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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 19:26:28
I've been having this strange sleep pattern since starting my new job.
During the week I usually go to bed at 9 cause I get up at 4:30. I fall asleep immediately, never longer than 5 minutes. Every morning I wake up at 1:15, go to the bathroom, go back to bed and right back to sleep but not soundly, I toss and turn a lot. I wake up again at 3:30, go to the bathroom again and go back to bed and can't fall back to sleep and get up about four and just sit in the front room until I take my shower at 4:30. I've tried going to bed earlier and later, but it's the same pattern no matter what.
But on weekends, I go to bed and sleep straight thru the night without waking until 6:30 or 7.
I know this is a head thing, but I don't why. I really hate this new job. Can it be f***ing with my head that bad? Any thoughts? Any ideas for making it stop?
Greg
Posted by Wendy B. on October 12, 2001, at 22:32:21
In reply to Any thoughts as to what's going on?, posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 19:26:28
hi greg, my pal,
i think our bodies know and express when we're stressed. you hate your job, i'm sure it's showing up in your sleep problems. yes, it can be screwing up your body that badly.
also, if you're depressed, or BP, getting up early is a horrible thing to have to do. it's very difficult, sometimes impossible. personally, i kind of resent having to comply with the rest of the world's arbitrary systems of rising before dawn and going to bed right after sundown. well, not so arbitrary, it reflects the farmer's need to use daylight wisely. but we're not an agricultural society any more.
it's not something my body can do. when i am in a hypomanic-type phase, i can't go to bed before 2:00 or 3:00 am. how's my body going to get to work by 8:00? or if it does, something's going to have to give.
so you're stressing out. your body doesn't want to comply. i've read about sleep patterns like yours, seems typical of depression, to wake extra early, to wake up frequently in the early morning hours. or it's a symptom of your daytime anxiety. when you don't have to go to work, you don't have the symptoms.
what have you done for sleeping aids? benzos? sonata? etc.? at 1:15 you might want to pop a .5 mg of xanax, really helps you sleep through to the alarm clock's ring.
write back,
wendy
> I've been having this strange sleep pattern since starting my new job.
>
> During the week I usually go to bed at 9 cause I get up at 4:30. I fall asleep immediately, never longer than 5 minutes. Every morning I wake up at 1:15, go to the bathroom, go back to bed and right back to sleep but not soundly, I toss and turn a lot. I wake up again at 3:30, go to the bathroom again and go back to bed and can't fall back to sleep and get up about four and just sit in the front room until I take my shower at 4:30. I've tried going to bed earlier and later, but it's the same pattern no matter what.
>
> But on weekends, I go to bed and sleep straight thru the night without waking until 6:30 or 7.
>
> I know this is a head thing, but I don't why. I really hate this new job. Can it be f***ing with my head that bad? Any thoughts? Any ideas for making it stop?
>
> Greg
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 13, 2001, at 9:56:16
In reply to Any thoughts as to what's going on?, posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 19:26:28
> Greg:
I DESPISE sleep problems! I had never thought about the fact that I've naturally always been a late stayer upper (?) and late riser until Wendy pointed it out, but that does make sense. When I had to get up @5:30 to commute, I was Really miserable. So I sympathize with your early morning routine.
Seems like the biggest problem is that it's becoming a habit. Ah, I had a thought and it's gone...
Well, let me think some more and I'll be back...:(
- K.
Posted by Wendy B. on October 13, 2001, at 10:25:32
In reply to Re: Any thoughts as to what's going on? » Greg, posted by Krazy Kat on October 13, 2001, at 9:56:16
Kat:
Re:
> I DESPISE sleep problems! I had never thought about the fact that I've naturally always been a late stayer upper (?) and late riser until Wendy pointed it out, but that does make sense.these symptoms are in the descriptions of bipolar & depression in many of the things i've read. both my thrapists have been able to pinpoint my upswings based on my sleep patterns... the description is true for me, for most of my adult life... the 'rest of the world' has no understanding, or even if you try to explain it, they just don't give a damn.
hope you're well...
W.
Posted by Greg on October 13, 2001, at 10:34:10
In reply to Re: Any thoughts as to what's going on? » Greg, posted by Wendy B. on October 12, 2001, at 22:32:21
Hi Wendy,
Thank for the thoughts. I do so despise getting up early and I guess I don't really have to...but I'm faced with a dilemma of sorts. I commute to the Silicon Valley and my drive is about 35 miles each way. So, I can get up and leave at 5 and drive for an hour each way to work, or get up later and drive in the commute from hell and spend 2 1/2-3 hours each way every day.
I don't handle traffic well. I'm the idiot you see screaming out his window at everyone. People who don't use their turn signals drive me crazy (er). You would think after four years of doing it I would be used to it, but I'm not not. I guess I've been very lucky to have found two jobs that have offered me flex hours so that I could go in early.
I think I find my sleep patterns surprising becausing because of the meds I take. I take Zyprexa, Topamax, Ambien and usually a half mg of Xanax all at bedtime. They are all sedating and should knock me out for the night, wouldn't ya think? I have tried taking a Xanax when I do the 1am thing but it doesn't seem to help...
