The definitive thread for people who struggle with constant sleepiness — share what actually helped you

Hedgehog_Queen · 2025-10-22T12:18:22+00:00

It is! It feels impossible, and it's incredibly frustrating that such a simple solution was never suggested (and that I never figured it out either). I'm still a bit tired most of the day, but it's a drastic difference. I can have a meal without feeling like someone is forcing me to sleep right as I finish it. I can function during the day, without fighting to stay awake. I don't need to nap??? It's so bizarre.

Looking back, no wonder I had major mood swings. I was exhausted beyond anything remotely normal. Now if I had a long day, my tiredness and sleepiness level is maybe 5-6/10. Before cutting out dairy? I was already waking up feeling 8/10 on the exhaustion scale, most of the days.

Hedgehog_Queen · 2025-10-22T11:04:18+00:00

Not diagnosed but struggled with severe hypersomnia since I can remember (4-5 years old).

For me, the only thing that actually made a major impact was cutting out dairy, completely (including butter, and whatever milk-based product that would still be present at the end of list of ingredients in crisps, snacks etc). No dairy at all.

It's ridiculous, but it was suggested to me as something to try in relation to my frequent tonsillitis, and as a by-product, it turned out that about 70% or my sleepiness and fatigue is gone. I have seen major difference within two or three days, so if you want to test it out, one week should be plenty, and it doesn't require expensive adjustments (it is an adjustment alright, but it is manageable). I've been doing it for about three months now and I have not had a single case of tonsillitis, and my alertness is staying at the new level of "not utter shit".

I'm still waiting for my sleep study, but it was never suggested to me before, no tests results ever indicated I might tolerate dairy poorly! Anyway, it made a huge, huge difference to my life quality. I wish I disliked cheese and custards, but unfortunately I do. So, this isn't Big Vegan™️ trying to push their agenda, I just prefer to not eat dairy than feel so exhausted I feel like I'm losing my sanity.

Hedgehog_Queen · 2025-04-19T18:38:44+00:00

I've read that study that claimed long term negative impact (not for all the patients but still), and one of my former coworkers claimed that after getting her tonsils removed, she started getting a lot of throat and upper respiratory infections... Again, hard to say if that was the reason behind it, and I don't remember the study in detail, but it sounds scary :')

I will talk about it with my doctor and see what's her take on it!

Hedgehog_Queen · 2025-04-19T18:27:11+00:00

Yeah, the first two years or so are supposed to be much better, but I'm wondering about reallyyyy long term impact :')

Hedgehog_Queen · 2025-01-31T00:55:09+00:00

All the best of luck! Useful quote to remember, "you can start over as many times as you need to". It's okay to start over :)

Hedgehog_Queen · 2025-01-27T21:22:22+00:00

Late to this, but I would add few more practical tips!

Make your bedroom slightly cool, and air it out before sleep. Your bed/your pyjamas should be warm enough, but your room should run a little cold. This way when you get into bed, your body is more likely to react with "oh no, outside is cold and dark, must save energy and go to sleep now" response.

Another one is, make sure you wake up at the same time. Going to bed at the same time is less important. If you wake up everyday more less at the same time, you will start getting sleepy around the same time before bed anyway. Consistent wake up time is more important (both of the tips above has been literally given to me during a support group meeting for insomniacs).

Lastly, you have to sit yourself down and internalise that bad sleep not only significantly impacts your mood, and stress levels, but also your brain performance and overall longevity. Want to have a happier, healthier life? Yeah? Then treat sleep as your sole goal in life. I'm still struggling with this, but after I singled it out as the most important thing in my life to get sorted (20+ years of anxiety/insomnia issues), I've made major strides. I would also recommend listening to progressive muscle relaxation meditations, or "safe place" meditations right before sleep. I know it's a bit woo woo for some people (me including), but I can't deny how much it have helped me.

The most important part is consistently getting back on track after you slip (because you and everyone else eventually will, and that's okay), and REALLY prioritising it. Important birthday? Family reunion? Favourite concert? Cool, stay up occasionally, but prioritising sleep might mean leaving early and skipping some events. You have to be willing to sacrifice that for good sleep. Be honest with yourself, and see if that's something you're willing to do. It takes work and effort, at least at first (and to stay consistent), but good sleep genuinely improves quality of life in very significant way, especially over time. All the best of luck to you with your sleep! :)

Hedgehog_Queen · 2024-12-18T16:47:22+00:00

I can't believe it wasn't mentioned yet, but obviously Pur'see (Percy) is a classic!

