Am I ever going to be able to get enough sleep?

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I moved from my old place because one of my roommates went to bed at 3:00, and the other got up at 5:00. They were fairly quiet about it, but it would still often wake me up, and I was averaging 5.8 hours of good sleep, plus some additional broken sleep (drifting in and out of sleep).

I'm in my new place now, and even though I asked questions about the guy's schedule and noise levels (basically, did he work days, is it quiet there), I should have asked better questions... the guy only needs 5.5 hours of sleep, and the floor transfers a lot of noise here (even when trying to be quiet, it can generate noise). Since I'm so wide awake from the floor noise, it doesn't even look like getting light, broken sleep is an option... just 5.5 hours during the quiet hours (less, actually. I can't get to sleep until at least 15 minutes after all the noise stops).

In the old place, it was just the doors, and I could often get at least broken sleep, but here, I'm wide awake and shaking from the shock (sensory issues).

I'm in California, so housing can be insanely expensive here, so I feel limited.

I've been here for six months, and I feel like I'm falling apart. I'm seeing hallucinations during the day as I struggle to stay awake (falling asleep up to 9 times a day... while at work). I often feel horrible pains through my entire body that are unlike anything I've ever felt before (especially upon waking), my creativity is near zero, and my depression is getting out of control. A lot of the times, I feel like I'm trying to drive drunk, since being so sleep deprived has a similar effect (and is probably just as dangerous).

Do I just bounce from place to place until I find one which lets me sleep? Again, this is bay area California, and the housing is dense, the buildings are old (with thin walls) or new (but still dense) and very expensive.


edit:
Figured out that the noise is the fault of the people upstairs, not the roommate, just for the record.

There are pharmaceutical ear plugs for instance. Something that works for me when there are noises are headphones and instrumental music. I suffer from sleep paralysis and it has pretty much ruined my year big time in 2006 where I lost a whole semester because of the lack of sleep (going to bed became a very scare thing to do). I found out a very strong, natural cure to sleep profoundly and stop the SL without having to stay awake till 3:00AM to enforce strong sleepiness, I won't mention it in the public forums though.

There's a book called "powerful sleep", in theory if you really get to closely follow those tips you can get 4 hours of sleep and feel much more energized, I have tried it but I am not disciplined enough (For example you got to drop soda and junk food) , my record is 5 hours.


Anyway, from the looks of it, you got to find a way to sleep even with the noise. Seems like the only solution.

the only med i ever used was a drug called zoplicaine, it helped me to get to sleep and stay asleep.

Well, you're probably in pretty bad shape, but keep hunting around... there's always a good deal to be had.
I was rooming with a guy who kept farmer's hours, and I woke him up from the smallest noises even while he slept with earplugs. but he had control issues. it wasn't enough that I was quiet, I had to be asleep, and I disagreed.
I also tried earplugs. I found sometimes I would wake up to a loud and frantic thumping noise, that turned out to be my heartbeat. That's pretty funny, since I bet the more worried I got at the noise, the faster it would get.
You could try to soundproof your room. Make sure no one lives above you, since sound more easily travels down. Try to room in a building with as few people as possible. All of the above. Move to another city where housing isn't causing so much of a problem.
Like my roommate, there could be a mental aspect to it. My mom said she was really jumpy when she first moved into an apartment building when she was younger, but later the same noises didn't bother her. It doesn't mean that if you move in with your significant other than their snoring or late night TV watching won't wake you up, but it's a factor.

god... I got a concrete ceiling with carpet above it, and the people above still sound like they're wrestling when they walk around. I honestly don't know how they can make that much noise. maybe they're fat people who walk on their heels (like most people do, but damn it makes more noise. I walk around very softly)
this new apartment building sucks... the air conditioners were installed really sloppily. they're suspended by rods, on rubber dampening washers, but the idiots have two of the rods also supported by a frame, one end of which rests RIGHT UNDER it, eliminating the dampening completely. also one of the rods is bent and the clamps on it touch the sides, once again, carrying vibrations. Mine isn't the only one, since the walls and floors shake when I hear other people's A/C kick on as well. @#$%ing incompetent.

I am the same way, every little noise wakes me up, so I use earplugs. they're cheap and effective.

