Insomnia / night time vigilance

[Lucky]

What helps you ladies when suffering from insomnia? Your tips would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

[teartracks]

Hi Lucky,

Don't know if it is going to help, but I just had a cup of hot chocolate and two pieces of bread slathered with, I can't believe it's not butter!

There's no rhythm to my insomnia.  I've heard of people who figure out the rhythm of their insomnia and live within its dictates.  That works OK if you have no appointments/committments  to keep the next day, and are self employed, or retired  and can sleep in. 

I make NO morning appointments or committments.  My friends know that I don't and mercifully, they make no demands on my mornings.  I'm single and all the work I do is from home. 

I went on a three day water fast last weekend.  Strangely, I slept a lot during that three days.   Go figure.

Crazy way to live, Isn't it?

tt

[Izzy_*now*]

hi lucky,

I am like tt, the same...................crazy! Mornings are mine, no appointments, responsibilities etc.

My worst curse is to have a daytime nap, and if I have 2, then I am awake all night, which just throws me onto a totally different schedule. Now to keep awake takes weird measures. go to the bathroom whether you need to or not, eat something, drink something, look for a funny joke on the computer ............but then sometimes I fall asleep, chin in chest, before I find a funny joke. Makes sense!

Now if that happens, try better to not fall asleep in the afternoon, as this is too close to bedtime. Eat, drink, run around, prick your legs with pins, etc.. but for me I was whipped yesterday and took to my bed, a broken woman, slept and then was awake all night.

I was up at 6:30 and trying to fix my timer on the VCR and thought I had it but, Nope! it still taped the Sports Network, and the closer I came to the solution the faster my batteries went dry and it was too early for the store to be open. so I found a movie online and watched it. I almost dozed off but my physical therapist came, so I was mangled enough to stay awake and now it is 1:49 Thurs am, BUT, she left at 10 am and I have a funny feeling I was in my bed for 3-4 hours sleeping after that.

Anyone got any ideas for swiveling my day in a 180?

Aw sorry, I wasn't much help. Must be punchy!

Izzy
Click to enlarge

[English]

Izzy re: picture 

[Lucky]

At times life is miserable when suffering from regular insomnia.

[HeartofPilgrimage]

My husband and I are finding that as we age, we are more reactive to caffeine. It stinks, but we know we can't even have a glass of tea with our evening meal. I used to be able to drink a double espresso at 10 p.m. and go to sleep just fine, but not any more! So maybe the first thing is to note what happens during the day before a night of insomnia, and whether your body is changing and reacting more to those things.

I am addicted to a fan ... and if I can't have it, a thunderstorm CD. I also create my "dream house" in the minutes before sleep, decorating it in the most soothing way, placing it in the most soothing location, etc.

[Ami]

Have you ever fasted or just had a few days of raw food. Chinese Medicine says that insomnia can be caused by too many toxins , the liver is overloaded and you can get insomnia.
                           Warmly  Ami

[Lollie]

After 5 years of chronic insomnia, I made an appointment with my family doctor. Have you had a physical lately?

[seasons]

Hello Lucky!

I feel your pain. It can be so difficult to overcome.

What has helped me.

No caffiene
No afternoon naps (which feel needed after a sleepless night)
NO TV

My biggest problem is me, I go into over drive. My mind wouldn't calm down. 

I started to down load books onto my ipod.  Just fiction, no deep stuff. kwim? First I put the timer on for an hour now I'm down to 1/2 hour and I'm off to sleep.

At first I couldn't get into the story, but as time went on the readers voice became very soothing. It was easier for me than reading with the lights on at that time of night.

A few I've listened to.......

My Sisters Keeper

The Time Travelers Wife

The Shack

Their stories replaced mine. 

Hope you can find something that works for you! HUGS   seasons

[teartracks]

Hi,

I have tried fasting.  Just did three day water fast last week.  I slept through the last half.  Felt so good and I've felt better since.  However, after two nights of good sleep, I'm back to 'enjoying'  the magic of the night.  I actually do think nights are magical.  It's a time of extraordinary quiet (extraordinary quiet relatively speaking).  What I miss is the ability to say, OK, time to go to sleep, putting my head on the pillow, going through a short pre-sleep ritual and the falling asleep in 10 or 15 minutes.  Before PTSD, sleep was one of my favorite things.  I NEVER  had a problem falling asleep except when I forgot and had caffeine.  Have spent the last 19 years having had no more than a dozen or so nights of spontaneous, normal sleep.  

Anyone here suffer from Sleep Inertia over and above Insomnia?  Combine the two...That's a hoot!

tt

[Hopalong]

I'm dependent on Ambien.
I can't take the sustained-release version (Ambien CR) because it triggers wonky behavior.
One night I woke at 3 a.m. in front of the fridge eating cheese. I had also fed the dog.

I think hitting myself over the head with a skillet every night would be a good idea.

That or give up a lot of escapist things I adore.

Hope that exercising more will help me sleep. I know it will.

hugs, yawn,

Hops

[lighter]

lucky

I go and snuggle my children then make sure I have a good book by the side of the bed, or something I HAVE to do like send thank yous, and just start in.

That usually gets me sleepy, right about the time I need to wake up, but sometimes sooner.

I think waking up at all hours has more to do with what's on your mind, though I'm sure that's not the case for everyone.

Have you tried meditating? 

Mo2

 

[teartracks]

Hi Lucky,

I've figured it out!  God in His wisdom created a group of people for every shift.  I'm third shift.  Problem is, daytime doesn't accommodate third shifters very well.  There should be a law!!!!!

tt

[Lucky]

Teartracks you're funny  .
However I think it has to do with anxiety, physical health is okay.

[Meh]

I had a severe episode of insomnia yrs ago, not so much regular insomnia, I had to find a doctor that would prescribe me sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication in order to get my circadian rhythms back on track. I no longer take the pills, they were just needed as a temporary remedy until my body got over the anxiety.

Got to pay attention to the circadian rhythms, exercise during the day (chop wood or something), don't eat even a little sugar and caffeine before bed.

Oh gosh, one day of snowshoeing and I fall asleep sitting up on the drive home with drool running out of my mouth.

I don't know if you are a caffeine drinker, it effects my system for a few days after having it, so it takes significant time to wear off not just a few hours. Eating good meals at regular intervals helps. Try eating potatoes and triptophan, many foods have triptophan not just turkey.  
Don't watch TV at least one hour before bed, too much overstimulating sensory input.
Don't read the news or violent stuff before bed.
Maybe earplugs and those eye-covers to create 100% darkness. Give your body a whole quieting down period in the evening.

Sleepy-time tea actually does help some people. Seriously.

Getting a regular bedtime routine so the body understands it's bedtime. I think it's a matter of establishing normalcy and getting the nervous system on track.

There was a place I lived that for some reason took aprox. 2 hrs to fall asleep, when I moved to a new home I was able to fall asleep more easily, this was an unexpected change.

Maybe extra security enhancements in/around the home? I like the bright motion detection flood lights.
I have a friend that use to sleep with a weapon every night.

There is a Beatles song called "Good Night".