So tired!

Insomnia is awful. I used to thrive on very little sleep, writing uni essays in the night, then working all hours while raising a family. But when I slept, I really zonked out and woke up refreshed. Now I am shattered and just drag myself around.
A new bed and a new snugglier duvet have helped a bit lately. Added to this we have had carpet laid in the bedroom instead of wood flooring. I have no idea how or why, but things seem a little better. You could try revamping your bedroom a bit?

I also get the odd night when I don’t sleep at all so know how horrid that is. I’m another who finds carbohydrate helps sometimes, usually just a piece of bread and butter. Go carefully today sunseeker, it’s not the day for rushing about.

I take magnesium last thing before trying to sleep. Sometimes I eat a banana or a slice of bread and butter. I also listen to P McKenna's sleep CD. I rarely reach the end of it without nodding off.

If I've managed to sleep but wake up in the early hours I find it best to get up and do things to shut down the spiralling thoughts.

Have you tried the, This works sleep spray + I swear by it.I woke at 3 am this morning, tried for 30 mins to get back to sleep and couldn't, Dh was awake too, I sprayed my pillow, and within 5 minutes we were both back to sleep, failing that I use phenergan tablets bought from the chemist, half of one usually has me asleep for a 8 hour stretch with no hangover.Good luck.

I have RLS 24/7 for 40+ years and also chronic insomnia. I take medications for my RLS. I've tried every sleeping pull without success.

I am at present on holiday in the Mediterranean and sitting out on the balcony for the past hour. It is over 30 years since I've had more than 4/5 (unbroken) hours sleep. My Dr is at a loss.

This is now just my way of life..

A hot bath will sometimes settle you RLS for a while. One of the criteria for RLS is the urge to move which cannot be ignored and that when you get up and walk this helps it, even if temporarily.

Do you take medications for your RLS. If so you should avoid Requip/Ropinerole and pramipexole/mirapex known as d
DAs. These may help at first but eventually worsen the disease.

It's hard to get back to sleep unless your legs are calmed. I take codeine which helps RLS.

Have you looked at rls.org. It is very helpful.

I have radio 4 on all night, barely audible so I have to concentrate on listening to it and that helps me to sleep as it stops my mind wandering. It works most nights, (not tonight obviously).
I agree about not trying to sleep when hungry, I have learned from experience to try and have a fairly full stomach, if not the hunger pangs means no sleep until I at least have a milky drink.
If the above two fail my sure fire winner is an audio book read by Stephen Fry, again on quietly so I have to listen. I rarely get past the first chapter before I am zzzzzzing . Time to snuggle down I think...nigh night.

I don't sleep well because my shoulder hurts too much. I know what it is like when the next day you feel drained. Sometimes getting out in fresh air and physically tiring yourself out works.

Strangely enough, I read somewhere, you will not be able to sleep if your stomach is empty. Carbohydrates at bedtime, will help you sleep, so they say.

I take magnesium for RLS and it also help sleep - if it hasn't helped you it may be that you are not taking the right kind of magnesium or not enough of it.
That's my doctor's advice anyway. Magnesium doesn't leave you feeling groggy in the morning.

If you can get hold of dried Lime/Linden flowers, they're very good.

I'm told that if you have "poor sleep hygiene" you need to change your brains' habit and there's quite a lot online about it.

And the moon's phases really DO make a difference.
As does the amount of carbohydrates you eat.

I have a low-carb diet from choice but if I am seriously insomniac I get up and eat carbs.

If you eat wheat (known to be a soporific) try making a sandwich and some Linden Flower Tea and see if that helps.

I usually sleep really well. However on Friday night I didn’t. The next day I felt like a space cadet. I feel for all those who sleep poorly it must be debilitating.

I remember him trying prebiotics and they seemed to help.
I hope you can find something to help though. Insomnia is so draining. It's an awful thing. DS has it and it's a real struggle for him.

I don't know the answer. I don't sleep well either. There is a Q&A section in today's Mail on Sunday with Dr Michael Mosely and someone asks re being unable to sleep. He suggests cutting down on caffeine and alcohol. Also try to wake up at the same time every morning (if you've slept that is), finishing your evening meal three hours before you go to bed, have a hot bath before bed. He says by stopping eating earlier and having a soak it will trigger cooling mechanisms in the body and falling body temperature is a driver of sleep. Good luck.