Bad night.....groan!

It has been said that kindles, iPads, and even the bright light from clocks and radios can negatively affect our sleep. I don't know if this is so. I have always suffered from poor sleep. The odd nytol often does the trick but makes me feel tired next day. surprisingly the old fashioned warm drink also seems to work for me. I come down about 2, make a decaf milky coffee and an hour later I melt into a lovely sleep. I envy those people who avow that they are asleep the minute their head hits the pillow. Lucky them !

grannyknot are you able to say what it is you rub into soles of feet? I'm willing to try anything!

Ether?

Ah no. It's something herbal.

I have the opposite problem. I sleep too much. I can go to sleep anytime and anywhere. Not napping but real deep sleep that lasts for hours. No matter what time I go to bed I'll be asleep within a couple of minutes and sleep the night through.

I know this might sound like a dream to insomniacs but actually it's as much of a curse as not being able to sleep. I wake up tired no matter how long I've been asleep. I have to fight the urge during the day. Sometimes sleep wins and I sleep around the clock. DH wakes me to drink but I don't really wake up when he does it but it makes sure I don't get dehydrated. To date the longest I've slept is just over 30 hours.

I've spoken to the doctor about this and been checked. There is nothing obviously wrong with me. I just sleep a lot.

I don't have a problem getting to sleep but wake after about 2 hours. I find listening to story tapes on the CD player is fairly relaxing and prevents other thoughts intruding. However it needs to be a gentle sort of voice - Bill Bryson reading his own books is great and Alan Bennett. The advantage is that if I fall asleep while the are playing they switch off at the end. I used to listen to world service or Up All Night on radio 5.
I still only have about 5 hours a night but at least I'm relaxed during the wakeful hours.

bellanonna I've sent you a PM.

Scrap previous - I've decided to go public after all because I found a website with all the necessary info on it.

Here you go:

www.rose-apothecary.co.uk/blog/?p=150

The South African version is stronger than the one I can buy here. Gotta go now and see why sassafras oil is not used in the UK version ... (read the comments).

I remember my grandpa using Zambuk when I was a little girl, he was never without a tin in his pocket for our scratches and insect bites as children.

How do I remember Zambuk? Didn't it smell a bit like Tiger Balm?

I vaguely remember Zambuk too. My mum used to put it on scraped knees. I've just read the blog and I really want some now!

anno not to me it doesn't. It does have a strong herbal smell - it contains eucalyptus oil, camphor, oil of thyme and sassafras (or mine does anyway).

Unusually for me I had a grotty night - bed at about 10.30 but awake at 1am then couldn't switch off planning what I am going to do with my new gravel garden - haven't a clue what time I eventually went to sleep.

You can buy the Zambuk with sassafras oil on e-bay (imported from S.A.). Don't understand why it would help you sleep, though, unless it's the smell of camphor!

Some of those herbal potions cooked up in chemist's back rooms 100 years ago are not necessarily pure and wholesome. There was a trend for instance for selling toothpaste and other potions containing radium, soon after it was discovered - before the harmful effects of radiation was discovered.

Well, made it through lunch and got home safely. I'm now ensconced in corner of sofa. Think it will be early night after dinner!

Ana yep I don't know either. I should have a test night without it - but I like it too much! Plus my feet are beautifully hydrated

I put my head on the pillow at about 10 and wake up,ready to jump out of bed, at 5ish. I've never used an alarm clock.
This makes a long day so I often snooze after lunch.
I think sleeping well or badly is mostly habit. If I have a bad night I have a cup of cocoa the next evening so I don't set a pattern of waking in the night.

I had a really bad night last night. Not even sure if I got to sleep at all. I had my hot chocolate a usual, and listed to a sleep hypnosis talk on my mobile phone [search Youtube]. They usually work really quickly for me.

Of course today had to be one of my busiest days for ages. WI committee meeting till gone 12.30--dash home. let the dogs out, grab a quick bite and a drink. Out again by 1.45 for Tuesday craft afternoon---someone wanted me to do a crochet border all round a baby blanket she had made. Counted up the tea money, put it all away-someone found some more on another table !!! Bucketing down with rain. Got home 4.30. Had to start writing cheques for church account--then balance the figures for that mornings WI, plus I still have a load of entries to make on the church spreadsheet.

I am shattered, so there is no way I am doing that today.

I hope for a good night tonight as I have a hospital appointment in the morning, another meeting at lunchtime, and Sainsburys in the afternoon.

Interesting how many grans had a bad night last night - I normally sleep reasonably well but last night was dreadful for me too. Light off just after 11 but still awake at 2, then woke frequently throughout the night. However, I think I know the reason... I usually read and gradually feel sleepy and drop off, but last night tackled a tricky Sudoku which took ages. Then turned off the light but brain still buzzing and I felt wide awake. Back to the book or magazine tonight and, hopefully, Zzzz

vq that really does sound as bad as having broken nights or not enough sleep. Yes, I have to admit that I felt a teeny bit envious at first, but truly it must be a pain in the butt for you to have to fight sleep so much and feel constantly tired. I would be inclined to go back to your GP, or see a different GP at the practice if you can. Have you thought about finding out about sleep centres where they can study your sleep patterns and brain activity and so on?

Here's a strong for you - it's a double espresso

i wonder if it is a weather related thing , But i know i was up later than usual on my computer-it could have been that.Plus something was on my mind last night, that just would not go away.

It was a new moon last night. I've always found that affects me in a negative way far more than a full moon.

grannyknot , thanks for the link. Took me back to the 1940s. My dad always had zambuk, in fact he used to smell of it. Bright green stuff. So if I put it on my feet I should sleep better ? Well, I can but try. And if I'm still
awake at least my feet will be lovely and soft.

Ash Tree: Are we twins? Your nights are just like mine!
I have terrible trouble (sometimes it takes several hours and I can still be awake at 6.00am) going off to sleep. When I do fall asleep, I do 'dance to the loo' many times, too. Such fun. I try to think positively and think of all the exercise I am having..... Hmmm.
I have read books about 'good' sleep and followed ideas slavishly but nothing except a strong antihistamine or painkiller works. Not wanting to be a druggiegranny I pace myself and only take two pills a week which at least keeps me from going completely dotty.
Are there other grans out there for whom a darkened room, comfortable bed, no use of computers (OK, I am typing this after midnight, hmmm) for an hour before bed are just a red flag for 'the thoughts'?
The thoughts are flashes, just as if there is a flash camera in front of me, of anything, everything. Flash! Did I turn the television completely off? Flash! Mother Teresa. Flash! Orphans in Namibia. Flash! Shoelaces. Get the drift? I have absolutely no idea where these mad thoughts come from but come they do. I would love to know if I am alone or there are other dotty grans like me out there too?
I shall investigate Zambuk, as another aid can't hurt and I think my DH might enjoy applying it and incidentally, no! 'That' (what the application could lead to) may aid his sleep... but not mine!!
Any other sleep-inducing ideas, Gransnetters? I would love to read
them.

I'm still wide awake....
Had a look at Facebook, handbags on Ebay, Facebook again, a few pages of my book....I'd better go to the loo now, I suppose.
I've come through to the spare room as DH was snoring a bit....but even though all's quiet now, my mind is jangling: 'What if this - or even that might happen?' My mind's a minefield at night!