Serious Issue

[Xavier's_Deaf_Mama]

Hello...

I've come to AllDeaf in hopes to finding some answers or given some direction. You see I have a problem, I stay up most of the night.

Now before anyone says..." Take a sleeping pill.." or "See a doctor.." I have already done just about everything you can think of. I was given the advice to start a ritual every night to train my mind and body into preparing for bed, I avoid food before bed, I avoid caffeine after noon, I shut off all my electronics and turn down lights to a dim glow and I meditate. I do all of this and yet I can't seem to get in bed and sleep.

Sleeping pills are out of the question because I spend the next day as a walking dead, in fact I might have nailed the audition for The Walking Dead Series, if I had done it in the state of mind I was in.

I'm a Deaf since birth cochlear implant recipient with a two year old child and I know I need to get sleep, I know I need to change what I am doing, but I can't get myself to bed and sleep.

I spoke to a therapist about this thinking there was a psychological reason for this issue. She asked me something that surprised me. "Could it be that being Deaf all your life might contribute to your sleeping issues?"

It got me wondering, so I spoke to my mother and grandmother. After explaining the problem I was having, I asked them if there were any similarities between then and now.

The answer was a resounding, "YES!"

They told me of nights they fought with me to sleep,how I would wake up several times in the night and come to their room and lay with them, and how they had to hold me to their chest every time I went to bed, while I screamed and cried, and it was like that til I was 7 years old, and after that age I still had trouble getting to bed and getting enough sleep, I always was fatigued and I still am.

My question is: If you had sleep issues as a child, can it affect you as an adult especially when there is Deafness involved??

Please don't tell me to go to Google...I already have. It's why I am here on AllDeaf because there is someone, like me, somewhere and can help.

Any input, no matter how small, is welcomed! Any questions? Feel free to ask!

Thanks for reading!

 

[whatdidyousay!]

Have you thought about trying acupuncture treatments , I had trouble sleeping and this helped me a lot. And there is no side effect like sleeping pills .

 

[Baldgorilla]

Ok I got to ask something. When you were a child did you sleep better with your Mom or grandmother next to you or was it always about the same? I have been HOH for most my life and just really started going the rest of the way in the last 7 years.

I use to be just like you. I didn't sleep when I needed to. I was married for 11 years and it was the best sleep I had in a long time. After being separated for the last year I went right back to not sleeping. What I come up with is I was scared to be alone at night in bed.

What I did was bring one of my dogs into the bedroom with me at night. The dog has always let me know that something was not right outside or in the house. I started sleeping again. It took me some doing to find out what it was but I found out. I was scared to sleep by myself.

I am not a young man. I am 48 now days. It took a little while to figure it out but I am sleeping now. Just find what makes you feel safe. That is the only thing I got for you. I hope it helps.

 

[Angel1989]

Did your sleep situation get worse after having your child? I was hearing when my kids were small and I still never slept. Always keeping my ear on the kids in case something went wrong. Since I went deaf, I sleep ok when my husband is home. I never sleep when he is not home. I really hope you can find a solution soon. Not being able to get a good nights sleep can definitely cause other health issues. I also have a dog that sleeps with me, it definitely does help. Best of luck.

 

[Frisky Feline]

No not me. It depends how much activities during the day is then I have no problem sleeping. If there's no busy activities then I may stay up late. Or overtired and overwork then I ll stay up late.

Did you ever experience the tinnitus?

 

[dogmom]

OP -Based on the experience with my husband, my answer to your question there would be yes...My husband <who is hoh/deaf...Rubella Syndrome> has this: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hypersomnia/hypersomnia.htm. It's a problem in the brain and he's been this way since he was a child.
It seems similar to what you describe. He also tends to stay up most of the night and always had a hard time getting up and getting going in the day; hard to stay awake in the day and always tired. He takes medication now and sees a specialist because it was affecting his mood and his driving safety.

 

[VamPyroX]

There are other things I can think of...

- mattress (firm or soft? pillow top, regular, or memory foam?)

- pillow (firm or soft? cotton, feather, memory foam?)

- health (overweight? diabetes?)

There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

 

[caz12]

I been told rose oil I have another condition to do with epilepsy so I tried it...tou only need small drop as it expensive all so alpine lavender not the ordinary stuff..it worked for few day but not now but may benefit your husband

 

[radioman]

one thing you never said -- do you wear your ci to bed? or not? Reason I asked I cant sleep with my BTE on and if I did fall asleep I always wake up in middle of my deep sleep and it feels like crap. Once I take ha off, I am a happy man. Also sexual tension before sleep causes me to have short sleep and feel like crap so -- relief it is for a restful night.

Some people need white noises or constant droning of some kind of noise to sleep and obviously this seems to be your case. the chest breathing helps you sleep when you were young. The crying makes a "noise" in your head so it helps. Now I am not suggesting you cry yourself to sleep..

Try this go get a vibrating massaging pad and put it on your bed next to you and leave it on while trying to sleep. if that doesnt work, try under your pillow. do it in baby steps and keep tweaking it till you find the right combination for you.