(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best sleep masks

I am sorry to hear this. :(

I was a pretty intolerable person to be around after my abuse and rape. I was extremely defiant and contrary, I had a lot of unresolved rage issues. It would often take a long time for me to reach a point of breaking but when I did finally lose patience I would just RAGE. I had so much anger.

You may want to look at ketamine therapy, it’s being used as a treatment for depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. I was able to reframe things in my mind to be able to forgive myself for what happened, because a lot of my rage was directed externally but even more than that was internalized and developed malignantly until I was either put into psychiatric hold or I entered psych hold myself for my own safety. Being able to forgive myself released so much anger and hatred, I felt like a load was just lifted off of me. It was incredibly freeing. There are studies being down for ketamine therapy all over the US and there is a searchable database for clinical trials on the NIMH website, you might be able to get her into one. I have seen some miraculous results from people crippled by addiction too.

Another thing that helped me was EMDR therapy. It’s a very specific method that helps to process past trauma, I feel like more than anything the EMDR saved me. Just Google the phrase “EMDR therapy saved me” and you will have access to a hundred op-adds and essays about how beneficial a therapy this can be. It absolutely taught me how to process things better. Here is one such essay.

I also do a lot of mindfulness exercises. It helps if I can have something that can calm me down or make it through an acute episode. There’s an app called Headspace and it offers some free basic guided mindfulness exercises but you can also pay a monthly fee and then there are mindfulness lessons on all kinds of things. Depression, sleep, anxiety, anger, etc. it’s worth the $7 a month for me because I use it almost every other day. There is even a kids section and they have things to help them calm down and guide them into sleep. It’s basically mindfulness narration. I do the stuff with my kiddo. Especially calm down stuff because he’s 6 and I think the mindful approach to frustrating/upsetting experiences is really key aspect of emotional intelligence and I want to get him into it young so he has healthy coping skills as an adult. I bought these awesome headphones/eye mask combo that mute exterior sound so if I need to immediately decompress or manage an acute episode or just sleep I can put these bad boys on and relax very quickly with some Headspace-y goodness.

Anyway, those three things have helped me find my voice and free myself from an internalized self induced prison that I had developed as a result of trauma and a complete lack of healthy coping skills. I’m not going to lie and say everything is perfect now but things are so much better than they were. I had a lot of unhealthy, codependent, and abusive relationships (friends and significant others) until I started dealing with my shit. Now I can look at a previous me and see how much I’ve improved, how much I’ve grown and changed from where I was at.

I hope you and your partner can move past things. I hope she can forgive herself and learn to heal. I hope you can heal together and go on to be happy. I wish you well. <3

This is the sleep mask I use and it is awesome. We got it for free when my fiancé sold mattresses, but it's so good I'm thinking of buying a backup. I also have to have the fan on when I sleep. I don't drink caffeine after about midnight or 1, and I have a variety of meds I rotate between to help me sleep.

I think every person has to just find what works for them in terms of scheduling, whether or not they flip their sleep on nights off, etc.

Your class schedule does sound like an added challenge, though. If it were me, I'd probably do best working Thursday (hoping I could squeeze in a map between class and work), Saturday, Sunday each week. That would allow you to have a normal schedule on your school days, stay up on the weekends, give you one weekend night for socializing, and let you keep the same schedule each week and not have to switch things up to fit in your "weekend" requirements.

Also, consider taking a vacation day the week before big tests. Talk to your boss about whether or not you are allowed to take an occasional unpaid day off as well (especially for studying).

Good luck!!

