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Green Knight
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“Ask a question, post a rant, tell us your story.” Interesting.

Part of my education about what ask.com is about and has coloured my views on what people have been saying. My apologies to anyone that I’ve criticised for posting stuff that just seemed random to me when I thought this site was just about people seeking help. My mistake. I see it’s about broader things now.

In that vein, here’s something I don’t need any particular help with, but I would appreciate anyone’s views, good, bad or indifferent - it won’t actually make any difference (or maybe it will, I dunno).

I’ve been insomniac for over 20 years now (since I started working). It’s something I’ve got used to so it’s just something I accept. There’s no real reason for it, but I know stress makes it worse. I’ve tried every self-imposed cure that I can think of or heard of in research about the subject, with the exception of hypnosis, which I’m considering in the future to satisfy my employer.

Personally, it’s no problem to me, but the odd occasions when I don’t get to sleep before 5-7 AM sometimes means that I am between (literally) seconds and an hour late for work, simply due to the fact that the psychological reasons I cannot sleep cannot counteract the fact my body needs sleep.

There’s no physical reason I cannot sleep. I know it’s purely psychological. What I do not know is the reason why it’s psychological, beyond the fact that it’s related to work. I sleep fine at weekends. It is a desire to not be at work that is causing it, so I’m associating going to sleep with waking up and having to go to a job (that is necessary, not taxing and not unpleasant).

I don’t hate my co-workers (some are very good friends), my pay and conditions are probably better than most in my situation, my bosses are like something out of Dilbert (but isn’t everyone’s?), I know my job inside-out and am happy doing it…I could go on. Needless to say, there’s nothing I can fault to any great degree about what I do, that I know is causing my insomnia, but it continues.

The one thing that I’ve found that keeps me awake is going over converstations or situations I have at work (nowhere else), or even fictional conversations that I have to think out to some kind of conclusion (not that I ever do).

Realising this, I can deal with it; I just stop thinking about it. But now I’ve found (in the last 5-10 years or so) that my problem is that I’m stressing about oversleeping and being late for work, and that’s keeping me awake. Catch 22.

But, because I’m getting hassle from my employer about being late for work, I can’t do anything about this problem. If they laid off, or made allowances, I wouldn’t get stressed about it and the problem wouldn’t be there. But they won’t. It’s self-perpetuating.

I’ve tried candidly explaining this for over 4 years now and they just don’t get the message. What do I do now?

I’m way beyond sick of fighting the same battle and getting nowhere. The current economic climate (which seriously affects things in the job I do) has made this a case of I’m in dire danger of being sacked through inefficiency (by mostly being late 1-3 minutes late to work, maybe once or twice a week at worst…maybe a day out of every couple of months when I’m up to an hour late).

I’m currently tring to get my insomnia recognised as a disability (as a last resort, and fervently against my wishes) so my employer will finally recognise that they should maybe make some small allowances and allow me to do the job I’m paid to do to their satisfaction. They are being intransigent except for some meaningless words that they are “providing support”. Hah! Their support so far consists of denying that I have been talking to appropriate poeple for the last 4 years about this problem and “mentioning” the consequences of me not arriving at work on time (and consequently wasting more time, money, productivity, etc. in dealing with it). Anyone question why my managers are idiots? If they listened, the problem would be over, but they’re more concerned about being “strong” managers, following protocols and how being flexible to my needs would reflect on them. F***wits.

Maybe my views on the their idiocy sheds some light on the stress that causes my insomnia. My job depends on their competency. Wouldn’t you be stressed too when you have first-hand proof that your whole livelihood is in the hands of people who can’t even make a simple decision?

On a personal work note (in case anyone thought there were other issues - there aren’t), I have had an above-average appraisal all through my career, my colleagues know I’m the “go-to guy” and my work is way above the required standards of quality and quantity. There’s no reason for my efficiency to be questioned except for the fact that for my insomnia (caused by work stress) makes it sometimes impossible for me to get to work on time.

What do you think?

This open post was written 10 months, 3 weeks ago | V/U/S: 148, 13, 3 | Edit Post | Leave a reply | Report Post


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Laurenn (: offline Verified User (1 year, 8 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
West Winterslow, P8, GB | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (3 minutes after post)

all i read was the end… “what do you think” sorry but i can’t read all that otherwise i would give my opinion sorry

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Green Knight edited this post 10 months, 3 weeks ago. Read the previous text »

“Ask a question, post a rant, tell us your story.” Interesting. Part of my education about what ask.com is about and has coloured my views on what people have been saying. My apologies to anyone that I’ve criticised for posting stuff that just seemed random to me when I thought this site was just about people seeking help. My mistake. I see it’s about broader things now.

