“Sleep issues”
I go to bed between 9 and 10 every night as I work full time and have to get up at 6 every day in order to get myself ready for work before I get my kids up at 7 for school. My issue is that I will wake up around 2 or 3 o'clock and am wide awake, and I don't start feeling ready to fall asleep again until its almost time to get up. This is going to sound crazy, but I feel almost like my body or mind is doing this on purpose because it somehow "knows" i don't have time for a good sleep at this point. I cannot find anything on the internet that answers this question in greater detail than saying I have insomnia, which I'm sure on some level I do because staying asleep has always been and continues to be a problem for me. Why would my body start to fall asleep when it is absolutely LEAST convenient? I'll awaken at 2, say, and I could almost get up and clean my house im so awake, then when I look at the clock and see its 5 or so, ONLY THEN is my brain ready to shut down and get the sleep I've been trying to get to for 3 hours. It happens frequently, and I haven't been this sleep deprived since I had my last child 6 years ago. Again, this might sound crazy, but is my brain/body TRYING to punish me or piss me off? I don't like to take medications that "knock me out" because I need to be able to arise for an emergency. I'm at a loss. I have a long history of depression and anxiety but I don't want this to be written off as that. It isn't.
Female | 38 years old
Complaint duration: Years
Medications: Breztri, ventolin
Conditions: Asthma, depression
2 Answers
SleepMedicineSpecialist
The amount of sleep a person requires is the amount of sleep that allows them to wake up refreshed. Having said that, it looks like you might be getting 5-6 hrs of sleep, which could be sufficient. Causes of early morning awakenings include problems like depression, environmental issues, bladder issues, etc.
I have been a short sleeper since I was a kid. I get so much done and feel refreshed during the day. Actually I can't wait for the day to start. I think it depends on your perception of the situation. But the best thing to do when you wake up and feel ready for action is to get up. Staying in bed awake would certainly frustrate me. Taking medication to make someone sleep when their body does not need it and feels refreshed after sleep is not something I would recommend. Best. :)
I have been a short sleeper since I was a kid. I get so much done and feel refreshed during the day. Actually I can't wait for the day to start. I think it depends on your perception of the situation. But the best thing to do when you wake up and feel ready for action is to get up. Staying in bed awake would certainly frustrate me. Taking medication to make someone sleep when their body does not need it and feels refreshed after sleep is not something I would recommend. Best. :)
Your question shows that you are experiencing a great deal of distress about sleeping. Paradoxically that itself can disrupt sleep. The phenomenon is called psychophysiologic insomnia. Additionally anxiety and depression in general cause sleep disruption, especially middle of the night awakenings. Stimulating medicines such as your asthma medicine might also contribute. You should however not stop the asthma medicine. There is a well-developed set of interventions that are behavioral , to help you relearn to sleep well. Medication might also be appropriate but is not considered the first treatment in most patients. The general term for these behavioral interventions is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. if you google the term CBT for insomnia, you will find a much more detailed discussion of these techniques. It very much needs a professional to help you through the task. You should contact a local physician who is a certified sleep specialist to evaluate your problems. Afterward a clinical psychologist skilled in CBT for insomnia will likely be involved. Roughly 3/4 of patients can be treated without need for sustained medication.
