Light sleeper. Never in a deep sleep :(

[TiredYorkshireMam]

Hello, I've just had yet another nights bad sleep and getting so fed up of it, thought I would ask on here if anybody is similar.

I am a very light sleeper. So far as I can remember I always have been. The slightest thing wakes me up and often I am just suddenly aware that I'm awake and thinking and have been for some time.

Last night for example I just feel like I've been awake the whole night

I know of people who go to sleep, and then wake up in the morning, having slept right through, with no wake ups. I can count on one hand the amount of times I've done that my entire adult life. And I'm always amazed in the morning.

I do have young kids and for a few years they were terrible sleepers (one much worse than the other) but they are over that now. I'd say maybe 50% of the time one of them will wake up and want to get in bed with me (so one wake up) and 50% of the time they will both sleep straight through.....yet still I'm awake all bloody night

I generally have no problem falling asleep at night and will fall asleep pretty quickly....I just can't stay asleep.

Sometimes, if something is worrying me, I get in a cycle where I am very stressed and can't get to sleep at all, and spend the whole night up and down to the toilet as stress seems to affect my bladder and the whole night just goes to pot because the more I can't sleep the more stressed I get.

But that's fairly rare and seems to be a different issue to the light sleeping, which is long term and constant.

Is this just the way I am? I feel so permanently tired

@blackheartsgirl that sounds so hard, I'm
so sorry.

And yes, I agree. In addition to my sleep issues, which I have had for years, one of my children had issues when he was born and didn't sleep at all. He would only sleep for 15 minutes at a time and it nearly killed me. I didn't have much support and I can remember screaming crying with tiredness for somebody to please just take him. I was on my knees with tiredness. The only time he slept was in the car, and I used to drive him slowly around the streets despite feeling so exhausted I didn't feel safe to drive. I hate thinking about that now. It was such a low point and I feel so sad that we didn't get any help, but also I do appreciate there wasn't really anything anybody could do. During that time I developed a habit of blinking my eyes shut really tight every few seconds as I my vision was so blurred otherwise. I was constantly stumbling over my words, always on the verge of tears, and had terrible coordination. Always walking to doors, spilling drinks etc.

This tiredness now isn't as acute, thank god. It's more of a chronic thing. I can function, it's just draining.

@TiredYorkshireMam Have you tried taking magnesium??? I used to have to get up at night to pee- just once a night- but for years and years and years. In my early 50s, the GP made me come off the minipill and I happened to start magnesium supplements at the same time (hoping they would help my sleep but they don't). I miraculously haven't had to get up in the night to pee ever again!!! Don't know if it was coming off the pill, starting magnesium or just a coincidence.

@FraeYah no, I haven't, but magnesium is something I will look into as well.

Been feeling drained all day, hoping for a good night tonight 🤞