The Moment I Knew I Needed More Sleep

I started sleeping on the couch to try and get better sleep.

Sounds like me. I'll be 60.

Good for you! It's great to hear about positive change. I hope you and your husband have many more happy and relaxing years.

Thanks for your timely reminder! Before my software workplace was shut down for good in 2009, we were understaffed and often required to work insane hours of day and night -- sometimes in 2-3 back-to-back shifts. I found myself unable to think how to perform critical but complex tasks I'd done many times before. Lack of rest is inimical to health, happiness, ability to focus, and productivity.

I started taking naps after the kids all left home about 3 years ago. It is restful to lay down in the afternoon even if you don't fall asleep. Even a 15 minute sleep works wonders for how you feel later in the day. I have been having trouble falling asleep during my nap and at bedtime this past month. I bet it is a herb I have added or a mixture of two herbs. I guess I will stop taking any herbs for awhile and then add them back one at a time and see if one of them keep me awake.

I worked the night shift for over 11 years Supervisor in a wire costing plant making electrial wiring systems for jet fighters and boeing. had 570 people on average 6 nights a week. the stress and lack of sleep burned me out.

Buy a couple rolls of aluminum foil and some foil tape at the hardware store and black out your bedroom windows. It might help to black out your living room windows, too, so that you can get home and be in a darkened house for a couple hours before bed.

wow that is scary. glad you made it to the hospital on time.

I've suffered with insomnia for more years then I care to remember. I sometimes feel quite lightheaded and exhausted in the middle of the afternoon, and I've noticed I get quite ill, like I catch colds more quickly and then I force myself to rest so I know I can do it but my problem is once I'm functioning back to normal, I'm rushing around again, it's a vicious circle with me I guess!

When I was driving on the highway thinking, "I think I can close my eyes for 2 seconds and still hold the wheel steady."

I was in the Army, I had just arrived in Germany and my unit was put on alert. At about 5 pm I had to camouflage our trucks and missile launchers. I managed to get done around 5 the next morning, in time to pull a shift in a bunker. I was forgotten about and being a new guy no one really knew me yet so they didn't realize I was even there. I pulled a 23 hour shift in the bunker because no one knew I was missing. Finally, my platoon sgt., doing a perimeter check found me huddled under a cammo bag protecting the M-60 from the weather with my gear. I was in a daze. He asked how long I'd been there. I told him about 24 hours. He was pretty upset, so he relieved me, told me to find my section chief and have him report to the bunker, then get some breakfast and something hot to drink. I did as I was told. As I stood in line I guess I fell asleep standing up with my eyes open. My platoon sgt. saw me standing there literally snoring with eyes open, he woke me and moved me through the line and walked me back to a small GP tent and put my rear in a cot. That is when I knew that I was not getting enough sleep and sleep was not going to be a close friend for years.

When we brought our eldest son home from the hospital ~ I had envisioned a peaceful night in our home sleeping alongside the two most important people in my life, my son and my husband ~ Instead I found myself trapped between my snoring husband and my newborn who made more noise asleep than most people make awake ~ I was miserable and compared the time between midnight and 6 AM as my "prison sentence" ~ I had never desired sleep because before he was born, I could always have it ~ After children, sleep became a priority and a treasured opportunity that I will always take advantage of if a Sunday nap or a chance to hit the sack early so presents itself ~