Not slept a wink and have to go into the office

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I was recently off work for 2 weeks on annual leave and got back last Wednesday. I have been back in work since Friday so I’ve done two days back in but unfortunately, since being home I haven’t been sleeping. I’ve had about 2-3 hours from Wednesday onwards and last night has been the worst. I took a n antihistamine in hopes it would work as a sleeping tablet and still no luck, in fact I haven’t slept AT ALL. I feel very stressed and panicked and mentally don’t feel capable of working but I feel like that’s really bad after I’ve just been off for 2 weeks.

We are a small team of 4 people and one of them is already off on long term sick so there’s only 3 of us in. Today is supposed to be my first day back in the office (yesterday and Friday were WFH days) but I am really really dreading this. I don’t feel fit to drive, especially coming home from work after I will no doubt feel so much worse at the end of the day. I have physical symptoms of lack of sleep now like a raging headache and dizziness, and I mentally feel like I won’t be able to concentrate and I feel a lot of stress and anxiety.

I don’t feel like there’s anything I can do though due to me already being off for 2 weeks plus the other team member being off. Is that bad on the team? If you were me would you call in sick or ask to WFH or would you feel like you have to push through and go in? I don’t even think I could last the whole work day. I don’t even want to call in sick because I have so much work to do that has piled up over the 2 weeks I’ve been off. I don’t have to be up until 8 but now I can’t even try to get the last few hours in because I’m worrying about work

If you can't sleep you might as well go to work, a hard days work and you may sleep like a baby tonight, moping about all day won't help.

Well I’m not a great sleeper anyway but I recently got myself into a really good routine and have been able to sleep really well for a while. Then recently I was diagnosed with a hole in my heart and that caused some anxiety and stress and it’s very easy to throw my sleep off. I went on holiday and was fine but since getting back I just can’t seem to sleep even when I completely clear my mind and use all my tricks that have worked before

I'm in a similar position, no sleep, loaded with the cold, have been off for 2 weeks with a chest infection before half term. I'm a teacher so a hellish job when ill and tired but just going to have to suck it up. 😩

Oh it’s horrible but I imagine many people have been there at some point - I know I have. It’s bad enough if you’ve had a broken night and only a couple of hours sleep but on occasions I’ve literally lain awake all night. Worse one was the night before a majorly important all day work event!

But you will power through and you know it’s the right thing to do. You’re not ill, yes, you feel crap now but you’ll get through. When it’s happened to me, these things help: strong coffee to get me going, shower and hair wash so I feel zingy fresh, drink plenty of water during the day, take a protein full lunch, carbs might make you more sleepy. If you can get out for a brisk walk at lunchtime, do it.
these are my go to things if I have a really bad night before work.

Uber is a wide idea if you really aren’t up to driving.
Good luck

I’ve been like this before and understand how desperate you feel now but you need to find out why you’re not sleeping . Is it hormones eg menopause, worry , a health condition etc try magnesium also and the odd herbal sleeping tablets . I powered through on days like this going in but saying I don’t feel well so could go earlier if needed as had made an effort . You really must find out why you’re not sleeping if you can . For me it was work stess and menopause then I found out I was prediabetic . Lots of lifestyle changes were needed

PS I would definitely tell your manager. If you are incapable of functioning as you normally would, you need them to know why and not start wondering if you are deliberately underperforming, going out all night, abusing substances, having other medical issues etc! Explain the problem and what you have tried to fix it. I found the one or two times I have shown people my (accurate) sleep tracker records they take me entirely seriously, my boss has told me to work from home, GP was keen to help.

I’d WFH. Explain I wasn’t safe to drive and offer an additional office day later in the week.

Speak to your manager

"I am suffering from insomnia due to work stress. It has been getting steadily worse and I didn't sleep at all last night. It wouldn't be safe for me to drive today but I'm happy to work from home. When are we getting a new person to help with the workload while colleague is off sick?"

I'll add, despite having good "sleep hygiene", I found all of the "sleep hygiene" rhetoric seriously anxiety inducing. Like, if you don't follow this perfect routine to the letter, you won't get any sleep and it will all be your fault.

The other day I opened a drawer and found a little alarm clock ⏰️ that I bought during my insomnia episode, in the hopeless belief that not having my phone in the room would help, and it sent a shiver down my spine! I tried EVERYTHING.

I know we are all different but this seems so alien to me.

