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Insomnia?

StarryEyedDesigns said:
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.
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If it's legal and it works - go for it!!!!!!!!
 
I think I've tried every trick in the book over the past few years ... I do sleep with a fan ... it really is like a vicious circle - I get so tired and get ready for bed and then start to fret that I won't be able to sleep ... it's dumb, really!
 
Oh yes I remember that mattress thread now. It's just frustrating. I hope you find something that works.
 
JillW said:
I think I've tried every trick in the book over the past few years ... I do sleep with a fan ... it really is like a vicious circle - I get so tired and get ready for bed and then start to fret that I won't be able to sleep ... it's dumb, really!
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Now that you can work on. Pick a quote, verse, affirmation, song whatever comes to mind easily when that first thought starts. You may have to stop that thought a hundred times or more but eventually that thought pattern can be turned around. I have to do that if I'm upset about something at night.
 
i sleep every other night the last few years. Don't know how much, having a panic attack every night when i just start to doze. I can't either turn off my mind, or relax my body. Times my legs just gotta move.. I do think its worse, when I have had stress.
I really feel my best at 3am
 
I haven't slept well for about 10 yrs. I can fall asleep but then wake up 3-4 times in a 5-7 hr period. I have learned not to fight it. I put a tv show on and close my eyes, just listening, and then I fall back asleep.
 
I just read up on the cherry juice as a sleep aid and it sounds good. I might give it a try.
 
I do have a hard time getting to sleep, but it's because of pain.

If I'm having a hard time drifting off, and I'm not in pain or it's minimal pain, then I do some weird things to get myself to go to sleep. Don't laugh.

I pretend that I've just hit the snooze button on my alarm and I only have 15 minutes left before I have to get up and start my day. Somehow in my brain, I feel like I've been given this 15 minute gift of rest. Sometimes I have to hit the imaginary snooze button a couple of times or resort to other measures.

I also do a breathing exercise. Breathe in through the nose to the count of 8, hold for 4, release breath through mouth to the count of 7.

Now I don't think this is weird, but I will begin praying for my family and friends . . . first giving thanks for them, then asking for help or favor or healing (whatever the case may be).

If that fails, I get out of the bed (if I'm in there to start off with LOL) and just read or scrap, something quiet as everyone else in the house is sleeping.
 
i do that breathing exercise, but on exhale i say relax (in my head)
 
I definitely sleep better when I am living a cleaner lifestyle. I suffer from heartburn, so eating light and keeping my weight down helps a lot with that and exercising regularly also helps me sleep better. I definitely don't always behave myself but I do sleep better when I do (sadly :D)!
 
I've been stressed lately & wake up after 4-5 hours of sleep. I just have to use the time. I scrap or do homework. A really hot shower usually relaxes me enough to get an hour or so more sleep. I used to take prednisone for my lupus. Holy cow, I was up all night! I'd drive to the Walmart 20 miles away & have a good old time shopping. That was all before kids though. Now I just take naps when I can, cuz I usually haven't & will not have a full night's sleep.
 
My daughter and I both have sleep issues. Hers are due to health problems I think. And mine are partly age and partly having my life revolve around her needs over the years. And thus, our body clocks are all out of whack. What can I say?

I have gotten to where if I am laying there being frustrated that I can't sleep, I'll get back up and work on things like scrapbooking, reading, writing letters, doing family history. Sometimes playing games...which is not real helpful in unwinding so you can sleep. I've started doing Zentangle drawing type stuff and I think that is relaxing...a little more time on it will tell. I've tried melatonin, oils, breathing...sometimes they work. On the nights I'm lucky enough to go to sleep by 9 or 10 PM, I find myself waking up in about four hours and it's like I've just had the nicest little nap and now I'm up and ready to go again. It's almost less frustrating for me to just stay up until I'm so tired I can't go anymore. But that means sleeping til noon. I feel sick if I don't get enough sleep. And I hate sleeping til noon!! What a waste of a good day!!! I asked our doctor about it one time and he said as long as we get our 8 hours of sleep it doesn't matter when we do it. And not having to go to work or be anywhere during the daytime hours has just made it real easy to go with the flow here.
 
Yep it's the 50's or in my case it was the 40,with an overactive thyroid thrown in. LoL. I have always been a bit of a night owl, but still slept a good 8 hours. But even though the thyroid has long ago stabilized,and I am not even taking medication anymore ,and haven't for years,a normal night for me is about 4 hours,if I get 6 I am super happy.
Like Anne I have decided,not to let it worry me,but to see it as a positive..I read or play a game,I scrap or go back downstairs so I won't wake up my hubby. Sometimes I do small jobs,but most of the time I just relax,or watch tv, or listen to pod casts. Even if it is 3 or 4 before I sleep,I am awake by 7 or 8.
I have given up on going early to bed,because I will sleep at 10 if I am really tired,but then I wake up at 2 in the morning. Cannot go back to sleep,and the next day I am too tired.
Asked my doctor about it once. He said I am healthy,and if I feel ok on 4 hours,then that is,all I need. The body finds quiet periods to relax inbetween.
 
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gonewiththewind said:
I also do a breathing exercise. Breathe in through the nose to the count of 8, hold for 4, release breath through mouth to the count of 7.
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Cheryl - I TOTALLY do this - the exact counts too!! Totally. It helps sometimes ... other times it does not - but, when it works, it works very well for me!
 
dawnmarch said:
I definitely sleep better when I am living a cleaner lifestyle. I suffer from heartburn, so eating light and keeping my weight down helps a lot with that and exercising regularly also helps me sleep better. I definitely don't always behave myself but I do sleep better when I do (sadly :D)!
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Good for you for recognizing what needs to be fixed! I was diagnosed with GERD earlier this year - so I don't suffer from heartburn in bed because I'm on meds now, but boy (!) it used to be bad!! I HAVE to lose 30 or 40 pounds and have started making changes. It's certainly not an easy road though!
 
huh, found a new way to relax. Trying to pay attention to sound in ears, if i pretend to here that -wah -wah- wah (like being put to sleep for surgery), odd.. i were earplugs to sleep which helps me imagine (oh he snores, so need them, and a pillow over my head)
 
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