Just posting an anecdote for anyone else who stumbles on this thread:

I've had a bad dry eye situation developing in my left eye for a few months. It's most likely due to a chalazion or blocked duct that's caused some inflammation. The eyelid doesn't close properly so the eye dries out while I'm sleeping. The lump in the eyelid also puts some pressure on the eye. For a while, when I'd wake up it would feel like someone was ripping a piece of duct tape off my dry eyeball. It would burn and sting for an hour or so before I could properly function. I got it sort of under control by doing regular warm compresses and sleeping with a headband over my eyes in such a way that it put just enough pressure on the lid to help keep it closed tightly. I've also been using Systane gel or ointment overnight. I've gone back and forth between the headband and this hydrating sleep mask. With all that I was still having flare-ups a couple of times a week when I'd wake up. I found that a cold compress (damp washcloth with water as cold as possible) helps with the pain. My eye seems to put off a LOT of heat when it's irritated. Oh, I also take 1000mg of fish oil in the morning and another 1000mg right before bed.

Last week I had a really bad flare-up in the middle of the afternoon not anywhere close to when I'd been sleeping. The compress only helped a little bit. It was burning like fire and it felt like there was a gigantic splinter or something in my eye. It finally calmed down after an hour or so but it was low-level burning the rest of the day. The next day it started up again in the morning and took hours to get under control and continued to burn for most of the day. That's when I found this post.

I started the regimen described in the link on Friday morning and have been doing really well so far. I saw my cornea doctor this morning (I'd last seen him about three months ago when all of this started) and he said that most of the erosion is healed and that he's never seen such a drastic improvement before. My eye feels mostly better - I've been sleeping with the hydration mask on for the last few nights and I haven't had any flare-ups since I started TheraTears. I do feel like there's a slight burning from time to time, and every once in a while when I'm doing a compress I do feel the "foreign body sensation" a bit, but not as severely as I had before. My eyes still feel pretty dry when I wake up but as soon as I start the TheraTears regimen they feel more comfortable. I'm still doing compresses as close to 3x per day as I can, and still scrubbing my eyelids with baby shampoo every day as this hopefully will help prevent more duct clogging.

I'm cautiously optimistic. It does seem, right now, that TheraTears is as effective as OP says. I will also say that this is the most frequent eyedrop regimen I've ever embarked on/stuck with, so it could also just be that more regular lubrication is working wonders, regardless of the brand. I don't know, but I'm sticking with the TheraTears for now.

Here are a couple of other products I've been using:

Eye compress/mask. This is nice because you just put it on your head and don't have to sit there and hold it. Stays hot for about 8-10 minutes and pretty warm for another 10 or so after that. I heat this up for 23 seconds and listen to a podcast or something while it does its thing. Goal is 3x a day but I often can only manage 1 or 2.

USB heated eye mask. As many people have pointed out, this doesn't put out enough heat to be a substitute for other compresses, but I figure some heat is better than no heat, right? Sometimes I put this on at bedtime, set for 30 minutes. At some point later if I wake up after it shuts off, I switch to the hydration mask.

Systane overnight ointment. I put a blob of this in after the last TheraTears round for the day, right before sleep.

Genteel Severe Gel. I hit it with this any time it's feeling a little dry and/or fatigued, and I'm in between TheraTears rounds. I use this one if I can afford to have a blurry eye for a few minutes, but if I'm really busy I just go with regular Systane Complete drops.

If anyone is experiencing anything similar to what I've described, try this stuff. And with all of the treatments I've talked about (drops, compresses, lid scrubs), BE CONSISTENT. I know they are a pain in the ass and take up a lot of time but when I look at all the times things have gotten out of control with my eyes (I've had issues with chalazions for almost 20 years now) it's usually when I'm not being good about routines and hygiene.

1. School supply? Not necessarily-but if you have a daughter who doesn't already use perfume, you may soon want these.
   
2. If the kids are jealous, they'd better keep it to themselves.
   
3. Should humor fail to make your teacher smile, you can always give her these.
   
4. No matter what subject you're taking, one of these babies can't possibly hurt.
   
5. As a kid, I loved swinging on the swings.
   
6. It's a pillow, it's a pet, and now it's a mascot!
   
7. Though my mom never packed cookie dough in my lunch as a kid, it's still delicious. Best part of being an adult is that you get to eat cookie dough as your WHOLE lunch!
   
