Can't Sleep? Insomnia? Post here.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

It seems like so many of us are having trouble getting to sleep, or staying asleep, or getting enough sleep. What's keeping you awake - is it physical, or emotional, or environmental? What helps you sleep - if anything? Post here about your lack of sleep, or just post here when you can't sleep.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Like so many nights, I just can't get to sleep. I have trouble turning off my thoughts - they just swirl around in my head, spinning and spinning, and causing worry, or long trains of thought. My dad passed away recently, and lately I especially can't get thoughts of him and the days immediately following out of my head. I've also been really distracted at work lately - mainly by the same thoughts that keep me awake - and I've been sleepy at work due to the lack of sleep. I'm falling behind in my work, and I've made a couple of blunders as well. People have been very kind, but I worry because I know they rely on me to help them do their own work. I don't feel very reliable these days. - Ahh, and this is what is spinning in my head tonight, even if it is a Friday and I don't have to go to work for the next couple of days.

So I've given up trying to sleep for awhile tonight and I'm killing time here on the Planet. I've heard that thing about how viewing screens of any kind for 30 minutes before bed can keep you awake, but avoiding screens doesn't seem to be helping any.

'Sweet Dreams' to all who pass this way . . .

[MsTinkerbelly]

Twenty-five years ago I was going through a really hard time...it went on for months. I had insomnia, which led to exhaustion, which led to depression......

What saved me was taking a class on "guided imagery"; learning to take myself out of my problems and focusing on somewhere I would really like to be, led to the ability to calm and soothe myself into a place where sleep came easier.

Sleep well!:moonstars:

[Stone-Butch]

I have insomnia and then when I do sleep I go into a coma. I am going to my second sleep study next month as they have ruled out apnea so they still want to know why my sleep pattern is so off and so do I. I lose a lot of day time as I am up all night and sleep a good part of the day. Sometimes I get lucky and get on a routine but it does not last long and I am sleep deprived for another couple weeks.

[Soft*Silver]

I have chronic insomnia. Its part of fibromyalgia. My body hurts, so I cant sleep. When I do fall asleep, as I move, my body hurts and I wake up.

I have found that treating the fibro right, with diet, exercise and meds, can reduce the insomnia. And sometimes, it doesnt

the latest thing that has been helping is melatonin. Lord I love it!

[AmazonDC]

Can't sleep.. too much on My mind I guess...

[JDeere]

I can't sleep, it is because I am too excited for later on this morning!

[nycfem]

I've been at my new job almost a year, and getting up in the morning has not really become much easier. I have such a hard time getting to bed at a decent hour. Maybe it's the computer screen, the whole blue light thing. I live for time off and the weekends when I can sleep in.

[cathexis]

Have a nocturnal sleep pattern awaking in the early afternoon and going to

bed anywhere from 4-6am. I worked 7pm-7am for 30 years. It's not too bad

except for times when bored or lonely. Sometimes my cats keep me

company, but they are on a more daytime oriented schedule. They often go

to bed with my Partner around midnight. Some cats! Geez!

[FireSignFemme]

I’ve been having trouble sleeping due to anxiety. My doc has me on meds for it, which is helping. However, the meds are making it difficult for me to sleep. If it continues my doc says they will put me on sleeping pills on an as needed basis, but first they have to see if the problem resolves on its own. Meanwhile, because everyone I know is sleeping right now, I’m so bored. There’s no one to talk to, even my cat is zonked out – traitor.

[Chancie]

I can generally fall asleep, but in times of stress, I can't stay asleep. I take two different prescriptions that generally do help, but right now, I'm waking up at 4:30 or so every morning. My mother's death and my complicated relationship with my sister feel hard and stressful. I'm having long complicated anxiety dreams.

[Gemme]

Lately, I've had issues winding down enough to be able to sleep. It's a process.

[Soft*Silver]

its proclaimed that having set rituals for bedtime helps. My dog Moon Baby knows my "get ready for bed" movements to a T....she rises the minute my recliner sets up and she heads straight for the kitchen counter where my meds are.

