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(105 Posts)
Nanderin Wed 05-Jan-22 22:48:49

Feels like another sleepless night coming up.
How do you try to get to sleep.

tictacnana Fri 07-Jan-22 15:35:26

I can usually get to sleep but can’t stay asleep. Audio books or BBC Sounds are a help, sometimes BBC iplayer. I’m told that I should expect sleep disturbance due to PPS but I’ve always had ‘night terrors’ as my long suffering parents termed it and I think sleep problems are a sort of habit. There are herbal remedies that do result in sleep but , again, not a decent run of sleep. I’d give them a try if your problem is actually getting off to sleep. Good luck.Zzzzzz

MayBee70 Fri 07-Jan-22 15:23:40

I listen to a Paul McKenna sleep hypnotism tape if I can’t sleep. But always have to have either the radio or tv on as my mind races if I try to sleep without background noise. I never used to be like that. I can’t seem to concentrate on books an more up but tend to listen to podcasts or book at bedtime instead. And a Bob Ross Joy of Painting episode sends me to sleep although I think the BBC have stopped showing them. They may be on utube though.

Daftbag1 Fri 07-Jan-22 15:18:55

Lol! I'm on so many drugs that cause sleepiness, I just get into bed and it happens I'm asleep

Lyng17 Fri 07-Jan-22 14:58:54

Definitely audio book or antihistamine if desperate.

Clevedon Fri 07-Jan-22 14:50:32

Try Pukka nightime tea. It's been brilliant. The taste is a bit strange at first but I like it now and it works

Sawsage2 Fri 07-Jan-22 14:42:14

My nurse friend says if you get 6 hours sleep at night that's fine. I go to sleep around 1-2am and get up around 9-10 am (don't sleep in afternoon)

Nanny2020 Fri 07-Jan-22 14:41:18

All the things FoxgloveandRoses said!
Especially the magnesium pill .

mrswoo Fri 07-Jan-22 14:38:39

Although I'm generally quite a good sleeper there are some nights when I struggle. When this happens I try to visualise myself ice skating or climbing up to the highest diving board and diving beautifully into the water below.(I can neither skate or dive!) For some reason this helps me relax and nod off. If this doesn't work, rather than lying with my eyes closed trying to sleep, I try and keep my eyes open. Every time my lids start to feel heavy I open them again until I lose the battle to stay awake and I fall fast asleep. It sounds strange but I find it really does work for me.
I always keep a bottle of Rescue Remedy by my bedside and if I'm feeling anxious or wake in the night with my mind racing due to those things that seem worrying at 3a.m I will take a few drops. I recently bought Nighttime Rescue Remedy - it's incredibly sweet and I prefer the original version.

dogsmother Fri 07-Jan-22 14:36:04

MrsGf ? bed socks and a radio with bbc sounds for me…….still laughing……

Jaye53 Fri 07-Jan-22 14:32:09

Warm bed and room if possible.bed socks if cold feet and read or listen to music and I'm away with the fairies ?

aonk Fri 07-Jan-22 14:30:29

For me my bedroom is for being in bed. No books, screens or tv in there. I get ready for bed mid evening but don’t go upstairs until I feel ready for sleep. No caffeine after lunchtime and only rather bland tv after 9pm.

Issipy Fri 07-Jan-22 14:26:49

I have the radio on to a phone-in programme, and I have something called a pillow talk, made by Robert's. It goes under the pillow, and plays softly through the pillow. Off I go!

gillyjp Fri 07-Jan-22 14:26:30

I suffer from intermittent insomnia but now I'm retired it doesn't bother me. However when I was working full time I used to panic which made it worse. I would listen to the dawn chorus and bleakly realise that I was then absolutely knackered and would drop off and wake up with a start half an hour later to face another day in the office with no sleep. Someone further up this thread mentioned Phenergen which worked for me but not on a regular basis.

One of the things that worked for me, especially when working, was to mentally go through my wardrobes (yes 3 I'm ashamed to say) and visualise what I was going to wear the following day. I was usually asleep before I got to the second wardrobe.

It's definitely pyscosomatic. As hard as you might try, once getting to sleep has become a 'thing', it's very hard to switch your brain off. If you have the luxury of not having to get up and go to work everyday, it is much more manageable. I also read somewhere that instead of worrying about not falling asleep you should do the opposite and try to stay awake. Sort of thought reversal. Having a good walk everyday so you are physically tired also works for me. My tinnitus is much worse and louder when I'm stressed about not sleeping or just stressed in general.

