In the last year, apart from 3 nights I spent on the basement couch with a pillow over my head, I have had on average 4-6 hours of interrupted sleep a night. The effects of sleep deprivation are many. On top of feeling like a big bag of garbage most of the time;
- I've lost friends/support because either they are tired of hearing about me being tired, because I don't have the time+energy to properly maintain the friendship and it dulls over time, or simply because I've hermited myself away and am no longer interesting enough to go looking for.
- I've aged... a lot. My skin is losing elasticity, my hair is falling out, and I'm finding more and more fine wrinkles around my eyes. Not to mention the saggy boobs that comes with nursing 2 boys and a total of 31 months and counting.
- I can't think things through clearly, especially when it comes to JiggleyBaby and his sleep. I can't reason out how to make things better for him, and in return me.
- I've not only been unable to shed most of my pregnancy weight, but I've gained weight. The body is in an almost constant fight or flight response, so goes into lock down mode, by holding onto everything you put into it - no matter how much you eat or how much you work out.
- I have trouble concentrating on just about anything - which explains my lack of blogging.
- My short term memory has become like a sieve and if I don't write something down I'll likely forget.
- I'm sick, almost all of the time. Whether it's the sniffles or a headache or a full blown man-cold, my body is too run down to properly fight illness off, so it seems that anything that is going around I catch. I'm coming down with my 3rd cold in less than 2 months.
- My patients is at an all time low and I'm quicker to anger than I wish to be.
- I'm depressed and overwhelmed. My anxiety about things like driving and new situations is back (not to the extreme as it has been in the past) but there non-the-less.
- I feel like a shitty person. Shitty mom for only giving minimal effort some days to the kids. Shitty partner for sometimes missing my hubby, who is only home 1 week a month, only because I don't want to deal with any more of the responsibilities of child rearing and household crap on my own. Shitty friend for not calling or visiting more. Shitty.
Anyone out there have any advice on the topic of sleep? Any kind words of wisdom that can help me get through this?
Here's links to the rest of our sleep training journey incase you missed it:
What started it all --> The No-Sleep, Sleep Study by JiggleyBaby
Our Method --> Our Sleep Training Method
Day 1 --> Operation; No More Boob to Bed (day1)
Day 2 --> Operation; No More Boob to Bed (day2)
Day 3 +4 --> Operation; No More Boob to Bed (day3+4)
Day 5, 6 + 7 --> coming soon
Sleep Training Update -- coming soon
One: If you can afford it, hire a babysitter to take the children out for a morning. Have them arrive early enough to pretty much do the morning routine, breakfast ect. so you can have as close as you can to a "sleeping in" experience.
ReplyDeleteTwo: If you do not have a dishwasher have one night a week (or every night for a week) where you use paper plates. You can put them in your compost...leave the guilt aside. Being able to sweep everything into the garbage and simply wipe down the table and everything is done can be surprisingly helpful and give you a bit more resting time.
Three: If you can afford it, buy a pair of noise reduction headphones. You can still supervise baby or even comfort crying baby, but when it is constant and you are exhausted having a break for your ears can be amazing. At future shop they have a 70 dollar pair (expensive I know) but it drowns out an insane amount of noise. Attach it to your ipod and listen to soothing music, rock music, rap music or an audio book. Or just listen to a show you like. I'm sure there are cheaper pairs online but have an employee in a electronics store do your homework for you and let you try out a few different ones. You will still be tired but one of your senses will not be completely overwrought. Try searching "Noise canceling" or "noise reduction".
Four: ...Cry.... Anxieties, hormones, stresses, lack of sleep, lack of healthy food because we are too darn tired to even go grocery shopping or too nervous to head out in the world leaves us full of built up toxins. But of course there is nothing more depressing than giving into a sob session when we are alone. Quick fix that is almost as good? Watch a sad movie. Watch a romantic movie. Watch Marely and Me. And use it as the excuse to CRY. Grab a box of kleenex and a munchie and just let yourself cry. Some of those pent up toxins will be released. Maybe you do this when the kiddos are at the park with a babysitter but also maybe you do it while they are on the floor playing. It is okay for kids to see mommy crying sometimes. :) It teaches them that it is okay for grownups to cry, and that crying doesn't mean a grown up is falling apart. They are just crying and when they are done they will stop crying and continue on. Good lesson for them to remember when they are teens/adults :) Plus you smiling through your tears and saying oh its okay mommy is just crying at the movie is a very easy thing to say and for kids to understand.
Five- Take a trip to see a naturopath or doctor. The anxieties may be relieved with a supplement, vitamin or an anti-anxiety med. No shame in it... your body is doing the best it can without sleep and it is probably just a bit out of balance!
Six- Know that you are a good mom. Even if you are sleepy, drop dead exhausted or cranky. You are a good Mom.
Thank you! :)
DeleteOne of my friends used a sleep coach to help with their little guy who didn't sleep. It made a big difference.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about an herbal supplement for anxiety (that I am going to look into) called Rescue Remedy (
(I think) sorry iPad wouldn't let me keep typing.
ReplyDeleteRemember that everything in life is temporary - this too will pass.
Big hugs to you!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well with you. Healthline just published an infographic detailing the effects of sleep deprivation on the body. This is an interactive chart allowing the reader to pick the side effect they want to learn more about.
You can see the overview of the report here: http://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body
Our users have found our guide very useful and I thought it would be a great resource for your page: http://jiggleymommy.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-non-sleep-sleep-study-by-jiggleybaby.html
I would appreciate it if you could review our request and consider adding this visual representation of sleep deprivation to your site or sharing it on your social media feeds.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
All the best,
Maggie Danhakl • Assistant Marketing Manager
Healthline • The Power of Intelligent Health
660 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.healthline.com | @Healthline | @HealthlineCorp
About Us: corp.healthline.com