Tips to cope with lack of sleep- please.

[marantha]

Feel a bit of a fraud as I am not a mother myself so not yet had the pleasure of sleeplessness owing to baby care BUT as lack of sleep/insomnia can affect everybody as some point, I'd like some tips on how to get through the day when you've had little/no sleep.
Feel exhausted and a long day awaits.
This thread is not just for me but for anyone who is in the same position.

in a weird way being out of the house helps

coffee (decaffienated is enough for me)
plus you do just get used to it - i've been up at 5 for as long as i can remember, plus wakings throuugh the night and evntually you just adjust

I'm in the same boat. I'm going to try hypnotherapy as even when my baby sleeps I can't get back to sleep some nights after he wakes! The days are hard, aren't they? I have three children to look after.

Getting out helps, talking to friends helps, having a good cry helps.

BeckyBendyLegs I feel a bit guilty starting a thread here because there are people like yourself who have three children to care for and I don't but it IS a problem that affects everyone at some point so I hope you don't mind.
Good luck.

cut out sugar, it makes you bad tempered

I don't mind at all. I had really bad problems sleeping when I was doing my finals at University, more so than now, and I could stay in bed all day if I wanted to! I didn't because I was wide awake!

I have terrible insomnia and am tired all the time. You do get used to it but very veeerrry occasionally I get a good night's sleep and realise I am living half a life the rest of the time. Its almost better never to see how good you'd feel if you slept like everyone else seems to. A quick (even 10 mins) power nap helps on the sofa if you can get it.

Another insomniac mother here. I've never been a good sleeper but having children has completely messed me up. I eventually started sleeping again consistently when DS1 was three. Now I have DS2 and I am back to pondering whether it's insomnia or PND which I did have last time.

Things thst get me through are telling myself this won't last forever, trying relaxation techniques and trying desperately not to think about the nights sleep ahead.

What I wouldn't give to be one of these people who goes go bed and sleeps for as long as they need. The irony is that I have two DS's who sleep like a dream - 7am to 7pm.

Me too CountryLover, one DS of 20 mths who hasn't woken in the night since 9 mths. Not once. My mum is the same and I think I picked up some sleep related anxiety from her as it was a major problem for her (not blaming her at all, just one of those things). People who don't suffer don't understand. My DH says 'for someone so clever it's amazing that you can't just sleep'!

smartmars Iknow exactly what you mean. When a good night's sleep IS achieved, you realise what you're missing out on.
There is apparently a pill now that breaks the sleeplessness-anxiety-sleeplessness cycle, if you are interested as I know that this vicious circle exists when a person can't sleep.

Marantha, if you are still there - what is this wonder pill you speak of??

Coffee, fresh air (quick 5 minute walk works great). At work, I tackle any big tasks that require me to focus first thing in the morning, and any mind numbing smaller things (email responses etc) later in the day when the fatigue has caught up with me. It is amazing how you get used to being permanently sleep deprived!!

I don't know what it is called, but I remember thinking- what a wonderful drug!

Hi, enjyoing this thread, I also have some night where I can't go to sleep even after lo has - and I feel like such a failure! Ah well...
I cope by meditating, trying to continue with my normal life as much as possible, telling myself that it will pass, eating healthy foods, exercising. I still feel like s* sometimes, and a good cry can do wonders.

I recently strated taking citalopram (anti-depressant, also for anxiety) to see if it helps but am on a very low dose. Off to Docs tomorrow to increase it. I don't feel depressed at all, and have always been of an anxious disposition. I have what the doc calls a 'low-arousal threshold'. I.e. anything out of the ordinary throws me a bit!