Help Me, Please. Okay. I am in dire need of help. I am ill - cold/flu. I've had a terrible cough now for around 2 weeks, which has now developed into a cold as well. I had the day off school today. My problem is - I can't sleep. I havn't been sleeping until the early hours, no matter how much I try, and when I do sleep, I can sleep for about 10 hours if I get the chance - but will still be tired. But if I get the sleep now, I'd only get just over 3 hours sleep because I have school tomorrow. I have just been lay awake for hours and hours, just not sleeping. Now I'm getting worked up. I've tried reading. I've tried counting. I've tried just shutting my eyes and hoping that I'll just nod off. I've tried covering my eyes. I've even tried clearing my bloody mind. All to no avail. Today I slept until 12 because I've missed out on so much sleep - but I've slept late before and gone to sleep just fine that evening, even though I haven't been that tired. I'm crying now. I'm getting all worked up which is making things 100% worse. I've been meaning to post about this problem for a few days now. I just went into my Mum's room and woke her up to see if she had any sleeping tablets. She doesn't and she told me to take some more medicine and read a book. So if anyone has any advice, please please help me. I'll try anything. Right now it looks as though I'm going to be pulling an all nighter. I have drama class tomorrow, which if I don't go to the teacher will probably kill me, as we are at the Lowry a week on Saturday and I have a main part. An injection at school, which normally I would be bothered about, but right now I just want to sleep. I'm really desperate.
Oh sweetie, I'm sorry you're so ill. I always try this, sometimes it works: Lay down in bed and get comfortable. Then, concentrate on counting to 10, but don't move to the next number until you can "see" the current number in your mind. Or, breathe in deeply and take long intervels at least 10 times in a row. Hope you feel better soon hun.
Thanks, Shana. I'll try both! I'm so desperate to sleep I just kept reselecting 'Who's Online' to see whether anyone was checking the thread. I think I'm staying off again tomorrow. I'll get the needle another time, and they'll have to cope without me at drama, unless I sleep all day and get back to life, as it isn't until 6pm. Nan is going to nag and moan that I'm not sleeping properly - I've fallen asleep at hers twice now both times I've been there this week, and I haven't been asleep in the afternoon since I was about 2. See you later.
Of course, hope it does actually help. It's only 10:30pm here in Minnesota. I know how much it sucks though being unable to sleep. When I was in the hospital on Thanksgiving I don't think I slept for more than a couple of hours. However, when I was there for Christmas after my surgery I slept like a baby! I think it had to do with all the extra meds I was on. Anyway, hope you can sleep hun. And don't stress out too much on making it to school tomorrow, if you're as sick as it sounds you'd be better off in the long run staying at home and resting. Your teacher will get over it, as well as your friends. You're sick, and you comes first right now.
Let's see, sleep aids I've tried ... warm baths, watching a really boring movie, trying to read a math textbook (LOL), warm tea with honey, a backrub (maybe your mom could give you one?), warm cozy pajamas and a soft blanket and your favorite pet curled up next to you, white noise, rain ... though you can't just go out and get that last one. Most importantly, Babe, is don't fret. You're adding to your own problem. Try daydreaming. Pretend you're one of your sims and just let your mind wander through a simmy day. Try reading a book or listening to some quiet music and try not to worry so much. If all else fails and you're not too sick try a little exercise. Exercise reduces stress and tires you out. But if you have a fever I don't recommend it. Or, try writing a story by hand, in a notebook, while lying in bed. That might help take your mind off things. Good luck, Sweetie. Try not to take tablets unless you have to. They'll just add to your problem in the long run. I hope you're already sleeping by the time I type this.
Babe, in view of your age and the 2 week duration of your cough you should see your GP. Your symptoms sounds like a combination of some sort of virus induced fatigue perhaps combined with stress-related anxiety. I see you as student of whom much is expected both academically as well as socially. Take things a bit easier and don't let worries pile up on you. What you haven't completed when the end of the day arrives wasn't meant to be finished, so try to forget it. The most important thing you can take on board at this time is that no-one else is more important than you! If you lose your health then those you care about will be more upset than they will if you "let them down" now due to temporary illness. On another tack. Sleeping problems themselves can be stressful in their own right. Try to avoid stimulating activities in the hour before bedtime. I would include The Sims in this category. The hour before bed, IMO, is best reserved for activities such as watching a little TV and catching up on one's reading (revision is worth trying as it amazing what sticks when you're not really trying), and of course spending quality time with family and pets. But see your doc about that cough, eh. And take care!
Thanks everyone. Mirelly: I will go and see the doctor if my cough persists, but I feel lots better already! I got to sleep at around 5 in the end, Mum just left me asleep this morning but I woke up at 9. It really bores me being at home, so I'm going back to school. I just had a shower, and I feel lots better. Tired, but I don't feel as ill anymore.
Reading doesn't tire you out quite as much as writing. When I'm feeling really energetic at bedtime, I take out my journal and write at least 3 pages about just about anything, interesting or not, that has happened to me since the last time I wrote in it. After the 3rd page my handwriting starts getting messier and messier, and by the 5th page I'm not even writing on the lines anymore. But I'm just about to conk out when I'm done, so I think it works really well. I hope you feel better! You seriously haven't taken a nap in the afternoon since you were little? I always get really tired during the afternoon--I guess because it's the warmest time of day, and in the summer the sun's really hot and makes you feel all lazy. I usually fall asleep on Fridays, when I'm waiting for my violin teacher to come. He can come anywhere between 3:45 and 4:30, so I go up there at 3:30, play a few scales to warm up, and then I just sit there and watch the driveway, waiting to see his car. Or maybe I just don't get enough sleep.
Thanks, 123. I'll try that next time. I guess I sleep in the afternoon when it's warm. My Nan's is always warm, and our house is as well in the winter. I wish I could play voilin. I wanted to paly sax but school said I couldn't so they gave a clarinet instead. I hated it it, gave up after 2 lessons.
