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The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.
Sleep Deprived With The Baby, Now The Baby Is Older And I Still Can't Sleep
by Madelia
(Melbourne, VIC, AU)
Every parent knows the feeling of sleep deprivation for the first few months of Baby's life. My "baby" is almost 2 and has just learned to sleep on her own, so yeah, you could say I'm extremely sleep deprived. Within these first couple of years, I have been barely able to move whilst Bub and I slept together and in turn, I was also unable to sleep. My partner never helped put her to sleep once or feed her during the night. It was ALL me. Hell, he's never even bathed her!
2 years later, looking forward to nights in my own bed without having to put anyone else's comfort/sleep first, I find myself unable to sleep! I stay awake for hours on end, to the point where I witness the Suns rays through my window, which adds anxiety and...often...no sleep AT ALL! This has been happening for about 2 weeks, since Baby has learned to sleep alone in her own cot and add to that the 2 whole years of getting only 2, 3 or 4 hrs sleep per night, co sleeping with Bub.
Anyway, I get out of bed, dizzy as Hell from the complete lack of sleep, but at the same time, feeling rather too normal for someone who has not slept (properly) in 2 weeks (more like 2 years). I have so much energy that I can clean the entire house and look after a screaming, demanding terrible 2's toddler without breaking a sweat or losing my cool. I know it's taking a toll on my body. Throughout the day, I'd get bouts of "sleep deprived dizziness" or headaches and my eyes would feel dry and go red. I look pale with extreme dark circles, but my eyelids? Nup, still not heavy! Still not craving sleep like the rest of me!
It's 10:41PM as I type and I just know that I'll be awake until the break of dawn again. How do I know? I'm just NOT SLEEPY! It's the same thing every single night. Instead of cherishing my lovely, comfortable bed each night, I lay in it wishing the ground would just swallow me and knock me out along the way! Hey! At least I'd sleep, lol. So, how is this possible?! I NEED to sleep, oh my goodness! Seriously thinking of seeing a Dr about this. Is my body just "used to" not sleeping anymore?
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Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.
We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.
In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?
Interviews With Sleep Specialists: Insights Into the Worlds of Sleep Medicine & Sleep Business
America's Most Dangerous Disorder: What Is Sleep Apnea Doing To Your Sleep?
Sleep Debt: How Much More Will You Achieve When You Reduce Yours?
The Stages Of Sleep: The Journey Through The Night
Delayed Sleep Phase: You Want To Sleep But You're Not Tired Yet
Paralyzed at Night: Is Sleep Paralysis Normal?
Sleep In Words: Smart, Strange, and Funny Quotes About Sleep
Sleep Disorders In Children: What's Keeping Your Child From A Full Night's Rest?
Attacks of Pavor Nocturnus (a.k.a. Sleep Terrors, Night Terrors, or Incubus Attacks)
A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:
Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.
If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.
The Stanford Sleep Book
Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for Sleep and Dreams since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.
In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.
Preface | Intro | Contents | Get A Copy
More Sleep Resources
The Zeo
A revolution in personal sleep tracking, the Zeo is a wireless headband that transmits your brainwaves in realtime to a dock (pictured here) or your smartphone. The result? You can wake up and see exactly what stages of sleep you were in during the night! Unprecedented personalized sleep knowledge.
Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide
Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.
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