Sleep

Not a coincidence. Here is a podcast about sleep and neurodivergence:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jlyOWln2MMpobOHnJzaAs?si=fKds9JJaQWul0B3W5bvdwg

I need my 8 hours and still have low energy levels. It can be hard to fall asleep if I have a busy brain or my sensory issues are being difficult, especially if my breathing is noisy. My Dad (self diagnosed autistic) has insomnia and usually gets less than 5 hours, I don't know hoe he functions!

Insomnia is the worst. Normally I’m closer to being narcoleptic (exaggerating) in that enough rumination and worry over hours and my body imposes downtime on me. But a couple of times in the last three years I’ve been so emotionally distraught that nightly sleep was simply impossible. For days at a time. It was horrific. No escape from the torture. 

I also find stress can make me sleep, which seems weird, but I suppose is part of the freeze response. I've never had really bad insomnia, but I do find it makes me feel quite unwell to not get enough sleep, as well as being a most frustrating experience. Especially as not sleeping can make my arthritis worse and then that makes it harder to fall asleep! So I do try to have good sleep hygiene. I'm sorry you've had that experience.

I also find stress can make me sleep, which seems weird, but I suppose is part of the freeze response. I've never had really bad insomnia, but I do find it makes me feel quite unwell to not get enough sleep, as well as being a most frustrating experience. Especially as not sleeping can make my arthritis worse and then that makes it harder to fall asleep! So I do try to have good sleep hygiene. I'm sorry you've had that experience.