Long term insomnia, is there anything that can be done?

cattkitt

I think that McKenna CD trick might be really worth trying. I'd forgotten this, but my late husband tried one of them years ago. He complained that he'd tried a weight loss one while on the train, but it made him fall asleep, which was most unlike him. Lol.

Minihauk

jenniewb wrote: »

Thanks for the tips on the bedroom, cannot afford blackout curtains, I wish I could I have been after them for years, we had them when I was a child at home but since moving out 12 years ago I've just not got that sort of money (long room, many windows.) .

A friend of mine is in a similar position. She uses a sleep mask - and finds it works for her. It may help.

cazziebo

I had hypnotherapy -on the NHS- many years ago for terrible insomnia. Found it amazingly effective- I would fall asleep immediately and sleep soundly for a good 5 hours. Possibly too successful - my instant sleeping probably explains why I was single for the following 15 years!

Probably works the same as Paul McKenna. The therapist would talk me through relaxation techniques and gave me a cassette (yes,that long ago!) to listen to when I went to bed. Gradually I'd fall asleep earlier and earlier, eventually not even listening to the tape. Now, as soon as I get into bed, I'm off.

Insomnia is such a curse- I really can't function without sleep.

jenniewb

cattkitt wrote: »

I think that McKenna CD trick might be really worth trying. I'd forgotten this, but my late husband tried one of them years ago. He complained that he'd tried a weight loss one while on the train, but it made him fall asleep, which was most unlike him. Lol.

Ha! I have the "lose weight" CD -think they gave it away free a few years ago. Never tried it- maybe will look at the sleep version (history of anorexia so this idea probably wouldn't be so welcome with my psychiatrist!) I'd never thought to try those, the only thing I worry about is it being like one of those panpipe odeals where someone tries to get you to imagine your on a beach...long story but just puts me in another space FAR from sleep! Will see how it goes... Thanks

Minihauk wrote: »

A friend of mine is in a similar position. She uses a sleep mask - and finds it works for her. It may help.

Thanks- do you have any suggestions for brands to try? I had one before but it pressed on my eyelids and I ended up with a headache the next day so stopped wearing it. Do you know of any that don't do this? I'd imagine its a common problem seeing as I don't have bulbious eyes or anything! Do you know what type your friend uses?

cazziebo wrote: »

I had hypnotherapy -on the NHS- many years ago for terrible insomnia. Found it amazingly effective- I would fall asleep immediately and sleep soundly for a good 5 hours. Possibly too successful - my instant sleeping probably explains why I was single for the following 15 years!.

Oooh- that sounds like something I can take to my GP and ask about! I find that if I go and just say "help!" I come away with having shoulders shrugged and something along the lines of "live with it" which doesn't really help with the problem. If I go with something to ask for, it does seem to be more likely I'll get somewhere.

Having said that, this year has been a very odd year, I have been refered to so many different specialists each for different problems (physiotherapy, bone scans for osteoperosis, gynocologist, orthopaedics and now rhumatoild...I'm wondering what they'll make of this!)

cazziebo wrote: »

Insomnia is such a curse- I really can't function without sleep.

Me neither- thats my problem!

jenniewb

joyfull wrote: »

BBC World Service. Same wavelength as R4 and not only on digital, Tune into R 4 and then at around midnight it becomes World Service. It's what I listen to A LOT in the night.

Wow! Took about 10 searches but I found where to tune to! For anyone else struggling to find it, its 97-99 FM if you don't have a digital radio

VJW87 wrote: »

I've never, ever been a great sleeper, surviving on a couple of hours even as a kid. As I've grown up, my body tells me I need sleep but the mind sometimes tends to disagree. The thing that really got to me was moving in with my partner - we bought a bed to sleep in together yet most nights I was on the floor/couch/spare bed/wherever TRYING to get a couple of hours to make it through the day.

I'd tried all sorts: lavender, hot water bottles, hot choc, no caffeine, warm baths, fresh sheets, over the counter meds, getting up and doing things through the night if I couldn't settle.

I laughed at the suggestion of ear plugs but picked up a pack of 7 silicone plugs for £2 from Bodycare. These can be washed and reshaped for ages. My insomnia seems to be related to noise and not being able to fully shut off. Stick the plugs in, put the TV on sleeper mode and I can actually fall asleep. First time in my life that I've been able to sleep for eight hours without waking up! I have no idea if this is something the OP would be interested in trying but it worked for me, might work for others!

The only other thing that helps me is not going anywhere near the bedroom until I'm actually tired.
(Oh, and I work nightshift now... which exhausts me to the point that I'm sleeping on my feet before I get to bed!)

Thanks.

Its so odd- I would sleep too much as a baby- my mum said she'd have to wake me up to feed me quite often. I was described as being a "good baby" because I didn't cry in the night very much. Maybe I'm catching up on lost time?!

I'm wary of ear buds: how do you hear the alarm in the morning? I have to set 3 and sometimes 4 and even then it can be a case of me sleeping through them and waking up a few hours later having lost the day. (Normally comes after a few days of not sleeping more then 3 hours rather then randomly). I have some for when the foxes really kick off but worry when I wear them and only wear them weekends.

