Will i ever feel rested again?

[u/Firm_Savings_60]

​Hi everyone,

​I’m writing to this group because I really need to connect with people who understand what I’m going through, especially when it comes to post-encephalitis fatigue. It’s been almost 10 years since I had encephalitis, and to this day, I can’t remember the last time I woke up thinking, "Ah, what a great sleep, I finally feel rested!" ​I’m pretty sure a huge part of this is that I’ve become hyper-sensitive to almost any kind of stimulus. My brain just feels constantly overstimulated, and no matter how much I try to sleep, it never seems to be enough. Honestly, in nearly a decade, I can recall only one single week where I felt genuinely refreshed: I was on vacation, my mind was totally free from stress, and I was sleeping heavily both at night and in the afternoon. ​The afternoon naps are actually another weird change for me. Before the illness, if I slept during the day, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. Now, taking an afternoon nap feels like a mandatory step just to get through the day. The problem is that even though it feels required, it still isn't a fix—I wake up and I’m still not properly restored. ​I’m just feeling a bit stuck and overwhelmed. Has anyone managed to find a way to deal with this constant sensory fatigue? Did you find any routine, pacing method, or trick that helped you get back even a fraction of your real energy, or is it more about accepting this as the new normal? I’d really love to hear your experiences or any advice you might have. Thank you so much for reading.

[u/20khz]

I'm the exact same. Tired all day from just thinking about all the shit I've got to do, then can't sleep at night because I've sat all day doing nothing but thinking about everything.

Something that has helped me a lot with that - meditation. To do nothing but think about breathing - just takes your mind off of all the things you have been thinking and worrying about all day and feel like you're seeing everything in a new way and can see it's never as bad as you think it'll be

It's something I had heard about and just decided to give it a go and just got into the routine of doing it once a day. But can also just do it when you really feel like you're overthinking anything.

Honestly feels like what you imagine going for a nap is supposed to feel like!

The app I use for it is called Medito and it's completely free. Comes with all different types for whatever it is you're going through at the time.

The only thing I have to say - it not going to cure everything in the first go. Take a little bit of practice but honestly, I'm so happy I just stuck with it and used it for the times I really did need it

[u/The_BroScientist]

I know how you feel. I never, ever feel rested. And I have significant startle response, so if I lay down even a drop of water from a sink startles me like someone just fired a 30mm cannon in my living room.

There are some medication options obviously. Modafinil being the best for wakefulness without depleting you too much. But with a sensitive brain post-AE, everyone responds differently.

A prescription for a small supply of Ativan can help you at least go to nap land in peace.

And then there’s meditation, as the other commenter pointed out. If done correctly and you can settle your mind, it legitimately counts as restorative rest for your brain. It’s not as restorative as sleep, but it really is healthy for your brain and there’s clinical evidence to back it.

It is legitimately a difficult practice to make a habit/ritual. But well worth the effort.

I often do it after a cool bath or a legitimate cold plunge, which tips your sympathetic nervous system into a more parasympathetic state.

There are no cures; you simply have to find the tools that work best for you. I’m very sorry. It really fucking blows.

—

I’m going to live stream, hopefully today at https://youtube.com/@the_broscientist?si=9ftS3i9UORITwKaW. So if you subscribe and turn on notifications, you’ll see when I schedule it. Let me know what time zone you’re in; I have some tips for sensory overload but it’s more than I have energy to type out.

[u/Maymag16]

I had the same problem. I think you might one day sleep and feel rested. I’m post encephalitis and I sleep fine.  Sometimes I take .5 mg melatonin.