Sleeplessness

No I haven’t Cherrytree but thanks for the suggestion.

I go through the alphabet, thinking of capital cities or places I’ve been or sweeties or biscuits or writers........ This usually works for me. I might have tossed and turned for hours but I rarely get very far when I distract myself by searching through the alphabet for some category.

I suppose you've tried things like a hot bath before bed.

Sometimes what I do is lie in bed with my eyes closed and, no matter what, I do not move. Even if I am awake and bored lying in one position, I stay there. Eventually I drop off to sleep.

Making the room as dark as possible is a help, I find.

Nankate and MissAdventure
Have you tried Chakra Sleep with Jason Stevenson?

Not really. I haven't had a decent sleep since last year!
He does have a nice voice though; I always think that at least I'm relaxing.

Snap. If 3 of us listen to him that is a great endorsement. ???

I listen to him, too.

Nankate Thank you!
I wanted to say Jason Stevenson

I am a stronger believer in mindfulness meditation, in fact I meditate every day for at least 30 minutes.

When I can’t sleep I go onto YouTube (free) and type in guided meditation. The one I particularly like at present is called ‘Sleep meditation - release worry. Guided meditation hypnosis etc’ by Jason Stephenson.

It takes a few weeks to get into accepting meditation as a part of your life. I sometimes just request Tibetan singing bowls which relax me, other times sounds of nature or the rain forest. There are so many free meditations out there. They tend to be by Americans. Some voices I don’t like, so I skip those. There are a whole selection by The Honest Guys. You just have to search to find what suits you.

You can also download an app called Calm and for a month you can access lots of relaxing stories, meditations etc. They then say if you want more you need to pay.

Hope that helps.

Piriton
Guided sleep meditation (not music)
I listen via u-tube on my tablet using one earbud, dont want to disturb the sleeping beauty next to me

Not sure if I'm allowed to say who I listen to?

I have used Paul Mckenna programmes, they are brilliant, havent used the sleep one.

Have you tried not going to bed until the early hours to take the pressure off of trying to sleep,if there is nothing you need to get up for it doesnt matter when you sleep. I have always been a night owl and much prefer to go to bed about 3am and get up about 10am.

I have problems sleeping some nights, not others. If I do have a good night's sleep I feel so upbeat the next day. and vice versa. Tried melatonin, no good.
One of my problems is restless leg. The other needing to go to the toilet.
Otherwise when desperate I take a piriton (or two).

I sympathise I too have great difficulty sleeping now, since the menopause took hold. I remember how well I slept once, I'd love to be able to be like that again. Don't have coffee pm have tried herbal sleep inducing tablets from the health shop, something called "sleepy" a lavender body cream from Lush, a pillow spray from Marks, all to no avail. Lack of good quality sleep does affect my daytime energy levels which aren't great to add to the under active thyroid and continuing menopausal symptoms. I guess I sleep sometimes, those are the mornings when I can't remember being awake most of the night, but other nights I know I'm awake. My husband tells me I only think I'm awake, so I've made a point of saying on occasions when he gets up to go to the loo, "I'm still awake seeee!"

Try mindfulness or breathing/relaxation exercises.
I know it sounds trite but the more you worry about not sleeping the worse it gets. If you can think to yourself ok I'm not sleeping but I'm lying here relaxed and my body is resting. I might be tired tomorrow but I will survive.
Then try to visualise a nice place or event or a journey.

Try the Paul Mckenna book and cd ,I can Make You Sleep ,worked for me .

Yes its a vicious circle... I know exercise helps but when you do not have the energy to hoover you do not have the energy to do a few exercises......hey ho!

I feel for you nonnie my sleep pattern’s been erratic for years, especially immediately post menopause. It really frustrates me and like you no real rhyme nor reason to when it happens. Sometimes can’t get off to sleep other times wake at silly o’clock and then can’t get back to sleep again. Have to say I do resort to an antihistamine tablet when I’m desperate. Have also found an eye mask helps at times. My mum was a poor sleeper and it became quite an obsession for her, I’m determined not to do the same and let rule my life but as I get older I am finding harder to cope with such a small amount of sleep. Good luck!

There is a thread around somewhere about CBD oil somewhere, and the people who tried it reported that their sleeping had been much better since using it.
I was going to get some, but still haven't got round to it.

Sorry that both of you have the same problem. Not sure it helps you to know you are not alone.

I stop the coffee at lunch time and don't often drink so that is clearly no the issue.

The trouble is that I am so tired during the day that I am completely unmotivated to get on with my life. I find I am only doing what is necessary and nothing more. If I carry on like this I will end up a couch potato.

I agree with JaneA. I don't drink coffee at all but my lack of sleep makes not difference whether i have had alcohol or not. I can fall asleep quite easily but tend to wake up after only a few hours with my mind playing O/T.

I have to make a conscious effort to relax myself physically and mentally and rid my mind of all the niggling things, big and small, that are going on in there.
Much easier said than done and sometimes it works, often it doesn’t.
The amount of alcohol or caffeine I have appears to make no difference.
Sympathy nonnie.

Nonnie....oh am with you on this. I had thought the worst was over, we had been through several grim years and I had got so much better regular hours, no tech, window open reading something dull for a while etc. But its back!
Last night I was worn out physically, had taken dog for a walk and completed the usual bedtime routine. Sleep alluded me and I staggered down stairs after midnight to spend three hours quietly reading and watching a very gentle film. Back in bed at 3.30 was still mulling over all sorts of nonsense....anyway you know only too well.
I'd love to be able to pass on a secret cure but sorry not able. A glass of wine with supper sometimes helps but its not a route I want to go down regularly, and it might just be coincidence!
I shall try again tonight! Good luck.