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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Disturbance

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Posted on Tue, 29 Aug 2017
Question: I spent the first seven months of 2016 averaging 3 hours of sleep a night (deployment). Every once in a while I would stay up 48 hrs straight due to the workload. After a while I started taking melatonin pills to make sure I fell asleep even though it was never more than 4 hours a night. When I got back my sleep schedule was so messed up, I felt very drowsy during the day and never could fall asleep at night. By the end of the year I thought I had everything under control but I keep going through these little phases of what sounds like insomnia. I can be ridiculously exhausted by bed time but then I go to bed and start to feel anxious. It can keep me up all night sometimes. Is it permanent damage or is there something I can do to help it go back to normal?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Managing sleep hygiene is recommended

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand your concerns.

From the available description it is clear to me that there is issue in maintenance as well as initiation of sleep. The problem with sleep is affecting both quality and quantity of sleep.

I request you to observe the principles of sleep hygiene. Please find a link to article by me which discusses some principles of sleep hygiene.

https://www.icliniq.com/articles/emotional-and-mental-health/how-to-sleep-better-tips-for-getting-a-good-nights-sleep

I also feel that using melatonin is not necessary if the sleep hygiene is well practiced. I also like to assure you that mess up resulted from poor time management and once the corrective measures are done you will be normal again.

There is nothing called permanent damage but it can be said that you are more susceptible than a average person due to past experiences.

I hope this helps you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3355 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Disturbance

Brief Answer: Managing sleep hygiene is recommended Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for using Healthcaremagic. I read your query and understand your concerns. From the available description it is clear to me that there is issue in maintenance as well as initiation of sleep. The problem with sleep is affecting both quality and quantity of sleep. I request you to observe the principles of sleep hygiene. Please find a link to article by me which discusses some principles of sleep hygiene. https://www.icliniq.com/articles/emotional-and-mental-health/how-to-sleep-better-tips-for-getting-a-good-nights-sleep I also feel that using melatonin is not necessary if the sleep hygiene is well practiced. I also like to assure you that mess up resulted from poor time management and once the corrective measures are done you will be normal again. There is nothing called permanent damage but it can be said that you are more susceptible than a average person due to past experiences. I hope this helps you. Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions. Thanks and regards.