I have insomnia

[ironpony]

Could exercise be making sleep problems worse?  I went on a trip recently, and did not have time to exercise for a few days while on it, but my sleep was significantly better and I got more of it during that time.  Could it have been because I didn't exercise then? 

[ironpony]

I am also really horny when I have trouble sleeping some of the time, and I wonder, could this be what is causing sleeping problems?

[ironpony]

Also, it seems that the last four times I had sex with my gf soon before bed, I slept really well after, like a baby pretty much.  Is this a breakthrough in what could be what is causing the insomnia, if something like this is helping it?

[ironpony]

So for the past three weeks about I have been getting much better sleep than usual.  I haven't had time to exercise because of all this Christmas and New Years preparation and execution, plus work at the Christmas season.

So I haven't been exercising but sleeping much better.  Could exercise be a heavy cause towards my insomnia and sleep deprivation problems?

[vla1120]

1 hour ago, ironpony said:

My gf says I have health problems such as my sleep deprivation problems and needing to exercise and keep physically fit more.  She says that because I am older than her (by 16 years), I have to keep being healthy for a long term relationship because if we end together forever by any chance, she does not want me dying long before her and wants me to keep at it, health wise to live as long as possible therefore.

Her intentions are good, and she cares but I feel that her concerns are becoming pressuring, as she grows more and more adimant about it.  I mean I told her if I have sleep deprivation problems, perhaps I should just accept it as a part of me, instead of trying constantly try to find ways to fix it and none of them ever seem to work much.  But she keeps pushing me to do the opposite and is really concerned.  But does she have good points, or should she just accept that the fact that I will probably die a lot sooner than her and why try to fight fate, and that's that? 

Sleep deprivation is a problem that can cause problems, but your doctor should be able to help you with that. Personally, I take melatonin to help me sleep. That being said, she shouldn't be pressuring you about that, or anything else related to your health. Don't let her pressure you into anything, but one way of turning a negative into a positive could perhaps be exercising together. Maybe you should suggest this, whether it's walking, hiking, golfing, whatever, maybe the two of you could take up some activities together that would keep you both active (but it should be fun - not pressured.)

[Ami1uwant]

1 hour ago, ironpony said:

My gf says I have health problems such as my sleep deprivation problems and needing to exercise and keep physically fit more.  She says that because I am older than her (by 16 years), I have to keep being healthy for a long term relationship because if we end together forever by any chance, she does not want me dying long before her and wants me to keep at it, health wise to live as long as possible therefore.

Her intentions are good, and she cares but I feel that her concerns are becoming pressuring, as she grows more and more adimant about it.  I mean I told her if I have sleep deprivation problems, perhaps I should just accept it as a part of me, instead of trying constantly try to find ways to fix it and none of them ever seem to work much.  But she keeps pushing me to do the opposite and is really concerned.  But does she have good points, or should she just accept that the fact that I will probably die a lot sooner than her and why try to fight fate, and that's that? 

 

separate her out of this…

 

have you done any sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea or sone other sleep disorder?  
 

as for her…..

 

do you have enough any diagnosed medical problems and does her?  If it’s yes to you and no to her you are probably going to have problems because she likely  views health in a narrow minded way.
 

 

[basil67]

@ironpony first up, you don't have a sleep problem -  your problem is that you exercise too late.  You've proved it by sleeping better when you had a period with less exercise last year.  You don't have to accept not being able to sleep because you have the option of moving your exercise routine or your work schedule.

Anyway, I'm wondering if you talk about these issues as much with her as you do with us.  If you do, you're going to get unwanted or unhelpful advice - it's just how it works.  If this is the case, make a deal with her - you will stop talking about it and she can stop telling you what to do.

With regards to your age, you probably will live a long and healthy life but die before her because of the age difference.   But you could also get hit by a bus tomorrow.  But if she's worried about the age gap meaning you might die earlier, then she shouldn't be dating a guy who's so much older than her.

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by basil67

[ironpony]

9 hours ago, Ami1uwant said:

 

separate her out of this…

 

have you done any sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea or sone other sleep disorder?  
 

as for her…..

 

do you have enough any diagnosed medical problems and does her?  If it’s yes to you and no to her you are probably going to have problems because she likely  views health in a narrow minded way.
 

 

No my doctor never referred me to anyone for that.  I could go back and ask, but I wish the doctor would think of these things, since he's the doctor.  I can go back and ask.

[basil67]

10 minutes ago, ironpony said:

No my doctor never referred me to anyone for that.  I could go back and ask, but I wish the doctor would think of these things, since he's the doctor.  I can go back and ask.

With all due respect to @Ami1uwant  who likely hasn't been following your insomnia thread, you seem to have forgotten that the PT diagnosed the cause as you exercising too late in the day.  And your personal experience is that when you don't do a heap of exercise late, you sleep better.   And that this is normal for most people.

Don't go paying good money for sleep disorder specialists before fully exploring the relationship between exercising late and sleeplessness.   You can do this for free!   Just do mild/moderate exercise for a few weeks and track your sleep.  

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by basil67

[ironpony]

2 minutes ago, basil67 said:

With all due respect to @Ami1uwant  who likely hasn't been following your insomnia thread, you seem to have forgotten that the PT diagnosed the cause as you exercising too late in the day.  And your personal experience is that when you don't do a heap of exercise late, you sleep better.   And that this is normal for most people.

Don't go paying good money for sleep disorder specialists before fully exploring the relationship between exercising late and sleeplessness.   You can do this for free!   Just do mild/moderate exercise for a few weeks and track your sleep.  

