insomnia

Vaila

hi, in the past 3 days ive had around 3 hours sleep, i tend to go through periods of insomnia and have tried various sleeping tablets none of which had had any effect. the only thing that works for me is night nurse but if any one can give any advice of cheaper or free alternatives thanks

also the obvious things like turn the light off etc just dont work for me

hurricanewyn

Hiya
I suffer a bit with insomnia too - especially when I am a bit stressed (I went to bed at 11 and woke at half 3 today :mad:)
I find that watching TV or listening to a play on the iplayer on a low volume helps. I tend to lie in the dark fretting about not sleeping and worrying about not going to sleep, so if I have something else to focus on it makes it easier to just drift off - I suppose it all depends on what works for you though - some people need silence to sleep.

traveldolly

Fruit tea and MSE works for me when I can't sleep in the middle of the night. You could try a herbal remedy. I find it helps if I avoid alcohol too.

freyanneke_2

I put some audiobooks on my iPod on low volume, before the chapter is over I tend to be asleep. Staying asleep is sometimes a totally different matter. Usually I do listen to the story when I wake up. One thing I tend to avoid is looking at the time. When I start looking at the clock, I can't relax any more. Today I had four hours of sleep.

Mr.Mulla

Try a cup of chamomile tea before bedtime. It will help you relax and sleep better. The sound of running water (try googling a downloadable one) also helps me relax.

smile86

Lavender oil in an aromatherapy burner. I got a burner for about £3, and oil from less than £2 off ebay. Not free, but quite cheap and have found it quite effective. Or lavender oil in the bath maybe.

piratefairy

I have this problem too, although am learning to live on v little sleep (I've always been someone who didn't need that much anyway, thankfully). There is one type of sleeping tab that does seem to work for me, but I try to avoid them, both for health and MSE reasons!
I'd definitely recommend making your bedroom as restful and relaxing a place as possible - try to avoid laptop, pc, tv etc and keep it calm and quiet. I like to have a book / maybe some music on low volume, as the silence doesn't relax me.
I also find I have to have the temperature of the room cold, or I can't stay asleep and wake up too warm.

SparkyG

I find Sleepeaze from Boots usually works for me. It's an antihistamine that makes you drowsy, and comes in 2 a night packs (25mg) and 1 a night (50mg). It's not too dear - around £3 - £4 I think.

I tend to keep a pack of each by me, and try and only use 1 tablet (occasionally - not every night!) if I can. It's about the only sleep inducing antihistamaine that doesn't leave me with a 'hangover' and dry mouth the next day.

Hope you find something that works for you soon. I know I have tried absolutely everything over the years. It really is trial and error:mad:

clairibel

I also suffer with sleeplessness often, i also come on here and it helps me switch off as i'm not thinking about my thoughts You'll find a few of my posts in the early hours.

Buy also not drinking caffiene after dinnertime helps sometimes, deep breathing like Yoga breathing can calm me down. And EFT a acupuncture type tapping on the face does work. But for me it all depends on how wired i am.

Lots of time i give up and just cannot get back to sleep no matter what i do and just try and be quiet until the rest of the house wakes.

jenniewb

I also have insomnia- rarely ever fall asleep before 4am and never before 3am, regardless of how early I have to be up. Its been that way for well over 10 years now and I have yet to find out why.

I saw a sleep nerologist who said it was lifestyle based (I never ever have been to a club before, don't/never went out with friends and alcohol is strictly limited in my diet- its rare I have a glass a week!- I used to have anorexia and these are all a result of) so I didn't really trust the neurologist but the appointment was at 8.30am and I had slept for 1.5 hours so didn't think to argue back at the time.
He did advise melatonine but its banned in the UK as it is known to alter the DNA of people who take it which can lead to multiple problems. They can apparently buy it on the shelf in Walmart in the US though...

I have tried Lavender Oil, Kalms, Kalms Night.....nothing even touched my wired state. Nytol helped but I became addicted. I have some prescribed pills (stronger then Nytol and for anxiety/depression related insomnia rather then normal insomnia) but they work- you do need to get to bed within 30mins of taking them though as they can be overridden, it could be worth asking your GP for something but most are addictive- bear this in mind as doctors do refuse to prescribe after so many pills.

Exercise can help- if you do it early on in the day, too late and you can wind yourself up and find it harder to sleep. Cardio helps me most.

Having a bath before sleeping- doesn't work with a shower, only a bath. Careful what you put in it, citrus scents for example can keep you feeling awake.

Talking to someone can also help- like in the day, just having the chance to talk where you can talk freely and offload or even just have a laugh- again though, too close to sleeping and it wont work and can keep your mind stimulated.

Drinking warmed milk. If your calorie counting, mix the full fat stuff with water, about 1:3 with water. Fewer kcals then skimmed but has taste. Semi skimmed or skimmed are also options if your not on a diet! I'd say don't add sugar as it could make you feel more awake being that sugar (honey is also sugar btw) is an energy. Sweeteners the body 'thinks' is energy so I wouldn't even add sweeteners.

Keep a check on the temperature of your room, keep a window open and if possible, any clocks or electrical equiptment away from your head as they can emit a white noise which can keep you feeling alert.


And I don't do this often but alcohol- this is not the first time this has happened. I had a glass last week, felt really 'merry' afterwards as I had not eaten for a long time, I got home several hours later and was no longer 'merry' but was more relaxed. I really think this helped me to sleep and even when I woke, I felt far more refreshed. I do wnat to add though that alcohol has stong links to worsening insomnia so this may well not work for everyone!

Vaila

thanks jennie, i found your post very informative, im 18 and have never touched alcohol , dont really think i will ever have a "nightcap", im still very underweight and trying to recover from the same e.d but i dont think that has affected my sleep patterns though, ive been vegan for half my life but i have tried warm drinks made with soya milk etc with fruitless results, i think i should try doing something like yoga etc to relax a bit and regarding having a cool room, i cannot wait till winter as my sleep is always much better then !