In that vein, here’s something I don’t need any particular help with, but I would appreciate anyone’s views, good, bad or indifferent - it won’t actually make any difference (or maybe it will, I dunno).

I’ve been insomniac for over 20 years now (since I started working). It’s something I’ve got used to so it’s just something I accept. There’s no real reason for it, but I know stress makes it worse. I’ve tried every self-imposed cure that I can think of or heard of in research about the subject, with the exception of hypnosis, which I’m considering in the future to satisfy my employer.

Personally, it’s no problem to me, but the odd occasions when I don’t get to sleep before 5-7 AM sometimes means that I am between (literally) seconds and an hour late for work, simply due to the fact that the psychological reasons I cannot sleep cannot fight the fact my body needs sleep.

There’s no physical reason I cannot sleep. I know it’s purely psychological. What I do not know is the reason why it’s psychological, beyond the fact that it’s related to work. I sleep fine at weekends. It is a desire to not be at work that is causing it, so I’m associating going to sleep with waking up and having to go to a job that is necessary, not taxing and not unpleasant.

I don’t hate my co-workers (some are very good friends), my pay and conditions are probably better than most in my situation, my bosses are like something out of Dilbert (but isn’t everyone’s?), I know my job inside-out and am happy doing it…I could go on. Needless to say, there’s nothing I can fault to any great degree about what I know is causing my insomnia, but it continues.

The one thing that I’ve found that keeps me awake is going over converstations or situations I have at work (nowhere else), or even fictional conversations that I have to think out to some kind of conclusion (not that I ever do).

Realising this, I can deal with it; I just stop thinking about it. But now I’ve found (in the last 5-10 years or so) that my problem is that I’m stressing about oversleeping and being late for work, and that’s keeping me awake. Catch 22.

But, because I’m getting hassle from my employer about being late for work, I can’t do anything about this problem. If they laid off, or made allowances, Iwouldn’t get stressed about it and the problem wouldn’t be there. But they won’t. It’s self-perpetuating.

I’ve tried candidly explaining this for over 4 years now and they just don’t get the message. What do I do now?

I’m way beyond sick of fighting the same battle and getting nowhere. The current economic climate (which seriously affects things in the job I do) has made this a case of I’m in dire danger of being sacked through inefficiency (by mostly being late 1-3 minutes late to work, maybe once or twice a week at worst…maybe a day out of every couple of months when I’m up to an hour late).

I’m currently tring to get my insomnia recognised as a disability (as a last resort, and fervently against my wishes) so my employer will finally recognose that they should maybe make some small allowances and allow me to do the job I’m paid to do to their satisfaction. They are being intransigent except for some meaningless words that they are “providing support”. Hah! Their support so far consists of denying that I have been talking to appropriate poeple for the last 4 years about this problem and “mentioning” the consequences of me not arriving at work on time (and consequently wasting more time, money, productivity, etc. in dealing with it). Anyone question why my managers are idiots? If they listened, the problem would be over, but they’re more concerned about being “strong” managers, following protocols and how being flexible to my needs would reflect on them. F***wits.

Maybe my views on the their idiocy sheds some light on the stress that causes my insomnia. My job depends on their competency. Wouldn’t you be stressed too when you have first-hand proof that your whole livelihood is in the hands of people who can’t even make a simple decision?

On a personal work note (in case anyone thought there were other issues - there aren’t), I have had an above-average appraisal all through my career, my colleagues know I’m the “go-to guy” and my work is way above the required standards of quality and quantity. There’s no reason for my efficiency to be questioned except for the fact that for my insomnia (caused by work stress) makes it sometimes impossible for me to get to work on time.

What do you think?

Vyki offline Verified User (1 year, 3 months) Long Term User Shouts: 2 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (8 minutes after post)

Sounds reasonable to me that they should accept that it is a proper condition and maybe if allowances were made you would actually relax more and the hour lateness would be less frequent. What has your GP advised?

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Green Knight offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (30 minutes after post)

Laurenn (: wrote:
all i read was the end… “what do you think” sorry but i can’t read all that otherwise i would give my opinion sorry

Fair enough! I do ramble on. Thanks for taking the time to reply though.

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Green Knight offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (37 minutes after post)

Vyki wrote:
Sounds reasonable to me that they should accept that it is a proper condition and maybe if allowances were made you would actually relax more and the hour lateness would be less frequent. What has your GP advised?

