Anyone else wake at 3am and start overthinking?

Frequently awake between 3 and 4 am. I’ve tried counting sheep but I can count really fast backwards and my brain is thinking of other things at the same time. Working through the alphabet for flowers or names sometimes works. Otherwise I give up and read a book for an hour or so. Then when I finally get back to sleep I’m really tired when it’s time to get up.

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Existing thread may help.

This happens occasionally and my brain whirrs round uselessly . I find it helps if I get up , make a hot drink , take it back to bed and read until I feel sleepy . If I go back to sleep , coffee effects wake me up at normal time . If not I just accept I’m making an early start on the day .

Yes. I was trying to remember who came to my wedding. My friends all went to Europe that summer so I only had my bridesmaid. The others were people my mum invited but I can't remember many of them and I can't name some of husbands family. I might get the album down later.
..

I sleep with mu kindle under my pillow and a bedtime book, as soon as I wake I whipout my kindle, do not sit up, just lie reading under the sheets.

Usually I drift off to sleep in minutes. It doesn't always work, but reading a good book stops you thinking, even if you read for hours.

I think the nack is, not turning on of lights, having the brightness on you kindle turned down and the warmth turned up as much as practical. The book should be familiar and not too exciting.

I think that this happens to everyone. It certainly happens to me.I either get up and watch some telly or thrash about then go back to sleep.

It's reassuring to know this happens to other people. Wondering whether anyone has tried magnesium supplements? I'm having mixed results with them - not sure if it's worth persevering.

A friend of mine doesn’t let her sleepless nights bother her. She catches up with all the neglected housework.
I too tend to do some neglected jobs, like sorting the letters, old receipts etc - I put them in a carrier bag ready to be shredded.
There’s always something that needs doing, but I draw the line at hoovering…. too noisy.

Yes, especially if something extra is happening in my life or something needs to be done that I have put off, I did read somewhere the other day that if you put something cold on your forehead it helps to clear you mind, I haven't tried it yet but I might give it a go in the warmer weather. I also usually sit up and read , I have a kindle so I try to read without putting the light on so that it doesn't disturb my DH, I also try and limit it to an hour at the most.

Please join ‘a thread for the 3am crew’. Plenty of tips and chats with others wide awake.

This happens to me, a friend calls it “washing machine brain” because it all goes round and round.

Ruminating! yes done that,,

I listen to a podcast. The History Extra one usually sends me to sleep quite quickly! You can set a timer.

I used to listen to books, but would never make it more than 15 minutes, so podcasts are shorter and I don't mind if I miss some of the info by falling asleep.

I don’t think of future things, I worry about things I have done wrong in the past. The only hope is to listen to the radio or a podcast.

There’s already a 3 am thread why not join in

www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1353563-A-thread-for-the-3-am-crew

I go to bed about 10pm and read, usually for no longer than an hour. More often than not I wake about 3/4am, go to the bathroom then carry on reading my Kindle for roughly an hour or so. If I don’t read, my mind is focussed on things I’m concerned about - my sisters, both older than me - and my children and grandchildren in these very difficult times. I wonder how I can make things easier for my OH and children should I become ill/die. Only during the night. I’m active and positive during the day!

Yes, I wake up and worry in the night.

Fret about health, my own and my family, real, or what might happen in the future.

Also fret about how DH and I will manage as we age and can’t look after ourselves.

Fret about the AC and GC, their jobs, relationships, ….

In the day, nothing seems so bad.

‘Morning brings counsel’.

If I think worries may trouble me in the night I take a 'one a day' antihistamine tablet, which seems to make me sleep well.

When I wake up I think about my garden. I picture my favourite flowers such as roses. In my mind I plan my next summer’s borders. When my mind wanders to negative thoughts I think about the garden again. It works.

I listen to Jason Stephenson get back to sleep fast on utube. It’s very rare that it doesn’t get me back to sleep.

rubysong

If I think worries may trouble me in the night I take a 'one a day' antihistamine tablet, which seems to make me sleep well.

I usedd to find a teaspoon of 'drowsy' benylin worked as well, but that is no longer available. I have used antihistomines but I tend to over react to antihistamines. I f I take a sea sick tablet, it will knock me out for nearly 24 hours, even though I wake my mind and body are only 20% awake aand it takes 24 hours for me to be back to full mental function.

Yes frequently, I have internet archive on my phone, I listen to old time BBC radio shows.
Mostly Saturday night drama from the 70s and 80s, Agatha Christie Poirot.a 50minute broadcast and I'm asleep again

Switch on The World Service, you'll soon get back to sleep.