To think most people don't realise how important sleep is?

[Notcontent]

I was reading a really interesting article recently, about a man who studies the role of sleep in our health. Anyway, in a nutshell he was staying that lack of sleep has a huge impact on our health and life expectancy, but that most people now are chronically sleep deprived. And while we are bombarded with messages about healthy eating, etc. sleep is seen by our society as almost optional.

I think this is so true. Most adults I speak to don't get enough sleep - and I think a lot of secondary aged kids don't either.

Not read the full thread yet, but for all those suffering insomnia - have a look at melatonin. I've been taking it for several months now and it's been a godsend.

Obviously melatonin won't work for everyone, but I always think it's worth a try. I tried it very sceptically (is that a word??) and really haven't looked back.

Can second Melatonin. I used to take some sort of supplement that I believe had Melatonin in it, then I tried Valerian which worked for a short while. The melatonin works within about 20 minutes, and I generally only need 3mg, though 6mg can help more when my restless legs are giving me bother.

I have ME. I understand the importance of sleep. If some smart arse could solve the fact that my sleep isn't productive....

I know. 15 years ago I had a job which involved not only shiftwork but being in charge of all the other shiftworkers (the service provided operated 24/7 which meant that if someone didn't come to work then I had to cover their shift.) After about 6 months of averaging 4 hours sleep ever 24, I was a bit... unwell.

But at least it meant that the early days of motherhood were an absolute fucking doddle. Everyone said, oh, the interrupted nights, and I would say: but when my staff woke me up in the night (or the afternoon, if I was trying to sleep off an 18 hour overnight shift) I would have to get up, dress, go to work and do another up-to-sixhours - DS woke in the night and I fed him, put him back in his cot and went back to sleep.

Most adults I speak to don't get enough sleep - and I think a lot of secondary aged kids don't either.

British children are said to be the most sleep deprived in Europe; there were news stories about it earlier this year. I wouldn't be surprised if poor sleep contributed to the increasing levels of stress, anxiety and other difficulties among children and teenagers.

NHS recommends nine hours of sleep for 14-16 year olds. So if they're getting up at 7.30 on a school day, they should be asleep by 10.30.

(And I don't have to be up early tomorrow, hence posting at this hour.)

I agree with NapQueen - I've had a cold for the last 3 weeks I just can't get rid of, and 11-week-old DS is an awful sleeper so I'm averaging 5 hours' sleep per night. I'm so tired!

I have now accepted I sleep in a bI phasic sleep pattern during the darker months. I’m in the wake part of my sleep cycle right now. Once I accepted that I can’t sleep through, it’s been much easier to go back to sleep as I’m not stressing so much about when or if I’m going to sleep. I have ME and had a deep sleep after lunch, which is unusual so annoyingly I think I’m going to be awake for some time tonight.

There is a reason slept deprivation is used as torture.

I have gone to bed at midnight and still be staring at the ceiling at 6am. Up at 6.30 with DS, get him to school and then to bed, till 2pm

I took a massive hit to my mental health along with everything else going down the fucking toilet. Now I have gotten to 3am and am difting of, not sleeping during the day but its still hit and miss. A better study would surely have been why some people can't sleep

I wish i could sleep more. And that the smartarses who tell us we should all get a solid eight hours or so and horrible things will happen of we don't would either sod off or tell us how.

Really, just lying down in a dark room might be as good? I hope so.

I agree with you totally!! I really feel the affects within a matter of days if I'm going through an episode of insomnia. My DP got me some sleepy from lush and I have to say it's really helped it's no miracle cure but definately takes the edge off it also works wonders on my toddler and my mil uses it too she's the worst sleeper I know and suffers chronically from restless legs which must be awful but even she has said she's slept much better!

I have anxiety and depression which often means I can't sleep as my brain is on overdrive. I've also recently been prescribed Prozac which is massively affecting my sleep. I remember seeing 3am on the clock last night, woke at 6am. 1.15am now so I can see it being a running theme for a while.

It's literally awful. Sleep is so important, I'd kill someone for a decent night atm.

Getting more sleep always sounds really nice in theory but every night I go to bed about 2.30am knowing that as soon as I manage to fall asleep half an hour later DS will wake up and need me. Broken sleep kills me not the late night.

I am 8 weeks pregnant and awake every night for about 3 hours in the early hours. Everything aimed at pregnant women tells you you must get enough sleep. It's not for want of trying!

Listening to football podcasts especially the BBC ones knocks me out but they keep up dw and wearing earphones to bed is uncomfortable and sometimes gives me a painful in ear spot

I've been watching a home-grown doco series recently called 'Why Are We Fat?' and sleep came up as a major wellbeing issue in it.

It has a huge impact on obesity and weight loss, on top of everything else.

@TheDowagerCuntess I can see how sleep deprivation and obesity can be a vicious cycle

I have insomnia. I manage about 3-4 hours a night. When I see articles that say ‘get more sleep’ I want to scream!

Yup another insomniac here...

Obesogenic and carcinogenic... Plus feeling shit!

Oh hang on... sleep is important is it? Why can't someone tell my sodding baby that!!! I love him to bits but I'm so bloody tired I could scream, just 4 hours of unbroken sleep would do me the world of good, let alone more.

This is really interesting about sleep deprived teenagers. You just need to ignore the bit about school starting time in USA really interesting TED talk

It's your brain that needs sleep more than your body.

I realise it only too well but I'm 14 weeks pregnant and have woken up at least twice a night for the last 8 weeks, and any time after 4am I am done for as it's impossible to get back to sleep (hence 5am post). I then spend the whole day trying to stay awake...

Most successful technique for getting back to sleep that I've tried is naming one thing for each letter of the alphabet, but even that only works some of the time and rarely after 4am.

I just want a full night's sleep!

I realise the importance of sleep, my 3 year old not so much (awake since 4.30).

I worked 12hr night shifts 4nights a week for 3 years I had to do school drop off and pick up so only got 4hrs sleep which was even worse if my now ex was off work and would wake me up after an hour wanting to go do stuff.

I never realised how much sleep affects your health until then I was a walking zombie, couldn't concentrate, was I'll all the time and had an evil temper. I'm now happily working 5hr days and getting lots of sleep I may be skint but the nights just wernt worth it.

I would be able to sleep more, as I have no problem with falling asleep itself, but as a teacher with very little hours in the day, I usually consider the very late/very early hours as perfect book marking time.

I'm aware that it's bad for my health (I haven't not had a cold sore since starting back in September ) but I don't see when I can get all my work done otherwise.