Insomnia

At the risk of everyone hating me - I actually slept through last night! I did the Vicks on the feet again and didn't cough til 7.30. I shall have to buy it by the vat!
Kiora - I think you need a big hug!

I definitely find that even one small thing on my mind is enough to stop me having even a couple of hours unbroken sleep. For instance, last night I couldnt fall asleep until 2 am then was awake every hour until 7 am reminding myself that I had to get some petrol before going to work this afternoon. Even if I had filled up with petrol yesterday there would probably have been something else on my mind. Then I had 3 hours sleep. As I have said before for some reason I sleep best between about 7 am and 11 am. Not much good for tomorrow though as Im working in the morning.
Im still hopeful of finding a solution on here!

For me, a good night's sleep is 3 hours. If I haven't gone to sleep by 1 a.m. I know I won't sleep at all. Mostly, I go to sleep about 11p.m. then wake by 1 or 2 or 3 and don't go back to sleep. I don't get up, I just lie there relaxing as much as possible with my eyes shut. Sometimes I feel all right in the daytime, but mostly I feel dreadfully tired, often dizzy or woozy. I can't sleep in the daytime either. My life would be 100% better if I slept. I don't want to go places, especially on holiday, because I know if I don't sleep I'll feel awful. We went to North Wales one summer to do some research on my family tree, and I didn't sleep a wink for 6 nights. To me, it feels like it must be a form of mental illness. I don't sleep so I don't feel well so I don't sleep.

Oh bu....r awake again or rather haven't slept at all

Hello Kiora - I've just woken up with a bout of coughing. Still, nothing much on tomorrow so may have a nap later. I hate having to waste daylight hours sleeping, though.

Are you up doing something useful now then? I just lay awake feeling annoyed with myself. Finished candy crush its so boring it normally sends me to sleep not today though

I,m playing candy crush - not very useful at all.

Hello, girls. Been awake since 2am, got up at 3am. Came down and made tea. Dog and cat assumed it was time to get up so chased each other round a bit and demanded food. Have been watching tv and am now ready to go back to bed but it is 7.30 and time to get up. ( we are an hour ahead of UK). Isn't it maddening Can't be bothered with candy crush. Been stuck on level 140 for ages now. Hope you got back to sleep.

I rarely sleep right through. Some years ago during a very stressful time, I bought a couple of relaxation CD's. They were a real boon. I enjoyed yoga years ago, and have never forgotten the breathing and relaxation techniques. I don't get up, I relax my body and tell my mind to relax. Sometimes I seem to be awake for a while, but at least my body and mind are not fidgeting.

Does anyone have restless leg syndrome? That's often the reason I can't get back to sleep.

TriciaF I don't have restless legs at night instead during the evening. If it happens I stand up and rise up onto my tiptoes for 5-10 seconds and hold and down then repeat for as long as I feel I need it. I usually only need to do it for 3-4 minutes. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the idea, Frannygranny - I'll try it next time.

Potassium containing foods help I find avocado tomato and banana

Well at least I'm awake for a nice reason. I woke up coughing (although much better now) and checked my emails - can never resist. My son overseas left a message about a Christmas Day FaceTime with my lovely grandsons. Now I can worry about whether the connection will be overloaded on the big day. I can always find a niggle.

Hi! Tricia Fellow sufferer of Restless Legs (and arm) here. Been asleep since 3.30, now up for a walk about. Did you know that in the USA they call people with RLS 'Night Walkers'? I have no trouble falling asleep, can drop off quickly anytime, day or night, but on a bad night will be wakened by 1 leg, both legs or arm walloping about within 10 - 20 minutes. I have read every web-site and tried every remedy without success. Sometimes I think I have cracked it and I will get two or three good nights in a row, then back it comes. I do think that being over tired is a trigger and since I retired have been able to catch up on some sleep in the mornings or early evening but with a busy life and lots of child-minding this is not always possible now. So, I go to bed exhausted, am up and down all night, and in the morning feel completely worn out as if I had run a marathon.

Sorry I cannot offer any fail safe tips but you have my deepest sympathy. It is such an annoying affliction, doctors can only offer very strong drugs which have huge side effects and well meaning friends and relatives seem to think that if you just - don't drink coffee or alcohol, take a warm bath before bed, eat bananas or whatever you will be cured I wish this was true.

Couldn't sleep either due to restless mind syndrome.

Aka Sorry, I cannot offer a cure for that either. I would send a hug but ATM, I might well inadvertently kick or wallop you. Is this the longest night? It certainly feels like it.

Yoop yoop first night in oh I don't know how many i'v slept all night OH JOY. I have my son and his two boys staying for the night so perhaps they've worn me out or perhaps I'm just happy. I could hardly believe it when I looked at the clock and it said 7.17. Sorry if I'm rubbing salt into your tired eyes my fellow insomniacs but I'm so thrilled with myself.

I suffered with restless legs for years but it was never every night and like so many tried different cures. However for the last couple of years it has greatly improved and I only get it occasionally - I have no idea why this is at all but to some extent it has morphed into my knees/legs/hips hurting with arthritis. I use Voltarol gel when it is bad and it helps a lot - possibly a connection there?

i refuse to get out of bed before 7am if i awake early as it just makes for a very long day....i lay listening to the radio...my computer doest go on until around 8am...

Well done, Kiora. I think "knowing" you've slept is even better than the actual sleep. Enjoy your family!

Why have I never read this thread before? I feel I could have written just about every post! Reassuring to know one is not a freak ( well not in this respect atl least!)

I don't feel I've done very much worthwhile with my life - if I could find a cure for all us insomniacs, I could die very happy. But then if I could sleep, I wouldn't want to die!

i bet you have done loads of worthwhile things in your life grindos if you sit and think about it....sometimes when we are feeling low we forget ....i used to think that ive done nothing with my life and what a waste it was until someone said to me 'write down everything you can remember that you have done' i did this and was overwhelmed by how much i had achieved over the years...

DGS said to me today (well yesterday I suppose now) 'Only two sleeps till Christmas' and I thought to myself - probably 4 or 5 short sleeps for me. Then I thought 'amn't I lucky being able to curl up in a warm bed and drop off 2, 3 even 4 times in each 24 hours'. Not sure I am convinced that this is a blessing .