Comments on A Peek at Karen's World: If There Was One Phrase I Could Eliminate from the...

I'm so sorry. Being tired is one thing I can ...

2012-02-04T17:42:37.389-08:00

I'm so sorry. Being tired is one thing I can relate to. And it has nothing to do with kids, or even work. Sometimes sleep just doesn't come.

I read through all the comments, and feel that you don't need any advice, especially since you've got two health care providers on your side. I'm sure they will find something that works.

We talked quite a bit about that and my regular do...

2012-02-02T15:22:24.582-08:00

We talked quite a bit about that and my regular doctor has prescribed something that will hopefully start to help. They both agree with me that the insomnia is a symptom and not the actual problem.

Cheers, Karen. Did your therapist mention that sle...

2012-02-02T15:09:44.371-08:00

Cheers, Karen. Did your therapist mention that sleeplessness can be a sign of depression or anxiety?
No, I'm not about to give you an online diagnosis, but it might be something worth discussing during your sessions.

Despite having had three kids myself, I dont agree with what you were told at all. In fact, I was a better sleeper when my children were babies because I could catnap between feeds during a 24 hour period, something that was not possible when I was tied to a sleep-at-night-only routine. Yes, I can relate to those intrusive thoughts during those hours that should be spent dreaming. And then during the day fatigue limits your ability to deal with those things that plagued you during the night, thereby compounding the problem.

Chat to your therapist about it.

I totally sympathize - nothing sucks more than bei...

2012-02-01T13:36:11.738-08:00

I totally sympathize - nothing sucks more than being in bed and just unable to fall asleep while still being so freaking tired!

I've suffered from insomnia since I was 15. I...

2012-02-01T08:43:21.531-08:00

I've suffered from insomnia since I was 15. I can definitely relate. If I get three or four hours of sleep a night I'm lucky. Good luck.

Yuck! There's nothing worse than not being abl...

2012-02-01T08:29:53.609-08:00

Yuck! There's nothing worse than not being able to sleep. And just ignore those people who say that about having kids. I had just as many sleepless nights before I had kids that I have now. I hope rest comes to you soon. Hang in there!

Oh God! I would eliminate that phrase too! I have ...

2012-01-31T22:33:29.237-08:00

Oh God! I would eliminate that phrase too! I have kids and I’m not that tired. I’m so sorry. One of my best friends goes through the same thing. She finally got a prescription and it seems to be helping. Breathing exercises too!

Try counting backwards from 300. It helps me. I...

2012-01-31T19:58:07.092-08:00

Try counting backwards from 300. It helps me. I've used melatonin but then I have bizarre dreams.

That's some sage advice. Though, I'm not s...

2012-01-31T17:06:01.027-08:00

That's some sage advice. Though, I'm not sure Karen's ready for the hard stuff. Yet.

My thoughts also begin to race the minute my head ...

2012-01-31T16:38:43.751-08:00

My thoughts also begin to race the minute my head hits the pillow. I tend to think of possible blogs posts once my mind isn't occupied with other things. I've (kinda) solved that issue by keeping my cell phone with me and making notes to get them off on mind.

The most tired I've EVER been was always after hospital stays. There's a saying 'If you want to get well, get out of the hospital." lol!

I've heard Melatonin (sp?) can help sleep.

I'm so sorry! That sounds absolutely horrible....

2012-01-31T15:52:16.236-08:00

I'm so sorry! That sounds absolutely horrible. I hope you find a solution (or that it resolves itself) soon!

Man, I don't have kids, so I am not even going...

2012-01-31T12:53:12.568-08:00

Man, I don't have kids, so I am not even going to say that to you! I am lucky to pretty much be able to sleep most of the time, BUT my boyfriend is just like you. He is super sleepy, and then as soon as he lays his head down (lies his head?) on the pillow, his mind goes into overdrive. It's not even days when he has something important to think about, he just THINKS...about everything. Like you said, little things like gas in the car or whatever.

He is also much more motivated in life than I am. Or let me put it this way, he likes to be BUSY, all the time. So I think when he is thinking, it's the same as staying busy. Whereas I? I just turn off my brain and don't worry about being busy all the time.

Are you a Gemini?

Also, Valerian root may help. It helped one of my friends.

Ya, that's annoying. Have I ever said that th...

2012-01-31T11:36:30.742-08:00

Ya, that's annoying. Have I ever said that thing to you about kids? I hope not!

I go through bouts of insomnia. I have trouble get...

