Discussion Do you consider falling to sleep a skill?

[Forever Sleep]

To be fair, I'm reasonably lucky. I don't regularly struggle to fall asleep although, I tend to go through phases when it's more difficult. I get so annoyed with myself then- like- I manage to sleep most nights. Why isn't it working tonight?

How do you view it though? Do you see it as an ability when people can sleep easily? That they maybe have such a high level of control to just switch off and rest? I had a flat mate once that used to be able to take power naps. I can only really sleep during the day if I'm excessively tired.

I wonder if it's similar to how I contemplate about lazziness. As in- when is it just being lazy and when is it a medical condition? Do a few sleepless nights just mean we've struggled to put the usual processes into use or, can it be classed as insomnia if it's only a handful of times we can't sleep?

I do envy people who sleep without any problems at all. Sometimes, when I've had people to stay, they're already snoring away while I'm still tossing and turning.

What are your thoughts? Do you view good sleeping as a kind of skill? Or, do you think anyone who struggles sleeping is inflicted with problems? Can we train ourselves to sleep better do you suppose? Obviously, good sleep hygienne plays a role but then, I imagine some people follow all they should and, still struggle.

 

[Pluto]

 

[ScaredCutter]

isnt it more of a brain thing though? idk what specifically it is since i dont care to research but, its smth related ot that and melatonin levels but, i have no idea what its like for insominac people. i dont think its a skill to fall asleep, some people can just sleep easily and wake up early, some can sleep for longer periods, sleep on and off and such more. i sleep late but can wake up early (6-7am heh.. 67) but thats when something is important. i sleep on and off during the day too when i feel tired, i even sleep after sleeping.

 

[NoPoint2Life]

Never quite thought of it this way. Definitely envy certain people that I know who can fall asleep in pretty much any situation at any time. For me the circumstances have to be perfect to have a good nap. I think you either just have it or you don't although I do believe I've heard people in the military can train themselves to sleep anytime they have a chance.

And as I'm currently going through a phase where I'm having trouble sleeping at night, I don't feel like I'm lacking a skill in that department. Some people just have that issue and there's probably stuff inside my body causing it right now.

but- as things have calmed down as far as how much I was forced out of the house for medical appointments and such for my parents, I can't help but wonder if I'm doing it to myself. I am not physically active at all and that's certainly cannot help. But is it the root of the cause? With all my other problems, I doubt it. But if someone realized how much time I actually been sitting around I'd have a hard time convincing them otherwise.

 

[NormallyNeurotic]

I always saw the focus of skiils as being the ability for much of the population to hone them, just from practice, research, and being taught. Considering how much of the population struggles with some sort of sleep disorder at some point in their life, I'd say that sleep is more "pay to win"

It's an inherent talent you can be born with. You might get better at it by learning tips ("no caffeine!" "avoid blue light!" "meditate!"), but there's just as much of a chance that all the advice or tricks you try do nothing. Or maybe they do, but only sometimes—and only sometimes isn't enough to sustain a body.

Hence, sleep meds.

 

[fatpigiee]

As someone who has suffered from chronic insomnia since early childhood, I can nearly confirm that I've tried everything. It's not a skill.

I searched for hours and tried every possible method even in different languages. Nothing worked. I had periods where I slept for two hours or one hour every two days for months. However, things changed suddenly the last two years. This year in particular, I'm sleeping more than usual, averaging 14 to 17 hours a day and sometimes more, and I can't control that either.I literally fall asleep sitting up and I can't get up .

Still much better than insomnia in my opinion, but tiring at the same time. I'm very sleepy right now as I'm writing this and I can't fall asleep no matter how hard I try.only my body decides when.

I am forever jealous of people who can sleep when they want and wake up when they want.

 

[Forveleth]

I do not think no it is a "skill" more than a mixture of natural ability and the discipline to do what ia needed if you do not have a natural ability. I have members of my family that can fall asleep in 5 minutes and pretty much sleep through anything. I personally have two types of insomnia. However, I can significantly increase my sleep quality if I orelactixe good sleep hygiene and make some lifestyle changes.

Similar to people who maybe have faster metabolism. They can lose weight faster than others. It is not a "skill" just a difference in biology that others are required to put more effort into achieving.

 

[Always-in-trouble]

I might have gained some of my insomnia since I remember being much easier to sleep, and keep sleep all the way through the night when I was younger, due to excessive screen time. It does feel nice wheneverI get a lie-in and do manage to do it though,

 

[Afterglow]

To some people it absolutely could be seen as one. I myself, struggle to stay awake constantly. The eepiness calls my name at all times.

 

[Karrikin]

Absolutely, I waste around an hour or two every night just thinking and remaining awake. If only I was able to just release tension and knock myself out that would be amazing.

 

[FoxSauce]

Kinda is really difficult to go to sleep for me insomnia.

Also depends on moods sometimes im tired af

But the more anxious the harder it is for me to sleep

To the point of meds for sleeping none of em has worked

 

[nitrogenous]

I used to be able to sleep as I will… until I started having mental health problems (and nightmares about me ending my life in different ways). I started waking up very often at night, so I was medicated for my nightmares (on top of other mental health meds). Since being on so many meds, it's impossible for me to sleep without sedating myself using those meds that have sedative effects (this was before I started being on stimulants though, cause if I don't take my stimulants now I sleep 24/7). When I skip them, I always end up staying up the whole night, and even worse sometimes it would trigger hypomania for me. I haven't been hypomanic for a while, probably due to lithium, but now I feel the complete opposite of being super suicidal that gets worse I'm awake and not asleep. So perhaps, sleeping as you wish is indeed a privilege, not having to rely on meds all the time for the rest of my life…

 

[whitetaildeer]

Absolutely. I can spend ~3 hours trying to sleep, but on average, I spend an hour tossing and turning in bed before I'm asleep. I don't know how people can just get in bed and fall asleep instantaneously.

 

[KlixxFoxe]

I think it depends on your schedule. When I have several days off, I usually can't go to sleep early and end up waking up late with a headache. On the other hand, if I've been to work, I usually don't struggle to go to sleep because I've woken up early. But that's probably just me...