Good news is I applied for a new position at a local company this week, one that I'm very qualified for and very excited about. They really seemed to like me but they have several more applicants to interview next week. They have promised to let me know about the job by next Friday, win or lose. I'm comfortable that I gave it my best shot. It would be great. No commute, 6 miles away, I could get up at a normal time. Sounds like a very challenging and rewarding position position. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
OH BTW, I fell asleep a little after 9 last night and slept non-stop until 7:15 this morning...sigh
Have a great day kiddo,
Greg> hi greg, my pal,
>
> i think our bodies know and express when we're stressed. you hate your job, i'm sure it's showing up in your sleep problems. yes, it can be screwing up your body that badly.
>
> also, if you're depressed, or BP, getting up early is a horrible thing to have to do. it's very difficult, sometimes impossible. personally, i kind of resent having to comply with the rest of the world's arbitrary systems of rising before dawn and going to bed right after sundown. well, not so arbitrary, it reflects the farmer's need to use daylight wisely. but we're not an agricultural society any more.
>
> it's not something my body can do. when i am in a hypomanic-type phase, i can't go to bed before 2:00 or 3:00 am. how's my body going to get to work by 8:00? or if it does, something's going to have to give.
>
> so you're stressing out. your body doesn't want to comply. i've read about sleep patterns like yours, seems typical of depression, to wake extra early, to wake up frequently in the early morning hours. or it's a symptom of your daytime anxiety. when you don't have to go to work, you don't have the symptoms.
>
> what have you done for sleeping aids? benzos? sonata? etc.? at 1:15 you might want to pop a .5 mg of xanax, really helps you sleep through to the alarm clock's ring.
>
> write back,
> wendy
Posted by Greg on October 13, 2001, at 10:40:53
In reply to Re: Any thoughts as to what's going on? » Greg, posted by Krazy Kat on October 13, 2001, at 9:56:16
> > Greg:
>
> I DESPISE sleep problems! I had never thought about the fact that I've naturally always been a late stayer upper (?) and late riser until Wendy pointed it out, but that does make sense. When I had to get up @5:30 to commute, I was Really miserable. So I sympathize with your early morning routine.
>
> Seems like the biggest problem is that it's becoming a habit. Ah, I had a thought and it's gone...
>
> Well, let me think some more and I'll be back...:(
>
> - K.KK,
I know exactly what you mean! I remember fondly the days as a teenage when I could sleep until noon or later. My 14yo can sleep thru an earthquake, it really pisses me off! Just one morning I'd like to wake up, stumble into the front room and see the clock read 11 or something....
And if one more person tells me, "Well you know Greg, as you get older you don't require as much sleep". grrrrrrrrrrrr
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 13, 2001, at 15:03:49
In reply to Re: Any thoughts as to what's going on? » Krazy Kat , posted by Greg on October 13, 2001, at 10:40:53
Greg:
Thought never came back. Out in cyber space somewhere. I think that Wendy's right re: taking something to try to sleep through. I personally don't like Ambien, but many seem to. Maybe just a few nights of taking something will get you back into the habit of sleeping through the night.
Stress - I'm having a major problem with my hubby on this right now. I have finally realized that if I am to survive, I can't have a lot of stress. This gets too complicated to spell out here, but he's a highly stressed person, so we're really hitting heads on this.
I was in a similar situation when I got up at 5:30 - I could have slept later, but the commute would have been SO much worse. It was in the D.C. area. I vowed never to commute again, but that's not always possible, is it?
Good luck!
- K.
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 13, 2001, at 15:07:47
In reply to Re: Any thoughts... » Krazy Kat , posted by Wendy B. on October 13, 2001, at 10:25:32
> Wendy:
I Love the name Kat - wouldn't that be a great name to have? Everyone would remember you. But, then again, maybe that's not so good...
Am well today. Bought a pumpkin and a mum at a little harvest festival in the area.
Helps me more than you know to hear that you have this trouble, too. My hubby thinks I'm lazy b/c since I haven't had a regular job to go to, I've been staying up late and getting up late - 10:00, sometimes 11:00. I don't plan on continuing to get up That late, but I'm trying to give new meds a chance to work and I honestly do not hear an alarm anymore.
It's trying to say the least.
I responded to your post re: how you are ^^^^ above. :)
- K.
Posted by Shar on October 13, 2001, at 20:27:53
In reply to Any thoughts as to what's going on?, posted by Greg on October 12, 2001, at 19:26:28
Can it be f***ing with my head that bad?
--Greg,
I think it can definitely be f__king with your head that bad. Jeeze, the kind of stress you've been under the last few months, and the Sept. 11 events, the meds you're on, plus all the other stuff that regular old living brings....yessiree, plenty there, I think, to screw up a sleep pattern.I've experienced sleep problems when I've had to get up 5 days a week and go to a job I despised. They were of a different nature, but a similar cause to yours, I think.
Suggestions...just the typical relaxation techniques/meditation if you find yourself too wakeful; or some people say if you can't get to sleep within half an hour, get up and go into another room. Or, sometimes I daydream if I can't sleep; it's fun to imagine another life.
xoxo
YIC
Posted by Mair on October 13, 2001, at 22:57:12
In reply to Re: Any thoughts as to what's going on?, posted by Shar on October 13, 2001, at 20:27:53
Greg - I'm sure this is a stress thing although is it also possible that this is simply related to the fact that you have to get up so early. The type of pattern you're describing hits me whenever I have to get up uncharacteristically early and am anxious about overesleeping.
Mair
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