Has anyone here overcome a sleeping disorder?

Jonathan_Powell

For as long as I can remember I've had a problem with fatigue and feeling down. I've lived with it but the past couple years it has affected my motivation at work. One thing I'm struggling is falling asleep. I'll constantly be in and out of sleep all night and on many occasions wake up around 1-3am and not be able to go back to bed. 

My previous job required a lot of travel and I slept in different hotels but always an issue of me not being able to sleep. This year, something else I've not been able to do is sleep in the middle of the day. If I had a rough night, what would make me feel better is sleeping in the afternoon but now it does not physically happen. I'll lie down, try to sleep but never doze off despite feeling extremely tired.

Just curious if anyone here has had sleep issue and been able to improve it. 

tacpot12

Do you have any sense that something is keeping you awake, or is it that you just don't fall asleep even when your mind is ready to sleep?  

Sleep disorders can have quite varied causes.  You are probably better off speaking to your GP to get some help with this problem. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Jonathan_Powell said:

For as long as I can remember I've had a problem with fatigue and feeling down. I've lived with it but the past couple years it has affected my motivation at work. One thing I'm struggling is falling asleep. I'll constantly be in and out of sleep all night and on many occasions wake up around 1-3am and not be able to go back to bed. 

My previous job required a lot of travel and I slept in different hotels but always an issue of me not being able to sleep. This year, something else I've not been able to do is sleep in the middle of the day. If I had a rough night, what would make me feel better is sleeping in the afternoon but now it does not physically happen. I'll lie down, try to sleep but never doze off despite feeling extremely tired.

Just curious if anyone here has had sleep issue and been able to improve it. 

Have you had any blood tests done? Feeling down and fatigued might indicate a deficiency (or multiple deficiencies) or borderline levels of some vitamins/minerals, such as vitamin D. Though lack of sleep is a huge contributer to low mood by itself, unfortunately.

The sleeping in itself, common suggestions are sleep hygiene, exercise in the afternoon/early evening to tire yourself out in a good way, relaxation techniques ... though you may have tried everything already.

I had insomnia for years, couldn't find anything to help, so I sympathise. (It only got better with thorough exhaustion from debilitating chronic illness - very much not recommended!)

I have read somewhere that resting with your eyes closed even if you can't sleep is still better than nothing, so if you manage a full night's rest even if it's not sleep, that could help calm some of the worry about not being able to sleep. But it's certainly no fun at all. Seeing your GP is a good idea.

mimi1234

I can sympathise with you as I have struggled with insomnia for years and years.  For me, I think it's a mixture of worrying about elderly and poorly family members and the fact we have atrocious neighbours!

I've tried everything under the sun, pills from the GP, herbal ones, pillow mists, pressure point roller balls, incense sticks, baths before bed, hot drinks before bed, listened to various apps and things on YouTube, tried different breathing techniques, reading, writing done my woes.  You name it, I've probably done it.  

Good luck and I hope you are able to sort it out.  If you find a miracle cure, inbox me!  :-)

MrsPorridge

I used to have terrible insomnia but now I am older - late fifties I find that I sleep much better.  I will have a really bad night about twice a month now which I can cope with.  

amandacat

I start having bad sleep from my late 30s. It’s worse if I’m at a hotel or on holiday. The only thing that has helped me is phenergan tablets. I don’t take them anymore than 3 nights a week though as they lose their effect.