8. One of the funniest books I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
   
9. Classic backpack. The sturdiest backpack I ever owned.
   
10. Naptime!
    
    In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

A busy mom on the go could use a change in how she drinks water

This cooling eye cover might relieve stress and headaches

Don't forget oils to go with an essential oil diffuser. Perfect for making bed time relaxing

Enjoy those few precious moments of quiet coffee in the morning watching birds

Winter is coming

A smidge over budget, but warm towels after a shower are revolutionary

I put one of these in my bathroom where the kitty litter goes, kids can make bathrooms smell just as bad

GET RID OF TUPERWARE, REUSABLE ZIP LOC BAGS ARE PERFECT FOR A SOCCER MOM

Lets face it, everyone could use new towels

boil water for coffee or tea instantly

Always on the go, a portable charge is needed. Don't forget a cable to go with it

Massages on the go

Hope at least one of those help!

Well, TBH, it was my friend who told me how he had read up on lucid dreaming online and was able to control some of his dreams. And I really wanted to have a sex dream with Channing Tatum! LoL 😂 So I was willing to spend $30 for a sleep mask that helps induce "lucid dreaming", although my friend said that you can train your brain to do it by itself without the mask... So the sleep mask dimly flashes every 20 minutes while you sleep so you can see the flashes (with your eyes closed) and realize that you're in that middle state where you're not awake and not asleep, and continue to be cognizant while your brain begins to dream. Here is the sleep mask that I bought:

Remee Lucid Dream Mask https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077XSDZL6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qlhDCbT85RZ75

do you want a heated one? i bought one that plugs in. 3 heat levels. you may not think it’s that warm but trust me. your eyes can. i put some eye ointment in like restane. then slip the black out mask on. silky material. snug fit. heated. my eyes feel really great in the morning.

Graphene Heated Eye Mask for Dry... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P9NHKTW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

1. i sometimes use A good fan that downs out sound. I would link mine but it doesn’t seem like they make it anymore.
   
2. A weighted blanket i got this one one. I do think i should have went for the 25 lb one though. It does make it so I’m not as anxious at night.
   
3. if light is a problem i use this silk sleep masks. You get two so i have one in the car and one at home. I bought them when i was working overnights.
   
4. I sadly don’t have earbud recommendation as i just use my echo as i don’t have to worry about waking anyone up. But i do listen to this playlist or sometimes i use this app if you don’t want to use the app for sleep sounds i believe Spotify also has them.
   
5. i also bought super soft microfiber blankets that feel wonderful (although the brand i bought seem to have went out of business or something)
   
6. i also bought 800 thread count Egyptian Cotton sheets. (It was special Jennifer Lopez brand that only popped up for a bit and only found in stores) They have so far lasted longer and are softer than any sheets i have bought on amazon. I always have two sets of sheets in case i need to change it for some reason. I actually now avoid amazon for buying sheets as there’s a lot of tricks the brands on there try. There’s a brand called Egyptian Cotton that doesn’t sell Egyptian cotton sheets. There’s another brand that is like 1000 tc making you think it’s 1000 thread count but it’s not. I also found my 800 tc sheets are softer than the last 1800 tc sheets that ripped after a year. Go to bed bath and Beyond or similar store to buy them.
   
   
   
   
   Edit: have you looked into the wireless headband headphones? I haven’t tried them but they have a good rating and fakespot hasn’t found any deception.

Mine do, too, but I don't mind - I like having natural light wake me up in the morning.

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Have you tried the ones that are 4-inches wide all around your head? I'm not recommending this one specifically, but maybe something in that style?

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There are also some that have a chin strap in addition the back-of-the-head strap. I'm having a hard time finding that one again, but anti-snoring chin straps are plentiful and look secure. You could stitch one to your favorite sleep mask to make it much more secure.

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"cpap-replacement straps" are a similar concept - sliding them on over a sleep mask and possibly stitching the sleep mask to the straps is likely to keep it in place. People's lives depend on cpap machines staying in place.