I occasionally, struggle to sleep and some nights are so bad I do see every hour and the thought of getting out of bed then alarm get odd at 6.30 but once I’m up, showered, had some fresh air and a coffee and into the office I just go into autopilot mode and get on with my day. Sometimes I need an extra caffeine hit of bit of sugar in the afternoon but I could not imagine having to excuse myself to sit on a toilet to close my eyes!

With this, I do think you should suck it up, go in and just get on with your day and just look forward to getting back into bed for an early night, tonight.

Just saw your update about your health diagnosis. You should mention you've had a serious diagnosis and are coming to terms with it.

People saying just power through forget that your performance is likely to be impaired. I get dizzy, clumsy and nauseous with insomnia. When it's really bad I get visual hallucinations which are apparently common. Please don't drive. Be an adult, don't be a martyr.

Just plough through and plan a relaxed evening.

Have you tried magnesium spray on your feet?

Most people occassionally struggle with a sleepless night or two. That's fine and nothing like insomnia, where your brain and body is wired, like you've drunk 10 cans of Red Bull, night after night, and you might only get a broken 90 minutes sleep per night, every night, for weeks. It's totally debilitating. I had no idea until I experienced it, and I have the fear of God in me that it will come back.

I’d just push through personally. How far is the drive? Can you take public transport? Maybe ask to finish earlier. People are always suspicious when people can’t come in on their office day but can WFH. Obviously sometimes genuine reasons, but for many they aren’t which then makes it awkward. I’d personally rather not be at home as i’d be more likely to fall asleep.

I’ve been in your position and it is horrible. I will say though that once you get up and get moving, have a shower, coffee and something to eat you probably won’t feel as bad as you do now. I have amazed myself with the things I’ve been able to do on little or no sleep. You likely will feel bad for much of the day but just take it an hour at a time and know that this time next week you’ll likely be through the other side of this.

Magnesium glycinate is the best one for sleep.

I wouldn’t go in. If you’re so tired you can’t keep your eyes open, what happens if you crash? Can you go by public transport? People wouldn’t be encouraging you if you’d been drinking, not sleeping is no different. Your reaction time is much slower. I work in emergency services, I’ve seen what reverting car crashes can do.

I’m not driving, I will get an Uber and hopefully will be able to get picked up after work

I would wfh. Surely they would rather you work than not, and if you feel you can't drive you are a danger to yourself and others. If your work culture is such that you can't do this, Id be looking elsewhere. Where I work we are hybrid also but I can't imagine a scenario where we'd be forced into work feeling like this.
Regular breaks, walk at lunch, plenty of coffee. Being at home you'll feel less panicked and be more productive too.

I would absolutely wfh. You’re not well and taking a day’s sick would also be acceptable. But don’t go in.

Hi op. I’m a migraine sufferer too.
Youve had lots of great advice, and I confirm that taking lots of snacks and hydration in with you to work is helpful. Also if you are allowed, I have found that chewing gum helps me focus and stops that dry mouth feeling.
If you have any dark glasses, it should help stop the glare from the computer screen and reflected bright lights from above. I appreciate you might feel a bit daft wearing them, but you’re in a small group who I’m sure will only be entirely grateful for your efforts to go into work.
I’ve also used a visor around my head in order to shield my eyes from harsh lighting.

Lastly, wishing you good luck, and I hope you last the day and get safely back home to rest and blessed relief.

I don’t actually think my manager would say no if I asked to work from home but I just feel like maybe it doesn’t look great when I haven’t been in for 2 weeks and our full team hasn’t been in for months. I have endometriosis too and last month I went in, got a bad pain flare up and had to go home and have another 2 days off so I just feel like I have been off too much recently to ask again

I have very similar problems and am used to ploughing on through but do wonder about the long term health impacts.
In your current situation I'd do the uber option but just to add re. the magnesium that a body lotion had some positive effects for me, put on my legs before bed. Unfortunately after a while it made them quite itchy so I stopped using it but could be worth a try? I used the Better You one.

I’m sorry you feel like this OP. I can offer a hand hold, I was up last night too dreading going in today because I have made a big mistake at work and will have to own up to it today.

I honestly think once youre up and out it won’t be as bad as you fear. I didn’t have the best sleep last night; I’m sitting here wrapped in a towel having had a really zingy shower. I use a citrus shower gel every morning which really wakes me up. I’m downing a coffee and will hop in the car, window down and radio on for the drive to work which makes me feel more alive.

appreciate it’s even worse when you’ve had zero sleep but these things work for me on those occasions. It sounds like you’re used to not having great sleep but you’re really panicked about actually getting none. But it will be ok. It’s horrid now but you’ll get through and chances are you’re sleep better tonight as you’ll have been on the go all day