Insomnia

Yorkshire_Lavender

Have you tried rubbing some lavender oil onto the soles of your feet. It works on a lot of people for reasons that we are not to sure on either! Just a thought. We have a guide on lavender oil uses on the Yorkshire Lavender website. Let us know how it goes.

Sam

BitterAndTwisted

Getting off to sleep is a habit and like all habits it can be learned. The most important thing is to have a bedtime ritual where you perform the same actions in the same order every single night. It's like cognitive training. Eventually, your mind will be getting ready for sleep when you begin the ritual. It doesn't really matter what the actions are: bath, hair-brushing, tooth-brushing, warm nightie, into bed with some soothing music for five minutes and then light out. Just try and persevere and sleep might come.

Meditation can be very helpful to learn how to calm and empty your mind so you could do those mental exercises once you've popped into bed. If you haven't tried any meditation classes I'd definitely think of going and giving it a try. Lots of people find it really useful.

Youdontseeme

Hi

Sorry I haven't got back to this thread sooner I have had a bit of a manic week!

Which has meant I have been asleep before my head hits the pillow :j but only for a few hours have woken up at around 4am and been unable to get back off :mad:

Am I stressed?.... anxious more like, I have depression and panic attacks (now under control well seems to be so fingers crossed) and I know I do know I over think everything, and I do tend to do that at night, I go over my whole day thinking how I should have done or said things differently then about what I'm going to do tomorrow until I just seem to wind myself up even more. Then I start worrying about my debts its like I have a mental list of things to worry about at night lol.

I have lavender oil here (Usually put on the pillow) but will try my feet, cant do any harm. I MUST also try and up my exercise, both for sleep and weight reasons. Yoga sounds like my kind of thing but I cant afford classes at the moment perhaps a book or dvd. will help.

Thanks again.

choille

Hi Youdontseeme,

Have you got some sort of plan re the debts or are they running beyond your control?
There are really excellent threads on here where you can work out outgoings & incomingings & what it's best topay off first & how to save money on credit & such. If you have all that under control then it doesn't tend to do as many somersaults at night when you are trying to sleep.

Hope that you do get some yoga - wish I was nearer to a place that taught it & I would go as it is brilliant at relaxing every muscle & really helping get off to sleep.

Some people find keeping a journal - a diary of day to day highs & lows, jotting down the highlights & lowlights of the day helps to get it out & down in black & white helps.
If you find your major worry is money then if you can address that - by either writing down/working out a budget - the Debt Free Forum on here is ace by the way. Actualy addressing those worries - whatever they may be & doing something constructive about them gives you more control - will help the sleep stuff in the long run.
keep us informed about how things are going please.
All the best.

elfen

Youdontseeme, also try getting up if you can't sleep, and going in a low-lit room, and doing something like a jigsaw or knitting squares, just ot occupy yourself.

I also have the problem with sleeping due to depression, but I try to daydream about strange things (like what I want to do with my life, things that aren't connected to during the day stuff) and it works quite well. 9 out of 10 times I try it I get to sleep

Ruthie5

This link might be of interest. There are a few home practice yoga routines, and one to encourage good sleep in particular.

http://hannahlovegrove.com/4-yoga-routines-for-your-home-practice/

I have also found sominex helpful from time to time. Also a friend once told me that the more she could tell herself that it didn't matter if she didn't sleep, the more she slept...I never really managed to do this, but I think the more you can calmly get up, make yourself a drink, read a book etc, and then go back to bed and try to sleep again the better.

Hope things improve soon x

Indie_Kid

Are you actually tired or just bored? I've got the same problem and as a result, have a seriously messed up sleeping pattern. (it's not as messed up thanks to a hallmate - was napping Monday afternoon and she woke me up)