please, please help me - I feel suicidal over my sleep.

[Ghoulasha]

Sorry if this sounds absolutely melodramatic saying that I feel suicidal but honestly my sleep is ruining my life so much so that sometimes I don't think I can cope.

Since having my baby I have developed teeth grinding. I've never done this before. I put it down to stress of s new baby and broken sleep.

Nearly 2 years on, things haven't improved. I wake up utterly exhausted. I can't think. It feels like I haven't slept at all. I have awful headaches and a really sore neck. I am constantly tired and can't get anything done. I'm not myself anymore and even dh has noticed that I'm not my usual happy self i used to be. I'm becoming depressed because my lack of sleep is getting me so down. It affects so many areas of my life.

I'm even worried that if I catch covid I will get it quite badly because my immune system is now weak and I constantly feel run down. I can't live like this anymore.

Have you been to your dentist to get a mouth guard? My husband started to clench his teeth in his sleep due to his medical conditions and stress and basically he was similar to yourself not sleeping etc. He went to the dentist about a year ago and got the guard and within a week he was sleeping much better to the point where he doesn't wear it anymore.

I grind my teeth too. Sympathies as I occasionally wake up with the dreadful headaches, I don't seem to do it too often nowadays though. Can you get a phone appointment with your GP to discuss any treatment options? They may be able to prescribe or recommend you something. Alternatively, have you looked to see if it's possible to get self-fit mouthguards? Disclaimer - I don't know if you can, I got mine professionally fitted years ago. At the very least, I'd try OTC sleeping aids - valerian, Nytol or similar. Apparently Amazon has them in stock.

Also you need to talk to your doctor about how you are feeling!!

FeelingChange - I suspect needing a mouth guard fitted wouldn't constitute an emergency, so the OP would probably not get seen at present.

Please speak to your GP. Sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture so it's completely understandable that you feel terrible. I have had sleep problems and been prescribed a couple of different things in the past to break the cycle of not sleeping well. I was only given a short course, but they definitely helped. The other thing to try is a shaped memory foam pillow which supports your neck - M&S sell one for £39.50. Expensive but it made such a difference to me after just one night after I'd been waking up with neck pain and headaches for weeks.

Firstly I'm sorry you're feeling so low
Firstly a call to your GP to talk to them about how bad you are feeling. They'll advise on antidepressants and pain relief for your headaches.
The grinding and headaches sound awful.
There's a few things that might help.
Google Tempomandibular joint pain and look for some physio exercises for the jaw, maybe on you tube.
Try and do some relaxation stuff before bed. Headspace app meditation would be good. Once dentists are up and running again definitely get a mouth guard made for nighttime. Good luck. Fortunately there are lots that can help teeth grinding and the resulting pain.

Also plan some self care stuff if you can so you get some real relaxation time. Can dh watch the wee one while you get an uninterrupted nap, bath, walk, read a book etc for a couple of hours?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/

Some advice on here op, let us know how you are.

I do have a night guard but apart from being uncomfortable it hasn't stopped the clenching. I guess it protects my teeth from cracking.
I dont really want to bother the GP. I imagine they're really busy right now with what's going on and feel I'm taking up their time.

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this but I actually sleep but wake up feeling as though I haven't. As though I've not slept at all. my eyes have been closed for 8 hours but when I wake up my eyes feel tired and I don't feel refeshed.

Honestly don't be a martyr about contacting the GP. Someone who is so sleep deprived they are suicidal is as deserving of a GP appointment as anyone else. In fact I'd say more deserving than many.

I have terrible sleep problems but I am in my mid 40's, and it's menopause related for me. I am also on medication for anxiety, and the medication has a side effect of insomnia 😭

Do you drink tea or coffee? I ask because drinkin any caffeine at all during the day increases my anxiety and I then get zero sleep.

I think you need to find the root cause of your anxiety as this sounds like a mental health issue.

You could try telephone or Skype therapy?

Also how much physical exercise do you get?

You wouldn't be bothering the gp.

Have you had blood tests to rule out deficiencies such as Vit Bs of D? Both absolutely wipe you out.

You should have a GP consultation .

Hello OP, we are really sorry to hear you are feeling this way.

We hope you don't mind, but when these threads are flagged up to us we usually add a link to our Mental Health resources. You can also go to the Samaritans website or email them on [email protected]. Support from other Mumsnetters is great and we really hope you will be able to take some comfort from your fellow posters, but as other MNers will tell you, it's really a good idea to seek RL help and support as well.

We also like to remind everyone that, although we're awed daily by the astonishing support our members give each other through life's trickier twists and turns, we'd always caution anyone never to give more of themselves to another poster, emotionally or financially, than they can afford to spare.

We are going to move this thread to the Mental Health section shortly.

Take care

Hi Op, I have been a lifelong teeth grinder because my bottom jaw is a little too big and doesn't fit comfortably under my top jaw.

I have had 3 mouth guards and hated them all. Here's what I do (and find it works):

1. Pillow which supports your neck, or bunch your pillow under your neck a little.

2.Lie on your side and lift your chin.

1. Seal your lips but keep your teeth slightly apart and put the tip of your tongue in between.
2. Every time you wake, resettle your self by doing 1-3 and eventually you will retrain yourself to sleep this way and relax your jaw.

Good luck!

Magnesium tablets vastly improved my quality of sleep

You need referring to the maxillofacial department, wear your night guard and google temporomandibular joint disfunction in the mean time follow the exercises online. Botox in the jaw joints in an option too. Must warn you due to CV19 many hospitals aren't accepting any referrals at this time.

I ageee that you should contact your doctor.
You could have iron deficiency, plain or with vitamin deficiency. Or a number of other conditions.
Maybe they won't be able to order tests now, but then again, depending on where you are, maybe they still can.
Worst case, they might be able to rule out some things and give you some advice to keep you going until things get more normal.

I used to use one of these-a myo munchie
static1.squarespace.com/static/5934c832e58c627dbfb3bf1e/t/593e11532994ca0f61efcdd7/1497239895173/Price+list+and+dimensions+UK.pdf

More info
static1.squarespace.com/static/5934c832e58c627dbfb3bf1e/t/593e11f7e6f2e102a2545944/1497240066139/TMD+A4.pdf
Again though really not cheap

The only thing that helped me was MELATONIN tatblets. Try it for a week and I guarantee you will sleep 10000% better x

wonderrotunda can you please tell me more about this. I also have a tongue thrusting problem which i think may help with this device. What was your issue and how did it help. Thx