Unable to fall asleep and I’m so so tired

I find listening to an audio book really helps. Something very 'gentle' not a story that is going to get you thinking too much. I usually wake up with the story nearly at the end or finished. Some of the voices who read them are very soothing.

I’m confused Bonnybanko, did you mean you slept until 6.30?

Yes magnesium has helped me sleep a bit better. Also watching Ronnie O’Sullivan win the snooker on Sunday night. I found him completely relaxing to watch and slept well that evening.

My sleep patterns are very erratic since DH died.
I could not lie awake in total darkness so the family gave me a star projector, I switch it on and set the timer. I lie and watch the stars and nebulae on the ceiling and feel calmer.

😄 Doodledog My parents once woke to a policeman saying ‘there’s people in the bed here’. They’d come back early from a holiday and hadn’t let the neighbours know.

Hello everyone thank you so much for replying to my request for advice on this matter. I did fall asleep eventually and woke up quite late 8.30am I now feel as if I’ve had a good sleep and yes I no longer think I need as much sleep as I used to

Does magnesium help anyone…or melatonin?

I, too, struggle with sleep sometimes. Reading doesn’t help, but I swear by sleep headphones, or I might watch something undemanding on tv until I nod off. Just beware if you do that - I once woke to shouts of ‘This is the police! You are surrounded!’ I was very disconcerted (to say the least!) but then realised that I had rolled onto the remote in my sleep

Do try sleep headphones though. You can play soothing sounds, music, stories, hypnosis- whatever works for you. Even if it doesn’t send you to sleep it is pleasanter to lie there relaxing than to fret about being awake.

I began to have problems with getting to sleeep/staying asleep/getting back to sleep ten years ago, after successful cancer treatment. For years I tried all the advice on keeping the bedroom dark and silent, and it was agony. Now I stick a dvd on, very quietly, and find it much easier to drift off because I've got something else to occupy my mind.

I am awake because I am troubled with a family illness I will do what a do at these difficult times read. At present I am reading short stories for Christmas rather humorous and it gets my mind temporarily off worries. Hope you eventually settle knowing you are not alone.

Sorry Bonnybanko - I am still awake. I can’t sleep unless I take prescribed medication. (Since divorce 23 years ago). It used to bother me, but now I just accept it. As we get older, we don’t need that much sleep - so i tell myself. I think the more we worry about it, the worse it is.

I’m sorry Bonnybanko I wish I could wave a magic wand for you and give you the sleep you so desperately need but I can't do that but I can sympathise with you and totally understand how you feel for I too do not sleep not at all and when I do doze off I said I’m in a panic. I hope some of the lovely ladies reading this will come up with some suggestions other than a warm bath, hot milk, soft music and sleep balms which don’t work but which might help both of us.