I need sleep?

Question

I suffer from insomnia, i have a young son has anyone got any tips on how to beat this? I have been to see my GP who gave me a weeks worth of sleeping tablets to get me back into a routine but they didn't work. I lay awake in bed until about 5am and then I have to get up early with my son and I just cant deal with this anymore

I have tried getting up and occupying myself by doing different things but the tiredness is killing me

Sorry my son is 19 months old - so he has got to that tiring age, i have cut out all caffeine and dont drink alcohol, i have tried warm milky drinks and a warm bath before bed
I think the fact I cant sleep is actually making me more depressed than anything now and hence making the sleeping problems worse, i havent got the energy to walk for 30 mins a day and i wouldn't try with my son while im in this state as ive found that my reactions are somewhat slower

Thanks for all the good advice so far xxx

Answer 1

try warm milk and wholemeal toast for supper an hour before you go to bed.

lavender room or pillow spray helps to relax.

if you can try yoga or meditation to help you destress before bed time.

no caffine after midday. sounds a bit mad but you might be caffine sensitive.

Answer 2

Oh dear....been there done that....I am sorry you are experiencing this....I know about the insomnia part of things too and the tablets were useless for me as well.....I just felt tired and drugged!!!

I was advised to get out and walk as much as I could to burn off any energy...yeah right...what energy!!! I was also told to have a relaxing bath and hot milk drink before bed.......also listen to tapes/cd of something relaxing or to exercise for 30 mins before bed....all of which had really no effect on me....

A change in my diet did......losing some weight did......getting a mattress topper of memory foam did......and even now I wake at 4 a.m. for no reason.....wide awake thinking ..."why aren't I asleep!"

I tire out my brain with crosswords now.....I lay in bed and just keep doing them until I suddenly realis my pen has dropped out of my hand and the book is on the floor.....

Best advice is don't lay there worrying about it......get up.....have a nice cup of hot tea (herbal) sit and watch TV.....but dont' lay there worrying about it..just accept it...it will go eventually.....

Also are you worrying about something?? Is there someone you can confide in if there is something making you constantly switched on mentally...maybe offloading it will help?

A friend had a lovely little story about worries..along the lines of "If you had to carry a glass of water how long could you carry it.....would your arm get tired if you had to carry it for an hour...a day...a week? If that glass was a worry then you would soon put it down and pick it up again when you needed to......so if you are carrying a worry around..put it down and collect it the next day...it will still be there but you wont be so tired" That's how it basically went anyway.

I hope you find a solution to your insomnia........in the mean time...use the time to get on with other things....sit and watch TV, knit...do some ironing.....read.....do crosswords...but most importantly DON'T worry about not sleeping..it will make it worse!

Answer 3

Hey, I too use to suffer from insomnia a few years ago. I tried a lot of things but the one that worked for me was a simple meditation.
When I get into bed I close my eyes and picture my self sitting in the middle of an empty room with dim lighting. That’s it! It’s a pretty hard thought to hold onto. Your mind tries to think of other things. And it’s a really boring thought too. You’re just sitting in an empty room. But keep visualising this thought and don’t let any other things pop into your mind.
I’m not sure if it’s the boredom that puts me to sleep… or the calmness what ever it is it works. Try it. It’s not easy though it took me a couple of days to get it right.
Hope that helped and good luck I know how hard it can be.

Answer 4

I used to suffer from insomnia, mostly i think it's about getting into a routine and sticking to it. Little things that help are lavender oil on the pillow, drinking camomille and honey, or any other drink with honey in it because naturally sweet things actually depress the brains activity (so i'm told). One other thing is if you lie in bed and think of any situation or conversation (just make it up, has to be something really nice). Just go through the situation noticing every detail like you're watching a film, spend time making every scene perfect in your head. I did this and used to fall asleep at the same point in the situation every time!

Answer 5

I have suffered from insomnia for years and years and nothing has worked for me. But here are a few tips that hopefully will work for you. first take the TV out of your room.
Try melatonin, you can get it at any health foods store, it is the natural sedative that your body produces, it has helped people I know. Also try Valerian root. Another natural herb that induces sleep. But do not take them together.
Stop drinking any caffeine after 4pm. I tried all of these and prescription meds and nothing worked for me. I finally went back to my doctor and it was my neck keeping me awake so he gave me a muscle relaxer. Now I get about 4 hours a night which is 2-3 more than I was getting.
If none of these work talk to your doctor again.
Good luck.

Answer 6

please be sure that you are getting help with the care of your son, lack of sleep can be dangerous, and you are right it will make depression worse. Maybe you can get someone to take your son during the day to just give you a break, I think if you have some time to unwind you may be able to relax a little and fall asleep later on in the evening. I had 2 toddlers and suffer from manic depression and believe me it is all a vicious cycle and you need to get some help before it get out of control.
YOU NEED REST even if it is not sleep.
If any one offers to watch your son by all means take them up on it.

Answer 7

Hey i got the same problem as you, ive been suffering for nearly ten months now, i will go to the doctor soon, and im not sure what the doctor will do for me. I don't want to be dependant upon tablets. I don't think i have a choice though.

Excercise has worked for me once. and making sure you feel cool not hot.

Do have any idea what has caused you to be sleepless? If you could figure it out then maybe you could cure your insomnia.

heres a few helpful sources for sleep.
1. lavender
2.horlicks
3.Valerian root.
this site may help you with you sleep problems http://www.webaltmed.com/sleep.htm or help you find alternative medicines. good luck :-)

Answer 8

Hey there,
I use to have similar problem , u need to check on few things:
1) Take a Daily walk for 30 mins, atleast
2) Reduce any caffine and alchol that you might be taking.
3) Have a warm milk with a spoone of honey in it.
4) Release your stress by doing light yoga or other exercise.
Worked for me a lot , i thought i should let u know.

Answer 9

You really must try Melatonin.For 15 years I suffered terribly from insomnia and had tried everything imaginable and available.I researched the product before purchasing and have been sleeping like a baby ever since.They really are that good.You will get no negative effects and they are not addictive.I recommend 4x3mg two hours before bedtime but you will have to discover what dose suits you.I will take them all my life if I have to I am so convinced off their safety.Check out the source below.

Answer 10

I can only tell you what works for my insomnia, and that is, I've started getting books (non-violent) on tape from the library and I play them when I get into bed. I don't know if it's "having a bedtime story" read to me (like in childhood!) that gets me off, but it works. The only problem is, I have to wind it back to hear a bit more of the story every day, but I don't mind that as long as I get to sleep! Good luck in whatever you try.

Answer 11

If you are in the UK get a packet of 25mg Phenergan tablets from your chemist. They are really for travel sickness but are prescribed for your problem because they are non addictive and you will wake up as normal in the morning without the heavy feeling you get of pills. Take one half an hour before you go to bed, with a warm milky drink.