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Ziggysmom

(3,575 posts)
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 04:47 AM Dec 2022

Insomnia sucks. Seems most nights I go to bed, take a half hour or so to fall asleep. Then

about 3-4 hours later, boom! I'm wide awake. I have a stressful job and am also the caretaker for my disabled husband, so I realize I have a few worries. I hesitate to take medications due to my migraines, which often get revved up when I try any drug therapies. A few years ago I tried antidepressants and I felt worse taking those.

Oh well...... hope everyone in DU Land is have a restful night. Thankfully I have my purr machine, Stanley, lying on me and making me feel better.

29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Insomnia sucks. Seems most nights I go to bed, take a half hour or so to fall asleep. Then (Original Post) Ziggysmom Dec 2022 OP
when I don't get any sleep Skittles Dec 2022 #1
Blindfolds and ear plugs multigraincracker Dec 2022 #2
I can relate my sleep is getting worse Tree Lady Dec 2022 #3
Falling and staying asleep are hard for me too GPV Dec 2022 #4
I've had insomnia since my teens moniss Dec 2022 #5
Melatonin Maine Abu El Banat Dec 2022 #6
Melatonin worked for me kwijybo Dec 2022 #15
I have many nights that follow that pattern Siwsan Dec 2022 #7
Yes it does. Phoenix61 Dec 2022 #8
audio books cured me Brainstormy Dec 2022 #9
I've been an insomniac my whole life. Everybody has a suggestion for a "cure." NNadir Dec 2022 #10
I imagine myself standing on a pedestal pushing away thoughts that are coming at me progree Dec 2022 #11
Sounds like NJCher Dec 2022 #19
I find that the best cure for insomnia is reading. I love reading so its not a problem for me. Escurumbele Dec 2022 #12
Some podcasts are designed especially to help you go to sleep mama Dec 2022 #13
I have what my Prim Care Dr calls industrial strength insomnia BigmanPigman Dec 2022 #14
What does your doctor say? My son was recently advised that he had too much cortisol... FailureToCommunicate Dec 2022 #16
I have itn too... 2naSalit Dec 2022 #17
5 days of 5mg meletonan sigpooie Dec 2022 #18
I think I could benefit from biphasic sleep QED Dec 2022 #20
I did that during a particularly stressful time in my life and it worked great for me. Iris Dec 2022 #23
Valerian Root works good for me BubbaJoe Dec 2022 #21
That has always worked well for me. Smell is awful. Iris Dec 2022 #24
It smells like a catbox. Owl Dec 2022 #27
Mysteries of life sheilahi Dec 2022 #22
Have you talked to a doctor? A few years ago, I was prescribe trazadone which worked great Iris Dec 2022 #25
I'm trying 100mg at bedtime. Still have bad insomnia. Owl Dec 2022 #28
It took a while for it to work for me. Maybe a couple of weeks until I started consistently getting Iris Dec 2022 #29
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I've tried melatonin, CBD, antidepressants and more. Ziggysmom Dec 2022 #26

Skittles

(159,374 posts)
1. when I don't get any sleep
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 04:57 AM
Dec 2022

I try to look on the bright side: that I should get some quality sleep NEXT time

Tree Lady

(12,205 posts)
3. I can relate my sleep is getting worse
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 05:15 AM
Dec 2022

As years go by. And anytime I have to get up early the anxiety of knowing I need to sleep early keeps me up most the night.

For instance I have a early flight to see my daughter in Texas, haven't flown since before covid and have to be at airport at 4am. Here it is 2am and been tossing and turning all night. Feel awful and I have long layover in Salt Lake city. Will be a very long day.

I started doing yoga with Adrienne on youtube, she has a bunch of easy videos for beginners and seniors. The breathing and stretching helps a bit.

Most normal nights I get 5-6hrs sleep. I have a hard time falling asleep. I set timer and listen to audible books. Sometimes works.

moniss

(5,752 posts)
5. I've had insomnia since my teens
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 05:55 AM
Dec 2022

and it's almost like arthritis for me. It comes and goes to varying degrees. Sometimes I can't get more than 4 hours of sleep out of 36 hours. A great deal of it is age also. Another reason the real old re-runs from the '50's through the '70's are on TV from about midnight to 6:00 A.M. You can tell they're aiming at us by the kinds of commercials they run during the shows.

I've tried everything to help but really it's just muddle through for me. But at least it has provided me the opportunity to learn how to hum the opening theme to "Highway Patrol" and "Dragnet".

Maine Abu El Banat

(3,479 posts)
6. Melatonin
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 05:57 AM
Dec 2022

Also cannibus is a natural sleep aid. Had the same problem about a month ago, once you change your sleep pattern, you should have little problem

Siwsan

(27,296 posts)
7. I have many nights that follow that pattern
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 06:21 AM
Dec 2022

Last night, for one. Then I'll go for a spree of 6 to 7 hours of sleep.

This morning, at 3, I was startled awake by a dream. My problem is if I wake up it's very hard for me to fall back to sleep.

Phoenix61

(17,649 posts)
8. Yes it does.
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 06:27 AM
Dec 2022

Melatonin, Benadryl, and Kava Kava are all helpful for me. My problem is by the time I realize I’m having a hard time falling asleep it’s too late if I want to wake up on time in the morning. Yoga definitely helps. Have you checked out CoQ10 for migraines? The research looks pretty solid on its benefits.

