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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

93 replies

Notcontent · 04/10/2017 23:20

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.

OP posts:

ocelot41 · 05/10/2017 06:00

I am hard of hearing and lipread proficiently - my brain experiences it as 'hearing'. What I notice when I haven't had enough sleep for several nights running is how deaf I am. My brain just can't cope with the lipreading and the world goes very quiet. It's really noticeable - like a computer than just can't boot up properly

bornagainsmiley · 05/10/2017 06:05

I'm addicted to my phone and spend hours on it at night. Even if I go to bed early with DD at 8pm, I'm still on it at 11.

I woke up at 5am today and feel like crap. I'm still on my phone.

Mummyoflittledragon · 05/10/2017 06:19

MynewnameissKy

Link not found.

scaryteacher · 05/10/2017 06:28

I have bouts of insomnia, but recently moved house, and we moved ourselves which was tiring, and I then cleaned the old house to Belgian exit survey standards (inside of shutters, window frames, decalc), so it gleamed. We haven't yet sorted out the satellite dish for TV at the new place, so I am going to bed with dh at about 2230, and not waking til he leaves at 0700 for work. I am sleeping deeply for the first time in years.

The new rental is from the 1750s, and has very thick walls. It is blowing a gale outside at present, as I noticed when I called the cat in, but I can't hear it now I'm back in bed.

Sirzy · 05/10/2017 06:39

I am more than aware of the importance of sleep. Sadly the combination of an autistic son who doesn’t understand and my own brain seemingly not wanting to sleep I don’t get anywhere near enough!

strawberrisc · 05/10/2017 06:40

Ocelot I am part of a 'Signing Choir'. I'm not god but I think sign language should replace other languages on the curriculum in schools.

strawberrisc · 05/10/2017 06:41

*good. I'm not God either but am working on it!

TheSparrowhawk · 05/10/2017 06:50

I agree totally. Which is why it baffles me when I see posts saying that when there's a new baby the working partner (invariably a man) needs sleep and so the other partner (invariably a woman) should do all the night wakings in the week. As if women suddenly don't need sleep once they become mums. In fact my MIL tried to feed me some shit about 'nature' making sure mums could survive without sleep (god forbid her darling boy miss a minute of snoozetime). I laughed in her face and said 'I'm a human being not a robot, I need sleep.' What I found when I was chronically sleep deprived due to DD was that I got used to it, I didn't realise that my brain was essentially on a go slow. It was only when I started to get sleep again that I realised how awful it was - I barely formed any memories of that time, I was just too tired.

It must be horrible to be an insomniac - I'm out like a light as soon as I lie down (don't hate me!!)

operaha · 05/10/2017 06:58

I've been through periods of real insomnia so I really sympathise. I've also had 3 babies who are adults/older now so I also sympathise.

Now though, I need 9 hours a night. 8 just isn't enough so you can imagine how hard that is to fit in with working ft and a 12 year old and 2 dogs to entertain.

I slept from 9-6 last night but ds 12 was still reading until I went to bed and ds 17 is just used to me going to bed way before him.

There's not doubt about the need for sleep for me! I'm useless without it.

BeyondThePage · 05/10/2017 07:17

I am very aware of the need for sleep. I am the "lucky" type - head hits pillow, wake up 8.5 hours later refreshed and happy - every night.

DH is the opposite - no matter when he goes to bed he will get around 3 hours sleep, wake for a bit, get another 1 or 2 hours and wake up knackered. He takes Nytol one-a-night (in the dark blue box, not the herbal) when he is desperate - it works.

mizu · 05/10/2017 07:23

Yes, sleep is so important, am very aware of that.

In the week I am in bed around 9, Tuesdays 10 as I teach til 9 but I need 8 or more hours a night to function fully at work.

My girls are 11 and 12 and are in bed by 8:30 in the week.

I really struggled when they were very young, like someone else said on here, I hardly remember a lot of it as I was so tired.

I love sleeping.

The only negative is that the evenings are short, I would love to be able to stay up longer to be able to get more done

MoonlightMedicine · 05/10/2017 07:26

Having babies that woke every 45 minutes for the first year, and then didn't sleep through until they were 4 educated me in the importance of sleep!!!

