Ruby Slippers Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 OK, my second latte looked much better. Just a few little dots of milk on the surface, so my pouring technique definitely needs work, but making progress!! ☕ Link to post Share on other sites
Author Foxhall Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share Posted August 11, 2020 trying to get my mother and girlfriend to like other more, far from plain sailing but making a little progress on it- moving in the right direction 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Ruby Slippers Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 I've been having bouts of insomnia, which is very unusual for me. My mom and a couple of friends told me they're experiencing the same. Is anybody else? It sucks, cuz some nights it takes forever to fall asleep, or I wake up for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night, then I'm kinda out of it for most of the next day. Very hard to do brain work in this state. I think it's because working from home, my stress is way lower, which I LOVE - so I have a lot of extra energy. I'm going to start ramping up my exercise and other active stuff and see if that helps. Link to post Share on other sites
FMW Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 Somewhere around 40 I started waking up in the middle of the night, sometimes staying awake for a few hours. Fortunately most of the time although I always wake up a few times, I don't always stay awake. I think you're under 40, but natural biological changes might still be to blame. Getting more intense physical exercise probably is a really good idea to try and solve the problem. Lucky you that you're feeling less stress! I'm working from home too, and I feel very fortunate that my financial security was never at risk because of the pandemic. But my workload is heavier and my normal social activities that helped me to de-stress have been limited (some have disappeared) because of COVID. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Ruby Slippers Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 (edited) I'm 44. I've never had trouble sleeping. I really think it's the drastically lower stress level of working from home and not having to deal with people any more than I want to. For the most part I find the office environment and the typical 9-5 grind with the commute extremely draining. This is so much better for me. Work was really good today. With my increased energy and sharper thinking, I can tell I've been impressing my boss. He invited me to a high-level video meeting tomorrow morning, something he'd said from the beginning that he'd do when the time is right. Clearly, he can see that I'm ready. I'm excited, and even though it's casual Friday, I'm going to wear a nice dress to make the right impression. Today I pulled out a creative project that's been sitting on the shelf for months. I'm making myself a blouse out of the cutest mermaid fabric. I'm so in zone, totally in work from home heaven. Edited August 14, 2020 by Ruby Slippers Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 23 hours ago, Ruby Slippers said: I've been having bouts of insomnia, which is very unusual for me. Every couple of months I deal with a bout of insomnia, if it last more than a night or two, I'll take an "over the counter" benadryl or diphenhydramine tablet. That will knock me out for the night and break the cycle. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Woggle Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 I miss going out and enjoying life. I realize why things must be the way they are and when I do go out I always comply with wearing masks and anything else we need to do but being able to nothing except be in the house or go to the grocery store is getting to me. I am not a hermit and never was one and living like one is starting to get to me. I realize that is first world problems. Link to post Share on other sites
Ruby Slippers Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Happy Lemming said: Every couple of months I deal with a bout of insomnia, if it last more than a night or two, I'll take an "over the counter" benadryl or diphenhydramine tablet. That will knock me out for the night and break the cycle. Though I avoid pills/meds unless absolutely necessary and wouldn't want to make it habit, it's not a bad idea, especially when I have something important the next day, as I do tomorrow. The nights I have trouble sleeping, I'm so spacey the next morning, takes me a while to come alive. Edited August 14, 2020 by Ruby Slippers Link to post Share on other sites
mark clemson Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Speaking for myself, I avoid benadryl due to it's apparent link with cancer, but I do take melatonin supplements sometimes. My understanding is that for some people our bodies no longer produce enough melatonin naturally as we age and so insomnia can occur. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Artdeco Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 I have insomnia as well, and I sometimes take melatonin, but I feel like it makes me still tired the next day. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Ruby Slippers Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 I take melatonin every night before bed, and lately that's not always working. I found some Benadryl / diphenhydramine that I'll keep by the bed. I'm not going to make a habit out of it, but if I can't sleep tonight, I might take it since I have an important meeting in the morning. I think I just need to find ways to expend the tons of energy I have right now. One thing that occurred to me that I'm no longer having all these vigorous... sessions with my ex... so I have to find a way to expend the same amount of energy in other ways 😛 Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 17 minutes ago, Ruby Slippers said: I found some Benadryl / diphenhydramine that I'll keep by the bed. I'm not going to make a habit out of it, but if I can't sleep tonight, I might take it since I have an important meeting in the morning. I take it 1/2 hour before bedtime. That gives it time to get in my system (for sleep) and its mostly worn off when I wake up in the morning. I might need an extra cup of coffee to get going; that usually chases away that morning "groggy" feeling. And I agree, I don't make a habit of taking it. I need it every 3-4 months to combat a bout of insomnia. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
