Sleep deprived due to nightshift

[hemingrald]

I just started doing nightshift work recently and I find after work, I start to experience difficulty sleeping during the day after work which causes me to feel so sleepy when I'm at work at night. I find it weird because I have trouble staying awake when at work, but I somehow can't get myself to sleep once I get home.

Does anyone have the same experience? If so, any advice or suggestions as how you overcome it? I prefer no sleeping pills cause I don't wanna deal with side effects and such.

Also I tried finding some solutions online and I came across this thing called bright light therapy. Has anyone ever tried it and did it work?

[mmz101]

I worked night shift for a year then requested day shift as I found I couldn't sleep during the day. Four months later I was begging for nights again. Come to the conclusion that I am not a morning person. However, I find that I can't sleep between shifts, I'm lucky if I can grab 3 hours a day. My house just seems eerily quiet for day time, but my biggest problem is friends and family that think just because I work nights means I don't need as much sleep. I've tried everything but I am constantly sleep deprived in work, so much that when I get a night off I sleep 24 hours and have no problem with sleeping that day. My GP prescribed Mirtazipine but it made me drowsy getting out of bed, defeating the purpose. I've just came to the conclusion that I won't get a proper sleep between shifts and am accepting the fact il have to live with a permanent headache.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I take OTC doxylamine between consecutive nights of work (ONLY between consecutive nights of work) and I sleep well, no hangover. Walmart and Walgreens both sell it as a sleep aid.

Don't give up trying to find something to help you sleep- the cumulative effects of sleep deprivation are not good at all.