 

Well today I am having trouble sleeping late at night so got back up since it wasn't happening.  But I exercised today, on my day off at 2 PM though.  And I went to bed at 11 pm.  Ins't that enough time in between?  Or how early do most people have to exercise for this to be effective?

[basil67]

Sometimes people can't sleep for random reasons.  You need to change your exercise routine and track your sleep for a few weeks to look for differences.   

Are there any anxiety or worries keeping you awake?

[ironpony]

Just now, basil67 said:

Sometimes people can't sleep for random reasons.  You need to change your exercise routine and track your sleep for a few weeks to look for differences.   

Are there any anxiety or worries keeping you awake?

I've been going through a lot of career anxiety the last few years so I wouldn't be surprised if that added to it.

[basil67]

Exactly.   Rule out the obvious stuff before going for expensive tests.

[ironpony]

14 minutes ago, basil67 said:

Exactly.   Rule out the obvious stuff before going for expensive tests.

In my mind I feel it's because of the career anxiety but I felt like it was easier to try to fix the sleep somehow than to fix the career, if that's true?

[basil67]

9 minutes ago, ironpony said:

In my mind I feel it's because of the career anxiety but I felt like it was easier to try to fix the sleep somehow than to fix the career, if that's true?

You've got it backwards.  You fix the sleep by fixing the cause of the sleeplessness.   

Are you lying awake worrying about your career?

[Ami1uwant]

7 hours ago, ironpony said:

No my doctor never referred me to anyone for that.  I could go back and ask, but I wish the doctor would think of these things, since he's the doctor.  I can go back and ask.

It’s difficult on a primary car doctor to do this if they don’t know all your symptoms.  If you have other documented conditions then the focus will be on those.

[Ami1uwant]

7 hours ago, ironpony said:

Well today I am having trouble sleeping late at night so got back up since it wasn't happening.  But I exercised today, on my day off at 2 PM though.  And I went to bed at 11 pm.  Ins't that enough time in between?  Or how early do most people have to exercise for this to be effective?

Excersize to close to sleep can affect the ability to sleep.  2 pm and bed by 11 shoukd NT be the isdue.

the  other phrasing you used might be used fir things like sleep apnea which can be a cause fir things like old snoring.

 

for some the workout actually helps them sleep.  The reasons…workout gets them focused on the workout and not other things. The workout gets you tired and sleepy.

 

what else in your behavior/ habits coukd be affecting slerp?

 

what are you eating/ drinking?

how much is running through your mind before you go to bed?

what are you usually doing right before bed?  If you watch say a news program that gets you angry/ upset about current events could cause issues before bed.

 

 

[Gaeta]

7 hours ago, ironpony said:

But she is worried that the medication is unhealthy for me.  

Lack of sleep is probably more dangerous long term than the sleeping pills. An ongoing lack of sleep has been closely associated with hypertension, heart attacks and strokes, obesity, diabetes, depression and anxiety, decreased brain function, memory loss, weakened immune system, lower fertility rates and psychiatric disorders.

Take your sleeping pills. Do your regular follow up with your doctor, tell him every details of your lack of sleep. 

[Ami1uwant]

Quote

7 hours ago, basil67 said:

With all due respect to @Ami1uwant  who likely hasn't been following your insomnia thread, you seem to have forgotten that the PT diagnosed the cause as you exercising too late in the day.  And your personal experience is that when you don't do a heap of exercise late, you sleep better.   And that this is normal for most people.

Don't go paying good money for sleep disorder specialists before fully exploring the relationship between exercising late and sleeplessness.   You can do this for free!   Just do mild/moderate exercise for a few weeks and track your sleep.  

 

 

Why does OP say sleep disruption/ obstruction instead of insomnia. ?  I think there might be a few things going on.

[Ami1uwant]

7 hours ago, ironpony said:

In my mind I feel it's because of the career anxiety but I felt like it was easier to try to fix the sleep somehow than to fix the career, if that's true?

You shouldn’t take sleeping pills when you have a different issues with anxiety/ work stress.

 

your gf seems to be the type who won’t take medications for anything.

 

 

[Wiseman2]

7 hours ago, ironpony said:

But also, the doctor put me on a new medication for sleeping and it has been working quite well.  But she is worried that the medication is unhealthy for me.  

Ask your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist to treat the underlying causes of insomnia. When you treat that you'll feel better. Insomnia is a symptom.

[ironpony]

22 minutes ago, Wiseman2 said:

Ask your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist to treat the underlying causes of insomnia. When you treat that you'll feel better. Insomnia is a symptom.

I've been trying to see one but it's been hard because the psychiatrist office is only open during my work hours and it's been hard to get time off work to see when but I'm trying to figure that out.

[ironpony]

7 hours ago, basil67 said:

You've got it backwards.  You fix the sleep by fixing the cause of the sleeplessness.   

Are you lying awake worrying about your career?

Yeah I do that sometimes for sure..

[smackie9]

there are more natural ways to help with sleep and anxiety. Eating bananas, taking St. John's Wort, relaxation breathing exercises before bed, staying off devices at night and read instead, drink warm milk, take a warm bath, take a brisk 10 min walk after dinner, cut out caffeine/alcohol, drink sleepy time tea. 

As for your GF don't discuss much about your treatment from your doctor. Be vague, say you are trying more natural ways to help...throw some things at her, and that should shut her up. 

[Wiseman2]

3 hours ago, ironpony said:

I've been trying to see one but it's been hard because the psychiatrist office is only open during my work hours and it's been hard to get time off work to see when but I'm trying to figure that out.

A psychiatrist is an MD, not a therapist. They have the same hours as most other doctors.

You don't need regular visits like talk therapy. Just and appropriate workup, diagnosis and effective treatment.