Anyone else wake at 3am and start overthinking?

Frequently. I usually try Zen music or Calm on my Alexa and it mostly works. Other times I just cannot switch off the worrying and I also go back to the past and think that I could have done things better like getting rid of my ex husband so much sooner. Hey ho.

Please dont go there, its driving me mad, cold and in the dark, brain won't switch off, good and bad stuff, someone suggested magnesium before bed, any suggestions gladly welcomed....HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Slow deep breathing and a repeat mantra

Yes, this happens to me, I actually wake to go to the loo almost every night at this time.
I switch on Radio 4 Extra and often listen for an hour or so, there have been a few Poirots and Wimseys recently, and I think that the radio stops me thinking about anything else.
My husband gets up at 5am so I do have a couple of peaceful snoozing hour after that.
I think that the trick is not to worry about waking up, fretting about it makes it worse.

Have you tried getting up the following morning, having your breakfast or first cup of tea and coffee, then looking at that "to do list"? Or writing it down, if it only exists in your head.

Then you cross out anything on it that is not essential, and go on to either do the thing that worries you most at 3 a.m. or the thing you least want to do.

If you adopt this strategy, you will probably then be able to deal with a few more things on that list, and sleep better the next night.

I’ve been there done that. I have decaf drinks but not past 3pm. I have a camomile tea before bed plus ashwaghanda and magnesium before bed too.

I have the Calm app too which is great for stories adapted for sleep with narrators with fantastic voices. I try not to use my phone otherwise.

Exercise during the day also helps with sleep.

I hope that some of these suggestions help.

I very often wake up around 3 ,I lay there thinking all sorts of things and getting un comfortable so i get up and have a cup of tea and about half hour i go back to bed and i am soon back to sleep until 6 when i get up

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

Ruminating! yes done that,,

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

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

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.

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.

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.