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I have bad insomnia how do you get your spouse to understand that I just can't go to bed and lay there. I will deal with anxiety.

A MyFibroTeam Member asked a question 💭
August 15, 2024
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Answer Summary

Members shared deep understanding about the challenge of explaining insomnia to spouses who fall asleep easily, with many describing how their... Read more

Members shared deep understanding about the challenge of explaining insomnia to spouses who fall asleep easily, with many describing how their unpredictable sleep schedules (some sleeping from 6am to 1pm) create strain in relationships. Several members offered practical strategies that have worked for them, including educating partners with printed articles about fibromyalgia and insomnia, creating separate sleeping arrangements to reduce mutual sleep disruption, using tablets with earphones to watch movies until drowsy, and trying cognitive shuffling techniques found on Google. A recurring theme was the importance of listening to your body rather than the clock, controlling what you can like using earplugs for noise sensitivity, and giving yourself permission to leave the bed when anxious rather than forcing sleep that won't come.

A MyFibroTeam Member

Sam told me about something called cognitive shuffling. It’s explained on Google, very simple. Amazingly it works. Four nights sleep after not sleeping for years. You have to stick with it. Take care everyone.

August 24, 2024
A MyFibroTeam Member

Sadly, I'm right there with everyone. It's definitely a tough one to explain and go through. What I find is working better for me (and only me), we go to bed together. I use my tablet and earphones so I can watch a movie until I fall asleep. The smaller screen of the tablet doesn't bother him and the earphones help me hear what I'm watching. Unless I get a steroid shot, I will fall asleep in a couple of hours afterward. I take my amitriptyline, nexium and other pills so they may be helping the situation also. I know the experts say don't go to bed unless you are going to sleep but if this works for me, I'm not changing it. Best wishes for better sleep. If I get a steroid shot though, I will not sleep that night.

August 19, 2024 (edited)
A MyFibroTeam Member

@anneelliot
You're so right, I can tell now when MY BODY & MIND tell me I have a chance of falling asleep and then I go to bed. It has nothing to do with a clock😉
And I've also told the fam about the fight or flight response and how that affects us. My hubby is basically asleep by the time his head hits the pillow🤬 Pisses me off at times🤣🤣.
Also little distractions make me stay awake and worry... "What was that noise?" So I wear earplugs. Control what we can. Love,
Deb 😘

August 17, 2024
A MyFibroTeam Member

Unfortunately it takes a long time for a spouse to understand. Because of my insomnia and a spouse 70years old he sleeps from 10 pm till 7 am, I sleep from 6 am till 1pm then need to stay in bed longer to wake up because I'm usually fatigued.
We now have 2 residences on the same property. He needs to be on the go constantly and cannot sit around. I need peace and quiet. 26 years suffering. We get along better and my stress from that unfortunate situation is way way better..
Best wishes
Marjorie

August 15, 2024
A MyFibroTeam Member

@A MyFibroTeam Member I’m so pleased it’s still working. 😁 I have been doing it too and I’m amazed how it works x

August 24, 2024

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