Thankyou for agreeing that what I’ve described is reasonable.

My GP’s (never really seen one consistently…or willingly to be honest - I’ve only done so at the “request” of my employer) have not been much help (which is why I see them reluctantly; I know they aren’t going to advise anything I haven’t done already or considered. I’m not stupid.) All they have done is medicate soporifics; they don’t help. I have no problem sleeping, just getting to sleep. Drugs just make me oversleep more and add to the problem.

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Vyki offline Verified User (1 year, 3 months) Long Term User Shouts: 2 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (42 minutes after post)

But can’t they give you some sort of notice to give to your employer to say that it is a proper condition and you are trying to overcome it?

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Green Knight offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 14 minutes after post)

My employer has referred me to the Occupational Health Service (OHS) (who is basically a GP who advises them on what to do). They have some contact with my GP, but only to advise treatment and have access to my medical records.

The problem is, the OHS is basically just a GP. Not a specialist. And whatever they say after a (maybe, if you’re lucky) hour long session, is what my employer is going to act on.

They’ve said that maybe, it’s possible that my insomnia isn’t covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (which is all my employer is going to take notice of - they won’t do anything that they aren’t forced to do). But my consultation with the OHS was all about how I felt at the time. My condition is cyclical. When I saw the OHS , I was fine so their report has said just that.

I’ve now got to fight to get my insomnia recognised as a disability when I don’t even want it to be just to get my employer to give me some leeway (for a matter of minutes), when I’ve given nearly 25 years’ service that they acknowledge is consistently above what they expect. It p****s me off so much.

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Vyki offline Verified User (1 year, 3 months) Long Term User Shouts: 2 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 18 minutes after post)

It would get to me too and it is really not right that they are being like that about it. Do you think they are just being so fussy thinking that you are lying and you will give up and come in on time because if you work well and they acknowledge that I don’t see what they have to gain by not just turning a blind eye to a few minutes here and there. What kind of work do you do?

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Green Knight offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 35 minutes after post)

To be honest, I think they assume I’m lying, which annoys me even more. I’ve been nothing but honest. More honest than I need to be, knowing the reputation of the people I’ve spoken to.

I have given up to a degree. Since my last time I was late for work (over the Christmas period - I had no time off at all, except when the office was closed on Xmas day, Boxing day and New Year’s Day), I have been in at work well before I had to be. This week I have been at work before 8AM every day. The cost is that to do that I have done nothing but come home from work, feed my cats and go to bed; I haven’t even eaten.

Today is the first time I haven’t done that (apart from weekends) and I know tomorrow I may have problems, but I need to get some perspective on this. I’m kinda desperate. It’s my whole working life and everything that entails I need to sort out - if I lose my job, I can’t pay my mortgage and bills - I’ll lose my home. If I can’t support myself, I’ll probably lose my girlfiend (who would want to date someone living on the streets?). I’m probably over-thinking this thing and worrying too much, but that’s what could happen. My life could be over.

Truth is, things wouldn’t be that bad. But the fact it could be that way is no good for my stress.

That’s the root of my problem - it’s not what is, but what could be.

This is why is say that people can’t help, and I don’t expect them too. You can’t deal with “what if’s”

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Green Knight offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 39 minutes after post)

Apologies for the typos in the last reply. v. tired!! 8)

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Vyki offline Verified User (1 year, 3 months) Long Term User Shouts: 2 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 40 minutes after post)

What ifs are not the be all and end all though, you have said you work well and that is whats important and what management look at when they have to get rid of people. I hope you can find a solution to all of this because it truly seems very unfair and when it gets too much just think ah well I could get hit by a bis tomorrow, a bit morbid but it usually puts things into perspective a little for me.

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Green Knight offline Verified User (11 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 48 minutes after post)

Thanks Vyki, I appreciate your concern (I really do). If it was me, I wouldn’t give two hoots. It’s not life-or-death or something that would affect someone’s development that might be important. It’s just my s**t that I’ve dealt with for a quarter of a century already and is finally biting me in the a**e.

It’s been good to offload stuff, and nice that some people are kind enough to try to help (and I mean that sincerely). Thanks peeps, but I’m going to bed now, perchance to sleep.

Sleep well all x

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Vyki offline Verified User (1 year, 3 months) Long Term User Shouts: 2 #
An Unknown Location | 10 months, 3 weeks ago (1 hour, 49 minutes after post)

I have offloaded enough of my stuff here, if it makes you feel better then do it. Good luck sleeping :)

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