I need Sleep

[mrsK]

Any suggestions??

I don't have caffeine at night.
No heavy meals.
I have a warm shower before retiring.

No tv except Tuesday night, read a little & yes I fall asleep no problem at all.
BUT.................. I wake up about 2:30am thinking,thinking,thinking
Then I want to sleep after the alarm goes of.
Part of getting older I guess. (no comments thanks)
How can I get a full nights sleep ???

No pills for me though,don't want to take pills.
I am making an appointment at a naturopath & see if that helps.
Any ideas would be great.

[oscar]

Originally Posted by mrsK

Any suggestions??

I don't have caffeine at night.
No heavy meals.
I have a warm shower before retiring.

No tv except Tuesday night, read a little & yes I fall asleep no problem at all.
BUT.................. I wake up about 2:30am thinking,thinking,thinking
Then I want to sleep after the alarm goes of.
Part of getting older I guess. (no comments thanks)
How can I get a full nights sleep ???

No pills for me though,don't want to take pills.
I am making an appointment at a naturopath & see if that helps.
Any ideas would be great.

I empathise deeply over this. I'm afraid I have no other resort myself than prescribed sleeping pills, however, I heard of a teqnique very recently and thought I'd give it a go although I was very sceptical as I had tried everything.
Certainly before going to bed, a milky drink, warm bath etc helps but when you get into bed, try this routine.
Start with your ears and tell yourself to relax your ears. Then tell yourself to relax your eyes, then your head, then your neck etc etc. Work the whole way down your body. I can honestly say I have not got to my feet yet as I have always fallen asleep before getting half way down the body. At least It's worth a try.

[theia]

Originally Posted by mrsK

Any suggestions??

I don't have caffeine at night.
No heavy meals.
I have a warm shower before retiring.

No tv except Tuesday night, read a little & yes I fall asleep no problem at all.
BUT.................. I wake up about 2:30am thinking,thinking,thinking
Then I want to sleep after the alarm goes of.
Part of getting older I guess. (no comments thanks)
How can I get a full nights sleep ???

No pills for me though,don't want to take pills.
I am making an appointment at a naturopath & see if that helps.
Any ideas would be great.

I know exactly how you feel, Mrsk. I can usually fall asleep eventually but I always wake up once or twice and feel so awake

[Carolly]

I forget the last time I slept right through.This morning I was awake at 4.30am after getting very little sleep.I eventually went and tried to get some more sleep and I got another hour or so.Never had this when I was younger and oh what I wouldn't give for a good nights kip and sleep right through...ahhhh heaven

[kazalala]

depends on what you are thinking about im sorry but i usually sleep with no problems But when i first got in to internet and forums etc,, i found i didnt sleep as well if i stayed on too late then went to bed pretty soon aftergetting off the computer. I usually never stay later than about 9pm now so i have a good couple of hours just relaxing,, watching tv or readingand i have no bother getting to sleep or sleeping through,,, unless of course my hubs decides to do his impression of a snoring hippo

[Odie]

Originally Posted by mrsK

Any suggestions??

I don't have caffeine at night.
No heavy meals.
I have a warm shower before retiring.

No tv except Tuesday night, read a little & yes I fall asleep no problem at all.
BUT.................. I wake up about 2:30am thinking,thinking,thinking
Then I want to sleep after the alarm goes of.
Part of getting older I guess. (no comments thanks)
How can I get a full nights sleep ???

No pills for me though,don't want to take pills.
I am making an appointment at a naturopath & see if that helps.
Any ideas would be great.

waking up in the middle of the night is usually caused from having to much on your mind.

don't stay in bed thinking....

get out of bed and read something light.....reading takes your mind off whatever was on it.


It usually takes me 5 minutes and I am back asleep.

read for as long as you need to.



-I also have a small fan running on my bed stand, all night long, the noise from this directs your thinking to that noise hence taking your mind off what is bothering you.


the reading will relax you, trust me.

I learned a lot of things from a sleeping disorder clinic years ago.


If you want a good nights sleep every night, let me know as there is a schedule for this.

[mrsK]

Thanks Odie,Kaz,Carol,Oscar,Theia

There are some great ideas I can try.
Thanks for taking the time & adding your suggestions I appreciate them all very much.


Kaz I am with you on the snoring part.
Oscar I will try that tonight,I have been thinking of relaxation cd's etc.
Carol you sound just like me.
Odie thanks I may just get more tips from you if all else fails.
I am even thinking of acupuncture?
Theia like you I am wide awake ,like I have had hours of sleep.Good to see you here.

[minks]

Originally Posted by mrsK

Thanks Odie,Kaz,Carol,Oscar,Theia

There are some great ideas I can try.
Thanks for taking the time & adding your suggestions I appreciate them all very much.


Kaz I am with you on the snoring part.
Oscar I will try that tonight,I have been thinking of relaxation cd's etc.
Carol you sound just like me.
Odie thanks I may just get more tips from you if all else fails.
I am even thinking of acupuncture?
Theia like you I am wide awake ,like I have had hours of sleep.Good to see you here.

Aw good luck MrsK, I have used Odie's technique of reading with success. As well Age is a factor, we do struggle more with sleep as we age () and lastly I too take sleeping pills on and off to break the sleeplessness cycle. I find 3 nights on the pills restores me back to a better sleep habit. My perscription to the pills is monitored so I can't use them all in one shot and I am only allowed 60 pills for a year. Apparently they are addictive.
White noise is brilliant as well it helps drown out annoying noises and sometimes annoying brain action.

Try soothing music tapes too. This may sound silly, but find your happy place and imagine it as you lie down to sleep.

Avoid techniques like counting sheep, reciting names starting with"a" etc as these are just fuel for more brain activity.

I hope you find something that works.

BTW a natural remedy is Vallarium but please check with your doctor before using it especially if you take other meds regularly.

[minks]

on the lighter side of things
when I went to my doctor about my sleep habits she told me she would lend me her medical books to read before bed time as they are pretty dry and dull

[Kathy Ellen]

Hello H

I have the same problem. But, I do find that I'm a worrier and that wakes me up in the earlier morning, and then I can't get back to sleep.

In all honest H...what helps me the most is this.....

* Take a long walk along the beach or boardwalk...or anywhere that you like.

** say feck it to any problems....I actually write down what I'm worried about....string along a load of curse words that help me not to worry about it....and then burn it

*** Do meditation. You can buy a book on relaxation techniques...it works I took a night course on how to meditate and it's lovely to feel relaxed.

**** I used to have a heavy duty massage once a month and need to start that again.

Best of luck H.... Yoga is also good

YouTube - How to meditate