Thanks so much, that's just the sort of recommendation I'm looking for!! :)

Is this the one you're talking about? Do you think that I could toss it into the usual laundry in, say, a lingerie bag and air-dry, or would complete handwashing be best?

Have you tried Belsomra? I’m not sure what the consensus is about suvorexant around these parts—there is a lot of conflicting evidence out there regarding its effectiveness—but it is the only solution for me. The only way I’m ever getting more than 3-4 hours of sleep a night is by coupling that with an eye mask (yes, it looks like a small bra, but I love it) and wax ear plugs.

ETA: I should add that Belsomra is extraordinarily expensive without good insurance - it is $300+ for a month if you aren’t covered. Luckily, my copay is manageable.

Yes! I have the best sleep mask ever! It's so soft!

Handmade Cotton Sleep Mask - Nose Wing Design Sleeping Eye Mask Comfortable and Adjustable Blinder Blindfold Airplane with Travel Pouch - Night Companion Eyeshade for Men Women (Purple Cotton) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N4NCSYQ/

That one is a tad pricey, but this one is half as much. Looks pretty similar.

Modal Cotton Travel Sleep Mask, Eye Mask with Longer Adjustable Strap for Women Men and Kids, Fully Coverage with Earplugs, Hanger and Travel Pouch, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RMSZW99/

I work nights so I can’t tell you how many eye masks I’ve tried.

My favorite is this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F76KC3C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Q6ZMzb0SZS0TP


It stays on the best, blocks the most light, and is lightweight. I picked mine up at TJ Maxx for like $4 and it’s Hello Kitty themed lol. They always have a lot of different masks to choose from.

I love this one. I got it wanting something more comfortable and higher quality and have used it for like 2 years.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3M5TTZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TicYDbGZKAJ0Q

Poor pup. I'm sorry you're going through that.

One thing you can do is invest in some type of eye mask. I started wearing one about 10 years ago working night shift so I could sleep during the day.

Bucky Luggage 40 Blinks Ultralight Sleep Mask, Navy, One Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZFN1FY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_rq5dBb8TM4AYD

Here's what I use in case you want to try it. They tend to last about a year before they start to wear out, but they work really well during that time. Good luck with your pup!

Items I use to combat these things:

App called “Calm”—it has sleep stories. They are more effective than I thought.

These gummies: OLLY Restful Sleep Gummy Supplements, Blackberry Zen (Packaging May Vary), 50 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0145QI7O0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_I8wNAbCBF6NW2

Similar: ZzzQuill Vicks ZzzQuil Nighttime Sleep Aid LiquiCaps 48 ct, Package May Vary https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MB60CC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_w9wNAb23WCMHX

Humidifier: VAVA Cool Mist Humidifier, 60oz/1.8L Space-Saving Ultrasonic Humidifiers for Bedroom Babies, Whisper-Quiet, Filter Free, Automatic Shut-off, 360 Degree Nozzle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071G2NLLS?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Gel-like eye mask: Dream Essentials Escape Sleep Mask with Earplugs and Carry Pouch, Navy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CGIBYQ?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Edit: Casper pillows, and keep the temperature low.

Sorry, sorry. Here’s the one I have. It’s perfectly soft, not tight on the eye balls themselves, and the adjustable nose piece works great.

Cotton Sleep Eye Mask - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3M5TTZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rWoBCbJMTJJEB

Yeah, I like. Comfortable, does the job.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TUZSMU/ref=wms_ohs_product

these get great reviews....

Or, you could do something like this if you are into it....

I use these everyday, because roommates make a lot of noise in the morning much earlier than I wake up. they hurt my ears the first few times I used them and every once in a while but they seem ok now. I did cut them a little bit near the end because sometimes tossing and turning would pull them out of my ears.

https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Visibility-Disposable-Earplugs-200-Pairs/dp/B0007XJOLG

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I also purchased this mask to try and sleep a bit more without the sun waking me and I like it so far. just be sure you are wearing it correctly or you will get light by your nose.

https://www.amazon.com/Contoured-Sleeping-Blindfold-Concave-Meditation/dp/B07W3L3DJB/

I have trouble functioning if I dont sleep enough so I totally undrestand. hope this helps!

