I used to regularly get good sleep for a while pre-pandemic, but ever since then my sleep has become so dysregulated and I’ve basically become dependent on weed to fall asleep. It’s gotten to the point where I get nerve pain and restless legs (that in itself contributes to insomnia) if I don’t get high before bed, no idea if this is a shared experience with other NDers. On top of the fact that this makes weed less fun and it makes my tolerance out of control, I also don’t like relying on a substance to fall asleep as it seems to just make it more difficult to try and go without the longer I continue this pattern. I am trying to refrain from using weed to fall asleep for the next short little while but the first night I’m unable to fall asleep at all. Anyone have any advice or experience with a similar situation or just for regulating sleep in general? I know sleep difficulties are part and parcel of the autistic, ADHD, ND experience generally. I can’t function if I don’t get good sleep and I’m desperate.

  • NoLeftLeftWhereILive [none/use name, she/her]English
    6•5 months ago

    I personally take melatonin, 0,5mg at least two hours before I need to fall asleep. It helps a lot, but only in this small dose and if I take it early enough.

    I also divert my brain by listening to stories from these cheap bluetooth face mask headphones. This has saved my life when it comes to working or any kind of participation where I have to stress about falling asleep/getting up early. If I wake up in the night I just turn it back on and it distracts me enough so I don’t start “thinking about all the things”. The stories are typically something I am interested in, but not too much. Familiar loved books work, I have done three rounds of Discworld in the last few years.

    My partner got tremendous help from a weighted blanket, for restless legs especially.