She knows when we go upstairs, she gets to lay next to me in bed and we cuddle for a few minutes. She doesnt stay next to me, as she gets herself up and sleeps at my feet.

I always put lotion on before I slide into the covers.

I listen to Dr Phil on my cell phone as I fall asleep. Combined with the melatonin, I fall asleep quickly. well, quick for me...

[girl_dee]

Oh where do i even start????

[Gemme]

Oh where do i even start????


I usually prefer the beginning but wherever works for you is good for me.

[Kätzchen]

Lately, over the past few months, maybe almost a year now, I've sometimes had troubles getting enough rest. Sometimes my nor being able to fall asleep is of my own doing (like reading headline news, which is terribly distressing to me), or sometimes my not being able to sleep has been health related.

I've tried several ways of aiding my own ability to fall asleep, so that I get the best rest possible, by either listening to 'white' noise types of audio sounds or to recordings of ocean waves or Tibetan wooden bowls or bells. Sometimes if I'm emotionally stressed out, I might end up having a good cry.

But I think what's worked for me in the past, especially when I could afford it because it can be costly, is going in to see a certified clinician for Energy Therapy. I once had several sessions with a staff practitioner who did energy work on my body by using acupuncture, plant essences and soothing touch/massage therapy.

There was a really nice article in the January 2017 issue of Prevention magazine that talked about energy healing arts in the field of Natural Medicine. You could look it up online at their website or maybe even try to see if your local library keeps copies of this magazine in their periodicals section.

[cathexis]

To anyone awake, I bid you good evening. Am up as usual.

[girl_dee]

I usually prefer the beginning but wherever works for you is good for me.

You are SUCH a .... Gem, Gemme.

Here is one theory.

my whole life sleep has been a battle. Since I was a child I have had horrific nightmares. I was attacked but a huge dog (i was not mauled or anything) but i was a wee thing about 5, and i remember e eit like it was yesterday. i hated that dog and knew he was big enough to jump the fence. His name was Dino. i remember seeing him hop over that fence and come my way. i ran, he ran faster and he got me when i was near my house. My father came running out and i could hear everyone screaming *DINO!!!!*. i was ok thank goodness and i never did see Dino again, but for YEARS i had nightmares not about that Dino, but about the Dino from the Flintstones that turned evil, and in my dreams he would gather up all his evil dog friends and wait for me, and attack me. i would go running to my mother who let me sleep on the floor next to her bed, which is where more monsters would hide. :blink:

As time went on, my nightmares morphed into other forms of *monsters*. It was always safer to just stay awake, until i was so dead tired i had to sleep.

These nightmares have plagued me forever, BUT for the past week, i have not had any.

My point is that i think this set the foundation for insomnia.

[girl_dee]

Lately, over the past few months, maybe almost a year now, I've sometimes had troubles getting enough rest. Sometimes my nor being able to fall asleep is of my own doing (like reading headline news, which is terribly distressing to me), or sometimes my not being able to sleep has been health related.

I've tried several ways of aiding my own ability to fall asleep, so that I get the best rest possible, by either listening to 'white' noise types of audio sounds or to recordings of ocean waves or Tibetan wooden bowls or bells. Sometimes if I'm emotionally stressed out, I might end up having a good cry.

But I think what's worked for me in the past, especially when I could afford it because it can be costly, is going in to see a certified clinician for Energy Therapy. I once had several sessions with a staff practitioner who did energy work on my body by using acupuncture, plant essences and soothing touch/massage therapy.

There was a really nice article in the January 2017 issue of Prevention magazine that talked about energy healing arts in the field of Natural Medicine. You could look it up online at their website or maybe even try to see if your local library keeps copies of this magazine in their periodicals section.


