It’s 1 a.m. and I’m not having a good night.

The more you try the less you are able as things are going around in your mind and news of a bereavement will make it worse when you should be 'shutting down'..
Give up trying, wrap yourself up warm and go sit in an armchair feet up, and sip a cup of hot water if you have indigestion.I have found this works for me and woken in the morning, still in the armchair ,but at least having slept.

Most nights it takes me ages to get to sleep, turning over and over in bed while DH goes straight off. Any little thing bothering me makes it worse. I try to go through the alphabet with girl's or boy's names or perhaps fruit and veg. It sometimes works if you can keep the concentration.

So sorry KateK. The following is not really for you because you are upset and also unwell so I just send you and hope you feel a bit better soon.

If I can’t sleep (rare occurrence as my painkillers knock me out - I suppose that’s my “silver lining”) I get up, don’t put on a dressing gown, go down and make a cup of tea and a biscuit, take them back to bed, which now feels very cosy, and have my tea. It cheers me up if I can’t get back to sleep.

If my mind won’t settle at night worrying about everything, or even just going through the day’s events etc. I pop in earphones and listen to an audiobook, or book readings from radio 4, or Desert Island Discs podcasts. This takes my mind off most things and I generally drift off to sleep. Even if I don’t actually sleep I feel more rested in the morning than when tossing and turning. The downside is continuing the book the following night as I have difficulty remembering, and finding, where in the book I drifted off.

To all you insomniacs - it is 10 am now and I hope you are all fast asleep and catching up!

Sorry to hear about your friend Katek.

Oh dear, I feel for you.
I was awake for a long time too.
Got up and had a cup of medium hot water and enjoyed the moonlight for a while, but I didn't really sleep when I went back to bed.
I expect we will sleep well tonight though Katek.
Good luck.

I hope you managed to 'catch some zzzs' as the Americans say (apparently).
What a miserable time for you. Take it easy today. Watch something so boring on TV that you nod off this afternoon?

Things always seem worse as well when you can't sleep Katek, sorry to hear about your friend, our friend died on Monday so I know how you are feeling.
I give up now if I can't sleep and just read until I drift off. No good tossing and turning that's just frustrating.
Hope you feel better soon.

I know how you feel Katek. I can empathise with you. Steroids are a such pain. My colleagues used to dread when I was on them, despite wheezing and struggling for breath, I could do the work of of two people and couldn't stop wittering on and rushing around the school like a headless chicken. My brain wouldn't stop racing.
Then there's the headaches, weight gain and all the other side effects. However, we have no alternative, but to take them.
Have you had an antibiotic, maybe it needs changed?
I wonder if it's this extreme cold which is making you worse. I'm wheezing too and feel as if I'm heading for a chest infection, despite being on prophylactic antibiotics for the rest of my life.
Off to the docs with you! Don't take any chances. I hope you feel better soon.

I hope you bot some sleep, Kate.

I’m so sorry *Katek no wonder you can’t sleep. Hope your trip to the doctors sorts you out (that’s if your lucky enough to get an appointment) there’s often someone on the other insomnia thread late at night if you have another bad night.