sleep
Not such a good break
Last Monday we went to Ayr for a short break but it ended up being stressful. When we got to the caravan the key wasn’t inside so we had to go to the reception. The receptionist we spoke to wasn’t exactly the most helpful or polite one we have ever met. We were given a key fairly quickly but while we were waiting another customer was complaining to another receptionist. She had arrived an hour earlier and was still waiting for a key. She even said at one point she couldn’t believe there wasn’t one key anywhere on the site for the caravan.
We got back to our caravan to eat and relax as we were tired. The next morning we went out and found out that it was the wrong key so went back to reception only to be told they couldn’t guarantee when we would get the right key. By this time we were getting irritated to the point I said our holiday had already been ruined by the attitude there. We found out later there were several new members of staff and there had been numerous complaints. We’ve been there before but without any hassles but decided to go out anyway.
Returning back to the site the key had been given to security for us. It was a relief the ‘new’ key actually fitted. I was still fed up and my mood worsening.
On Thursday we went to the Isle of Arran having bought the ferry ticket the day before. Arriving at Troon we found the ferry had been cancelled and had to go to Ardrossan, fortunately we had enough time to get there. We then found out on the journey that ferries were being cancelled due to severe weather warnings and to go back on a return journey after getting off the ferry. There was no room to do the return journey so we had about an hour on the island. This meant getting a coffee each then waiting in the car,
Due to the weather warning we came home Thursday instead of Friday. It was just as well as the weather was already getting bad at home. It doesn’t feel like we’ve been away and it’s one holiday I want to forget.
My mood hasn’t improved – it’s got worse – and it’s hard to put on a happy face at the moment. I haven’t slept well for over a week now so it was a good excuse to use this morning before the parent / carer and toddler group.
Struggling
My mood has been worse over the past few weeks and I’m so tired all of the time. Sleep is a problem as well and I’m stuck for ideas to help me sleep.
One happy bit of news is we have a new great nephew called Alex who arrived two weeks early weighing 8lbs 3oz so a very good weight. I am looking forward to when we can visit family.
The not so good news is one of my cousins is seriously ill in hospital with 1% chance of survival. I haven’t since much of him and his brothers or my other two cousins since my 20’s apart from funerals and special occasions. Yet it been great to see them. It makes me think more about my mortality as the cousin in hospital is the same age as me.
Mood not great
Well the second lockdown is finally over but most of the country seems to be in tier 3 or 2 – we’re in tier 3 – so it doesn’t feel like much has changed. I was at church this morning even though I had to motivate myself to go. It was good to see people I haven’t seen for a while.
One potential light at the end of the tunnel is that we may be able to have Christmas dinner at Tindale Crossing as usual. We will know for definite on the 16th December – it’s nice for me as I don’t have to spend so much time in the kitchen. Being waited on is an added bonus.
Lately it’s been bothering me that I have suffered sleep paralysis a few times. I didn’t even know that I had suffered it until I googled a film and read on wikipedia what it was about. Up until then I thought I had had some vivid dreams of not being able to move or speak. Now I know what’s really happened I know if it happens regularly I should ring up my GP surgery. It’s a very scary experience to go through
Sleep Paralysis
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sleep-paralysis/
Sleep paralysis
Sleep paralysis is when you cannot move or speak as you are waking up or falling asleep. It can be scary but it’s harmless and most people will only get it once or twice in their life.
What happens during sleep paralysis
During sleep paralysis you may feel:
- awake but cannot move, speak or open your eyes
- like someone is in your room
- like something is pushing you down
- frightened
These feelings can last up to several minutes.
Causes of sleep paralysis
Sleep paralysis happens when you cannot move your muscles as you are waking up or falling asleep. This is because you are in sleep mode but your brain is active.
It’s not clear why sleep paralysis can happen but it has been linked with:
- insomnia
- disrupted sleeping patterns – for example, because of shift work or jet lag
- narcolepsy – a long-term condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- general anxiety disorder
- panic disorder
- a family history of sleep paralysis
Things you can do to help prevent sleep paralysis
Do
- try to regularly get 6 to 8 hours of sleep a day go to bed at roughly the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning
- get regular exercise, but not in the 4 hours before going to bed
Don’t
- do not eat a big meal, smoke, or drink alcohol or caffeine shortly before going to bed do not sleep on your back – this can make sleep paralysis more likely to happen
See a GP if:
You often have sleep paralysis and you feel:
- very anxious or scared to go to sleep
- tired all the time due to lack of sleep
Treating sleep paralysis
A GP may be able to treat an underlying condition that could be triggering sleep paralysis such as insomnia or post-traumatic stress disorder.
If this does not help they might refer you to a doctor who specialises in sleep conditions.
Treatment from a specialist
You might be given medicine usually used to treat depression. Taking this type of medicine at a lower dose can also help with sleep paralysis.
You might also be referred for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Page last reviewed: 3 December 2019
Next review due: 3 December 2022