Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Fighting Sleep Disorders for Interviews

Every interview tip sheet I read starts with "Get a good night's sleep". It makes me want to scream. Sleep disorders are pervasive among those of us on the ASD Spectrum and hit all four major areas: inability to fall asleep, inability to stay asleep, waking early and restlessness/poor sleep quality. It is almost like we go into an interview with one strike against us.

Among the various things I have tried for sleep are Valerian Root, Melatonin, Lunesta, Ambien, Tylenol PM, Nytol and various cold/flu medications. Most will work for a couple of nights and the Lunesta & Ambien were consistently efficacious-- their downside was the side effects and the grogginess the next morning.

Finally I went to a sleep specialist who prescribed Mirapex for Restless Leg Syndrome following an overnight sleep study in which my legs moved so much it was as if I had walked miles during the night. Now that, along with a regular sleep routine and occasional use of Tylenol PM have me functioning well enough.

For those of you who want to fight the sleep issue start with the usual suspects-- make a routine sleep pattern, no caffeine or other stimulants after noon, do not stay in bed while you cannot get to sleep-- and then branch out from there. Some people have had success with bright light/natural light therapies in the morning and others use a recorded book at night so they can listen to the story in the dark. There are many options.

1 comment:

  1. When you have interview next day and you feel stress, then try to sleep with relaxation or doing some meditation, it helps you in perform well in the interview.

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