Anyone who knows me knows that I loathe sleep, but it is a necessary evil. And one that I haven't been getting much of for weeks now, with work to do and errands to run and minor changes to my schedule wreaking havoc as they tend to do (one night of not being able to get to sleep until 4am will ruin me for months). I've been struggling to get my sleep schedule back on track for a while, but it's almost impossible for me unless I'm able to slowly work on it over a few days/weeks, but life doesn't really afford me days at a time to just do what I please.
Having to get up 2 hours earlier than usual yesterday meant me hardly sleeping at all, and on top of being mentally exhausted from everything going on, I came home feeling sore, tired, brain checked out, and basically like I been hit by a truck. Not unusual for me as it is thanks to Crohn's, so double that during periods of heavy work and little sleep.
So while I still have work today, I go in later (back to my usual time, that is) and I managed to fall asleep around the time I was supposed to have been falling asleep all this time now thanks to being so tired. And because I didn't have to leave earlier than usual, I got a full 9 hours. Still a little sore, and that's only gonna get worse over the next few days because I don't have another day off til the 27th... but at least I'm rested. For the first time in probably a month now.

DAE have this toxic relationship with sleep

@Priestess of Pie: Exactly. When they invent a pill that makes you never need sleep again, I'll be first in line lmao

@Priestess of Pie: Mood. I feel tired after waking up most of the time, no matter how long the clock says I've been in bed. I almost always wake up once during the night, but that's never been an issue (and AFAIK it's normal), though sometimes I'll wake up a lot more frequently. I have no explanation for feeling so tired on days when I don't wake up (more than once) during the night. Why did I bother laying in bed for anywhere from 5-10 hours if I'm just gonna crawl out of bed feeling like I'm on death's door and hating the world? Sleep is supposed to fix that! >:^(

My dreams are never anything worth remembering, with a few very rare exceptions. It's always the same mishmash of typical dream nonsense sprinkled with all my brain's favorite recurring elements. I don't usually have nightmares, but I don't have "good" dreams, either (when I do have nightmares, they're more frequent than the good dreams by far). They're just dreams, doing what dreams do. I could live without 'em. Last time I did have what I'd count as a pleasant dream, it lasted for a few seconds and then I got ripped out of it by some awful pain in my foot. Still no idea where that pain came from; I think my body was just determined to stop me from enjoying sleep at all costs and made something up. Haven't felt that pain since, nor have I had any other worthwhile dreams. hmmmmm.

@Priestess of Pie: If they help, then it seems like a good idea; what were you taking? The only thing I've ever used (with any measure of success) was benadryl, which isn't for sleep but knocks me out like nothing else. Problem is I'll sleep for 10 hours straight if I take it and I don't wanna risk it.. plus I have no business taking allergy medicine on a nightly basis. Not a good long-term solution at all lol.
I have wondered if sleep apnea was a possibility, 'cause sometimes I do wake up gasping for breath. but not all the time, and I'm not much of a snorer or anything as far as I know, so I don't think that's my issue, either. Stress makes it worse for me, too. tbh I think my problem is being a chronically stressed out 2nd shift worker in a world full of day shift people. ;v;

That sounds pretty cool tbh... At least more interesting dreams like that can be good for inspiration if you write or make any kind of art.