Real sleep problems are SERIOUS

[Air.]

Hi,

 

Out of all the disorders, Sleep Disorders are one of the worst in my opinion... Because, getting very little sleep is like pain, except its emotional and psychical pain. Its real pain.

 

 

I wish anyone who truly has not gotten a good nights sleep to try their best to get as much sleep as they can.

 

Good Luck.

[melissaw72]

I agree sleep is very important.  IMO, I don't think it is one of the worst disorders, but I agree it isn't good to have.

Edited June 29, 2014 by melissaw72

[Jess xox]

If I could choose only one of my illnesses to recover from, it'd be insomnia. It is torturous. I literally cannot sleep at all for about a week unless I take my medication. If I don't sleep I get physically tired but my mind is completely awake and that sensation ends up giving me panic attacks because it just feels awful. There is nothing worse than a sleepless night. Then, even if I take my meds I still feel awful because I can hardly get up in the morning. I'm always late to school and I can't concentrate because I'm just so god damn tired all of the fucking time.

[tryp]

It all sucks.

 

No one mental illness is any worse or any better than the others.

 

It's not the mental illness Olympics.

[dianthus]

Personally, I wouldn't put my sleep problems up there with the things that make me completely nonfunctional. I can work with my long term sleep issues so that they impact my life less than some of the others. That's for me personally. But I think making a blanket statement that sleep problems are objectively worse for everyone is pretty unfair and not sympathetic to others.

i agree with tryp, it's no good to compare. Everyone's experience is different.

[dilemma]

Before I got BP, I got fibromyalgia and an autoimmune disorder where I just ached and ached,  I also had a sleep disorder where I couldn't fall asleep until 2 hours after I did the night before.  It was horrible, and it got to the point where I had to try and quickly prove I had a short term disability before they fired me.

 

Then  about a year or two later I took an SSRI because I was so depressed, and that triggered my bipolar.  I was in horrible shape.

 

Luckily after awhile, my pdoc prescribed Seroquel, which knocked me out cold and I slept for hours.

 

Boy did that help my physical ailments. I got lucky there.

[melissaw72]

 

But I think making a blanket statement that sleep problems are objectively worse for everyone is pretty unfair and not sympathetic to others.

 

If I read the OP correctly in the original post, OP wrote it was in his opinion.  You're right though that general blanket statements are unfair.

[dtac]

Insomnia is horrible. Sleep is one of the primary things your body needs to function properly.

 

I've always suffered from insomnia from time to time, but Abilify took it to a whole new level. I spent 8 months sleeping 3-4h a night while my pdoc attempted to find a solution. Seroquel is the only thing that will offset the insomnia that Abilify causes me, and that's so long as I stay at 2mg. If I go higher on the Abilify, nothing will knock me out for more than 1-2h. Part of the reason (and the cost) I'm not on Abilify anymore.

[LunaRufina]

But I think making a blanket statement that sleep problems are objectively worse for everyone is pretty unfair and not sympathetic to others.

 

If I read the OP correctly in the original post, OP wrote it was in his opinion.  You're right though that general blanket statements are unfair.

Yeah. They did write "in my opinion". I think we need to stop excusing blatant generalizations which come out of nowhere as well as other things [which again, come out of nowhere] simply because people write the magical words "in my opinion". I think it's important to discern when a person is making a blanket statement that they feel applies to everyone, as opposed to something they do actually feel is coming specifically from their own experience.

But when you start a thread, state "MY DISORDER IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE ONE CAN HAVE OUT OF ALL THE THINGS EVERYONE EXPERIENCES ON THESE BOARDS in my opinion"... I mean, I'm not sure how much I can bend to give that person room to discount the experiences and challenges of everyone else. It is just their opinion, but it's still kind of shitty one.

Just my opinion.

Edited July 14, 2014 by LunaRufina

[dianthus]

 

But I think making a blanket statement that sleep problems are objectively worse for everyone is pretty unfair and not sympathetic to others.