This is very interesting, i did massage work and each time i saw a client i asked them what benefits they noticed, and they would say *better sleep*

Sex helps too. :sunglass:

[AmazonDC]

Bed at 3 am and up at 6 because My sister thinks I am awake since I usually wake up at 4:30 am ...... going to be a veryyyyyy long day

[Gemme]

You are SUCH a .... Gem, Gemme.

Here is one theory.

my whole life sleep has been a battle. Since I was a child I have had horrific nightmares. I was attacked but a huge dog (i was not mauled or anything) but i was a wee thing about 5, and i remember e eit like it was yesterday. i hated that dog and knew he was big enough to jump the fence. His name was Dino. i remember seeing him hop over that fence and come my way. i ran, he ran faster and he got me when i was near my house. My father came running out and i could hear everyone screaming *DINO!!!!*. i was ok thank goodness and i never did see Dino again, but for YEARS i had nightmares not about that Dino, but about the Dino from the Flintstones that turned evil, and in my dreams he would gather up all his evil dog friends and wait for me, and attack me. i would go running to my mother who let me sleep on the floor next to her bed, which is where more monsters would hide. :blink:

As time went on, my nightmares morphed into other forms of *monsters*. It was always safer to just stay awake, until i was so dead tired i had to sleep.

These nightmares have plagued me forever, BUT for the past week, i have not had any.

My point is that i think this set the foundation for insomnia.

roflmao

Yes, yes I am.

Wow. Yeah, that would definitely lead to some sleepless nights. I'm glad things have improved for you lately.

For me, when I do have sleep issues it comes in batches. I'll be fine for a long time and then have a week or two where sleep is hard because I just can't get to bed or just can't get to sleep once in bed.

It goes back to my childhood, where I would only sleep in 1 to 2 hour increments and then I'd be on high alert in case my abuser tried to come into the room. It took years and years and years to stop that jacked up sleep cycle but it's so easy to slip back into one that is not healthy, so I have to be vigilant and even possessive about my time and how I use it at night. Curfews help.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

. . .

But I think what's worked for me in the past, especially when I could afford it because it can be costly, is going in to see a certified clinician for Energy Therapy. I once had several sessions with a staff practitioner who did energy work on my body by using acupuncture, plant essences and soothing touch/massage therapy.

There was a really nice article in the January 2017 issue of Prevention magazine that talked about energy healing arts in the field of Natural Medicine. You could look it up online at their website or maybe even try to see if your local library keeps copies of this magazine in their periodicals section.

I do love getting a massage and then going to sleep. Even better, a massage followed by a long, hot bath, and then sleep. But, this is an occasional luxury.

[girl_dee]

roflmao

Yes, yes I am.

Wow. Yeah, that would definitely lead to some sleepless nights. I'm glad things have improved for you lately.

For me, when I do have sleep issues it comes in batches. I'll be fine for a long time and then have a week or two where sleep is hard because I just can't get to bed or just can't get to sleep once in bed.

It goes back to my childhood, where I would only sleep in 1 to 2 hour increments and then I'd be on high alert in case my abuser tried to come into the room. It took years and years and years to stop that jacked up sleep cycle but it's so easy to slip back into one that is not healthy, so I have to be vigilant and even possessive about my time and how I use it at night. Curfews help.

Gosh yes. i never even thought of this. As kids we would go to bed about 9 and my father would come home sometime later and the arguing would wake us all up. Funny how those things mold your life.



(((( Gem, because you are one ))))))

[Kätzchen]

I do love getting a massage and then going to sleep. Even better, a massage followed by a long, hot bath, and then sleep. But, this is an occasional luxury.

Me too, Georgia. It really does aid in helping your body to recalibrate and just feels so good.

I don't know what type of work sponsored health insurance you have, but my work sponsored health insurance plan allows the PPO (your primary physician ) to refer one out for certain alternative health treatments -- up to 5 visits, per each type of recommended alternative treatments.

