Sleeplessness

I have suffered from sleep problems for years and like you I don’t want to take prescription medication for it so I often use OTC Morrisons sleep aid which you buy from Morrisons pharmacy or sleep patches from Amazon, I try not to use them every night

I wake several times in the night. Get up and make a drink and refill the hottie. No way would I pace the floor however worried I am...and I certainly have worries. You can't fall asleep while marching about.

A book to read close by is the best for me. If I go on line I stay awake too long. I often fall asleep over a book.

There was a thread called something like the 3 am crew which was comforting to know you are one of many awake in the early hours. Perhaps we should start a new one.

Sorry OP can't really help as I suffer from the same. I do make sure I am warm enough in bed, but that doesnt keep me asleep! But I expect you have tried everything. Medicationmis probably the sure fire way. Or perhaps medication from your GP for anxiety not necessarily for sleeplessness may help.

My son has awful problems with sleep. He can go days without it. I got him some gummies with magnesium glycinate and they seem to help. I got them in Holland and Barratt.

I have found that ordinary Paracetamol help if I am awake during the night. Within 30 minutes I often doze off. Playing word games can help too. I decide on a category and try to name one item for each letter of the alphabet. I rarely get to the end.

Have you heard of Sleepio? It is an app that helps you to sleep. Also, there is a process called CBT I which I think you need to find a specialist for or get referred by your GP.

I too take magnesium which has helped a lot, I also rub Feather & Down magnesium cream on my legs (also contains magnesium) to help with restless legs.

Try Kalms nighttime, the tabs contain valerian so will help with the anxiety that is keeping you awake.

Reading is the answer for me. It always sends me to sleep.

I try to make a list in my head such as finding a flower beginning with each letter of the alphabet. I used to count sheep but got so good at it I could count forwards or backwards to 1,000 and it stopped working.

Thanks everyone, I'll try some of the things you have recommended. I am unable to read in bed as it would disturb my husband who us a very light sleeper. The slightest movement made by me seems to wake him up which is why I have to get out. Fingers crossed for tonight 🤞

Hi I’m not sleeping well at the moment either. I tried Kalms but they made me dizzy apparently it’s a side effect of them, I’ve also tried Bach’s night pastilles their a gummy and seem to help, also I can take them in the early hours without having a hangover next day.

If I wake up in the early hours, I listen on my phone to something on BBC Sounds App. I use Ear Buds so not to disturb DH and have the volume low. I often drift off, my phone turns off at the end of the programme.
In in the morning I sometimes can’t remember what I listened to!

My chum is a practice manager and her GP's suggest taking Magnesium as first port of call. I had difficulty a while ago sleeping so tried Magnesium (from Holland and Barrett) I checked with my Pharmacist in case the were contraindicated to my meds, to be told as its a Mineral alls good.
Worth a go