I do exercise 6 days a week. I come home and feel physically exhaused. I have other health issues to add to that so things don't just ache, they really ache (been warned about this so am trying not to take things too far. Its all a bit new to me though having only had the diagnosies a few months ago, prior to that burning myself out was just part of what I did out of routine. I do think exercise helps though, the day I don't go to the gym and stick to walking for maybe around an hour it just feels odd lying in bed, as if I have missed something out.


Agree with you on the bedroom issue: I have my clothes hanging at the other side of my room where my bed is (one long room as its a studio flat) separated off by an 8 foot partial wall (doesn't touch the celing but is enough for me to think of it as another room). I use that room to hang clothes to dry after washing and then sleeping and thats it. I only go in there once a day/night. No electrical stuff aloud apart from alarm clocks and lighting is 40w side lamp when in the other 'room'/part of room I have 2 100w bulbs. Only go in there as I get into bed or to change the sheets.

Alisha2008 wrote: »

Homeopathy are NOT herbal remedies.. it's something completely different. If I were you I would give it a go, you have nothing to lose...

Try to find a good doctor through recommendations , google, etc.. I would recommend mine but it's in Spain!

Thanks. Know there is a Nelsons Homeopath store up in London which I can ask for suggestions on people to see (know they are unlikely to suggest things to use/take without a consultation). I do worry about costs though as I am aware they have a consultation and then will have follow up treatments and pills to take. I had homeopathy on my skin when I had issues last year and was suprized it worked, but it was very herbal- no pills to take, just sprays and ointments. It worked for skin as it was topical and I could understand that but I guess I find it hard to grasp for a problem which is internal. Will look into it though, thanks.

Youdontseeme

Paul McKenna actually does a a CD & book just for insomnia now its only £8.31 from his website

http://www.paulmckenna.com/sleep-product.aspx?rpid=189&prodid=222

I think it is defo worth a go for under a tenner.

Good luck!

YDSM

newmumincov

jenniewb wrote: »

Thanks for the tips!

Funnily enough I take vitamin D3 a few hours before sleep- its mixed in with my calcium and magnesium pills which I have to take for osteoperina (I'm 30 before anyone mentions the menopause!) I take them then because I read an article which said that calcium and magnesium helped with insomnia and also with levels of caffiene (to reduce them/flush them through).
Is there info on vitamin D3 making you feel awake?...

Maybe will try to take my calcium pills earlier in the day? You can't get them without vitamin D as its the vitamin D which helps them be absorbed by the body.

I personally find I need to take my vit D3 early or they will keep me up at night. However I take 10,000 IU Vit D3 daily which is quite high. I take it with magnesium but not calcium (though that's through a couple of year's experimentation and just what works for me personally)

newmumincov

Can I also suggest meditation? Depending on where you are, you might be able to get free beginners sessions through Buddhist groups (though some charge). I've found that quite helpful, and the religious aspect isn't pushed particularly hard.

Bitsy_Beans

As far as I am aware melatonin is only unlicenced for children. It is in fact a hormone that we naturally produce but some people for example people with Autism Spectrum Disorders don't make enough of their own. Bananas can help with the production of melatonin, google it as I think there are a couple more foods too.
I watched a programme on insomnia and the sleep clinic there insisted that the participants did not lie in. They went to bed and got up at the same time every day, regardless as to how much sleep they'd had over the course of the night.

You could try White noise eg radio static, works for babies LOL

However all this is meaningless if you don't deal with your anxiety issues. Are you anxious because you don't sleep or do you worry about other stuff? Meditation as one poster suggested can be really good for quieting the mind.

Good luck, have had sleepless nights but never chronic insomnia. You all have my sympathy x

sophlowe45

jenniewb wrote: »

I wish so much I had the money to afford these!! I have a long room (one room) to my home, (studio flat). It takes up 5 huge 7 foot windows which are wider then I can stretch, if I could afford blackout curtains I would but I had been quoted £350 and that was 5 years ago with someone bending over backwards to help me out price wise. I just don't have that sort of money- not to mention thats only one side of my home, the other side is a big front door with the front window made from class and walls which have a 20cm space from the celing (odd design I know). I'd likely need some sort of a black-out curtain for the door too...

I'd also love a feather duvet- had been looking for a duvet for a few weeks and just went and bought a normal 13.5 tog from Tesco for £23. It was very expensive and even then have had to go without just to fit it in, going without food to me isn't so major but my psychiatrist and dietition may disagree... (long standing eating disorder!)

But if I do win the lottery...;)

#

I was going to ask if you lived in the same development as me with the crazy window measurements.

My curtains are from Ikea (300cm drop which i just looked up is 9.8 feet) and cost £25. I then bought blackout fabric and sewed it to the curtains. The curtains dont fit the window too small, you should see what a lot of people have put on their windows here as mostly rented flats and very overlooked. Wrapping paper stuck to the windows is the best one i've seen.

I also love my eyemask and earplugs from the British Snoring society, not the sleeping pills though, but can't see any alternative to them.