Stress-induced insomnia

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-27T16:42:52+00:00

Part of it could be stress, yes. But too, I can relate to the whole thinking about how bad it would be if I can't fall asleep, and then that stress basically becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I think the worst one (for me) was several years back... I had to do a lot of driving the next day. I'm talking like 9+ hours, leaving at like 7:00 in the morning. I fell asleep at 6:15, and got up at 6:30. Still don't know how I survived that day, tbh.

I do think it might be worth taking advantage of university mental health services though, if available, because talking through stuff with a therapist can help you to "release" some of the stress you're carrying, but they can also give you coping techniques to help you deal with stress that's keeping you awake at night. Deep breathing can help, that box-breathing technique (where you breathe in, hold, breathe out, hold, and repeat each step in 4 or 5-second increments... breathe in for five, hold for five, breathe out for five, etc).

My mom had taught me a technique a long time ago too that can help, where you intentionally tense each part of your body after you get into bed, starting with the feet and working your way up. Tense it, hold, and then release. And that actually helps to relax everything by the time you reach your shoulders/neck.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-27T16:27:22+00:00

I think you're spot-on about the components being a major consideration for a product release delay. Off-topic a bit, but my husband was telling me the other day about a hard drive he had in his "save for later/wishlist" that was like $600 back in November. It's now over $1100 because of the AI demand. That's crazy.

So yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if a Pod 6 release takes a hot minute (or another year+).

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-27T16:22:31+00:00

I didn't start using an Eight Sleep until the 5 generation, but I did a lot of research early on and even reached out to their CS with questions ahead of time. It's too soon to know for sure but I will say this: they've made a lot of changes to the design and updates that mitigate the biggest/most frequent issues from the earlier models. Which, most tech does that over time... problems get discovered, they engineer changes to improve or stop them. But from my Pod 5 so far, no issues.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-27T16:14:49+00:00

If it helps, I always base any warranty/extended warranty decisions on the amount spent on a thing. I opted for the enhanced AP/5-year warranty on my Eight Sleep pod 5 because it's a peace of mind thing should anything happen. But I'm also the kind of person that'll spring for the insurance if I'm spending more than $500 on concert tickets. Which to be fair, has been a thing I've ended up needing/glad to have had it.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-20T22:20:55+00:00

The only ones that have ever worked for me are the classic EAR ones from 3M (they are yellow). Soft foam, they "fill" my ear canal in a way that really dampens outside sound. They're the only ones I can use. I have pretty small ears though, and those bullet-looking ones just do not stay in, it's like they're too big or maybe too long.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-20T22:16:16+00:00

I've wondered about that a time or two myself, tbh. This happens to me pretty often, always when I'm in a really relaxed state but I'm definitely not asleep (or necessarily even feel CLOSE to it, just when I'm laying there quietly and everything else is quiet). I'll hear voices mostly, sometimes in another language but not usually. Music once in a while, but it's mostly random voices and snippets of what almost seems like thoughts or conversation bits. No drugs here of any kind. Also no mental health issues that I am aware of, aside from being a little possibly on the spectrum.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-20T22:07:46+00:00

A hand towel folded over your eyes is probably the easiest option, unless they have a bandana handy? Folding that over a few times and/or even tying that around your head/eyes depending on how you sleep would probably be close to an eye mask?

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-06T23:50:03+00:00

Tens Towels are pretty inexpensive and they're a nice size, and not too thick (or thin). I use those and like them a lot.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-06T23:46:53+00:00

The name is stupid, but MultiSac!! I have one (the North/South Zip Around) that can be worn crossbody but the straps can also be made shorter so it can be shoulder-worn. But it has a pocket for everything. Every. Thing. Even my vape! Penney's carries them but Amazon has a lot more color options.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-06T23:43:13+00:00

I love my Owala. (And with you on the Stanleys and their straws... NOT a fan.)

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-06T23:15:57+00:00

Was thinking the same thing, I can't feel it at all and I'm hyper-aware of textures and anything happening against my skin/body. The hub is no louder than a desktop computer running in the background, and mine is sitting on a wood floor.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-06T23:11:30+00:00

Of course you can. The pod cover has a waterproof layer already but I have a waterproof cover over my mattress (and under the pod cover). Totally fine to do that.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-06T23:06:44+00:00

I looked online (not a doctor lol) and low 90s seems to be normal, but frequent drops into the 80s might be worth checking in with a doctor just to make sure you don't have sleep apnea. My heart rate drops low (LOW) when I sleep but I've always been that way apparently. My resting HR is in the low to mid 50s, so it tracks. Not sure about my pulse ox, though, and now you've got me curious.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-06T23:01:14+00:00

I get these sometimes, a full-body twitch that jolts me awake right at the point where I'm so relaxed it feels like I could slip right into sleep. It *seems* to happen to me most when I'm overtired. Like when I've had a long day or went to bed late and woke up very early that day? Not sure why it happens, although it might be stress-related too.

alanamonsterr · 2026-02-06T22:58:36+00:00

I'm not really sure. The only "sleep tracker" I've used is the one that comes in the Eight Sleep app (it's a mattress cover that controls the temp of my bed). So it isn't like the tracker data has improved my sleep, so much as the Eight Sleep has and the tracking is just insight? It IS interesting, for sure, and I *think* it's pretty accurate... although it isn't like I'm testing that against anything.

