Maybe not insomnia

[cjsmith]

Yesterday I started reading You Are Getting Sleepy, a book about lifestyle related approaches to insomnia. In the first chapter, the author asks some questions about the reader's experience of being unable to sleep. I now wonder if I don't have insomnia so much as I simply don't need a lot of sleep. (I do have bad nights. Many people do. But overall, five hours a night of really solid sleep actually sorta seems to work, and perhaps I should just stop worrying about it.)

Info for anyone else interested in the book: He writes about how various conditions are linked to insomnia, such as chronic pain, depression, etc. He asks the insightful question of which came first - do you wake up because you hurt, or do you hurt more because you're not sleeping well? Studies suggest the latter! But after that, he disappointed me by recommending all the usual sleep hygiene stuff, things good sleepers simply don't do. By his own thought process, good sleep hygiene should be evaluated as a possible cause of insomnia. Fah.

Anyway, I'm going to try to stop worrying about sleep. It seems I'm mostly okay.

Comments

[billeyler]

Since I've been on a CPAP going on 2 years, I can gauge how much sleep I'm actually getting. Last night, for instance, I fell asleep in the recliner about 11pm, woke up at 1am, crawled into bed, put on the CPAP, and was asleep again within 1 minute. I woke up at 6:15. So I got 5 hours plus maybe 2 more. That's a lot for me.

On nights at home, I sleep between 5 and 6 hours a night. But I need naps during the day. Away from home, I can sleep 7 or 8 hours with the CPAP. Don't know what the difference is. Mercifully, I don't have insomnia.

[cjsmith]

That difference between home and away is intriguing! And I’m glad you don’t have insomnia. That would be pretty awful.

[mrdreamjeans]

My sleep study schedule for April 18th is supposed to help me sort out the answers to these kinds of questions.

[cjsmith]

Ooo fingers crossed!

[zahraa]

I've heard that's one of the best things you can do for sleeplessness--not worry so much about it.

[cjsmith]

Yeah. I mean, it’s hard NOT to worry if you’re really getting not enough. There are lots of disadvantages to being exhausted. But I’m glad that as best I can tell I’m doing okay.

[cjsmith]

Checking in. Did you get any new info from the sleep study? Was doing it miserable, as people say?

[mrdreamjeans]

The sleep study had to be postponed. I caught a cold when I got back, plus with four cancelled flights and seven rebookings over three days two weekends ago, I didn't think having the sleep study on the 18th would give me typical results. I'm on the tail end of the cold; the sleep study is now on the 25th. I am doing the study at home, so we'll see ...

[cjsmith]

Oh wow, at home! That's a real bonus. After all, tons of people already don't sleep well in unfamiliar environments. Fingers crossed for good info!

[mrdreamjeans]

I completed the home study last night. The data recorded accurately. I should have results by Monday.

[cjsmith]

Fingers crossed for useful info!