WizardOfToss · 05/10/2017 07:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Livingdiisgracefully · 05/10/2017 07:44

With me it's a vicious cycle. If I'm in a cycle of not sleeping I get less exercise and get less done - struggle to complete basic admin etc. Then I wake up in the middle of the night stressing about not having got things done and because my body is not physically as tired as it is mentally tired.

I definitely sleep better if I'm regularly doing something like yoga or Pilates which stills my mind a lot. Menopause played havoc with my sleep and I had permanent brain fog.

Also agree about sleep and obesity. I absolutely crave carbs, particularly sugar, when I'm tired,

AtlanticWaves · 05/10/2017 08:53

I think that for some people sleep isn't prioritised (ever heard the expression you can sleep when you're dead?)

However for lots, sleep is wanted but for various reasons hard to come by!

I've been severely sleep deprived for over 6 years now. My 2 boys (6 and 3) still wake up every sodding night - sometimes once, sometimes multiple times meaning I have to stay up with them for a long time and then can't go back to sleep easily. We have tried lots and lots of things (to be fair, the first 4 years of DS1's life his horrendous sleeping was due to a medical problem) but nothing works for long.

I've noticed for a long time now that my brain doesn't fonction as well, particularly at work.

However in the last few weeks my body has just given up. I am literally in pain from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. I ache all over. My articulations hurt. It's horrible.

The Dr did loads of blood tests but they came back negative. Only conclusion - I'm so exhausted and my body just can't repair itself when it never sleeps more than 2 hours in one go.

I know how important sleep is. But that doesn't change how much I can sleep.

Ecureuil · 05/10/2017 09:04

However in the last few weeks my body has just given up. I am literally in pain from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. I ache all over. My articulations hurt. It's horrible

I feel like this and know it’s due to sleep deprivation. But there’s nothing I can do about it that I haven’t already tried.

brasty · 05/10/2017 09:18

Totally agree OP.
One thing I read is that chronic lack of sleep can create symptoms that look like ADHD in children. Which is why France does not diagnose ADHD until any sleep problems are sorted.

MynewnameisKy · 05/10/2017 09:21

Another try at linking that TED talk

MynewnameisKy · 05/10/2017 09:22

It doesn't seem to be possible to link Ted talks but it's by Wendy Troxel and is about why American school should start later. It was very eye opening to me.

PortiaCastis · 05/10/2017 09:24

I haven't been able to sleep properly for approx 10years. Past events never go away and are worse at night

MissBabbs · 05/10/2017 09:29

To add to the insomnia posters- I would (almost) give my right arm to be able to sleep but all my life it has been a problem- constantly being told I am more likely to get dementia/ heart disease / diabetes reeeeaaaly cheers me up

Ecureuil · 05/10/2017 09:32

MissBabbs yes it’s depressing isn’t it? And the message of the articles is always ‘you need to make sleep a priority’. What about those of us who would do anything to sleep more than 4 hours a night?
It’s actually pretty upsetting to read!

NoCryLilSoftSoft · 05/10/2017 09:34

I barely formed any memories of that time, I was just too tired.

I remember shockingly little from when my DS2 was a baby and I suspect lack of sleep is the reason. I always feel so guilty about not remembering his early months.

StaySexyDontGetMurdered · 05/10/2017 09:35

Definitely agree op. I've had periods of only having 4 or so hours sleep and it affects your whole life, everything is harder to do.

Don't know if it's been mentioned but I love the Sleep With Me podcast, it's perfect to dose off to, especially if you like to fall asleep watching the telly.
It stops me thinking of anxiety related stuff.

kaytee87 · 05/10/2017 09:38

You're right op, it's so important in adults and even more so in small children whose brains are just developing.
I have a 14mo so don't get enough sleep and honestly feel a bit stupid and unable to concentrate most of the time. I also get far more colds than I used to.
I actually really need 9hours at least a few nights a week to not feel tired and in reality I get 7 hours interrupted a couple of times most nights.

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