Not sleeping - me - why do you think?

[elfsmum]

I have a senior job, and currently have joint responsibility for a project that has to be spot on within the next few weeks. (work FT) - have a number of deadlines coming up also.

We are having our house extended and are at the planning stage.

We are due to go on holiday at the weekend (and some of those work deadlines won't get finished before I go)

In the last month DS1 has had tonsilitis, last week was hospitalised with severe croup (was going blue and had steroids - I was extremely upset). BIL told us he was suicidal and has been seen by mental health workers, my DB attempted suicide (but is o.k.)my DS split with her partner over another woman and have been supporting her over this (she was also diagnosed with pleurisy on tuesday). my best friend has been told she has high blood pressure and high cholestoral and is 27% more likely to have a fatal heart attack or stroke than others her age, she is also very down.

DH cousin died suddenly (aged 52), best friends MIL died very suddenly too.

Oh and I broke my toe the other day.

DH and I usually drink 4-5/7 days a week (maybe 0.5 bottle of wine each and more at weekends). Had a heavy BH weekend and shared 5 bottles of wine and 4 cans of pimms and lemonade (over 4 days) Monday I had the best part of a bottle and a half of wine, haven't had a drink since.

For the last 3 nights I haven't slept properly - difficulty in getting off and waking suddenly feeling very shaky inside. Then being awake for 2-3 hours and when I do sleep I have had weird dreams, or have fallen asleep thinking about things and my dream has continued the thinking - IYSWIM.

During the day I'm fine, I have my appetite - although I do have a massive mouth ulcer down one side of my tongue.

So do you think this is alcohol withdrawal after the weekend, or possibly a bit of stress with the way life has been recently ?

although today I do feel tired and a bit shaky and feel like I could just fall asleep - although I can't have to go to work

Blimey, no wonder you aren't sleeping!

If you are trying to help all these people, you have taken a lot on yourself. Stay away from the alcohol and try for some early nights and being kind to yourself (if you can find the time). Remember, if you want to help everyone, you will only be any use if you are mentally ok yourself, and you won't be if you have not given yourself a chance for an occasional rest from it all.

Easier said than done, I know. Do stay away from alcohol for this week though, tempting though it may be. You will feel better for it.

so do you think it's stress and not alcohol withdrawal?

tbh I don't even want a drink, I'm too tired, DH offered me one last night and I refused.

it's not alcohol withdrawal I would say you're knackered

alcohol even in small quantities affects the quality of your sleep so even when you were sleeping you'd be getting less rest than you should

you've been stressed to bugger though and using the alcohol to get you off to sleep for a long time tho

go for walks in the fresh air, do something relaxing before bed, all those cliche relaxation things

stop worrying and stop feeling guilty about booze it will just keep you awake

I've had a problem with sleeping just recently and I've found that Badger Balm helped. You can get it in a little tin from Boots and it's like vaseline that's been scented with oils to aid getting to sleep and also more restful sleep. I just rub it on like you would vaporub and breathe deeply. It's very effective.

Oh Boy! It must be what you are dealing with at the moment.. but when I had a stressy time and couldn't sleep it turned out that my thyroid was on the blink too. You could get it checked. Thyroxin sorted it out.