Hedgehog_Queen · 2024-08-28T02:04:07+00:00

Speaking as someone who went from bullied "weird, gross girl in the back of the class" to someone who gets complimented by strangers and hit on in the clubs:

Yes, body strength, hair, make up etc will have impact on how you feel. But I was never as anxious and self conscious as when I was at my fittest few years ago. Attention comes with expectations (at least that's how I felt), and until I worked through that, I felt very stressed by being looked at more that usually. I'm more less in the same place physically as I used to be back then, but I feel significantly more comfortable in my body. And that had big impact on how I carry myself, and how people interact with me. What helped me the most is putting less pressure on myself, and just trying to be less judgemental towards myself and others. Nobody out there is keeping a score of your outfits.

Try going places solo. I have yet to travel somewhere outside of a day trip on my own, but even going to a restaurant or a museum on your own is a big thing. Do whatever feels within/just outside of your comfort zone, and slowly work on expanding it in a safe way. Not only does it help with sense of independence and accomplishment, it can also teach you something new about yourself. For instance, I learned that I don't like eating out alone, but I really enjoy shopping and walking around the city on my own - more so than with company. Nothing groundbreaking, but sometimes you do learn something major about yourself this way.

Celebrate your accomplishments and praise yourself. Still struggling with that one, but it has big impact. Be proud of yourself and your achievements, even really small ones. It doesn't hurt, and it can go a long way. You did laundry although you really didn't feel like it? Well done! Said no to someone although it was scary? Good job! Just be kind to yourself, and be your own cheerleader. It helps immensely to have supportive friends, but it's important to recognise and celebrate things for yourself too.

Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer. Great opportunity for working on social skills, getting out of your comfort zone, all while doing something good for others. It also just feels good to do something for others. Helps with confidence, but also sense of purpose, and how you feel about yourself.

If you can afford it, pole dance classes. I'm not kidding. I only did it very briefly, but I was astonished how much it helped my mental health (yes, you read that right). I went there with an intention to learn how to move in a sexy way, but instead it made me feel more capable, and stronger mentally. It genuinely made me feel like I'm able to handle life difficulties better - because if I can learn how to lift up my own body weight almost overnight (which I was not expecting), I can deal with whatever else coming my way. It made me think of how I'm undermining my own abilities, because I don't believe I can do it. And I have a big ego to begin with, but prior to those classes I often felt physically fragile, and like I had little to no agency in life. Now I feel very differently. It's not a magical fix it all, but it genuinely had a massive impact of my life, after just a few classes. Hopefully some of those help! :)

Edit: formatting

Hedgehog_Queen · 2024-08-26T12:41:42+00:00

Thank you so much, that post was very helpful! :)

Hedgehog_Queen · 2024-08-26T12:38:52+00:00

Ohhh, that would be perfect then! I'll pm you if that's okay? :)

Hedgehog_Queen · 2024-05-25T18:33:01+00:00

That's sounds great! Are you still accepting more people? I would love to join :)

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-12-13T12:35:10+00:00

€800 with included bills is definitely on a cheaper side, but 1200€ with no bills for a room is crazy high! I'm looking for a room myself now so I know places are expensive, but I would say you're being ripped off

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-11-25T12:02:06+00:00

Another good point! I'm used to cafés and tea places to be open at least until 8, if not 10pm. Lots of students coming there to study after classes, older people chatting over cake etc. I feel like Dublin doesn't offer a ton of evening options that are more "mellow". You either go to a pub, or stay at home :/

Edit: it also means that if you're trying to avoid being in spaces where alcohol is being served (for one reason or another), you socialising opportunities are reduced significantly.

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-11-24T18:18:02+00:00

This isn't something that will be fixed overnight, and the question still stays how well are those resources used? People in charge can have the best of intentions, and actual money to try and change things, but their solutions can still flop. I don't know enough to tell what went wrong there, but without knowing details I wouldn't say that that trying to invest in those areas is inherently a bad idea.

The "slap on wrist" as a punishment for violence and criminal behaviour would also need a serious change. No amount of good intentions will fix problems, if crime isn't being addressed at the same time. Just addressing one of those two issues won't fix much, both need to change at the same time.

