I can barely sleep at night and it’s beginning to destroy my life
DEAR DEIDRE: I CAN barely sleep and it’s starting to destroy my life.
I would give anything to get more than three hours of shut-eye a night, but I’m losing hope.
I’m 54 and for as long as I can remember I’ve had a complicated relationship with my sleep.
For the past 20 years things have gradually worsened, and while I’ve always struggled to get a full night’s rest, most days I’m now running on near to no sleep.
I’ve tried everything to help. Natural remedies, prescribed medication, even alcohol, but nothing seems to work.
Every night I’m tossing and turning and it’s like I’m caught in a never-ending nightmare. I’ve even had to start sleeping in a different bed from my wife so that I don’t wake her.
I’m constantly shattered and while I try my best to stay in good spirits, I can’t help myself from becoming irritable and bad-tempered.
It’s starting to impact my daily life in quite a drastic way and my working life has become progressively harder.
My head is constantly pounding and I’m always physically exhausted.
All I want is a full night’s sleep but it feels like an impossible task. It’s making me feel so low.
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DEIDRE SAYS: I’m sorry to hear about the impact this is having on you.
Sleep deprivation is no joke and can often lead to mania and other mental health problems. So it’s no wonder this is taking a toll on you.
It would be best if you revisited your local GP and explained the debilitating impact this is having on your life.
Contact thesleepcharity.org.uk (03303 530 541) which can offer you expert advice. And read my support pack, Sleep Problems, for further help and organisations you can turn to.