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A multitude of sins would be forgiven, pills would be forgotten, pain would be diminished, hope would be restored, brain would be healthy if we would but go to sleep.
Questions: What keeps you from self-indulging when it is time to go to bed but you’d rather not? What helps you get your restorative brain rest? Have you noticed that everything is better with sleep? Would you describe it to us?
Self-Care Tip – Get solid restful sleep. Be a friend to yourself.
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Friend to Yourself 
Severe depression is related to chronic fatigue. Seems easy to go to sleep even if not tired. Is our brain allowing us to escape the depression this way? I suppose it’s better than alcohol and drugs. But living such a vapid and uneventful life has to increase the depression.
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Depression goes both directions – hypersomnia and insomnia. either one is a bummer.
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Thank you for sharing on this. Blessings.
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u bet. so glad to connect w u here. i enjoyed your personal stories on your site and appreciate your courage. keep on.
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Nothing is worse than the gritty-eyed anxiety that comes at dawn after a night of insomnia. It’s just awful.
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it is cin. now juxtapose that w the steller advice that frequents the air-ways – “just get over it. You have to make a decision. You can’t let life get to you like that.” charming to remember and ruminate over at 230am in the dark. smile. hugs
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Yes everything is better with sleep! I love sleep. I feel so much better when I actually sleep. But sometimes I can’t. There’s fear, can’t turn off my brain, what if’s start happening, restlessness, heart pounding, tossing and turning and panic. That was last night but I did what you told me to do Sana instead of laying there frozen in fear I got up and took my medication with no guilt and 15 minutes later I guess I fell asleep because I don’t remember and woke up this morning feeling great 🙂
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u made my day catherine. thank u for telling us about this. couldn’t b happier.
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A good night’s sleep does wonders for me, both physically and emotionally. Throw in a noon-time nap, and life is always great.
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hey hansi! you’re back! yay. i’m surprised u found time around your nap. smile. thanks for coming. really.
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since Ive been on the new meds Ive been sleeping, which is about the only thing I think it actually helps with. I hadnt been able to actually sleep in years. I had (and still do) have a hard time making myself go to bed, in part because not being able to sleep is torture. It would take me hours to fall asleep, and then Id wake up 8-12 times a night. I tried everything (including sleep aids), but nothing had helped. It was awful
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getting some sleep after a lifetime w/o it sounds wonderful. i imagine the rest takes time to heal.
getting ourselves just to take the steps toward the bed is a struggle many of us have. culture around easily discounts the reasons why. your insight is lovely and can advocate for you to b your friend through this. keep on.
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I learned to prioritize sleep when, due to undiagnosed PTSD, a fussy toddler who would not let me sleep, stress, poverty, stress, stress and more stress, my body finally stopped sleeping & I needed to go on medication to learn to sleep again.
Still on the medication. I have a ‘sleep disorder characterized by nightmares’ due to the PTSD. If I don’t sleep at least 8.5 hours a night, I get edgy & overly emotional.
If I’m working late at night, which I sometimes do, then I nap during the day. My boss has gotten mad at me for refusing to be at a meeting at 3pm and then stay up running some huge event until after midnight. He thinks its within the call of my duty. I disagree. I won’t do it. If I’m running an event all night, then I wont be in during the day. He’s not pleased with me. My younger colleagues think I’m being a prima donna about it. There’s a big difference between 25-45. You can’t push yourself all the time, which is what I used to do before I started taking care of myself and my PTSD.
Sleep is just about the most important thing to taking good care of yourself.
Namaste,
Emmeline
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Hi Emmeline, I wanted to share with you that when I took sleeping pills (Ambien plus others) I had all sorts of bizarre dreams and nightmares. Many psych meds have that side effect of bizarre dreams and behavior, such sleep walking or driving. Have you discussed this with your doctor? Marie.
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nice feedback Marie. i agree.
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way to go emmeline! u taking care of yourself will ripple through barriers and touches many of us even now just reading some of the story u shared. so many of us can relate. i’m loving the courage u have in your work-place and at home. u r being accountable for yourself. thank u so much for connecting w us and commenting. such a treat. keep on.
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ptsd can ravage sleep architecture, quality and increase our disability progressively. u r right on here and i celebrate your self-care w u. keep on.
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I sleep far more than the recommended 8 hrs per night. I usually put in a good 12 hrs every day, sometimes more, sometimes less. I have had night with very little sleep that have left me feeling like I am unable to concentrate well the following day. Yes, I believe it is important to put in a good 8 hrs every night to have a healthy brain.
Don’t forget the usual 20 min nap after lunch.
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thx Marie. i agree w the “healthy brain” bit – up and down! inside and out! keep on sleeping beauty.
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Circadian rythym disturbances have a marked impact on mental health – I have to constantly remind myself to soar with the eagles and not hoot with the owls! 😉
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hoot hoot! smile. i like your openness with the ongoing “life-er” of maintaining sleep hygiene. It’s easy to feel like the courage and struggle to get to bed on time and groom our sleep should go away but for us w life-ers, it doesn’t. we grow familiar with the life-er, and perhaps even start to love that part of us. keep on.
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I consider myself a night owl because my energy and mood builds as the day goes on. I love your clever turn of phrase to not hoot with the owls so I can soar with eagles. a fun persprective. -Rebecca
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hey rebecca! hoot! (was that corney? ;)). i can respect your admission and especially your self-awareness. that definitely helps all of our accountability to our sleep needs. keep on.
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I am reading this after 4am. I feel terrilble…with much to be done tomorrow! I find myself eating and/or on the internet at night…in spite of what I know about good sleep.
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how r things going these days JJ? has anything helped your sleep yet? this can really peel your coping skills off your fruit! 😉 keep on.
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Your post really spooked me! I was sitting here on the computer…when what I need to do is go to sleep! Thank you for the reminder.
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To go to sleep my friends do not count sheep. One girl I used to date counts boyfriends. My sponsor counts bank robberies. I count my mistakes. First one – June 18, 1949.
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