CautiouslyOptimistic Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 I take Unisom almost every night. If I'm feeling particularly sleepy at bedtime, I don't, and still sleep all night. I usually take 1/2 pill. What I'm doing these days......applying for jobs like a mad woman, helping my mom clean out a house she sold, reveling in fresh fruits and veggies at local farm stands, dog sitting, planning a little getaway with a friend (well, she planned, I'm going).....stressing out over losing my job but staying optimistic. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Ruby Slippers Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Sorry you lost your job. Good luck in the search! Link to post Share on other sites
QuietRiot Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 7 hours ago, mark clemson said: Speaking for myself, I avoid benadryl due to it's apparent link with cancer, but I do take melatonin supplements sometimes. My understanding is that for some people our bodies no longer produce enough melatonin naturally as we age and so insomnia can occur. Cripes...anything you consume today can have some kind of link to cancer? I mean, what doesn't? lol 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 38 minutes ago, QuietRiot said: Cripes...anything you consume today can have some kind of link to cancer? I mean, what doesn't? lol *ironically raises glass of wine in recognition of this* Link to post Share on other sites
QuietRiot Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Just now, basil67 said: *ironically raises glass of wine in recognition of this* FYI, Wine has nitrates in it. lol Funnily enough in Europe, that's not an issue. Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 What are nitrates? Apparently in Aus it's not an issue either Link to post Share on other sites
QuietRiot Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 1 minute ago, basil67 said: What are nitrates? Apparently in Aus it's not an issue either It's a type of preservative in some wines in America. Link to post Share on other sites
mark clemson Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 6 hours ago, QuietRiot said: Cripes...anything you consume today can have some kind of link to cancer? I mean, what doesn't? lol Tea, unless you drink it extremely hot, apparently. And a balanced, primarily plant-based diet. You do have a point, though. Actually I think I was confused - it's dementia risk I was thinking about, not cancer. Must be all those allergy pills I used to take, ha ha... https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/common-anticholinergic-drugs-like-benadryl-linked-increased-dementia-risk-201501287667 Link to post Share on other sites
Ruby Slippers Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Sleep medication has also been associated with a shorter life span. I've seen a number of studies showing that people who don't take medications live longer than people who do. I avoid medications unless absolutely necessary. My feeling has always been that there are natural solutions to most problems, and I'm going to try all of them before I turn to medication. Study summary at sciencedaily.com: Taking medications to treat insomnia and anxiety increases mortality risk by 36%, according to a study conducted by Geneviève Belleville, a professor at Université Laval's School of Psychology. Dr. Belleville arrived at these results through analysis of 12 years of data on over 14,000 Canadians in Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey. The data includes information on the social demographics, lifestyle, and health of Canadians age 18 to 102, surveyed every two years between 1994 and 2007. During this period, respondents who reported having used medication to treat insomnia or anxiety at least once in the month preceding the survey had a mortality rate of 15.7%. Respondents who reported not having used such medications had a rate of 10.5%. After controlling for personal factors that might affect mortality risk, notably alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical health, physical activity level, and the presence or absence of depressive symptoms among participants, Dr. Belleville established that the consumption of sleeping pills or anxiety-relieving medications was associated with a 36% increase in the risk of death. A number of hypotheses have been put forward to explain the link between use of these medications and increased mortality. Sleeping pills and anxiolytics affect reaction time, alertness, and coordination and are thus conducive to falls and other accidents. They may also have an inhibiting effect on the respiratory system, which could aggravate certain breathing problems during sleep. These medications are also central nervous system inhibitors that may affect judgment and thus increase the risk of suicide. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
BC1980 Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 (edited) I started a new job this week. It's 730-3 (M-F), so I'm off working weekends. It feels nice to be back on a regular schedule and out of working on the Covid unit. I can already tell this job is going to be better for my quality of life. I don't feel as tired and beaten down as I do after working a 12 hour shift. My last day was Sunday, and 52% of our ICU capacity was Covid. Two additional people resigned after I left, and they're now offering quite a bit of money to work on the Covid unit. I just can't do it anymore. I feel like I did my time at the bedside. I gave it 10 years of my life, and I'm ready to move on. Maybe I'll go back to it part-time in a few years for a side job, but I need some time away. Edited August 14, 2020 by BC1980 1 Link to post Share on other sites
GorillaTheater Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 I've been working at home for the past five months. I hated it at first; I've been going into an office for around 30 years and that's what I was used to. But I'll tell you what, brothers and sisters, a man sure can get used to wearing shorts everyday, too. Yesterday, if everything went according to plan, son #3 went through the emblem ceremony in USMC boot camp, recieving the eagle, globe and anchor, and earning the right to call himself a Marine. I would give anything to see that and to be there at his graduation, but no such thing as family days these days. Semper Fi, son. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
GorillaTheater Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Oh, and I forgot to mention that I haven't had a haircut or trimmed my beard in five months, either. I have an outstanding Grizzly Adams/Jeremiah Johnson thing going on. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
chillii Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 On 8/12/2020 at 7:55 AM, Foxhall said: trying to get my mother and girlfriend to like other more, far from plain sailing but making a little progress on it- moving in the right direction Haaa whata classic . Takes time , and a bit more time , and then some more , but if she's still around after all that your mum will eventually lighten up. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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