Insomnia: The Consequences of Getting Enough Sleep

When I woke up for the fourth time this morning, I knew. I knew the brief period of uninterrupted slumber I was thoroughly enjoying had come to an end. The week of sleeping all night and waking up feeling refreshed had me spoiled, and adjusting is hard.

If you have insomnia, you know what I am talking about. Your body adjusts to getting a decent amount of sleep. Once you are no longer able to sleep, it is so much harder to function until you readjust. For me, the adjustments are the hardest part of having insomnia.

Adjusting to sudden changes in sleep patterns

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy getting decent sleep. However, the adjustment period is so horrible at times that I would rather stick to my normal schedule of interrupted sleep. It might not be ideal, but I am accustomed to it.

It is normal for me to get between 4 to 6 hours of sleep. That is interrupted sleep, but it is the total amount I average each night. My body is accustomed to functioning on that amount of sleep because it is necessary. I manage. If I suddenly get a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep, going back to my regular routine is harder.

Changing from uninterrupted sleep to waking up often

I just came out of a lovely vacation from insomnia. For one week, I slept for a full 8 hours uninterrupted. One day I slept for 9 hours.

Last night I slept a total of 5 hours and woke up at least once an hour. I feel exhausted. What is generally a normal day for me is now a nightmare. It is so frustrating that I cannot function well on what I would consider a normal night's sleep.

This adjustment period is not just feeling drowsy. It is not the normal fatigue I feel off and on throughout a normal day. This is exhaustion. It is a physical ache that resembles the flu. It is a mind that does not wish to function and a body that is happy to follow the mind's shutdown. More than that, it is depressing.

Sleep pattern changes and mental health

Sudden changes in sleep patterns are just as hard on my mental health as my physical health. I have a severe form of bipolar disorder, and these changes cause a fair amount of concern. I am vigilant in monitoring my mental health, and it is difficult to differentiate between the type of exhaustion caused by suddenly losing more sleep and the beginning of a depressive episode.

Trying to monitor both my physical and emotional well-being is hard enough on a normal day. Add exhaustion into the mix, and at times it seems an impossible feat. This only adds to my anxiety, and a tired, foggy brain is not the best at coping with anxiety.

Insomnia and depression

Over the years, I have muddled through many adjustment periods. It has not gotten any easier. In fact, it feels like it is getting more difficult as I age. It has triggered depressive episodes a few times, and it has caused a great deal of anxiety.

The anxiety stems from my body's reaction to a sudden loss of sleep. I know the first signs of depression resemble the effects of sleep loss, but it is impossible to determine if it is simply loss of sleep or the beginning of a depressive episode.

It appears I am stuck trying to decipher a code that keeps changing. The only thing I know for sure is that these adjustment periods are difficult. How do you cope with sudden changes in sleep patterns?