleep (before a test...etc..) hope this helps :heartbeat

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I know this sounds extremely simplistic, but I was struggling with insomnia recently and my sweetie told me I needed to get "in the box". I asked him what he meant, and he said that the problem was that I was letting my brain race all over the place, when I needed to focus on the task at hand...sleeping. I'd been feeling overwhelmed, and realized that I was hardly ever focusing on the task at hand, but was projecting forward and worrying about everything...past, present and future. So now at night, when my brain gets too busy, I stop myself and imagine I am sitting in a large cardboard box. Sometimes I allow myself to "see" a window in the box, and out the window I imagine a beach or a peaceful scene, but if I start letting my brain get too busy, I go back to imagining I am sitting quietly in a cozy box and remind myself that my job right now is to rest. (One stressful night recently, I "hung" a hammock in my box and imagined myself rocking away looking at the blue sky above. Soon I was sound asleep) I've been keeping myself in the box a lot lately. While I plan ahead still, I've stopped letting myself get frantic because I have this to do and that to do next week and etc., etc. I'm focusing on getting the task at hand done, instead of spending a LOT of energy being worried about what's coming up or gone behind. It goes along the line of "The Miracle Of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh . Box anyone?

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

wake up: 430 am

go to bed 130 am

result red eyes, tiredness, but my brain still wants to think more....

i have lost 18 pounds since NS started part diet part stress!

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I can relate........I can't turn my brain off either, and it is worse the night before clinical, and the night after clinical. The night before, I just lie there and think about what might happen the next day, and then the night after I'm done, I lie there and think about the pt I had that day, and go through everything that I did and what I might have done better. Anyway, good luck with you sleep tonight! Hopefully I 'll be able to sleep too!

I am the exact same way.

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ambien vs. these sleepless nights. you and your pcp will have the make the call on that one.

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I'm on the melatonin train. My physician told me to give it a try and it works wonders. I've always been a difficult sleeper and I've slept better since I started using the melatonin than I have ever slept before. It basically just helps me to relax and fall asleep. I don't feel groggy or anything when I wake up and I'm able to get more done each day because I am not so sleep deprived.

I used to use the benadryl, but the melatonin is cheaper.

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I'm on the melatonin train. My physician told me to give it a try and it works wonders. I've always been a difficult sleeper and I've slept better since I started using the melatonin than I have ever slept before. It basically just helps me to relax and fall asleep. I don't feel groggy or anything when I wake up and I'm able to get more done each day because I am not so sleep deprived.

I used to use the benadryl, but the melatonin is cheaper.

Yes, all very true for me too. Except that I had just gone to Whole Foods looking for a natural method. I used to use sleeping pills years back and they leave you feeling drowsy and with a bad taste in your mouth the next morning.

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