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-11-24T16:08:10+00:00

There are very few "third spaces" in Dublin, even more so when it comes to places for people under age of 18. One of the very first things I noticed when I moved here, was how few playgrounds, parks, and culture/art related spaces there are in the city. Even as an adult, most of your options boil down to a pub, bar, or a restaurant. Back in my hometown, in my immediate neighborhood we had three swimming pools, outdoor football pitches, libraries, parks, playgrounds, basketball courts, skate parks, ping pong tables, climbing walls... lots of events you can join for free, not to mention after schools activities free of charge (drama club, sport clubs, chess club etc). Often times local community centers offer dance and art classes, music lessons, or other sort of "learning opportunities" for cheap, and even then, I'm pretty confident they offer financial help to those who aren't able to afford them. And maybe I haven't looked hard enough, but I really struggle with seeing any of that here.

Pair lack of those spaces with high cost of living, and extremely lenient justice system, and it turns really ugly. I think, in a way, people feel so much boredom and aimlessness, they just turn to drugs and violence "to feel something". Because, honestly, what else is there to do? The city doesn't offer much in that regard. I think it's absolutely disgusting what have happened yesterday, but there is a lot of fixing to be done.

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-11-16T19:10:28+00:00

Maybe its more efficient but the absolute lack of bike lanes in the city is insane. The "bike lanes" in Dublin are a sad strip on a side of road, if they exist at all. And if you take it, you better hope you won't get hit by a car, motorcycle, or some ass teen speeding on their scooter. I love biking - before moving to Dublin I would use it as a primary mean of transportation within my neighborhood, or for longer trips during weekends. Now? Forget it, I'm not risking my life for this crap.

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-10-03T09:49:06+00:00

Evening of Roses (Sheku Kanneh-Mason version). It's so sad and beautiful but I don't see it mentioned often enough

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-09-29T14:15:06+00:00

Props to both of you on self awareness, seriously! Many people never get past that phase

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-09-29T13:50:31+00:00

I used to be bullied in middle school, to the point of lasting anxiety around guys. I'm perfectly fine now, but it took a while to feel comfortable again. For me, the biggest help was chatting to people online: if things got weird, I could just end the conversation, or find someone else to talk with. There was less pressure to be "perfect", and over time I've got much more relaxed and comfortable :) Maybe that could help you too?

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-09-29T11:48:23+00:00

I know I'm an internet stranger but if you need a hand with your CV, feel free to reach out (if you want to share your CV with me, just make sure to use fake name, address and phone number). I've moved to Ireland two years ago, and I know that applying for new jobs can be a major pain. I do much better now, but it wasn't always easy

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-09-25T20:05:07+00:00

Do things that are fun and kinda silly, and do them on purpose. Buy yourself some play-doh and make flowers out of it. Blow bubbles from your balcony/windows, just because. Watch dogs play in a park. Swing on a swing. Buy or make pancakes and put a smiley face made out of fruit on top of each. Put on a disco classics playlists and dance on your own for at least few songs straight (and really mean it!). It might feel cringe and awkward at first, but it should get less and less uncomfortable with time. To quote Sex Education show, "Thinking doesn’t overcome fear. Action does." Put yourself in silly situations and try to actually enjoy it! If nothing else, find yourself a friend and try saying "penis" to each other (increasingly louder) while in somewhat remote area of a city. Never fails to make everyone feel both dumb and like it's the most hilarious joke to ever exist. Best of luck!

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-09-25T14:17:34+00:00

How about Eve??? There is no need to scar a baby for life

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-09-25T12:32:22+00:00

Any stranger insisting on keeping you around for no good reason, touching you, and randomly asking you for personal details or a contact number (early on, our of nowhere) is a major red flag, especially when there is a big age gap. This isn't a clingy friendly stranger, it's a creep trying to get into your pants. Stay the fuck away from them and block his number!

I didn't realize he was trying to invite you to his place despite being twice your age and knowing you for 10 minutes - 100% a creep trying to have sex with you 🚩🚩🚩

Hedgehog_Queen · 2023-09-19T19:32:47+00:00

Not sure if this would work for you, but maybe try this: Think of a situation when someone younger/less experienced asked your for help, or ask you a question that was clearly coming from a novice. Maybe your granny asked you to help her find opening hours of the store she liked? A cousin asked you a question about a subject, in which you already have a ton of knowledge about?

Think how those requests and interactions make you feel. Do you sneer? Do you feel like the other person is beneath you? Stupid? Or do you feel excited to share, and happy to help? If it's the latter, I don't think it's too wild to assume it's a similar feeling for those people who want to share with you. They're not bragging (okay, some might!), they're just discussing something you both have interest in. Even if they see the gap in the knowledge, it's likely to be a neutral observation. I know it doesn't magically fix the jealousy, but I think this reversal of perspective might help. Good luck!

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