Loading ...Thanks for the reply.
A couple of responses: I did get and use some Ensure when I was at my worst. It was really difficult to get myself to eat even if I was hungry. Just made me nearly nauseous to actually eat. But that is gone for over a week. My appetite is back and food is appealing. I’ve been eating well. That was, in fact, one of the things that made me realize I was truly getting better. So that’s ok. Although I might add Ensure now and then for extra calories if I don’t start putting weight back on.
My insomnia is not chronic. It is not caused by any imbalances or other things, I am sure. It is episodic; comes from time to time when I encounter some extra stressful situation (I have and live with plenty of stress all the time. I know it’s not healthy, but I really have no choice; I have too much to do all the time, both at work and at home, and I just deal with it. Prioritize and let the rest go. But it weighs on me.), or perhaps there are things on my mind I can’t get away from. It might cause a sleepless night. The problem arises when it goes for more than one night. Then I begin to worry that I won’t sleep again that coming night, and it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Until this recent episode in the middle of my covid experience, it was always self-correcting. I would get some sleep-even if it wasn’t a full night’s worth–and it would go away because I knew I would sleep again. This is the first time I have required a prescription pill. I hate having to take it, but I think it is the lesser evil at the moment; I need sleep to keep getting over my remaining covid symptom. And it is getting better; just not quite quickly enough to suit me. But then I’m impatient; part of my nature.
Sounds are not the issue, either. I always have a fan going for white noise. More recently I have rigged a laptop to my stereo system in the bedroom. I can play sleepy-type stuff from YouTube videos (like rain or railroad track sounds, etc.) I’ve got that part under control; I am not bothered by unwanted noises. I also observe the usual “sleep hygiene” recommendations; regular bedtime, computer off for a while before bedtime, quiet reading, and on and on. None of that stuff is the problem. When this situation arises, the problem is all inside my head (I’m hearing the Paul Simon song, lol) When I can turn it off, get my mind on something else, I relax and fall asleep. The problem is, it can be very difficult to keep your mind off the stuff that is causing the stress. What I need is better mind control, re-direct to calm and peaceful thoughts, and the emotion will follow. But it can be really difficult to do. As always, thanks for your input.