What is sleep?

[Rdub_The_Pagan]

So for the past two months, I've slept for 4-5 hours at a time, tops. I'm on medication which is supposed to help my sleeping and my anxiety, but isn't really helping with either. Anyone else in this boat? Let's all get together, make a blanket fort and call it Fort Awesome!

[Indigo.]

I may not be a veteran but can definitely relate to sleep issues! I'm on meds that are supposed to make me sleep to, but they don't seem to be working anymore. I was off said medication for a while, time during which I barely slept, and when I did it was during the day/not for long.

[Margo]

Over the last God knows how many years I've been waking at 3/4/5/6/7/8 am every night regardless. It's been awful. I've had numerous meds to try and help. The quetiapine I'm on now is supposed to help and I guess it does a little.

For me it's my anxiety that culls my sleep. If I have some good days where nothing is on my mind I can sleep but this is rare.

With depression and anxiety disturbance in sleep is common; be it sleeping too much or too little.

Tiring yourself out in the day via excercise can help. Cutting all caffeine after 7 pm can help too. Stopping iPads and phones and laptops by 10 is another help.

It can be a catch 22 when you're not sleeping eel as you start getting more anxious about not sleepin and it makes you sleep less

[Eir]

Matthew, I find the increased pulse rate from the quetapine doesn't help. I'm just a brainless zombie with energy at times.
I don't remember what good sleep is like.
It's hot, so I'll supply a fan to make an air fort with a doona cover.
I hate summer. And winter. Spring is hayfever so i don't like that either. And returning from tangent.
Sometimes sleeping tablets (short term, like 3 nights) can reset me. But that means I gotta actually do the healthy thing and report my sleep issue to my dr. Along with my other problems. Have you tried melatonin? It's a naturally occurring hormone that helps set your circadian rhythm, a form of which is available over the counter in Australia.
Sleep hygiene like Matthew suggested is a good idea. Other things I have had suggested are ; reserving bed for sleep or sex. No reading, no work, no TV. Get up and do something if not asleep in 30mins, and try again later. Exercise a little each day. Get up at 8 no matter when you crashed. Have a settling routine. Try having bedroom a bit cooler if possible.
All in all I'm sleeping enough I guess. Just enough. To keep me just this side of sane.