topic Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep?? in Wellness

Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

BunSnoop — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:51:31 GMT

Some nights my head hits the pillow and I'm sleeping within a few minutes. Other times my mind is just racing and thinking of everything and anything!

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

ALRATIBA — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:59:33 GMT

No - sleeping has never been an issue for me.

I keep a journal and try to write something each night - more often than not - the journal and pen end up on the floor next to the bed. I fall asleep writing!

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

spiderw — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:00:38 GMT

Yes, this sleeping pattern is with me, some nights I sleep through the night and other times I am wide awake, my mind filled with thoughts and situations.

It has been said when you can't sleep get up and don't toss and turn in bed. I actually started to try this and a couple of nights I straightened out some drawers and tried to unclutter an area in my room!!!!! At least it was more productive than laying in bed staring at the ceiling with thoughts swimming around in my mind! LOL

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

LizzieInSRQ — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:01:33 GMT

I read just yesterday that if you lay completely still for 15 minutes, you will fall asleep. I'm going to try that.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

Miss Pepsi — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:10:35 GMT

I have no trouble falling asleep, I have trouble staying asleep. Been this way most of my life and Iam in my mid 60's now. Eventually I just get so tired I get a good night sleep in but that is not the norm. This is just has been the norm for me.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

on the bay — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:17:58 GMT

I read a book-not one you have to think too hard with😄

I only last a few pages then am so tired I fall asleep.

There have been some nights I'm

tired but for the life of me I don't go to sleep for like an hour or so.

Then I think about those that have insomnia and how awful that must be.

Sometimes if I wake up in the middle of the night and am ready to go I will get up and then and pretend its my morning and then go back to sleep after a few hours if hopefully I have the time to do that.

I do think if your mind is racing and you can get up and do stuff, that does help you get tired enough to shut your mind off and distracts you too. But maybe also try reading a book. Also a sound machine.

I like the thunder!

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

BlueFinch — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:27:25 GMT

It's funny how I can fall asleep watching a favorite program on TV, but when I drag myself to bed, I'm suddenly wide awake.

It seems I can fall asleep almost anywhere, except when I place pressure on myself to try to get in 6-7 hours of quality sleep. My brain becomes like a kid fighting sleep.

There's probably some weird psychological reason I've yet to figure out. But, I've been thinking it's because I'm alone and deep sleep makes me feel more vulnerable, since my husband's passing.

Maybe I just need a more comfortable couch, where I can leave the TV on all night and just pretend I'm not going to bed .

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

LuvmyLab — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:29:54 GMT

Oh yes! I don't know what getting a good nights sleep feels like. I can't turn off my brain at night. I use soft music, a totally dark cool room, I read before bed, all the things they suggest and still no sleep. It has gotten worse as I've gotten older. I've read that older people can have sleep issues. My husband hits the pillow and he literally is out like a light. Drives me nuts!

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

msgb — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:31:51 GMT

Have problems falling and staying asleep.

I use a weighted blanket sometimes when it is cooler as the blanket tends to make me hot and sometimes that helps.

But sleeps sometimes is elusive.

Right now I am just extra tired too and well --sleep just isn't coming.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

sann — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 23:07:07 GMT

No trouble falling to sleep my problem is staying asleep.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

On It — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 23:31:01 GMT

@sann wrote:
No trouble falling to sleep my problem is staying asleep.

I also fall asleep fairly easily, but wake up around 3:00 a.m. almost every night. My go back to sleep trick is to start a Law & Order episode with the volume low. Watch the crime and hear the quip, fast forward through the commercials at the beginning that are so long, lie back with eyes closed and listen to the episode. I rarely get to the trial stage. If I do finish the episode, I replay it. That way the brain isn't trying to resolve the crime. Sounds crazy but it works for me!

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

Drythe — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 23:39:59 GMT

Every . single . night.

Never been a good sleeper.

Happy for & envious of those of you who are!

Keep up the good work.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

bcherry01 — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 01:02:53 GMT

Yes.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

hckynut — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 01:17:01 GMT

@BunSnoop

Nope, and can't say I ever have, even before or after my many medical procedures.

hckynut(john)

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

Goldengate8361 — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 01:51:46 GMT

@BunSnoop yes!....like every night. I just give in to it....and sometimes channel surf or read or just do anything. It is not the end of the world if you don't get enough sleep from time to time.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

AuntG — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 01:58:25 GMT

Racing thoughts were often work related so that disappeared when I retired.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

Desertdi — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 02:16:44 GMT

I can sleep "on command"

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

SeaMaiden — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:53:26 GMT

@BunSnoop Try taking either the amino acid GABA or Theanine... or both... before bed or anytime to relax and calm your brain....

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

tsavorite — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 19:11:49 GMT

I have had all kinds of issues falling or staying asleep. Just did the over night sleep study and that was AWFUL. Long story on that but finally I did fall asleep there for a few hours and they said it was enough to say I do not have sleep apnea. Where I go from here I have no idea.

What I have been practicing is keeping a set routine for bedtime....room very dark and cool and so on. I run a fan all night long for white noise or I couldn't sleep for sure. I only watch something on TV that is boring....or I will get a second wind and be up thinking about that over stimulating show or topic being discussed. Never fall asleep with TV on...don't want to train my brain to do that...when I feel sleepy I shut it off and sleep.

I also clear my mind....I tell myself that there is nothing that I need to think of right now that can't be dealt with in the morning. I also will do some relaxing breathing if it's not working. I usually can fall asleep in 10 to 15mins....just NOT at that sleep study place...they had blue and red lights glaring all over the room and many other things going on that discourage people from sleeping!

Waking up over and over thur the night is my biggest issue....to go pee. Last night was 4 trips....the nights before I did much better at only 1 or 2 trips. I just can't get it to stay that way.

Getting a good 7hrs of sleep is so important....I feel awful when I am up so many times and must take a nap in morning even.

Re: Do You Have This Problem Too When Trying to Sleep??

RedTop — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 03:24:07 GMT

I rarely ever have trouble falling asleep now, but have a fix that has always worked for me in the past.

I simply transport myself back to my teen years and the many nights spent with my grandparents, in that hot upstairs bedroom. In my mind, I'm wearing my shortie pajamas lying on the cool white sheet at the foot of the twin size bed staring out the window hoping to catch any possible breeze. As I look across the backyard towards the thick pines where we played in the shade, I could hear traffic going by on the main road, and hear the train whistle in the distance. On moonlit nights I might see a skunk, a fox, an opossum or deer pass thru, and my uncles horses were sure to run thru several times on their way to the water hole. I loved to gaze at the many stars, see the lightening bugs, and the flashes of heat lightening dance across the sky.

That little room was so hot, and there were no outlets upstairs to plug in a fan! I can close my eyes and still feel, and smell the thick, hot air in the house. After midnight, I would start to feel cooler air coming thru the front bedroom windows, and usually by 2 a.m., I'd be reaching for the sheet or the thin cotton quilt.

I loved the rainy nights; hearing the raindrops beat down on the roof over my head, plus I could see the raindrops hitting the back porch roof outside my window, with little rivers running over the edge of the roof.

50 years later, these childhood memories soothe me and always bring sleep when I need it. I still love the feel of a sheet and a cotton quilt over me, and it's all the cover I have on my bed year round.