Complicated sleep problem

I usually wake up at least 2 or 3 times in the night. I know what time it is because I have a digital clock on the far side of the bed - it's usually 3-ish the first time. Then of course I have to go to the loo and sometimes I get back to sleep, and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I don't know whether I've gone back to sleep or not.
Sometimes I feel fine in the morning, sometimes (like today) I feel like a zombie!
When I think back to the days I could sleep for 10 hours solid.....

Me, too! I am often up by 6 am because I have lain awake since 4 am. The only time I seem to get a decent period of sleep, only interrupted once or twice, is when I take valerian in something like Natrasleep, As soon as I think I'm back to a proper sleep pattern I stop taking them, then I'm awake in the night again. Slept on and off between 2 and 5 pm today, sliding down in my armchair.

I'm a poor sleeper as well!this morning I woke ,thinking 'morning already?'
Looked at the clock- 2.30! Did the same every 2hrs til I got up!
Don't know why? Pain was no worse than usual? I give up!

I know that Zombie feeling! That's what I was like this morning. About the only thing I did was open the greenhouse...oh, and feed the cat.
I pottered around, as old grannies are supposed to do, played rather boringly online, appreciated a nice email, finished my book, and fell asleep.

The thing that really bothers me - apart from the continual fatigue - is that I am now dependant on the clock to tell me how much sleep I've had!
..........I can't rely on my body to get the sleep it needs......

Same here. I can't remember when I last had a good nights sleep. Do you find it starts to get you down? I do.
But one must keep going! Stiff upper lip! And all that!
After all we are English gentleladies, and have to show the rest how to do it!
What "it" is I have no no idea! But!
March march.etc:

(Please may I opt out of the idea of being a lady?)

Why can't I tell how long I have slept????
I am finding this a very specific problem.
jeni you seem to have it too, if you think it's morning at 2.30!

Gentle ok though?
I seem to remember speeches starting 'dear gentles' shakespeare?
My fluffy, dissociative mind has clicked in. Don't expect any more sense this evening

Yes, it is a bit of a worry for me, too - but at least I know I'm not alone! I just thought it was part and parcel of getting older. The trouble is, I very rarely feel "refreshed" like I used to after a decent amount of sleep, so I feel the same whether I wake at 3, 5 or 8! That could be why we don't instinctively know what time it is when we wake in the night.

I am very fond of my clock that projects the time onto the ceiling. Great if you can't see a normal digital display without the specs. There are some wonderful digital moments in the night e.g. 1.11 , 3.33, 3.45
I am sleeping better since I reined back the pm caffeine. Peppermint t only after lunch.

Damn, I lost my post. Will try to recover memory...

I feel the same when I wake up, but not later! That's when the zombie state kicks in.......

I have been thinking of it the other way round, that it's because I don't know what time it is, that I wake up.

Think my upper lip isn't stiff enough.....

If I don't get back to sleep quickly I find all sorts of negative thoughts creeping in, which depress me and prevent me dropping off again. It really is a vicious circle!

I seem to recall hearing on tv about bi-phasic sleep, ie sleep in two parts during the night. Or I might have heard this on the World Service - during the night! Apparently. years ago, it was accepted as the norm to sleep in two phases, and do something else for about an hour in between the phases. Even getting up and making some tea, or talking, or praying.

It's only in recent times have we come to believe we need to sleep for an uninterrupted eight hours.

It's just come to me! It was on the One Show on Friday that I heard it.

this article is about it.

Wow thats great! I thought it was just me lying awake - now I can think of you all doing the same thing! Four hours is about maximum for me now, so since Mr Specki has decamped to the 'sick bay' with his painful shoulder, I pop the lamp on and have a good old read until I nod off again. I think the thing is, not to worry about it - that makes it worse. Valerian is good but you need to take it early enough. A nicer alternative is Armagnac in hot orange juice with a Neurofen. Hic!

I think it's normal to fall asleep easily in the afternoon, especially as we get older. Perhaps best avoided though, as it can mean less sleep at night.

I don't think we should be to quick at calling a different sleep pattern 'insomnia'.

I personally, can recommend listening to the World Service using the flattish in-ear earplugs. Even if you use it as a "white noise". Definitely works for me.

You do have to avoid trying to stay awake when it gets too interesting though.

And don't expect to remember anything the next day!

Yes, I've heard about this too, on some history programme.
It did impress me at the time, but I always come back to the fact that I on the average don't get enough! Chronically sleep-deprived is right....

Sometimes there are thoughts that have woken me, but I have to take about an hour before I realise what they are - trying not to think about them, obviously!

I'm actually beginning to feel tired. That's another thing, when I sleep in the afternoon it's usually late before I can sleep again, but this time..
Goodnight, folks.

Well, I slept from 12 to nearly 6. Plus about two hours in the afternoon, and I may be set for a reasonable day! - As far as energy goes, I mean.

I've never been a good sleeper, it seems to go in cycles, and of course is much worse when I am worried(normal state these days!).
I cannot nod off in the afternoons though, I think I'm scared of missing something!

Yes it does seem to go in cycles. I have times when I can sleep through for about a week. What a relief........then it goes again.

I don't think I ever get more than 6 hours a night. I try to be in bed around 10.00 during the working week. I usually awake around midnight and then again between 2.00 and 3.00. I finally wake up around 5.00ish.

If it's really bad getting back to sleep I turn the TV or radio on very low and then sends me back to sleeip. I think it stops my brain working!!! If I don't do that, I start thinking about things I have to do at work or other chores. What does that say about TV and stopping my brain working!!?

My doctor advised me to not go to bed too early. I find now that if I put the light out at 11.30 I do sleep better. Trouble for me is getting up!