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Insomnia. What is working and what is not?

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Allalongagatha Tue 05-Nov-24 10:12:10

A little while ago I posted about a cure for insomnia. A lot of you asked about the products and how I was getting On. At the time I was not sure if it was just coincidence.

Generally speaking my sleep has improved a great deal. Best of all I don’t wake up with a headache every morning.

Nightly I rub Camomile and lavender body lotion into my feet, lower legs, shoulders and temples. This I think has really helped. I drink camomile tea from early evening and bought a sleep and relax diffuser which I have in my bedroom. I also rub a small amount of voltorol into my lower back.

The main thing I have changed is my attitude to insomnia. I have nothing to get up for, so if I can’t sleep I listen to audiobooks. Whereas before I went to bed and was wide awake, I think the bedtime routine has broken that.

When I do wake up I have a glass of water and a dry cream cracker, I don’t know if this helps my blood sugar or is a placebo.

I would really like to hear what success and failures you have had. If any body wants to know what products I use, please pm me so that this is not mistaken for advertising.

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Wheniwasyourage Tue 05-Nov-24 18:41:01

I think your change of attitude is good, and I have tried the same approach. If I wake up and know I’m not going to get back to sleep for a while, I get up and go through to where I have a jigsaw on the go or a book to read or some knitting or sewing to do. After a while doing that, I can often get back to sleep. I think not lying worrying about it, but doing something you find relaxing is a help.

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Georgesgran Tue 05-Nov-24 19:15:22

Having insomnia doesn’t bother me at all - it is what it is.
However, I’m able to function on little sleep (4 hours per night) well and have done so, since the early ‘90s.
My main gripes are that I usually need an extra meal and I begrudge the extra heating costs!
I honestly believe we need less sleep as we age and can’t understand why people stress and get anxious about not getting their 8 hours every night.

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Franski Tue 05-Nov-24 19:40:44

Ah..insomnia! I have pretty much tried most things.. currently just going with it....just lie awake thinking happy thoughts and usually i drop back off. If it is 5am onwards i get up x

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watermeadow Tue 05-Nov-24 19:52:39

I fall asleep as my head hits the pillow but after getting up for a wee, hours later, I can’t go back to sleep.
It doesn’t worry me, I can always have a nap later, but it’s so boring lying awake half of the night.

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crazyH Tue 05-Nov-24 20:14:39

Me too - the most sleep I get at night is 6 hours and that’s despite taking prescription tablets. It is what it is. I don’t stress about insomnia or about sleeping pills.

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keepingquiet Tue 05-Nov-24 20:17:44

I sleep pretty well these days.

This is my 'routine' toast and butter about nine in the evening with a cup of bedtime tea.

I don't drink caffeine at all after mid-day.

Go to bed about ten thirty. Read for a short time, until I feel myself nodding off.

Wake up about five o clock. Go fo a wee and back to sleep. Up about 7.

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Allalongagatha Tue 05-Nov-24 21:38:44

That is really interesting to hear. I do think you have to embrace it for what it is. I definitely second doing something rather than lying there. I listen to audiobooks. I choose something I have listened before, Jane Austen mainly. I have a few history books to which send me off.

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travelsafar Wed 06-Nov-24 07:48:05

Allalongagatha ...I too listen to audio books from borrowbox, or BBC sounds. They have some good dramas from radio 4 plus a choice of audio books. Most mornings I wake up at the end of the story and have to go back to a part I can recall to carry on. Much to my surprise it's usually in the first episode.

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