Jumping up and down to music, Long walk/run, Hot bath, 5 HTP, Earplugs, Lavender, dark room

I run a fan by my door and an AC by my bed in order to sleep. One of my children uses a white noise machine. Once when I was in the hospital a white noise machine (placed on my pillow right by my ear) was the only thing that let me sleep.

I am in no way a city person (and hate my current job), so I'm applying in rural areas, so after I find a new job, the density issue shouldn't be a problem. Till then, I still need to figure something out.

I'm not sure how much of an option earplugs are, since I was wearing them at the old place, and when I stopped, I found that I slept significantly better without them (but obviously still not well enough, since I still moved).

My roommate commented about the noise above last night, so hopefully, last night was atypical. I did have one good night's sleep since moving.

I just got out of work and am lying down now, and I'll sleep as soon as soon as my body is willing, getting up for dinner, then back to sleep for the night.


Still, I find it kinda funny that the walls block the TV sound pretty well (roommate is watching tv now, and its only barely audible), but not things like people walking around.

Rent a nice mobile home. It can be done.

Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.
Lack of sleep makes me want to die.

I've had the same problem loads of times, try earplugs and believe it or not 2 Paracetamol can help if you have any aches and pains keeping you awake, try and stay of sleeping pills though I was hooked on them for 5 years and it was absolute hell getting off them.

Night Night

Sleep tight

I slept for years with headphones playing a relaxation tape on eternal loop. I would start to wake, remember to pay attention to the tape, and go back to sleep. Sometimes a dozen times in a night, but it was better than the other way. One thing, though, if you try this - don't get a player that goes CLACK! at the end of the tape. Defeats the purpose.

Have you ever tried a weighted blanket? Do you like heavy clothes, the xray apron at the dentist? I've had my weighted blanket for a year and I'm still astonished at how much comfort and solace it gives me, within a minute of pulling it over me. Mine is double bed size but that's unweildy and expensive - if I had it to do again, I'd get the twin size.

****.

I took half a provigil this morning, and another half the day before (after being off for nearly 2 weeks) I felt like I needed it just so that I could get something accomplished at work. With how little sleep I've been getting, it takes all the energy I can muster just to stay awake most of the time... never mind getting any work done.

(I've had problems with falling asleep during the day for years (even when I was getting enough sleep), and was diagnosed with something close to narcolepsy two months ago, hence the provigil perscription. I've been taking it on and off due to lack of sleep (only taking it when I slept well, as to not mess myself up too bad), and also due to side-effects.

It seemed like a miracle drug at first. For the first time, ever, I felt truly awake, and I wasn't fighting to stay awake all the time. But the side effects started showing... and now they're really bad.



Right now I don't just feel awake, but WIRED.

BIG TIME.

And it's the middle of the night. I also feel seriously messed up and the front of my brain feels numb... NOT NORMAL. AT ALL.

what are these side effects?

Intended effect:
Stay awake (yes, it does this)

Good side effects:
More talkative (especially good for me given my problems with extreme shyness)
Think more clearly (if experiencing exhaustion-induced brainfog)
Increased creativity
Mild euphoria


Neutral side effects:
Strange smell of urine
Altered sense of taste
Greatly increased thirst
Increased urination
Nausea
Increased heart rate

Bad side effects:
Sore, red eyes
Headache on sides of head
Strong "gut feeling" that I didn't want to take the 2nd dose (back when I first started taking it, I was following the label for dosing twice daily)
Delayed sleep if I took the second dose
Occasional distorted thoughts
Increased sound sensitivity

Really bad side effects:
Numbness in center of forehead
Feeling very sick and exhausted for a whole week after stopping previously
Strange, unnatural feelings
Feeling horrible if I allowed myself to nap while on Provigil
Crashing after work on days that I took the medicine /wo the second dose


Side effects that might just be caused by lack of sleep: (but are exacerbated by the medicine)
Seeing "spots" (discolored areas of vision)
Hallucinations
Occasional weird, completely incoherent days
Whole head headaches

This is the first time that I have experienced total sleeplessness from half a pill.

hi. i'm up and wired too. i just started back on melatonin and it's like a ton of coffee the first couple days, before the nice stable sleep pattern kicks in. then it's like a miracle. you tried melatonin before?