 

If I read the OP correctly in the original post, OP wrote it was in his opinion.  You're right though that general blanket statements are unfair.

Well, opinions are like assholes...

  

But I think making a blanket statement that sleep problems are objectively worse for everyone is pretty unfair and not sympathetic to others.

 If I read the OP correctly in the original post, OP wrote it was in his opinion.  You're right though that general blanket statements are unfair.Yeah. They did write "in my opinion". I think we need to stop excusing blatant generalizations which come out of nowhere as well as other things [which again, come out of nowhere] simply because people write the magical words "in my opinion". I think it's important to discern when a person is making a blanket statement that they feel applies to everyone, as opposed to something they do actually feel is coming specifically from their own experience.But when you start a thread, state "MY DISORDER IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE ONE CAN HAVE OUT OF ALL THE THINGS EVERYONE EXPERIENCES ON THESE BOARDS in my opinion"... I mean, I'm not sure how much I can bend to give that person room to discount the experiences and challenges of everyone else. It is just their opinion, but it's still kind of shitty one.Just my opinion.

QFMFT.

(quoted for motherfuckin truth)

[Sloane]

I, personally, read this more as cry out for help than an attack on other people

 

FWIW the title is actually Real sleep problems are SERIOUS. And Sleep problems and Disorders are definitely, extremely serious (leading to severe psychiatric and physical illness, even death in some cases). And this topic was posted in the Sleep Disorders Forum, complaining/commenting on how Sleep Disorders are "one of the worsts".

 

I suppose making this a Blog post would be much more suitable, because it is more of a personal cry than anything. But we are entitled to our own opinions about pain and how we perceive it, or at least I hope so.

 

The problem is that you can not judge one pain over another, because every person's illness affects them differently. However it's also understandable when one is in pain from their own suffering/illness, it is hard to see any one else's pain and suffering as equal, or more severe than their own. I myself can confess to this when in severe depression, or especially dysphoric mania. Its hard no to have tunnel vision in a time of crisis or severe illness.

[dianthus]

I think the issue with this particular topic is that it's been part of the culture here since the dark ages that comparing disorders and suffering is not cool. I think the idea is that it makes for a better community when we're trying to be supportive without judging or comparing one another's experiences in terms of "better" or "worse."

Edited July 15, 2014 by dianthus

[writehellarandomshiny]

sleep disorders really do suck... 

[Equivilency]

I agree sleep problems are torturous and can disable a person. Anything that disables someone each and every day is just bad news.

[lavender fairy]

I have a sleep disorder that has left me disabled, and it definitely sucks.  It affects all my other health issues, and is affected by them as well. 

[KillBytes]

I most definitely have a serious sleep disorder. With no meds at all, it can take me 4 to 8 hours to fall asleep no matter how tired I am, and then I wake up every 30 mns or hour. It's been like that since the 90's for me with few exceptions! With meds, ambien to help me fall asleep and seriquel to stay aslep I can fall asleep in 1 to 3 hours but still get up every hour. So yea, I think it sux too, but for me, the worse is this endless mood disorder or roller coaster ride that never ends.

[Beach bum]

I'm not touching the "this one is worse than that one". I do know for me lack of sleep does cause me a lot more pain. So I need more pain meds, and on top of it, I'm up 24 hours a day, and my body gets no rest,, so again I need to take more pain meds. I'll just say it totally sucks. All the other shit that's wrong with me sucks just as badly. I'm totally Switzerland, here.

[cady]

If I could choose only one of my illnesses to recover from, it'd be insomnia. It is torturous. I literally cannot sleep at all for about a week unless I take my medication. If I don't sleep I get physically tired but my mind is completely awake and that sensation ends up giving me panic attacks because it just feels awful. There is nothing worse than a sleepless night. Then, even if I take my meds I still feel awful because I can hardly get up in the morning. I'm always late to school and I can't concentrate because I'm just so god damn tired all of the fucking time.

