Re: Insomnia

I wake up several times a night, often because I need to pee, but I generally get back to sleep quickly. If I don't, if I toss and turn and get nowhere, even though I'm tired, I just get up and go downstairs for a cuppa. Usually hot milk with honey and nutmeg, or in summer a cup of camomile tea. And a couple of plain biscuits. I'll spend an hour reading, then back to bed and I usually go out like a light then.

I feel for you Pixie K, it's damn miserable not being able to sleep.

Re: Insomnia

That's interesting Sheba, that you feel tired, as if maybe you haven't slept enough. If I felt like that, I would try harder to fall back asleep, but I just feel so instantly awake. Its like a switch, honestly that's how I describe it. I did try sleeping tablets actually, from the doctor once, but oh no, never again. They disrupted my whole pattern and I was like a zombie for days.

Re: Insomnia

No, I'm not keen on sleeping pills either Pixie. Yes, it is so frustrating to feel exhausted and yet not be able to sleep. I wish I could just turn off my brain, which goes into overdrive, dragging up all the problems, worries (or more accurately potential, non-existent problems and worries}. That's what stops me sleeping! So coming downstairs for a cuppa and reading for an hour breaks that cycle usually.

Re: Insomnia

Good, I'm glad that helps you disrupt that line of thought There's nothing worse than the what if's road.

Re: Insomnia

Hi Pixie I have had spells of insomnia throughout my life some caused by my brain refusing to stop thinking, some by a sort of restlessness where I can't get comfortable.
Throughout my working life my jobs have included having to get up or work through the night which didn't help to form good sleep patterns.

I have found if I can't sleep (I have tried all the recommended things for sleep ) the best course of action is to get up and do something that doesn't require making the brain too alert, ironing/breadmaking/read a boring book, things like that are good then after an hour try again to sleep. That often works. If not I get up and do something else for a while.
Sometimes I manage to get to sleep just before it is time to get up .

Now some nights my heart misbehaves, I have someone beating drums with force in my chest and that stops me sleeping. Then BBC radio 4 is my friend with world service that has talk programmes through the night ,a good distraction that can help me to drop of to sleep for a while .

Re: Insomnia

Meg, its an awful business getting older isn't it? Shift patterns attest to that...Mr P worked nights for such a long time, and he suffered terribly trying to regulate his sleep. Also - Radio 4 I adore...I haven't thought to listen to it at night though...might give it a go now you mentioned it, thanks!

Re: Insomnia

Here's a weird answer and you'll probably think I am insane but it sometimes works for me.

I don't know about anyone else but when I am about to fall asleep, I start to dream, so I might hear voices or see images. You are only aware of this if you wake up again (You know, that annoying moment when you realise you almost fell asleep).

So when I can't sleep, I imagine the sound of a crowd of people all talking at once, say in a pub for instance. Eventually someone will say something without being generated. It probably won't make any sense but that's good; means I am falling asleep. It sometimes takes several goes at it to work.


Another trick someone taught me which does work although I have not used it for a while, is to keep a smooth pebble in you hand. When your mind starts to work overtime, gently caress the pebble in your hand. It brings your mind back to where you are.

Re: Insomnia

My daughter has an Amazon Echo in her little girl's room, and sets it to play 'night time music', which always sends her off to sleep quickly. She has it on very softly and it has such a soothing effect. I'm thinking of getting another one for my bedroom. Anything is worth a try!

Re: Insomnia

I really like the sound of that - might give it go!

Re: Insomnia

I too have spells of not sleeping, it's gotten a lot worse since these lockdowns as I'm simply not able to live life as I did before, especially swimming. I was at the pool for 7am Mon - Fri and did 50 lengths each time, that is quite a bit of exercise, I used to meet up with friends over in Wick for lunch and a wander round the shops, all using up energy. Then there's all the things I do round here.
If I wake up I get up and close the bedroom door quietly so I don't wake himself up as he is up at 6am for work. I often make toast and coffee then go online with my jigsaw and audio book, if it's the summer I go outside and sit on the bench with my snack, I love to hear the ocean and it sooths me. If it's near dawn I get dressed, take the dog and camera and head over to the beach for a wander and get some sunrise photos.. Like this one..