So, I have the January 2017 issue of Prevention magazine, and the news article I posted about appears on pp's 64-73. On page 72, is a little green colored box of contact information for readers to use, to check and see if you can find a board certified technician and if they accept the type of health insurance one has, as counting toward payment of services rendered. There are 3 ways to find a practitioner for any method of treatment spotlighted in the news article (pp.72):

1) More than 3,000 sound healers are featured on the website at Sound Healers Association (www.soundhealersassociation.org)

2) Many energy healers have training in multiple therapies. On the website for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (www.nccaom.org) , you can search for practitioners by zip code, specialty or both.

3) The Boston Brennan School of Healing website (www.barbarabrennan.com) lists contact information for hundreds of graduates.

Seeing this story the other night when I couldn't sleep gave me the idea to look up and see if anyone at my Center for Natural Medicine might be listed as an credentialed, board certified healer. If I find someone locally at my center, then I'm gonna call and see if they take my health plan insurance and if they do, and my primary doctor can refer me to them, then I'm going to see about getting all three treatments (acupuncture, sound therapy and hands on healing therapy --with plant essences).

I'm feeling pretty relaxed tonight, so I'm headed to bed shortly, after a nice long bath.

I hope you and others and myself included get some good sleep tonight.....sweet dreams to all and Night Night.
:moonstars:

[girl_dee]

does anyone use PM medicated, Advil PM for example.

i think i am becoming immune. i took two (usually one) around 9 pm and i am wide awake.

[Gemme]

does anyone use PM medicated, Advil PM for example.

i think i am becoming immune. i took two (usually one) around 9 pm and i am wide awake.


I'll use it on occasion but not enough to build up a tolerance to it. It's entirely likely, if you do use it on a regular basis, that that is what has happened.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Me too, Georgia. It really does aid in helping your body to recalibrate and just feels so good.

I don't know what type of work sponsored health insurance you have, but my work sponsored health insurance plan allows the PPO (your primary physician ) to refer one out for certain alternative health treatments -- up to 5 visits, per each type of recommended alternative treatments.

So, I have the January 2017 issue of Prevention magazine, and the news article I posted about appears on pp's 64-73. On page 72, is a little green colored box of contact information for readers to use, to check and see if you can find a board certified technician and if they accept the type of health insurance one has, as counting toward payment of services rendered. There are 3 ways to find a practitioner for any method of treatment spotlighted in the news article (pp.72):

1) More than 3,000 sound healers are featured on the website at Sound Healers Association (www.soundhealersassociation.org)

2) Many energy healers have training in multiple therapies. On the website for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (www.nccaom.org) , you can search for practitioners by zip code, specialty or both.

3) The Boston Brennan School of Healing website (www.barbarabrennan.com) lists contact information for hundreds of graduates.

Seeing this story the other night when I couldn't sleep gave me the idea to look up and see if anyone at my Center for Natural Medicine might be listed as an credentialed, board certified healer. If I find someone locally at my center, then I'm gonna call and see if they take my health plan insurance and if they do, and my primary doctor can refer me to them, then I'm going to see about getting all three treatments (acupuncture, sound therapy and hands on healing therapy --with plant essences).

I'm feeling pretty relaxed tonight, so I'm headed to bed shortly, after a nice long bath.

I hope you and others and myself included get some good sleep tonight.....sweet dreams to all and Night Night.
:moonstars:

Thanks, Kätzchen, that is incredibly useful information. I'm going to see what I can arrange!

[Kätzchen]

Thanks, Kätzchen, that is incredibly useful information. I'm going to see what I can arrange!

You're so welcome! And thanks for letting me know. I hope it proves useful to others too, if by chance they explore and learn that there's an possibility of getting this kind of therapy too.

I'll keep all of you posted too, on what I find out.
I probably will be able to get some sort of idea on my situation by late April, early May.

Last night I slept fairly deeply, but not as long as I would have liked to slept. I am going to start my bedtime rituals a little earlier tonight. I spent some time outside today and although it's still kind of a struggle to walk, I walked with my walker for about an hour or so.. Going down three flights of stairs and going back up them, after an afternoon walk on the property was tiring, but I'm trying to build up my strength. I see the Cardiologist on Wednesday (I thought my appt was tomorrow).

I hope to get some good news. I'll learn about the results of my month long heart study, the extensive echocardiogram testing and other heart news trivia.

I've got my fingers crossed for good news.

[Kätzchen]

does anyone use PM medicated, Advil PM for example.

i think i am becoming immune. i took two (usually one) around 9 pm and i am wide awake.


I used to take that occasionally, last summer, and it seemed liked it worked? But as time went on and I needed it more, it kind of didn't work....so I quit taking it. I know that's probably not too newsworthy, but my concern taking it was about it messing with my allergies because it's like taking those benadryl tablets, with out the advil part. I've heard or maybe I read it on the bottle, that if if doesn't help you after two weeks of use, that you should see a doctor about your specific situation.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

I can't sleep, so I have broken into my last remaining box of Girl Scout Thin Mints. I also lowered the temperature a little, so maybe that will help. I didn't get much sleep last night, so I have really got to get some tonight. If none of this works, I might try a glass of :wine:.

[Kätzchen]

uSqHrZgiwRM



Night night
:moonstars:

[Kätzchen]

In the early hours of the morning, last Friday, something really really bad happened in my neighborhood. So, since last Friday, tragedy has affected practically everyone, including myself. I have had a hard time getting to sleep...I usually turn in for the night around 9:00-9:30pm, but since last week, I can't seem to sleep, worried over my own safety.... like, last night, I couldn't fall asleep until way after 1:00am.

I hope it's different tonight, that I can fall asleep and catch up somehow, at least feel more rested in the morning.

[girl_dee]

MORNING!! i am up before the petty cardinal....

[AmazonDC]

Wellllll I finally got sleep but only because I took pain pills for My back which I do not like doing but it was pretty bad..

[NavyButch]

I seem to be plagued by insomnia lately or at least not enough sleep. I am not sure why but I am looking into my day to day stuff to see what the cause might be.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

I don't know why this thread petered out, except everyone must be getting excellent sleep these day.

Everyone except me! I went to bed 4 hours ago and I can't find a single comfortable position. My back hurts and my knees hurt, and there's no position that is comfortable to all 3. I took 800 mg. of ibuprofen, and my knees are better but it hasn't touched my back pain. I tried the heating pad, no luck. I took an extra half of a sleeping pill, hoping it would just knock me out, but no cigar.

Aaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh!

[GeorgiaMa'am]

I came home from an evening out with friends around 11 pm. I dropped into the bed without even undressing and slept the sleep of the dead for about 15 minutes. Then the boy came home from work and woke me up, so I got up and undressed and did my evening routine. I haven't been able to go back to sleep ever since.

My knees and legs ache from walking what seemed like a mile in a hotel lobby on tile floors. I took some ibuprofen, which I am not supposed to take, because my legs were screaming at me. Finally, about half an hour ago I took some extra Gabapentin for the nerve pain in my legs and feet. These days I never get totally comfortable, but I usually can get to where I can ignore whatever's going on and fall asleep.

I hope the Gabapentin will do the trick. I'd really like to get to sleep before the sun comes up, and it's close to 5 a.m. now.

[Stone-Butch]

When I was in grade school my poor mother had a hard time getting me up to go to class. It stayed with me and I found that most jobs or school was done much better if I worked or studied at night. I have been to two sleep projects at local hospitals and the last word was from the attending Dr. His answer was, " day people do not understand night people". You can change your bio rhythm for only short times and you will go back to day sleep. I usually wake up around this time of day, sometimes early like 1 pm. I go to sleep at around 5-7 am. Yes, I do lose a great deal of day time and up and around at night is a lonely time. Watching tv or on the computer helps pass the time as you can't do much housework like vaccum or hang pictures in the middle of the night. This is one of the reasons for seeking a night time partner who also has a hard time with daylight chores. But, alas, it is what it is. So I just say, carry on.