Sleep

I find breathing to be very successful. Breath in for a count of 6 hold for 2 and breath out for a count of 8, I'm so busy concentrating on counting and breathing that I don't think too much of anything else, I think the counting could vary depending on what is comfortable for you.

Reading has always put me to sleep (even a good book!) but I was dropping off and finding the kindle falling onto my face!! I found a great device which clips onto the side of the bed and holds the kindle. As long as I'm awake I scroll gently through the pages and eventually I wake (to use the loo) and the kindle has shut itself off. I just repeat for a few minutes and I'm back off to sleep.

just had my first Pukka, last night, didn`t notice any change, hope it builds up?

now nightmares, get a Dream Catcher.. I used to have nasty nightmares, would wake screaming,
never had one since I got me a Dream Catcher.. I like the Native Indian ones,,

wish I could sleep all night, every couple of hours, bladder says "loo" very little to do though,, but could be a real pain,physical saying "loo"

Kim19 last week I read the temperature was to be -2 overnight and, for reason unknown (call me dippy) I decided to put a blanket atop my already thick duvet. I have slept like a log ever since and, no, I've never been aware of feeling cold previously.

It may have been due to the weight rather than the warmth. Weighted blankets are wonderful.

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!

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.

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.

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

Non addictive and safe.

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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.

All the things FoxgloveandRoses said!
Especially the magnesium pill .

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)

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