Sleeplessness

When I can't sleep and my mind is flapping from one thing to another, I do the Alphabet game. Choose a subject and then name in your head something starting with A and going on. Anything; dogs, colours, countries, English towns, singers, you name it and I've done it. Usually get to about J and clonk, off to sleep.

Has it worked for you HannahLL. I bought it too but couldn't handle the taste.

Nonnie I've bought cbd oil at Holland and Barratt. It doesn't have THC in it, the element that gives you a high. £19.99 for a 19ml bottle. If like me , you get it when they have the penny sale on you get two bottles for £20

any bad side effects raggyanna?

I take amitriptyline for restless feet. I have taken it for several years and it has been very successful.

For those who've mentioned that men don't seem to have this problem I agree.
I have a theory that women's sleep pattern is programmed in preparation for feeding babies at night.
And reacting to the night-time demands of older children.

I usually drop off about 11.30 and wake anytime between 1.30 and 4.30, then it goes one of two ways either I drop off again, most likely if I wake at 1.30 or thats it, it is infuriating with OH sound asleep. I try the repetitive words method which can work well unless I am worrying about something, then forget it.

Just found this article on the local online news site: 'The military sleeping technique 'that will send you off in 120 seconds' www.walesonline.co.uk/news/military-sleeping-technique-that-send-15112912

Let us know if you try it. please?
(I'm having no trouble at the moment, but insomnia has been known to creep up now and then!)

I generally read until 11pm, sometimes 11.30pm and fall straight to sleep. Sometimes I'm awake at 2.30-ish but manage to go back to sleep for an hour or two, sometimes I sleep until 4am and then toss and turn until about 6am when I get up. I have a milky coffee at breakfast, a cup of ground coffee mid morning, a cup of tea in the afternoon and in the early evening. Otherwise I have water with lemon in it so it's not a caffeine problem. Nor am I usually worrying about anything (occasionally a worry keeps me awake). Months ago I moved into the spare room because DH used to keep me awake but this has made no difference. One or two friends have also commented that they sleep badly. Six or seven hours sleep would be wonderful.

Hope you have a helpful appointment nonnie. As I said everyone is different. Maybe not a useful thread for you but thanks to you there are lots of things others can try.

Fresh air. Yes, get out for a walk and breathe in deeply as you go - always assuming you do not live in an area of high pollution - in the evening. Read a book before going to bed. Keep bedroom totally dark. Work at emptying your mind when you lie down.

I may be out of line here, but are you worrying about anything, apart from sleeplessness, I mean?

My sleep pattern gets disturbed if I am even only very slightly worried about money, health, etc. or dissatisfied with something. Once I work out what I am dissatisfied with or worried about sleeping becomes easier again.

Try hypnosis. I had and still sometimes do still have the same problem you describe. Hypnosis taught me how to relax and basically send me to sleep. I still do use the method I was taught if I even feel a bit anxious. The training does take a while but is really worth it.

When I stayed with my daughter recently for a week I slept every single night. Unheard of for me.
The only thing different was I had ordered a mattress topper ( not expensive. asda) in case I got pains.

A warm shower followed by a cup of chamomile tea. A little bit of reading to doze off on and a cold pillow for my head...works wonders!

annep I'm taking the lowest dose there is and feel as bad today as if I hadn't slept so no point. I am seeing a different doctor on Friday at a new practice so maybe he/she will have some good ideas.

I thank everyone for their suggestions, just a shame I have already tried most of them and still failed!

Nonnie I could have written word for word your letter.I've been like this for donkeys years .I've moaned at various doctors about it and asked for sleeping pills but to no avail. I've even just started having plants in the bedroom,as supposedly that helps. I use aromatherapy too. I'm even looking into CBD oil but it seems quite complecated.

urmstongran that sounds ^exhausting* lol.

mapleleaf gregorian chants - yes you are not alone. love the monks. Omnes Laudate Gentes is good too ( not quite gregorian but nice. Album on youtube

madmartha yes I do that at times!

Re magnesium- my potassium level went very high. Doctor blamed it on magnesium supplement I was taking???

Definitely separate bedrooms. (sorry DH). Nonnie try a lower dose and take it maybe two hours before bedtime. Probably a couple of times will help you get into a better sleep pattern. And yes I do think pills should be kept to a minimum and cgeck with doctor if yoy take others. Its clear that there is no one cureall as wirh many problems. We are all different.
Will someone tell me what melatonin is. can I buy it otc?

cc Try separate bedrooms. Bliss.

I did not read through all these posts to see what was suggested but...I use Melatonin every night and have so for the past 5 years and thus far no side affects only great sleep and hallucinogenic dreams! LOL going to sleep is like an adventure I never know what my dreams will be.
I take 1.0 Mg of Melatonin which is a tiny dose and I am considering going even lower to .05 mg.

I generally take it 1 hour before bed time also it does take several consecutive nights in order for it to work so don't think because after 1-3 nghts nothing happens that it won't eventually work, keep using it.

amber my thyroid was removed a number of years ago and I am on quite a low dose of thyroxin which is monitored so I doubt that is the issue.

newnanny I have monitored it and the days I am physically busy all day are just as bad as the days when I can't seem to get motivated at all. My phone tells me how many steps I have taken each day so it is easy to monitor.

A few people have mentioned lavender oil, doesn't work for me.

beejo took pills the last 2 nights and did sleep better but feel awful today, as if I haven't slept so not a lot of point.

Farrsan thanks but doesn't work for me.

knspol luckily my mind doesn't do much more than almost switch off and I don't have any of the other issues you mention. I just lie there awake.

Gabriella I am tired when I go to bed and too tired to even read when I can't sleep so getting up and doing something is not really an option.

Sarah I have never been known to drop off on the sofa. DH does, in and out of sleep all evening and then sleeps as son as he head hits the pillow. Wish I could too.

annep that sounds dreadful and I would take pills in that situation. I do have to be careful because of the other meds I'm on though.

Bamm .... I’ve had the burning and tingling feet for a while now. Had loads of tests like you but was just told that I have damaged nerves from years of “ inappropriate footwear” ! I do feel it’s linked to Restless Leg Syndrome which of course no one knows the cause and there is no cure. It gets bad n long flights plus sitting in a theatre etc The only thing that alleviates it for me is the Body Shop Peppermint leg and foot spray .... instant bliss !

I haven't time to read all the posts but as I skipped through I noticed someone say that CBD oil is not legal in the UK. It is and it is sold in Holland & Barratt. Stronger versions are sold on the internet.
Some people swear by melatonin to help them sleep as this is the hormone that starts to make you feel ready to sleep. It isn't used for general insomnia but if you find you are too alert at night and then sleep soundly at the wrong time it may help you get your circadian rhythm back in control.
I take ages to get to sleep then wake up at about 3 in the morning where I spend at least an hour trying to sleep again. It makes me tired and very grumpy as well as making me wanting to stay in bed in the mornings.

I also have to have a completely dark room, shutters and thick curtains. Its fairly quiet where we live, but sudden noises always wake me. I NEVER have any caffeine (including tea) after breakfast. We've recently bought a new mattress which is cooler and the SOF (snoring old fart) seems to snore less than before. I do sleep better at the moment, but if I wake I turn on the radio, just loud enough to hear. I also sleep better after 5am when the SOF gets up.