Insomnia

I have a huge sympathy for the non-sleepers of this world. I too go to sleep at around 11, wake up for the shipping forecast and world business news, and then, thinking I won't ever go to sleep, find it is the morning. I would suggest, like VICTORIA08, the radio, very very low and the world service.

I think I managed to get over about 3:30 and up again at 8 for the dog. So tired today, especially after a week long visit from DCs and DGCs. Love seeing them but 8 extras is hard work.

And over Easter there were 15/16 for most meals. Today and yesterday it is piles and piles of bedding to launder and trying to get the house back to normal. Toys and baby things everywhere. I should be tired enough to sleep....but didn't.

I'll see if I can revive my old thread 'Can't sleep - won't sleep'. It was a meeting place for GN insomniacs and many lively discussions took place at 3.00 in the morning, with a few overseas users who could chat 'real time'. I used to feel guilty if I had crawled off to bed at 1.00am to sleep - leaving the hardier souls chatting through the night.

It is very lonely in the wee small hours, feeling your'e the only person in the world still awake, if that's the case come along and have a natter later.

I really feel for those who suffer ( I shouldn't say but I can sleep on a knife edge, anytime, anywhere

My Dh on the other hand never feels he sleeps well enough.

I do have the odd night where sleep is elusive and I do just give up, I either get up , get a snack and a drink and come back to bed to read, or in the summer when the weather is warm ( hopefully) I might get up do some crafting , read or just watch the night out of the window.

I think not sleeping can be a repeating cycle. You cant sleep , so you worry about not sleeping and then you cant sleep because you're worrying. I take afternoon naps and find them the perfect pick me up, then if that means I go to bed later I do.

I've given up living to the clock and now ( apart from appointments) I live to my own body clock.

I have suffered from insomnia for many years.
I can be extremely tired, but as soon as I start the getting ready for bed ritual, I am wide awake.
I always have a read in bed until I feel sleepy.
If that doesn't work, listen to a relaxation app. Just lying there with eyes shut listening to soothing words or sounds can help. At least you are resting.

Cognitive behavioural therapy recommend you get up and do something, tried it once but the house was cold and bleak. Thought I would rather be snug in bed

Also listen to the radio if I can't sleep. LBC for those of you who can get it is an all night talk radio programme discussing current affairs. You can phone in if you wish, but just listening is enough for me.
Early morning waking is another problem for me too. Sometimes I can nod of again, but usually the brain starts whirring into action.

I often wake at about 3 am. If I can't get back off, I go downstairs and make a cup of camomile and honey tea. I read for a while and go back to bed when I start to feel sleepy again. It works for me.

My deepest sympathy to you Rubylady. Be kind to yourself and catch up on your sleep when you need to.
On a personal note l've not had a good night-again.
Finally came up to bed just before 1am. Took 2 Amitriptyline. Was woken at about 4am by arthritic shoulder pain so took 2 paracetamol. Have now woken with alarm at 7am and DH has brought us a cup of tea.
Had to set alarm as I have an extra choral rehearsal at 10am. Tiredness doesn't help the voice
Will probably feel v tired this afty- will try to resist a nap by having a walk but will succumb after eating early evening.

I'm normally bad with my sleep but since my dad died last week it's been even worse, probably normal when dealing with grief and stress. I feel twitchy though, which is the worse thing, like something is crawling on me, and twitching out on my nerve ends. I've taken some Kalms but not the night ones, just the blue ones but not helping. I am hoping that once the funeral is over that it will calm down a bit. So I do have to sleep during the day or else I would be even more ill than I already am.

Well here I am posting at this time of the morning because I now can recognise the signs of an imminent sleepless night! The one sure fire way of eventually dropping off for me is to read sitting up!

I have a bad habit of dropping off late evening while watching TV then waking at about 1:30 or 2. The act of getting ready for bed has me awake and unable to drop off for ages ?

Grannyqueenie I'm glad I'm not the only one taking piriton (or version of) when desperate for some quality shut eye

Here's an article I read about sleep. I went through a really bad spell of insomnia part way through the menopause. I worried about not getting enough sleep, but apparently we've all been doing it wrong. It's an interesting read. here it is

Not sleeping properly is miserable, I've struggled for years. I've never really recovered from the lethal combination of the menopause and waiting up for wayward teenage daughters! My mother was a long term insomniac and I've always been determined not to let it dominate my life in the way that she did. But I must admit it's harder as I get older to get up and live life to the full and with a smile after a lousy nights sleep. Boots version of piriton can be a life saver!

I don't have any problems sleeping, but I do wake up at 430 every morning . I know what time it will be, before I even look at the clock. I am a morning person, so I can really enjoy that quiet time before the world stirs. However, if I don't have a 'little sleep' which I very rarely can, I am nodding off at 9 o'clock. I must be excellent company

Yes newquay a bit lonely when you know others are a kip.
Until this year my DH said I could fall asleep standing up in a snow storm!
But not now alas , The dreaded menopause has seen to that.
Like tonight I will stay up till my eyelids start to droop.
If I've had several bad nights on the trot I will take 2 piriton (drowsy variety) it sometimes helps.
Eventually I crash out,it can be anytime of day.
Being on here GN doesn't help as screens make it worse (affects brain apparently)

.....Yep, it is (a lonely occupation during the night) but unfortunately it's very common.

My words of wisdom, for what they're worth is that you shouldn't feel guilty about having naps during the day, maybe we should all just stick to our own sleeping pattern and sleep when we need to. Some of us need to sleep during the daylight hours - so what?! and then if we're awake during the wee small hours - so what again.

Sleep is an elusive commodity, we can't live without it but our bodies will advise us when we can no longer live without it...be it 2.00pm or 2.00am...

There was a thread on here once where a lot of us chatted online throughout the night...until gradually dropping off at various times, to re-emerge at a later time. Perhaps we should revive it....

If I let my natural body clock work I would get up all bright and breezy at about 5.30 have a sleep for an hour at 1.00 and the go to bed at 7.00 pm. But life doesn't work that way.

I do feel for you Newquay.