2012-01-31T10:42:29.781-08:00

I go through bouts of insomnia. I have trouble getting to sleep and STAYING asleep. Melatonin and earplugs really help me. I'm a light sleeper anyway, so the earplugs help drown out any odd noises (house creaking, dogs barking, cars, etc) so all I really hear is my own breathing and heartbeat, which is oddly soothing and helps me turn my brain off. Oh, and sometimes those Breathe Right strips really help too. With the temp fluctuations we've had, my sinuses can't adjust and breathing well sometimes means the difference between a good night's sleep and a bad one. I buy my melatonin at Costco and it's only like $6 for a bottle. Trader Joes has a lower dosage chewable version for under $5.

Good luck! No sleep is miserable!

I'm the same way. Insomnia is a bitch with or ...

2012-01-31T10:25:01.541-08:00

I'm the same way. Insomnia is a bitch with or without kids.

My wife is like that. She can get to sleep, but if...

2012-01-31T10:05:51.049-08:00

My wife is like that. She can get to sleep, but if she wakes up, her brain goes into overdrive.
And if that quote has any merit then I guess I'll never know what it's like to be tired!

There are many reason not to sleep. I actually go...

2012-01-31T10:00:20.826-08:00

There are many reason not to sleep. I actually got more sleep with babies than I do with adult children. Just pray and relax and if you cannot sleep make a list for the next day and pray. This two things usually let me finally sleep.

Dude, tired is tired. Whether you're up with a...

2012-01-31T09:57:38.881-08:00

Dude, tired is tired. Whether you're up with a baby, or have insomnia, or just drink too much caffeine: if you're not sleeping, you're tired. The end. And I'm sorry that you're so tired.

My boss has a problem with sleeping. She describes it kind of like you do: that her mind just won't shut off. She advocates Advil OM (or Tylenol PM). She said that it just quiets her mind enough that she can get to sleep. I've also known people who use breathing exercises. The thing about breathing exercises is that the way you're breathing isn't really the important part. It's being focused on your breath. Making it really even. And if you focus on that - breathing in the same amount as breathing out, making it rhythmic - then you're shutting out everything else. And eventually you fall asleep. That's the theory anyway. Can't say I've ever really tried it.

I hope you find a solution and get some shut eye!

Sleep deprivation sucks no matter what's causi...

2012-01-31T09:38:44.985-08:00

Sleep deprivation sucks no matter what's causing it!! And I dealt with the same exact problem...my brain was working overtime and bedtime was the worst because I would just lay there thinking of endless thoughts. I couldn't shut my brain down.

Here's an idea for you....keep a pad of paper and a pen by your bed. Right before you fall asleep, write down everything that's on your mind. What you plan to wear tomorrow, what you'll pack for lunch or plans you have for lunch, anything that is on your mind...write it down!!

And then turn off the lights, and think about sleep. Focus on relaxing each and every body part one at a time...no other thoughts other than that.

It really does help. Try it.

If not, maybe try natural melatonin. Or reading.

I sometimes have nights like that, but I couldn...

2012-01-31T08:04:25.260-08:00

I sometimes have nights like that, but I couldn't imagine it being almost every night. My wish for you is the gift of quality sleep.

Yea, I kinda get annoyed by that, too. Though I...

2012-01-31T07:39:20.206-08:00

Yea, I kinda get annoyed by that, too. Though I'm terribly sorry to hear you are unable to get any shut-eye, my dear. I'm sure you've tried everything and there's not much else to leave you with, BUT I have noticed that if I shut down all the "white blinking lights" (the ipod, phone, computer, tv) about an hour before bedtime, the brain has a bit of a break and isn't feeling so wired any longer. It's of course just a though. I hope something works for you soon--that sounds horrible :(

I would try heroin.

2012-01-31T07:22:11.008-08:00

I would try heroin.

Oh and Unisom works wonders. There is an off brand...

2012-01-31T07:17:00.625-08:00

Oh and Unisom works wonders. There is an off brand you can buy at Target. Insomnia is cycle that you have to break, even if it means meds.

"you'll understand blank when you have a ...

2012-01-31T07:14:05.615-08:00

"you'll understand blank when you have a baby" is one of the most condescending things you can say to someone. I HATED it when people said things like that to me, especially when I was pregnant. I've been tired before I had a baby and I've been tired after I had a baby. Just go ahead and punch them in the head. They deserve it.

I know exactly what you mean. I have never had pr...

2012-01-31T06:40:14.930-08:00

I know exactly what you mean. I have never had problems sleeping, ever...never...until we moved to Anaheim. I didn't sleep for the first 6 months straight of living here. It sucked...royal. I finally had to get some Ambien to sleep. I hated being on meds, and tapered myself down and off several times before I completely kicked Ambien back a few months ago. That's a year and a half of medically induced sleep. Rupert found me some herbal sleeping pills that are to die for. There's also an off-brand sleeping pill at Target that's cheaper that works well too.

I'm just saying, I know how you feel, I've been where you are...I sleep, for the most part (food create's sleeping issues for me sometimes).