can't sleep

APUalyssa* · Sep 17, 2008

i know how you feel

i sometimes cant sleep because of studying or testing stress

try doing some physical activity.

i know you said you might be a little exhausted but that is because your brain is exhausted, maybe if you did something physical it would make your body tired and you would fall asleep

it helps and it gives you some exercise

and while you run/walk/whatever you can repeat formulas and study notes while you do it!

helps all the way around!

mama_d, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2008

There's nothing wrong with taking a Benadryl to help you out, or asking for sleeping aids from your doc if needed. You need an adequate amount of sleep to make all that stuff stick in your brain. I'm dealing with working nights full time and then some (up to 65 hrs/week) while going to school now, which was fine when all the kids were in school and I could nap, but now that I have a toddler to deal with as well during the day I can really tell the difference.

fashionista84 · Sep 17, 2008

Try some tylenol pm it should do the trick!!

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2008

Tylenol PM is just tylenol and benedryl...so why bother with the extra tylenol. I take 50mg of benedryl if needed on the last day of my work week. Outside of that, I come home...unwind with sportscenter and computer work..work on clothes or house projects until I'm tired...and then off to bed. Make sure you take all electronics out of the bedroom...bed is for sleeping...

RNMom2010 · Sep 18, 2008

I am a person who has never had sleeping problems in my life and I find myself having to take something to get to sleep some nights. My mind just keeps going over what I was doing in class/clinicals, what I want to do the next day for class/clinicals. Jeez it just needs to shut off!! I usually focus on my breathing for awhile, and if that still does not help I will pop a Melatonin or a Xanax.

joliemolie · Sep 18, 2008

Something that might help....I gave a friend of mine in med school St. Johns Wort and he said he had the most restful sleep, felt a little groggy in the morning, but better after about an hour. Check on google first to see if there are any safety concerns, because this was a few years back, but it it considered all natural.

MedicalNerd · Sep 18, 2008

I have been having trouble staying asleep lately. I am normally a "all through the night" sleeper but recently I find myself waking up at 2,4,5 and 6am and almost checking to see what time it is so I will not be late for class! This is really starting to effect me and I am getting frustrated. :lol_hitti

I am also experiencing loss of appetite. Weird I know, most others I have talked to have said they have been eating more with the stress but I am finding I force myself to eat during the day and I am just simply not hungry. I have already lost 5 lbs over the last 4 weeks but I am hoping it will not turn into a problem.

Jw1724 · Sep 18, 2008

I have been having trouble staying asleep lately. I am normally a "all through the night" sleeper but recently I find myself waking up at 2,4,5 and 6am and almost checking to see what time it is so I will not be late for class! This is really starting to effect me and I am getting frustrated. :lol_hitti
I am also experiencing loss of appetite. Weird I know, most others I have talked to have said they have been eating more with the stress but I am finding I force myself to eat during the day and I am just simply not hungry. I have already lost 5 lbs over the last 4 weeks but I am hoping it will not turn into a problem.

I feel like we're the same person! I lose my appetite when I get stressed and I'm borderline hypoglycemic so that's quite an adventure ha... But I feel your pain. Not going to lie, all we had around last night was nyquil. 2 teaspoonsful and i was knocked out within the hour. AND i felt good this morning. but i hate taking meds for stuff like that. no thanks.

Jw1724 · Sep 18, 2008

I am a person who has never had sleeping problems in my life and I find myself having to take something to get to sleep some nights. My mind just keeps going over what I was doing in class/clinicals, what I want to do the next day for class/clinicals. Jeez it just needs to shut off!! I usually focus on my breathing for awhile, and if that still does not help I will pop a Melatonin or a Xanax.

i hate taking meds for stuff like this though. i need to just get into a really good routine i think. :cool:

Jw1724 · Sep 18, 2008

Tylenol PM is just tylenol and benedryl...so why bother with the extra tylenol. I take 50mg of benedryl if needed on the last day of my work week. Outside of that, I come home...unwind with sportscenter and computer work..work on clothes or house projects until I'm tired...and then off to bed. Make sure you take all electronics out of the bedroom...bed is for sleeping...

mm i think this is one of my problems. i tend to keep my laptop in my room and lord knows that consumes my life sometimes. i need to take it out, leave the tv off and just read for awhile or something. hopefully it helps.

MB37 · Sep 18, 2008

I've had insomnia for many years, and I did finally ask for a scrip for a sleep aid when I was in NS - I fell asleep at a red light driving home from class one day, shortly after a classmate had flipped her car falling asleep while driving. I realized how dangerous it was to sleep 2/56h, on top of making me feel like crap. I take my scrip med sparingly (especially now that I've graduated), because I built up a tolerance pretty quickly. If I don't take it every day, it works pretty well. Of course you can try a better diet, avoiding caffeine after 4, exercising regularly, using bed only for sleep/sex, etc. - I'm assuming you know that already. I take Benadryl sometimes also, and drink herbal teas. The type with Valerian works best for me, but now that I'm in the tea at bedtime routine, even regular chamomile helps me relax. Using all of the above on alternate days, plus of course trying to go to sleep naturally (or with just chamomile) if possible seems to be the best option for me. If you take the same product every day, you just build up a tolerance and need more or it quits working entirely.