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Insomnia?

JillW

JillW

I love lavend ... zzzzzz ...
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
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Are there any other insomnia sufferers here? I've never been a great sleeper, but about 6 years ago things really went south as far as sleeping goes!
How do you cope?
Do you have any secrets?
 
Have you tried Tart Cherries? My family swears by them. My dad drinks a shot of tart cherry juice before bed each night. We have a jar of the capsules. In fact my son just grabbed a couple just now before heading to bed.
 
Melatonin and it takes a week or two to work. But it's natural. Otherwise, need more info -- what keeps you awake -- thoughts, uncomfortable, just wide awake?, what to you do before bed. so many things affect sleep.
 
I tried Melatonin and it didn't do much for me - I finally caved and went to the doctor and now take 2 Temazepan tabs every night - some nights they work great, other nights, not so much. I've also started using essential oils (lavender, bergomot and cedarwood) and they have helped. As for what I do before bed - I try to unwind ... I don't have electronics in the bedroom and I take a relaxing bath every night. What's crazy is - I don't even really find myself thinking too much - it's just like I can't shut my body off. It's just a bit frustrating! I have a lot of friends that have the same issues and we are all about the same age - mid 50's ... perhaps age is a factor ... oh the joys!
 
Ah yes mid 50's I know those. Mine finally went away but all my body clocks are messed up from chemo. Essential oils are great, depends on brand some have blends for relaxing and sleep. You could see if maybe one of those oils doesn't work for you or works best to customize your blend. (Lavendar doesn't work for me) Sounds like you have the routine bit maybe extend it with a cup of tea or something. You answered most of my ideas. Only other thing I can think of is your mattress (I went through this last year) it may be too old or I use a foam mattress pad. My son battles the same lately and it stinks. I went through years of it.
Sorry you are going through it. The 50's are not fair in my book.
 
I love insomnia. I don't understand the angst. Lol in my late 40s I needed maybe 4 hours sleep. I did so much at night. I am up to 6 hours now, and sometimes wake At 2am. That is my most creative time. I did train myself for 20 minute power naps, years ago. They really help my late afternoon time. Try rolling with it. I am hitting 53 on the USAs thanksgiving, and I do have an occasional 10 hour sleep marathons.
 
That's what I ended up doing with my insomnia -- I'm a chronic night owl now but my body is now telling me what it needs. So I get 6 if I'm lucky but I sleep away many a weekend. But when you're tired and you need to sleep and can't for anything -- there is little more frustrating. It's not always something you can just roll with.
 
That must be so frustrating!! I read something boring. My sister is a scientist and anything remotely related to science does the trick for me!! Sorry all science-peeps!!! So I just have a few science magazines that I rely on for those really hard nights!
 
I have severe depression, anxiety, Fibromyalgia, and Psoriatic arthritis.....those all lead me to insomnia. I have anxiety meds from my doctor that help knock me out, but I hate taking them, so I'm going to be honest and hope I'm not judged....

I smoke weed at night, after the kids are asleep, to help my pain and help me sleep. I know it's not an option for everyone, but it's what works for me. I live in Washington state and it's legal here.

My dilemma is, we're moving back east next year and I'm nervous. Where we are moving to, it's not legal, so I don't know what I will do.
 
I either do Melatonin or Benedryl. My OBGyn told me that Benedryl is the same thing as Tylenol PM, without the Tylenol! She also cautioned that I only take it when needed, and not more than 3x a week. I take that mostly for hot flashes that wake me up and I can't get back to sleep.

I've been an insomniac my whole life. I only sleep well (without taking any of the above) if I get enough exercise, don't oversleep (more than 8 hours), don't eat after 6:00 pm, and if I'm not overworked. I need to be in a rhythmn, a sleep pattern so to speak. I need to take the Benedryl to get back on a pattern if I haven't slept well for over a week, meaning 3 hours a night, or less. If I don't I'm too tired and can't sleep. It's very frustrating!

The hard part comes with my DD being a competitive figure skater. We need to wake at 4:30 am 3x a week to get her to the rink before school. I need to get to bed at 9:00 pm in order to get enough rest, and if I stay up later I'm doomed. It also means that I can't ever sleep in. Oh well. But it's all worth it when I watch her skate!
 
I need my sleep......I'm super cranky if I do not get enough sleep. I do go to bed early (around 8 at night usually) because I have a chronic illness and if I don't do it...the next day will be horrible. So, I'm in bed early but that doesn't mean I go to sleep right away. I usually fall asleep around 10.30 at night and then sleep till 7 in the morning. That's what I need for sure.

I hope that I do get troubles sleeping......I'd be able to handle it and I guess I'd just watch a lot of tv at night :)
 
I cannot fathom not being able to sleep.

Other than people like @AnneofAlamo who is fine with her minimal sleep, I would think it's really hard for those of you who want to be sleeping. My heart almost breaks for you since I love sleeping. I have always been an 8-9 hour sleeper and early motherhood was hard but otherwise, I only know that if I'm on the computer and try to go to sleep immediately, it's not easy. I have to read for about 15 minutes.

I hope each of you find something to get your rest.
 
I don't think I have insomnia... I have issues actually falling asleep. It's not fun, and takes me forever to actually fall asleep. I will lay down in bed, close all the lights, no electronics, try breathing exercises, and try to relax myself... and I end up fidgeting. When I eventually fall asleep, it is a sound one, and if I don't have to get up, then the boys in my house know to just let me sleep. I don't sleep terribly late, and will set the alarm so that I don't waste my day, lol!
 
I believe it is our age. I NEVER had a problem sleeping until I turned I 50 and do find that I usually only get 6 hours and those are with me waking up a couple times.
I CANNOT fall asleep without my fan going in my room... have you tried white noise?
 
my sincere apologies I did not mean to make light of insomnia. I am unable to lay in bed and not sleep, I would rather scrub floors, make pages or come up with strange and obscure challenges even when exhausted. It is not the same thing I am understanding? I am very sorry if I offended anyone.
 
Guess who couldn't get to sleep last night? I think my brain was processing and needed me awake to write it down. But I couldn't get up and read for school or scrap I was too tired. There are other when I can do something and I do. I think insomnia is more the needing to go to sleep and not being able to. Today I can't seem to wake up but I imagine a trip to Walmart will take care of that.
 
carilyne said:
Ah yes mid 50's I know those. Mine finally went away but all my body clocks are messed up from chemo. Essential oils are great, depends on brand some have blends for relaxing and sleep. You could see if maybe one of those oils doesn't work for you or works best to customize your blend. (Lavendar doesn't work for me) Sounds like you have the routine bit maybe extend it with a cup of tea or something. You answered most of my ideas. Only other thing I can think of is your mattress (I went through this last year) it may be too old or I use a foam mattress pad. My son battles the same lately and it stinks. I went through years of it.
Sorry you are going through it. The 50's are not fair in my book.
Click to expand...

We just bought a new mattress a month or so ago (that's in another chatty thread I started - baahaa). It has helped, quite a bit, but I'd say I still don't sleep well better than 50% of the time.
 
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