AUTISM & SLEEP (the struggle is real)

[@hashtag2452]

Totally relate to not being able to nap, it takes me so long to finally get to sleep. I have to sleep when I actually feel "tired", as a genuine feeling. It's not necessarily just my thoughts, although in later months I've found if I count and count (counting sheep) as far as I can, until I notice the sheep are just clouds it does help with shortening the time it takes to get to sleep!

[@nikeeweston]

My sleeping schedule is horrendous I sleep during the day and if it’s bad I sleep until midnight...I have autism with chronic anxiety and clinical depression, and I’m British and we aren’t allowed melatonin for sleep here, it’s not even given out by Drs. You can’t find it. I have Valium been on it for years had sleep issues since I was a baby, night terrors. So my life has stopped, I’m older than you and have an older sister she cares for my mum who has dementia and my sister helps me, and my sister just can’t do it anymore. I sleep days away I’m wide awake at night...so my routine is terrible...various horrible reasons why I’m in this situation. I’m sick to death of it... it doesn’t help that it seems autistic adults are forgotten and it’s all about kids, but as they say autistic kids become autistic adults. Well done you for being able to sleep at night.

[@AutisticAllie]

Oh trust me, it takes melatonin AND benadryl for me to sleep! Hope you can find some solace and good sleep.

[@jeffshagren1059]

"Sleep, the final frontier. This is the voyage of the Starship Insomnia". Sleep can be an alien life form to many of us autistic/ADHD voyagers, but an alien we must encounter, study, and attempt to overcome. Through my many years of confronting this beast, this is my current antidote; I start with half of a Costco Sleep-Aid, I then crawl under a composition of sheet/exceptionally weighted blanket/and bedspread (weight is key), two rather large pillows - one for under my head and one for over my head, and a smaller pillow that rests beside me. I will pull the composition that covers my body to also cover the pillow over my head, and thus create a sort of cocoon. The feeling of security, sanctuary, solitary, and coziness have always been of great comfort. This does aid in falling to sleep, but after about four hours I tend to wake, then my mind explodes! All things are fair game for thought: quantum science, social-political issues, relationships, personal economics, and why the hell can't I get back to sleep. Yes, to boldly go....................Oh, by the way, good topic Allie.

[@vintagexsellout]

I've used melatonin for about a year now. With everything going on, and my propensity for depression, it's been a nightmare trying to balance my moods and sleep schedule. I know they say melatonin isn't habit forming, but if you can't sleep without it, doesn't that negate the point of it being a non addicting substance? Just something I've been thinking at night while I'm waiting for it to knock me out.

[@4thanonymousperson]

Anyone else getting audio volume fluctuations a lot in this video? :(

[@raymondb62]

Have you tried taking something stromger like Trazadone or Clonipine?

[@willowisp9150]

i love napping

[@alwynwatson6119]

Even when I am feeling tired it take some time to fall asleep. Often I get about an hour of hypnagogia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia