I have this problem frequently, like right now as it's 10:30 on the east coast and my husband is sound asleep beside me. While I ponder throwing this IPhone at his head ( because I am jealous) , I wonder what do you ladies do to get to sleep?
Lol Toni I am jealous because he is asleep and I am not. Chucking it at him would just relieve my jealousy of that.
I read. It never fails, I wait all day to read some delicious book I found at the library, take it to bed with me, read 2 pages and fall asleep.
Celestial Seasoning makes a tea called Sleepy Time...one could say I am addicted!
White noise helps, ex: fan, humidifier etc.
Melatonin works great too, you can go to the viatmin store and get some. Its all natural.
A long hot bath before bed always works too!
Just make the last hour before bed a calm and relaxing one and you will sleep better.
Good luck!
I'm usually on here when I cant sleep.
A banana and a glass of milk usually helps me fall back to sleep.
Reading will make your eyes tired and that usually works too.
It's guaranteed if I turn a movie on, I'll fall asleep as well.
Staying asleep is my problem. I wake up more than 2 month old nursing newborn these days!!
I have been an insomniac ever since I was a child. My mind refuses to shut down. I was on prescription medication for it, but when I became pregnant I had to stop. I'm currently nursing, so I still can't go back on it. Usually, the only thing that helps me to fall asleep is to play Sudoku on my cell phone... in the dark. Focusing on the small screen, along with having to figure out the puzzle, will usually get my eyes pretty tired in about 2-3 games. I also have found that it helps to make my room fairly chilly, and have a nice snuggly blanket to cuddle down into. If I'm too warm, I can't fall asleep for the life of me. I also have a small fan blowing for white noise, and I drink Sleepytime tea about 30 minutes to 1 hour before bed. (It's pretty good!) Once my eyes and body are tired and relaxed, I just snuggle down in bed and let my mind wander until I fall asleep... but I refuse to open my eyes. I can't wait until my DD is ready to wean, so I can drug up again!!! I miss sleep! lol.
Without chemical aid or physical exhaustion it takes me a BARE minimum of laying in bed for an hour, after 3-4 hours of 'prepping' for bed. I have a few bouts and 1 or 2 runs of insomnia every year.
The no-sleep-thing is just that I'm ADHD... it takes a LONG time for my mind and body to still (Although I do a 36 hour day just FINE... Up for 24 down for 12... just get sleepy about 24 hours in and go lay down and sleep... can't do that with a child).
The insomnia for ME (bouts or runs) is usually adrenaline triggered. Either that taste in the back of my throat (I only get 2-3 hours of sleep a night during these runs)... or because I'm ticked off at my husband.
When I start having bouts of insomnia (or worse, a run... lasting for a few weeks to a few months)... I take benedryl. Or drink a LOT of caffeine (like a 5-8shot venti espresso) about 20 minutes before bed. Either does the trick. ((but again, I'm adhd... I have an opposite reaction to caffeine)).
Sleeping outside also works in a pinch (the silence at night drives me all 'creative'... the 24/12 sleep cycle, and music kicks me into story mode, and radio/tv I'll never get sleepy), outside theres enough small noises that I fall asleep quickly and never 'pass out' (I actually drop into unconsciousness when I sleep)... so I'm in REM / sleep lightly (wonderful!!!) when I sleep outside.
Once my son is grown... I'm just (ideally) going to go back into 24 on 12 off, or sleeping from 9am-2pm (it's easiest for me to sleep in the day). Until then, I scrape by.
I have had lengthy consultations with my Doctor about my insomnia and have a routine now. I can always tell when I'm not going to sleep usually a few hours before bed. I will make sure to exercise and take a long hot bath to relax and if that doesn't work I do something. One thing my doctor told me is you can actually make insomnia worse by dwelling on the fact that you can't sleep so I get out of bed and clean, organize, do stuff around the house. My husband woke up one morning to the kitchen being reorganized and I was asleep on the couch. It give my mind something to do and my body is active so it tires me out.
Just finished a sleep study, IF you have True INSOMNIA??? no tea or over the counter med will help you, otc meds will make you droggy the next day, and that can really mess with you. Go to your doc and they have safe meds that can help you fall asleep AND stay asleep. Theres many different kinds. Ambien,Is what I started taking 1/2 pill Put me to sleep and KEEPS me asleep ,also the say Lunesta works good to. But everyones different. My life has no quality with out proper sleep. everyone around me has to deal with me. Getting the right amount of sleep is very important. It totaly messes with you health and mind if you dont have it!!! The one good thing about the Ambien is that theres no after affect the next day (I HATE THAT)- also when taking that do not take it unless you are in bed and dont plan on getting up. In other words Dont take it while your still cleaning your kitchen or plan on driving ,or taking a bath . Just make sure your in bed. It really works!! Just ask your doctor what he would advise. Sleep study to would be helpful. That way you are getting correct advise.~~~~~~~~~~~~sweet dreams!
My sister says I sleep less than anyone else she knows. LOL
Right now it is 10:30pm Central Time and I am wide awake. I know that I have to get up early in the morning to see my son off to school, take the cat to the vets and get some work done. But none of that makes an impression on my system. :)
I hate taking sleep aids as the OTC ones leave me groggy and the Rx ones give me technicolor nightmares. So, I play on the computer, watch food network or HGTV, play games on my Iphone also, and eventually get drowsy. Some nights it is early, like midnight, some nights it is 3am.
I just don't worry about it any more. Eventually I will sleep.
Sweet Dreams
God Bless
Melatonin - you can get it at the health food stores, i.e. Chamberlains, I'm sure GNC, Whole Foods.... It's a natural supplement that is already produced in our bodies; you can get it in different miligrams but I'd say for an adult you can take 5mg or 7mg. It will calm you down and put you in a mode of sleep. I've used it so I know that it works... Good luck to you and Happy Dreams to you!
Often it is mirco minerals-&/or B vitamins.
I'll take B1- esp at night.
Best, k
He's asleep, play with the IPhone! Have a cup of tea (no caffine tea), maybe a couple of cookies and got to sleep.
Why can't you have an IPhone of your own. If it's $$, then your husband should share.
Blessings....
I used to have really bad insomnia. I feel for you!
My insomnia was stress-caused. It literally went away when we sold our home after 2 years. I have learned a few small tricks that may help
-Avoid computers and cell phones like the plague after bedtime. I used to play around on my cell after dark, and it always made the insomnia much worse.
-Cut back on caffeine, chocolate and sugar. In fact, if you can eliminate them completely, that will be best. I did that back in January and was getting such great sleep. Now I have fallen back into my wicked ways (coffee in the morning, sugar much too often). If I drink ANY coffee after noon I will not sleep that night.
-Eat more fruits and veggies and less processed foods.
-Take a bath before bed (or go swimming). The water will relax you.
-Also, would it help to go sleep in a different place from your husband? When I am tossing and turning, it is made worse by the fact that I am worrying about disturbing my hubby, or annoyed my every weird breathing sound he makes. If I go sleep on the couch, it might still take a while to drift off but I will eventually sleep.
-Benadryl on the really bad nights (but be prepared for a groggy morning).
Good luck!
The first thing to do is not fight it. I find the more I stress about not sleeping the less I can sleep. I tend to read a book, one that I know well, until I get sleepy and then go back to sleep. Because I know the book so well, it's easy to put down. I know I'll be tired the next day, but after about three bad nights, I start sleeping well again.
I also take passionflower (an herbal supplement) to help me relax. Usually I take one before bed and one more if I find myself awake during the wee hours.
Or, if I know I'm headed for a rough night (too much stress during the day), I'll take a melatonin pill (I find them at my local grocery store). Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I've read mixed reviews on the efficacy of melatonin, so you might want to do your own research or ask your pharmacist or doctor.
I avoid caffeine at dinner, unless I know I can lose a few hours of sleep that night.
Last but not least, I have a very stable, very structured bedtime routine. I set out my clothes for the next day, I shower or take a bath, I crawl into bed and read for a bit and try to go to bed between 8:30-9:30pm each night. If it works for our kids, it should work for us, too, right? <wink>
I hope these ideas help. Good luck!
i can make half a turkey or chicken and cheese sandwich and warm it in the microwave, meletonin spray that you spray under the tounge helped my kids i can also turn on a movie ive seen a million times and dont care for those are the ones that are right off the top of my head geive em a try and good luck
