Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Sleep struggles (self.Blind)
submitted by CosmicBunny97
This may not be entirely related to blindness, but I'm just wondering if anyone can relate or if there's... something wrong with me I suppose?
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Since going blind in 2020, I have a really hard time sleeping. The majority of the time, I have no issues falling asleep. I'll fall asleep somewhere between 9-10pm (sometimes earlier or later), but wake up around 3am wide awake. I'll feel fine for the morning, but crash in the afternoon. Napping for around 30 minutes helps, though apparently naps are bad for you. Even if I don't nap, this still happens.
I've tried melatonin but that does nothing and my GP is reluctant to give it to me because it's not a "long-term solution".
WHen I wake up during these times, I can never - well, rarely - fall asleep. It's like my brain's awake, I just don't want to move out of bed or anything. I'm not even anxious about anything.
Because of the 3am wakeups, I also struggle staying awake the entire day. It's like I'll nod off for a few seconds at a time. Or sometimes like I'm "awake" but my brain's thinking of other stuff unrelated to what I'm hearing.
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So yeah, I'm not sure what to do beyond venting on Reddit. Does anyone else face something similar?
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Since going blind in 2020, I have a really hard time sleeping. The majority of the time, I have no issues falling asleep. I'll fall asleep somewhere between 9-10pm (sometimes earlier or later), but wake up around 3am wide awake. I'll feel fine for the morning, but crash in the afternoon. Napping for around 30 minutes helps, though apparently naps are bad for you. Even if I don't nap, this still happens.
I've tried melatonin but that does nothing and my GP is reluctant to give it to me because it's not a "long-term solution".
WHen I wake up during these times, I can never - well, rarely - fall asleep. It's like my brain's awake, I just don't want to move out of bed or anything. I'm not even anxious about anything.
Because of the 3am wakeups, I also struggle staying awake the entire day. It's like I'll nod off for a few seconds at a time. Or sometimes like I'm "awake" but my brain's thinking of other stuff unrelated to what I'm hearing.
​
So yeah, I'm not sure what to do beyond venting on Reddit. Does anyone else face something similar?
mp_ms 4 points 1y ago
If you're totally blind it may be non-24 disorder
Nighthawk321 3 points 1y ago
This is actually most likely due to your blindness. Many people who are blind suffer from non-24 disorder, which sounds exactly like what you have. I suffer from it and melatonin is actually one of the best sleeping medications you can take. The medicine I take is called Hetlioz and is a melatonin based medication, but it's ridiculously expensive and I'm only able to afford it because a non-profit covers the portion that my insurance won't pay for. I would say it's worth looking into, but brace yourself if you can afford it. Why medication like this is so expensive, I have no idea, but it's frustrating.
CosmicBunny97 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Interesting. I’ve heard of it but don’t really understand it. And from what I’ve heard, people can tend to have insomnia-like symptoms but I haven’t heard of people experience what I do? The medication sounds interesting, I’m not sure it’s available in Australia considering we only have prescription melatonin.
AtDarkling 3 points 1y ago
Why do you say naps are bad for you? Siestas are a thing and I’ve always heard that they are quite beneficial to your health.
codeplaysleep 2 points 1y ago
My sleep was very similar for 20+ years. The thing that finally fixed it for me was Paxil, which I did not start taking for sleep issues (nor is it diagnosed for them). It was just an unexpected side effect.
I don't know that this is actually useful information for you, but it was mildly interesting to me.
I guess the moral is that it may be worth examining if you have things that are keeping you awake, like others have mentioned, ADD, or untreated m ild depression or mild anxiety, etc.
I don't know that this is actually useful information for you, but it was mildly interesting to me.
I guess the moral is that it may be worth examining if you have things that are keeping you awake, like others have mentioned, ADD, or untreated m ild depression or mild anxiety, etc.
Eviltechnomonkey 2 points 1y ago
I know a lot of people use melatonin for sleep, but I have also found Magnesium supplements to be beneficial as well.
Magnesium aids in regulating neurotransmitters. In particular, it impacts the GABA receptors in a way similar to what sleep aides like Ambien do to help calm your mind before sleep. It also helps with melatonin regulation.
You can get just a Magnesium supplement, or you can get a sleep supplement that contains magnesium.
Magnesium aids in regulating neurotransmitters. In particular, it impacts the GABA receptors in a way similar to what sleep aides like Ambien do to help calm your mind before sleep. It also helps with melatonin regulation.
You can get just a Magnesium supplement, or you can get a sleep supplement that contains magnesium.
unwaivering 1 points 1y ago
I also have sleep issues, so I should try these.
B_Bussen 2 points 1y ago
I've been totally blind all of my life, now 73. I've always had sleep problems. Comes and goes. I know part is mental, lost my wife 11 years ago. I tried hetlioz for several years and decided it really wasn't helping me. Helps some, but not me. Good luck.
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 1y ago
Yes!!!!!!!!!!
It’s more like I can’t get to bed, or not tired and only need sleep every day and a half or two days. Our circadian rhythms are all messed up. I can’t even fall asleep sometimes. And then after being awake for two. Long I keep dozing off or not concentrating. I was trying to listen to some sermons earlier and I kept needing to rewind it.
I have my own thread about this here.
https://reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/rr7a6l/sleep_issues/
It’s more like I can’t get to bed, or not tired and only need sleep every day and a half or two days. Our circadian rhythms are all messed up. I can’t even fall asleep sometimes. And then after being awake for two. Long I keep dozing off or not concentrating. I was trying to listen to some sermons earlier and I kept needing to rewind it.
I have my own thread about this here.
https://reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/rr7a6l/sleep_issues/
[deleted] 1 points 10m ago
[removed]
BenandGracie 1 points 1y ago
I am totally blind, and I lost what little vision I had at around 3. My parents basically had to retrain me when to go to sleep. All they did was make me stay in bed all night. Eventually, my brain learned to when to sleep.
Since your not 3, I would suggest just stay in bed. Even if you are wide awake. You may just fall back to sleep. Also, try not to nap the next day. If you can stay up all the next day, you might sleep all through the next night. I hope this helps.
Since your not 3, I would suggest just stay in bed. Even if you are wide awake. You may just fall back to sleep. Also, try not to nap the next day. If you can stay up all the next day, you might sleep all through the next night. I hope this helps.
akrazyho 1 points 1y ago
Based off your post history I suggest you get diagnosed for ADD or ADHD.
CosmicBunny97 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Just out of curiosity, can I ask why? My bf and a friend both joke that I do, I have my reasons for suspecting I do, but reasons for why I suspect I don’t.
akrazyho 1 points 1y ago
This post and your comment on the loud environment thread are dead giveaways and you have other comments hinting towards it in your post and comment history. Here is a video of a legally blind person talking about his struggle with it so you can get a little bit of an insight on what could be going on:
https://youtu.be/p2Ta18QQenw
https://youtu.be/p2Ta18QQenw
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