topic Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO? in Community Chat

NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Shanus — Sat, 06 May 2017 10:44:48 GMT

Every few nights, no matter what I try, I keep waking up. Instead of tossing and waking my husband, I write in my journal...sometimes just thoughts, poetry, jewelry sketches or draw. I find I'm too tired to concentrate on reading and TV during the night is the pits.

What do you do if you can't sleep?

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Bhvbum — Sat, 06 May 2017 10:50:40 GMT

I listen to audiobooks. It seems like listening to something like that keeps you from trying to solve all the worlds problems and allows your brain to relax and you're just listening to a good book. I download them from the library onto my iPad or iPhone. I also set the book app to turn off after 30 minutes, and I never remember it happening so I must drift back off to sleep.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Cookie2025 — Sat, 06 May 2017 10:50:45 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
Every few nights, no matter what I try, I keep waking up. Instead of tossing and waking my husband, I write in my journal...sometimes just thoughts, poetry, jewelry sketches or draw. I find I'm too tired to concentrate on reading and TV during the night is the pits.

What do you do if you can't sleep?

I literally wear myself out. I walk in the evenings, take a shower and then I am very tired. Some evenings I have to drag myself out for a couple of laps around the block but the quality of sleep makes it worth it.

I know exactly the frustration you are talking about. Just don't turn on the TV or check the phone.

Good Luck

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

qualitygal — Sat, 06 May 2017 10:58:40 GMT

watch a boring show on t.v. and then sleep comes. If I lay there and think about things, I'm done sleeping.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Sweetbay magnolia — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:02:11 GMT

Suffer.

I've had insomnia all of my life. I feel for you!

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Shanus — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:07:15 GMT

@Bhvbum I do walk the dogs after dinner before bedtime. I think my lack of sleep those nights is a creative mind that I can't turn off. Not sure I can cure that.

Thanks for the idea of audiobooks. I've tried music...nothing.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

panda1234 — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:25:17 GMT

This is part of my daughters medical condition. She has been taking Ambien since she wes 12. Some nights it does not work. I tell her to do a quiet project in her room, clean out her drawers, nail polish basket or closet.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

mistriTsquirrel — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:26:34 GMT

There is a guided meditation on YouTube that I like. I put it on a playlist and then I found some sleep music on YouTube that I also liked and added a few of those to the same playlist. I play my playlist, and it helps me relax.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zSXFUcQ7qA&t=4s

Even if you don't like the one in the link, there are a ton of different meditations and sleep music videos on YouTube. I can usually tell within the first minute if I'm going to hate one, and I've learned that I don't like certain kinds of sounds. For instance, any "sleep" video with tibetan singing bowls in it is a big "no" for me.

I've also found that when assembling a playlist, it's good to choose videos where the sound is at a similar level, so I don't have a louder one playing after a quieter one and then get jolted awake by noise. Of course, you can just choose one that is 8 hours long and not worry about assembling a playlist.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Evie2004 — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:28:33 GMT

it is so awful..& seems to be happening more frequently..after an hour or so, I just get up & maybe get a light snack & try to get warm in my recliner & read some..then if that fails, see who is on this site & am surprised at how many are up during the night..for whatever reasons..guess we need a "night owl" page!

Going back to bed for awhile..nice dark, rainy morning to catch up!

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

hoosieroriginal — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:31:09 GMT

Have you tried melatonin? I take 3 mg (dont' take more) about an hour before I go to bed. There are some nights it doesn't work, but most nights I get a great night's sleep. I also use earplugs as my dogs sleep in the room. I hate not being able to sleep! If I dont' get a good night's sleep, mama isn't a happy woman the next day. If all else fails, and I am not sleeping by midnight or 1:00 a.m., I cut an Ambien in half and take one-half.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Shanus — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:33:06 GMT

@Evie2004. I think I posted awhile back that I love to sleep/nap when it's raining. I purchased a CD that plays an hour of rain, storms, thunder (not loud) and sometimes that works. I've almost worn it out!!! 😂

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Shanus — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:38:23 GMT

@hoosieroriginal I have tried melatonin because it's worked when I travel, but not much luck on a regular night in my own bed. I've been hesitant to try Ambien since I take a lot of other meds at night. May talk to my physician.

I do take naps when needed...think that's a vicious cycle. I've tried to do without napping to see if it would help me sleep...no difference. So a nap is better than being tired and irritable.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

StylishLady — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:43:27 GMT

Sounds like this is a common problem. I will either do my work out early, watch TV, or do puzzles. I may return to the bedroom or fall back asleep on the family room couch.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Shanus — Sat, 06 May 2017 11:51:10 GMT

@StylishLady. Yep. Looks like I'm not the only one awake.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

AuntG — Sat, 06 May 2017 12:00:21 GMT

Read these boards. I'll come out here when DH's snoring wakes me up.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

software — Sat, 06 May 2017 12:22:06 GMT

I have to get up.

I sleep alone but I can stand that flipping & flopping for only so long.

Sometimes I do a bit of house cleaning, maybe go through my junk mail.

Time really flies then.

I've stopped obsessing over it. I still work M-F and 5am comes early but if I can't sleep, there must be a reason. I just push through it. I don't go to bed until I am TIRED. I don't go to bed by the clock. I try to do a bit of work outside every evening because I have a desk job and I don't get physically tired but I get mentally tired. I sleep best when I am both mentally & physically tired.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

Oznell — Sat, 06 May 2017 12:26:02 GMT

I'm also an insomniac, and pretty resistant to methods I devise to go to sleep. I second the idea presented in this thread of guided imagery. The University of Texas counseling center has some excellent ones that surprisingly, work on me.

If you go to the link, at the bottom of the page, they have various choices. My favorite is the one called "Cruise". I shut my eyes, and just lie there and follow the soothing young voice that guides you on a solitary boat trip to a deserted tropical island with blue coves, palm trees, waterfalls and secluded lagoons. I often am asleep in the middle of it:

https://cmhc.utexas.edu/mindbodylab.html

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

SaRina — Sat, 06 May 2017 12:30:04 GMT

A meditation technique, done properly, will keep your mind from racing, eliminate negative thoughts, and allow your body and mind to relax.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

CareBears — Sat, 06 May 2017 12:42:36 GMT

I have been dealing with insomnia for years, i think in my case my mind just never stops, often times I wake up with horrific nightmares and I just cannot fall back to sleep.

When I have a particularly restless night, I like to clean, doing something physical helps me to alleviate some of the anxiety that I feel. I also like to read, the house is quiet and it seems like I just fly through the pages. I also catch up on my DVR'd programs (last resort), I record quite a bit of law & medical shows and if my mind is already racing some of these shows just make it worse.

Re: NIGHTS OF INSOMNIA...WHAT THINGS DO YOU DO?

FrostyBabe1 — Sat, 06 May 2017 12:43:56 GMT

I started fighting with occassional insomnia about 10 years ago. I do take a 5mg Ambien from time to time. It does put me to sleep, but I find that my sleep quality isn't that great with it.

Things that work for me are to make sure I'm tired, both physically and mentally, before I turn out the light. I have a "Classical Music for Meditation and Relaxation" album on iTunes that I set to play for an hour and then turn itself off. I make sure my bedroom is cool and dark. I try to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning. And the biggest thing that has helped me is that no matter how tired I feel, I never, ever sleep during the day. Ever.