I've had really good luck with the Lonfrote Deep Molded Sleep Mask coupled with the Pzizz app.

I've gotten into the habit of regularly taking naps with the combination of these two things. That way, when I'm put in a position such as traveling or camping where I might have some difficulty getting to sleep, my body has adjusted to the mask and Pzizz and they serve me well.

I've found this to be pretty helpful. Also I sometimes listen to music for a little bit before putting it on.

TJMaxx/Marshalls is where I usually get mine and not that expensive. I'm sensitive to pressure on my head when I sleep or it will be the beginnings for a migraine.

I love the ones that look like bra's, LOL.

The flat shiny satin style would make me sweat at night and cause my skin to break out, so that was a big no go.

Years ago when staying at the Ritz Carlton and having a spa session, I bought an eye mask from their spa shop. It was the best! But I lost it after a few months and could not find a replacement for it.

Yesterday I found 3 between my bed and the dogs bed when cleaning.

you can buy the cushion to interchange with the frame.

you’ll also need the full face adjustable straps to securely wear the full face cushion

only those two you’ll need! the rest is the same - whatever size your nasal cushion is now (probably small or medium) is the size full face you’ll buy. The sizing is only measuring how far your nose comes out under your nostrils length wise

Try a sleep mask! My husband can't sleep without Total Darkness^^TM, I bought him this one a while back and he loves it.

http://www.amazon.com/Bucky-Luggage-Blinks-Ultralight-Sleep/dp/B007ZFN1FY

This one is fantastic, it's light and the molded shape means that you don't get pressure on your eyeballs or the edges peeling up. The strap is Velcro so it's very adjustable. I used to work night shift and this was my go-to sleep mask.

yep, i bought both pieces on amazon for about $40 total. nice to have the option if needed, and keep the hose connection at the top of my head

it helps with congestion, but i didn't get a good seal with it. perhaps because of my beard. after my congestion cleared up i switched back to the nasal mask

mask (med size, but get whatever equivalent is to your nasal)

headgear

I have some that bubble out over the eyes so they don't crush your eyelashes :) It also makes a nice seal around your eyes and blocks out 100% of light. I LOVE THEM! Here's the exact pair I bought (this is actually my second pair -- I wore my first pair out!)

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H6FSZTO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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These aren't hot on your face either, and the strap is adjustable AND velcro.

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I will say though, that sometimes they can sit on my head too low and bother my ears, but I just set it higher on the back of my head and problem solved!

I love this one. I can sleep through almost anything with this eye mask, it completely blocks out ALL light, and is comfy to wear while sleeping. I'm a side sleeper and it doesn't poke or leak light.

this is my favorite right now:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W3L3DJB

doesn't touch the eyes, and actually stays on my face.

Buy this. Get used to wearing it. Your life will improve immediately. I swear

Maybe you're extra sensitive to light. Try an eye mask. Get something that doesn't compress your eyelids, like this: https://www.amazon.com/Lonfrote-Molded-lightweight-comfortable-Material/dp/B01H6FSZTO/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499715069&sr=8-5&keywords=bucky+sleep+mask

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003CGIBYQ/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_track_package_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Recommend

Lewis N. Clark Comfort Eye Mask, Navy, One Size

[This] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TUZSMU/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) is the single best sleep mask I've used. I find it very difficult to sleep with light, and this right here stops that issue without impeding my breathing, or being uncomfortable. It's like 8 bucks too.

Hey, I have trouble sleeping if there's light, too (and unfortunately there's a streetlight right outside my bedroom). I have this sleep mask. It's very soft and blocks light completely. It's my favorite of all I've tried.