Anyone else have trouble sleeping?

[Luv2BeFrugal]

I have been having the WORST time trying to fall asleep lately!! It took me TWO HOURS to fall asleep last night! And then I woke up again later and it took me more time to fall asleep.

So, here I sit at work...exhausted.

Does anyone else have this problem? And if ya do...how do you deal with it? I've tried nearly every over the counter medicine...tried herbal supplements. They don't do anything. If I had health insurance I think I would go get some Rx sleep aids at this point (that's saying a lot coming from me as I reeeeeeally hate taking Rx's). I just want to sleep!!!!!

[leezza]

Sounds like you might be stressed out.

Some things to try:
a.Hot herbal tea, (no caffeine)

b.listen to really soft music or one of those sound machines with ocean or rain storm sounds.

c.take a lot of Calcium, (one 500-600 mg. in the morning and then another one in the evening.

d. you may want to try to get some kind of physical activity during the day......(I know not my favorite either)

Hubby has found that Melatonin helps him some......

I think the main thing is to be able to quit thinking about everthing.

leezza

[Missy]

I've had a hard time sleeping lately too. Can't imagine why. Hubby seems to think maybe I am stressed. Thank you Captain Obvious protector of all things apparent with your attack cry of "DUH".


I have turned to sarcasm as a coping technique. again, cue Captain Obvious.

I have made a routine of settling in at night that might help you. I found a few junky romance novels at a yard sale. Don't worry about the title. It won't matter, trust me. I got myself a bottle of wine and draw a bath. I put lavender soap in in and lit lavender candles. Sit in the bath lights dimmed with a glass of wine. Let the warm water relax away the stress off of ya. Then emerge from the bath into a warmed towel. get dressed for bed, relax in bed with a dimmed light and your romance novel...and a glass of wine (see why the title doesn't matter). Read, but don't bother to follow a plot. just read to let your mind relax.

Helps me. Maybe it's just the wine. Reminds me, gotta add that to my shopping list...

[DAAC3DEC]

The dollar store carries their own version of the "nytol" brand, that works wonderfully, and is only $1.50.....

[baxjul]

YES YES YES! I haven't slept a full night in about 7 years! Right now I take Rx of Ativan, or else I just would stay awake all night.

[ktsmama]

My sleeplessness (is that a word?) goes in cycles. I go about 1-2 weeks every 4-6 months without sleeping very well at all. I drives me nuts. I am in the non sleeping cycle now and I can hardly stay awake at work!!

I don't have any suggestions, just hope and dreams that we can all sleep well soon!! LOL

[wanderinggrandma]

This is my non-sleep week--and yes I go in cycles of sleepless nights also. I have a few things that sometimes work:

Melatonin--I take 2 of the 5mg tabs and it makes me drowsey after about an hour.

Read -- something mindless

Ambien--This is the only RX that has helped me. Some people like it, some don't. Knocks me out for a good 5 hours, but it takes a while to kick in for me, like an hour.

Now this is the one no one wants to hear--exercise. On the nights we have gone for a good bike ride, I can usually fall alseep before oh-dark-hundred.

Or I plug in a yoga tape geared to relaxation.

Sad that nothing works all the time. Don't you want to shot those people who just lay their heads down and fall right to sleep? Like my dh.

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Yeah, I've been totally stressed out...life is just like that right now.

I haven't found much of anything that I can do to get my mind to shut down at night. Tried melatonin...didn't help...tried nytol...no joy. Can I cry yet?

Yeah...I know...I should probably exercise. Ah the reality of a cruel and unfair world (Drama...). I'm kinda frustrated along those lines...Curves closes at 7pm here (is that normal everywhere?). Which means I have to go on the way home from work...and then I get back to the house about 6:15pm?? By the time I take a quick shower it's 6:30 and I'm WIPED OUT. Takes a couple hours to get my energy back to do housework...then I'm all mentally "wound up" again come bedtime. GRRRRRR And I'm so physically tired I barely make it thru the workout. Are we there yet?

Wanderinggradma...my Dh is just like that, too!!! Can I smack him?

[changed4life]

I have trouble sleeping now and again, but I don't lay awake thinking or have racing thoughts anymore. Lexapro fixed that.

[Kitten20]

I go through cycles as well. Or maybe it's just stress-induced. These last two weeks have been horrible for me. I have started taking Nyquil and it helps a little. I also make up stories in my head, about going on a fantasy vacation or something, to keep my mind off of my real life thoughts. That actually works the best for me. If it's a really bad night though, it will easily take me two hours to fall asleep and then I am up again and awake after three or so. I feel your pain!

[claimsgirl66]

I too go thru cycles of sleeplessness. I am by nature a control freak -stressed out person, so I will wake up at 2 am thinking of work...yukky I know. Now since 2 people gave their notice & my workload is increasing, well....I have not slept well.

I am with Missy, hot shower or tub, clean jammies, and a book & 1/2 glass of wine or tea helps. I went to the library and got some books, free magazines folks leave and also a funny DVD. I tend to use Tylenol PM if needed. It is basically benadryl, which I need to take for my allergies anyway. So I take it at night when I have a bad spell.

I also have some DVD's of favorite, stress free classic comedies ( Golden Girls etc ...) and will pop one in, and set the timer on the TV to go off if I fall asleep. Laughing at a funny mindless show makes me forget my stress for abit so I can fall asleep.

[Jskell911]

Yeah, I get the insomnia thing. It's all those racing thoughts here too. Sometimes I'm sure it's just a side effect of the CFS. But, I take elavil at night for TMJ headaches and it helps some.