Any one work third shift?

try a work out. as someone who's doing what you're doing-when I have a week like your's,where sleep is hard to come by, I simply take an up hill walk or a run, maybe some jumping jacks;really anything that will get my heart pumping some sweat dripping. it usually give me a decent days sleep

I get on average four hours of sleep a day...I'm at work now :) If I do anything to upset the balance of my four hours, even if that means on my days off, I find it very hard to go back to sleep over the next few weeks or so. My friends call me the Vampire, and I call myself a Zombie Hunter because I have literally been working this shift for 10 years. What I do is keep to my routine which includes the most boring book I can get my hands on. Even if I don't feel tired I find myself nodding off after two chapters.

I use to work third shift and yes, once in a while I went through this. Most of the time, my problem stemed from stress, or aggravation. A lot of things can keep your mind stimulated just enough to keep it from shutting off. I Would go in and take a hot shower, that usually helped. Well most of the time. Or, read a book..that always put me to sleep. So I hope you find something that works for ya. GL

I am at work right now on third shift.

When I sleep I take ambien cr and yes my room is almost completely blacked out. The only bad thing is its too much work to take it down so my room never sees any light lol..... I also try not to do anything in my room but sleep so that way my mind associates it with sleep.

When you first get in from your shift use to be called the "grave yard shift".....first before going to bed right away, try to unwind. Read the paper, watch a bit of TV, get on computer, just something to relax first before going to bed. Your body has been wound up from working that odd hours and you need to unwind first that may can helpl

I work days, but very stressful and busy (medical office) and sometimes don't get home till 7 at night, then eat, clean kitchen, etc....before even thinking bedtime I HAVE to unwind from my day to get any sleep...

I think what you may be experiencing is your body is finally talking back to you about the unnatural sleep/wake pattern you have been on for 2 years.

We are literally "programmed" to have a certain sleep/wake time schedule. When humans deviate from that, they find some nasty results. In your case, it just took a while to catch up with you. With most, it can affect them a lot sooner.

You may consider discussing this with your employer. Studies recently showed that in order to keep employees healthy in industries that have these schedules, they had to move employees around on a regular basis so no one stayed on the unhealthy schdule for long.

Take this seriously, please, sleep aids are very bad for you. Not just the addictive part, they mess with other organs too.

As a 3rd shifter I feel you pain. Its seems you have tried everything I would have tried. I know from time to time, i go though the same thing. In the end i just tough it out. I do suspect it might be seasonal(as suggested by your holiday comment)

Have you tried melatonin or Valerian root and a nice hot bubble bath?