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With the wedding days away, I’ve had two nights in a row of insomnia. The problem is that it’s not just the wedding on my mind: I’ve got this tricky career move decision I’m mulling over; Mr. Swan has all of a sudden gotten a flurry of interviews (YAY!!!); and work travel keeps flaring up again, even though it was supposed to stop over a month ago (I am technically scheduled to be away for a day—two days before the wedding, but it’s not clear. I am NOT happy).
This isn’t a new pattern for me, though. Whenever there are big life changes around the corner, or if I am in the midst of major change, my mind races and sleep goes out the window. What’s annoying is that this actually makes me extra emotional and more prone to freak out. At the very least I’m eating well and actually exercising, but sleep would be nice.
When wedding stress reaches its highest levels for you, does your body react? How do you deal with it? Are there any other bride insomniacs out there?
I had two glasses of wine the other night before I could finally fall asleep at 3:30 in the morning because I was so freaked about waiting to find out if we got approved for the new place and also about how to get everything done in time now!
Sleep’s been the hard part for me, too, but I’ve been sacrificing morning gym time some mornings in favor of an extra hour or so. 
I’ve been trying to eat really healthy to compensate!
I couldn’t sleep 4 out of 7 nights a week the few months leading up to the wedding! The only thing that worked for me was advil pm, which I know wasn’t a great solution. As soon as the wedding was over, my insomnia vanished at least!
I have a really difficult time sleeping when I’m stressed out. The glass of wine trick works for me typically - but the most consistent thing I’ve found is to work out when the stress hits a high point. I’m an accountant and work late hours during the winter months, so I’ll get in to work early and head to the gym for a really hard run before I go to sleep. It’s not only a stress reliever but it will make you tired as well. 
At least that’s what works for me!
Oh Swan, I hope you get some rest!!! Life changes take a toll on the body….sneak in a nap or a “nightcap” drink before bed? *Hugs* …and the yaaaay for almost the wedding day!!!!
Oh yeah, I have developed acute chronic sleep-onset insomnia (meaning I can’t fall asleep, I don’t have a problem staying asleep if I can ever get to that point) since he proposed. I have not gotten a good night’s sleep since last April, and since this past March I haven’t been able to sleep at all for more than a few hours a night if I’m able to fall asleep at all. I’m on daily (er, nightly) doses of Ambien now but its lost its effectiveness after two months. I can only hope that this will all go away once we’re married.
When I was stressed over my wedding, my sleep was the first thing to be effected. I had a hard time falling asleep, sometimes for hours, but once I did I was okay. Of course the lack of sleep led me to be groggy and less productive during the day - a horrible cycle =/ Plus, I’ve had issues with acne for years, so stress led to LOTS of breakouts before the wedding, which made me worry more and…let’s just say my face was less than perfect on my wedding day
good luck getting some sleep…take advantage of naps if you can - the benefits are cumulative
Yes, as a chronic over-thinker any big change in life or project at work sends me into endless nights of no sleep. A couple glasses of wine usually helps! Good luck getting everything in order…it will all turn out fine! And good luck to Mr. Swan with the job hunt!
I’m sorry you’re having trouble sleeping, I wish I had some good advise :-/ When I’m stressed my reaction is to shut down and not do anything - basically procrastinate HARD CORE… I need to stop doing that or I will not have a wedding!
Yes,
I’m so stressed I ended up with an unexplained illness. Terrible fatique and body aches but I didn’t test positive for anything including, Mono, Lyme disease, Strep or Flu. I guess it’s stress. Argh!
I’m an insomniac period. Actually, I think the current term would be “nocturnal”. I stay up late no matter how tired I am from waking up early, then have to fight to wake up and get going in the morning. Not good because by the end of a work week, I will have slept an average of only about 30 hours.
Dude, seriously. Put yourself to sleep. When you know the stress is only temporary, take a tylenol/advil PM. It will save your life because you’ll be well-rested.
Long-term, of course, exercise is great, and “bedtime” teas, and doing things like not watching TV right before you go to bed. Me, I need to make the house quiet for at least half an hour before I want to be asleep. It really helps.
Good luck!
When I realized that it was 5am and I was still wide awake and it had been happening more and more often in the months leading up to our wedding my friend bynadryl and I became good friends. Plus it helped with my seasonal allergies 
Seriously, though you aren’t alone….but try to find someway to get the rest you need. I did find out if I turned off the tv and computer at least an hour before I needed to be asleep and picked up a book instead it helped “clear my mind” so I would stop overthinking and could snooze a bit more easily.
Try getting into a routine early in the evening. Bathing, reading a magazine and just winde down. Don’t do anything wedding related (hard I know).
I also had a bit of pre-wedding insomnia. Luckily, I learned this trick in the midst of it: try counting backward from 300 by 3s. Or forward to 700 by 7s. Or whatever math you can handle while still using enough of your mind that there’s nothing left for fretting. Works amazingly well!
I’m so sorry to hear about your sleep woes!! Sleep is so important to me, I know how frustrating it can be when you’re exhausted and you just can’t fall asleep. Please consider trying Melatonin - it’s a natural hormone that your brain already produces that helps to regulate your sleep patterns (the synthesis and release of melatonin are stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light). I’ve taken it before when I travel a lot between several time zones, and it’s definitely helped my body re-regulate its sleeping cycles. Check this overview out for more info: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview
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Mrs. Swan, New York City Age and Occupation: 31, Legislative Representative Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Finance Guy Engagement Date: August 9, 2008 Wedding Date: August 2009 Venue: Battery Gardens About Me: I am an un-crafty but resourceful, Caribbean-born but New York-raised woman who's been known to analyze "Dancing with the Stars" and “So You Think You Can Dance”, buy stinky cheese, and use way too many parentheses. I keep lists for fun, am constantly daydreaming of my next international travel adventure (four continents down, three to go), debating sports (let’s Got Mets/Giants!) and dancing around my apartment to stay sane. I am excited to share our wedding planning journey as I hope to plan a streamlined, personal, and fun wedding with the greatest life partner I could ever imagine, Mr. Swan.
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