Talking a lot about my sleep deprivation with DD2 (up at least 4 - 6 times a night for months and months) actually helped me as someone offered me some advice which i took on board and really changed how i felt about the situation. If i hadn't winged so much, she may not have felt compelled to say 'you seem to have tried everything, perhaps accept this for now and it'll improve in time'. The next day, i felt a million times better as i made peace with the situation and took on board what she said.

Complaining & wingeing really helped me (as someone offered me useful advice as a result). must have bored the people around me though ;-)