Teacheranne Fri 07-Jan-22 13:58:04

Dylant1234

1. No caffeine after 12 noon.
2. Regular going to bed time (10 - 10.30) and regular getting up (6 - 7 am)
3. Brush teeth before settling down to TV/book so can go straight into bed without “waking myself up” bushing teeth (also helps stops snacking!)
4. At least 20 mins brisk walk or other physical exercise during day
5. Go to sleep on left side if suffer from indigestion
6. Eat early in evening ditto
7. Bed socks really good

Gosh, bed socks would not help me, my feet are often burning hot and I end up putting them outside the covers!

We are all so different and it’s a case of finding what suits us - I am still looking!

Teacheranne Fri 07-Jan-22 13:55:33

sazz1

My sleep pattern is now set due to years of shift work and I can't change it. I go to bed around 1am and play a game on my phone until I'm tired, usually between 2am and 3am. I wake between 9am and 11am which is late but that's how I am now.
Have tried so many times to change it by getting up earlier but then I end up falling asleep after lunch so no point really. Also if I go to bed earlier I'm just awake for hours anyway. At least I do sleep for 7 or 8 hours even if it's not at a normal time.

On a good night for me, that is my pattern, 2am to 10am, I think it is my natural body pattern after years of getting up at 5.30am to be in work by 7am - to beat the rush hour and get admin done before the kids arrive at school!

The problem is when 2am arrives and I can’t sleep so end up still awake at 4am!

Teacheranne Fri 07-Jan-22 13:50:14

Rowsie

I struggle to get to sleep and have found that it is useless to try and go to bed early as I just lie there fore hours! So now I stay up until 1am or so. This doesn't always work but sometimes it helps. I just have one of those brains that won't switch off and sometimes it can be 5 or 6am before I drift off! Thank god I am retired and don't need to set an alarm!

I wish 1am was late, I’m often still awake at 4am! I might have scratchy eyes and long for sleep but my brain just won’t switch off!

jaybee66 Fri 07-Jan-22 13:48:12

I go through the alphabet A to Z thinking of boys and girl's names, countries, towns, animals etc. I usually drop off before I get to the end. Sometimes I start at Z as I don't often get there!

grandtanteJE65 Fri 07-Jan-22 13:36:39

I make sure I get sufficient exercise both mental and physical during the day.

I avoid drinking anything later than an hour and a half before bedtime and read in preference to watching TV in the evenings.

Causes of sleeplessness for me have always either not being tired when I went to bed, or worrying about something.

So I have learned to tackle worries as far as possible when they arise and not to procrastinate.

Sparklefizz Fri 07-Jan-22 13:35:26

razzmatazz

CBD oil. 6 drops under the tongue. Works like magic.

Did nothing for me, and I bought a really good quality one which was very expensive.

LondonMzFitz Fri 07-Jan-22 13:35:21

Body pillow. Not expensive, I like to tuck it under my chin and rest my knee on it which gives my hip a rest. I can't sleep without it now.

I make sure I don't have any lights in my line of sight - led clock, outside street lamps etc. And if it's cold I've been known to wear a hat - there are silk caps available that keep frizzy hair looking great.

razzmatazz Fri 07-Jan-22 13:26:40

Non addictive and safe.

razzmatazz Fri 07-Jan-22 13:26:05

CBD oil. 6 drops under the tongue. Works like magic.

Joesoap Fri 07-Jan-22 13:24:39

I have always been a bad sleeper, that is not able to sleep however things have changed a bit recently,I go to bed quite late, after midnight having done my usual routine which takes ages, I always sleep in a cool room, no heating on there its always minus degrees outside these night, we live in Sweden, I do drift off quite quickly these days and sleep for at least eight hours,I have stopped looking at the clock numerous times when I cant sleep, and try not to worry about thing like I used to. I try to be calm when going to bed.The thing is I could sleep all afternoon, sometimes, I sit in front of my computer and suddenly an hour has passed, even when I have slept all night, I think its old age,I was 80 last Birthday,maybe I am allowed to have an afternoon nap,I am fit and healthy otherwise.

Alioop Fri 07-Jan-22 13:23:25

I read until I get sleepy. I woke up at 4am this morning and lay for ages before finally putting on my lamp and reading again. I find it helps me.

Gwenisgreat1 Fri 07-Jan-22 13:14:58

If I stick to a regimented routine, I don't have a problem. 1st I have to be in my bedroom at 11pm, do exercises on my bed while doing word puzzles on my phone, after exercises, toilet, wash hands clean teeth, change into jammys, then read for until 11.50pm! Anything disturbs that routine (which frequently happens) then I'm scuppered!