My dd is two this month. She's never slept well tbh. Reflux and a cleft palate needing surgery meant bad habits were firmed vey young. Sometimes she sleeps well for a week then we are back to it. Either early mornings, refusal to settle at bedtime or waking in the night but not going back off.
Saturday she woke once briefly but I had earplugs in so didn't even hear her so had a blissfull ten hours kip.
Yesterday I was like a different person.
No headache, was motivated and energetic. We took dds out all day to a bird sanctuary, chased them around. I wasn't snappy and miserable, didn't crave stodgy food, cooked a nice dinner and had an hour at the gym whilst it was cooking. I felt hopeful about the future and not depressed and anxious 
Last night she woke at 4 and refused to go back off. Dh got up with her at 4.430 because I had work. I couldn't go back off.
Today I am back to square one. I've really struggled at work, feel depressed and anxious and have a massive headache. I have the energy of a sloth and probably shouldn't have even driven.
Do you ever worry about the bad effects of not getting enough sleep?
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I had a good nights sleep Saturday and on Sunday realised what a terrible effect no sleep has had on me.
ledkr · 14/01/2013 18:50
Agree with you completely. DS is only 7 weeks old so have 'only' had 7 weeks of sleep deprivation, but I hate the effect it has on me. I currently feel depressed and 'out of it'. It's affecting my bond with baby too 
. On the odd night that DP gives me a night off I feel so much better, and like you said, a lot more positive and actually wondering what all the fuss is about!
Again, afraid I cannot offer advice, just the fact you are not alone.
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ledkr oh I feel for you! Sleep deprivation is the most awful thing and only those going through it understand how stressed and bleak it can make you feel! My DS didn't sleep through the night from birth to two and a half - literally, he slept through only 5 nights in those 2 1/2 years. He also had problems with naps, took ages to settle, woke early - every sleep problem in the book. (Like your DD there were issues preventing his sleeping - it turned out he had ASD.) I then had DD so a total of 3 1/2 years of waking up every single night ... they must have been at school before I finally began to get some regular sleep and stopped falling asleep all day, whenever I sat down and sometimes even when I didn't. What saved me was my ability to catnap and when that wasn't possible, just using relaxation techniques - for five minutes just sit and breathe quietly and relax your muscles. It isn't sleep but the closest thing to it - you just zone out and it really revives you. It gets easier with practice - maybe you've done yoga or did it at ante-natal classes? Try it before you drive home from work - just sit in the car, radio on low, and chill out for five minutes. You deserve rest to look after everyone around you. Good luck. 
if your dh thinks you are mental then I suggest he takes over all night wakings for three weeks and then see how he feels
sleep deprivation is utter hell, it makes me fat and depressed
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