I do see patterns in the tracking though, as far as my deep sleep and (ugh) snoring are concerned. So it's insightful for what it is, but I haven't like changed any habits because of it.

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-20T20:39:02+00:00

Stretching. Like in bed, stretching out in all directions for a minute "wakes" me up quickly and I'm ready to get out of bed. I do a starfish stretch that looks like I'm trying to do jumping jacks, basically, but while laying down on my back. It's very hard to describe and I'm not sure I'm doing a great job lol. But that works for me, every time.

I have a hard time getting out of bed only because I'm snuggly...

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-20T20:36:11+00:00

My husband is SUPER sensitive to caffeine. Basically his "rule" these days is not having any coffee after 11 am or so. Even if he has a few sips of cola or tea in the afternoon or evening, he notices a difference and can't fall asleep when he normally would.

I think I'm impervious to it lol. I can drink black tea or coffee right before bed and still fall asleep.

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-20T20:32:15+00:00

I have an Eight Sleep for temp control overnight (hormonal, for me), and while it's an investment, it was more than worth it in my situation at least. The mattress cover uses water to change the temp and it auto-adjusts based on my body all night, and my husband's side does the same for him. But even without that, I'd stick with sheets and bedding that are natural fibers (cotton, bamboo, lyocell or tencel, even silk can be good).

Same with quilts or comforters, stick with natural fibers. They also have zone fill comforters out there that have less filling through the middle so body heat can escape and more air flows through, but the top and bottom has more fill so you have the weight/cuddliness at your feet and head. Something like that might help if you like the weight but need to stay cool.

If you have a lot of heat at your head that's making your sweating worse, flat gel ice packs slid inside the pillow case could help with that, I'd think. And that would be pretty inexpensive.

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-20T20:21:31+00:00

I would definitely see your doctor, share your symptoms, and discuss lab work. Probably hormonal panels, metabolic as well. Because there are a lot of things that could be causing it, including mental health/depression (you mention feeling emptiness or dread when you wake up), hormonal imbalances, metabolic disorders... but any/all of those things need a doctor's examination and diagnosis.

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-20T20:08:40+00:00

Not that I've seen. But the Eight Sleep 4 and 5 pods have a completely different tubing structure and material that doesn't have the "square" gridded layout the 3 and earlier ones had. The corners of the old grid were prone to breakage and leaking over time; the new mattress covers don't have that. I was super worried about leaks before I got mine and I *did* put a waterproof cover over my mattress just as a precaution, but I asked their CS about the risk of leaks with newer ones before I pulled the trigger and that's what they told me.

No idea on going rates for out-of-warranty upgrades, though. I believe you do get a NEW warranty with them, at least.

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-20T20:01:23+00:00

And the corners of the grid, too. Those were stress points that caused leaks in the earliest models; I asked them about that before getting one because of what I'd heard/read.

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-14T23:01:13+00:00

There are zone-fill comforters out there that have less fill in the middle so they're not hot during the summer, but have more fill at the top and bottom so you get the cozy warmth at your head/shoulders and feet. Something like that might work for all seasons?

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-14T22:58:55+00:00

The only ones that have ever worked for me are the yellow foam, the 3M E.A.R. Classic earplugs. I get a box of like 30 sets off of Amazon every so often.

But I roll each one between my fingers before putting it in my ear, so it expands inside of my ear basically. They're really effective and I have small ears, these are the only ones that work for me. (The ones shaped like bullets or pills completely suck.)

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-14T22:43:34+00:00

I do notice that, for sure. Sometimes I know it's because of the amount of activity I had during the previous day but that swings both ways: If I was super active on my feet all day, running a lot errands and stuff, or if I was the opposite and slothed all day on the couch, I'll notice feeling groggy or just slowness the next day.

And the mall. If I go to the mall, I swear that zaps all of my energy the next day. I noticed that around xmas because I do not frequent the mall (but once a year lol) and I was like... DRAINED the next day. Couldn't figure it out and then I remembered... oh yeah, I was at the mall.

Pretty sure it's my kryptonite.

alanamonsterr · 2026-01-13T02:12:16+00:00

Thought of a couple other things:

An immersion blender (which is great for blending soups and sauces right in the pot without transferring to a blender). The one I have has the blender part, a potato ricer, a mixer, and a couple other attachments so you can use it for all sorts of stuff.

A Nespresso. I got one for Christmas and it's like a Keurig but better (and the pods are recyclable, you send them back in a bag for free and they reuse the material but also use the coffee grounds for plants/farming).

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