I feel exactly like this, it isnt taken seriously by people and i get called lazy because i get up at 1pm, its pure torture and no one understands!.

[yellowlovesgray]

I think what makes sleep disorders unusually awful is that people who've never suffered one have a real hard time taking it seriously. It's almost a joke to them -- you should just go to bed earlier and quit partying or whatever it is you're doing at night. Just lay in bed in a cool, quiet DARK room and follow all of the sleep hygiene tips and maybe do some guided meditation and you should be fine. What's the problem.

[melissaw72]

^^ Those things definitely do not work for me.

[Equivilency]

I think what makes sleep disorders unusually awful is that people who've never suffered one have a real hard time taking it seriously. It's almost a joke to them -- you should just go to bed earlier and quit partying or whatever it is you're doing at night. Just lay in bed in a cool, quiet DARK room and follow all of the sleep hygiene tips and maybe do some guided meditation and you should be fine. What's the problem.

 

I know right, and none of that works. Its a ridiculous way to live, but I guess I would prefer this over missing arms or limbs?

[Ash19]

Before I got BP, I got fibromyalgia and an autoimmune disorder where I just ached and ached,  I also had a sleep disorder where I couldn't fall asleep until 2 hours after I did the night before.  It was horrible, and it got to the point where I had to try and quickly prove I had a short term disability before they fired me.

 

Then  about a year or two later I took an SSRI because I was so depressed, and that triggered my bipolar.  I was in horrible shape.

 

Luckily after awhile, my pdoc prescribed Seroquel, which knocked me out cold and I slept for hours.

 

Boy did that help my physical ailments. I got lucky there.

Seroquel is amazing, works for Bipolar and Psychosis too.

I have insomnia and I cannot sleep whatsoever for about three to six days, and even then it's only for an hour or two. But seroquel is pretty effective, and I take Circadin as well

[yellowlovesgray]

 

I think what makes sleep disorders unusually awful is that people who've never suffered one have a real hard time taking it seriously. It's almost a joke to them -- you should just go to bed earlier and quit partying or whatever it is you're doing at night. Just lay in bed in a cool, quiet DARK room and follow all of the sleep hygiene tips and maybe do some guided meditation and you should be fine. What's the problem.

 

I know right, and none of that works. Its a ridiculous way to live, but I guess I would prefer this over missing arms or limbs?

 

My fave response to knowing I have issues with sleep is:

"Well, could you maybe go to bed earlier?"

It's like, LOL, what do you even say to this?

"OMG I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT!!!! IT's been years and I've spent thosuands of dollars on sleep studies, meds and doctors and you know, it just NEVER occured to me to just get into bed earlier. Ever. Thank you. OMG. Have you ever thought of runnning for office? You truly do have ALL the answers."

Whatevz.

I can physically go to bed earlier but that doesn't mean my brain will shut off and I'll drift into sleep.

[melissaw72]

 

 

I think what makes sleep disorders unusually awful is that people who've never suffered one have a real hard time taking it seriously. It's almost a joke to them -- you should just go to bed earlier and quit partying or whatever it is you're doing at night. Just lay in bed in a cool, quiet DARK room and follow all of the sleep hygiene tips and maybe do some guided meditation and you should be fine. What's the problem.

 

I know right, and none of that works. Its a ridiculous way to live, but I guess I would prefer this over missing arms or limbs?

 

My fave response to knowing I have issues with sleep is:

 

 

"What's the problem ..." (said in sarcastic/like-I-am-stupid-for-not-falling-asleep-like-other-people voice). I hate that.  As if I knew.

[cara23]

I hate when people say "maybe you just don't need much sleep."  Not how it works.  

[MiaB]

I hate when people say "maybe you just don't need much sleep."  Not how it works.  

 Oh yes, I love this one. Especially when I have my doctors so concerned about my lack of sleep right now that they've forbidden me to drive.