Brainstormy

(2,428 posts)
9. audio books cured me
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 06:28 AM
Dec 2022

I fall asleep listening to one every night. When I wake, (and I usually do) I rewind or continue on. It can take a while to get through a book but that feeling of your brain being on a hamster wheel is gone. The simple fact that I wasn't sleeping and that I lay awake thinking about not sleeping was a stressor in itself.

NNadir

(34,666 posts)
10. I've been an insomniac my whole life. Everybody has a suggestion for a "cure."
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 06:34 AM
Dec 2022

They really just don't get it.

Ambien works, often, but not always. It can be dangerous and habit forming. My wife keeps a bottle aside, out of my sight, for emergencies, like when I have an important meeting the next day.

OTC stuff works sometimes.

When nothing works, I use the time, to read, to think, to do something useful. It doesn't make me feel better or less tired, but using the time makes my day to day life easier.

Good luck.

progree

(11,463 posts)
11. I imagine myself standing on a pedestal pushing away thoughts that are coming at me
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 06:45 AM
Dec 2022

The idea is to stay "thoughtless" and push away any thought that tries to enter my mind, or have gotten in there. I have a little mantra "push push..." as I'm pushing away thoughts.

Before that stage I sometimes run through something that I've memorized. I've got a few of those. The main thing is to occupy one's mind with non-worrying / non-upsetting thinking.

NJCher

(37,896 posts)
19. Sounds like
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 07:22 AM
Dec 2022

Meditation, which I call a focus exercise, since I don’t like the religious connotation of the word meditation.

Go to Spotify or YouTube and use the search term “guided meditation binaural beat sleep”. Beware the ads on youtube, which is why I use Spotify. YouTube has a good selection, though. You will need earbuds for binaural.

Side effect is regular practice makes you happy.

Escurumbele

(3,615 posts)
12. I find that the best cure for insomnia is reading. I love reading so its not a problem for me.
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 06:50 AM
Dec 2022

I just sit on my bed and read until my eyes are so tired that I fall sleep with the book on my hand. If I happen to wake up during the early hours of the morning (02:00am -- 04:00am), I grab the book and in 15 minutes or less I am back sleep.

Meditate, it helps to calm the soul, stress causes migraine. Look also into the "4-7-8" breathing exercise, it helps.

For migraines, find out what it is that is causing them. Lack of sleep is one, make a list of what you eat during the day, then compare on days when you get the migraine and see if any particular food is causing it. I found that wine does it for me, so I don't drink wine. If its stress, then you need to meditate a few times a day, which you can do sitting down, it only takes five minutes.

Good luck, this is all under your control, I know sometimes it doesn't feel that way, but we all tend to surprise ourselves, and you will too.

By the way, read things that are fun, I have gone through all of Kurt Vonnegut's books, and I am also reading a Swedish author by the name of Jonas Jonasson ( ]https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+100+year+old+man+that+climbed+out+the+window&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_20 ), very funny and creative.

And the one that is most difficult? Stop reading and watching politics, keep it to a minimum. I only read the headlines now, and if the buffoon trump is on the news I don't even read the headlines. We need to take stress out of our lives as much as we can.

Good luck.

mama

(177 posts)
13. Some podcasts are designed especially to help you go to sleep
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 06:54 AM
Dec 2022
https://www.sleepwithmepodcast.com/

This one works for me! Slightly interesting, mostly boring, creative bedtime stories.

BigmanPigman

(52,267 posts)
14. I have what my Prim Care Dr calls industrial strength insomnia
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 06:54 AM
Dec 2022

And even though I take Ambian every night I still wake up four hours later. I take over the counter pills and smoke indica before bed. I have to do this every night and it has been like this my entire life, even as a kid and teenager. I have tried everything under the sun for decades and decades. I have 100% empathy. I have the feeling that I'll be experiencing what I have missed out on once I am dead. Peaceful sleep...I look forward to it.

FailureToCommunicate

(14,325 posts)
16. What does your doctor say? My son was recently advised that he had too much cortisol...
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 07:03 AM
Dec 2022

a stress hormone released by the adrenal glands. It does many beneficial things to our bodies, but stress brings out more and sleeplessness is one of the side effects.

I had never even heard of that hormone, so it was interesting to learn about it's various functions in our bodies.

The bottom line advice for him was to eat better, sort out what was "eustress" (good stress) vs "distress" (bad stress), exercise more, stop online reading late at night (Democratic Underground!) and get out in nature more among other things listed in the link below:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037

Basically be more physically tired, and clear headed at the end of the day. His doctor was convinced about the huge benefit of regular exercise to correct a panoply of ailments including sleeplessness.

We'll see. I know it works for me. I do historic restoration, so working outside in all seasons mean I hit the pillow and "sleep like a log".

Good luck!

-FTC

2naSalit

(92,741 posts)
17. I have itn too...
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 07:04 AM
Dec 2022

I just accept that I only sleep about four hours at a time max. I get up and do something until I get drowsy and stumble back to bed and still I'm up for the day by 7am.

When I can't sleep I have a cup of lavender tea, that relaxes me enough to sleep and not be groggy when I awake.

QED

(2,948 posts)
20. I think I could benefit from biphasic sleep
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 07:37 AM
Dec 2022

There are several types - this is the one I'm going to try because it would fit with my wakefulness. Why fight it? is my thinking.

First and Second Sleep
Nighttime sleep is divided into two distinct segments. An earlier bedtime starts the first sleep period, which lasts several hours, often until around midnight. One or more hours of wakefulness are followed by a second sleep of several hours. Some Middle Eastern countries follow this sleep schedule, along with certain South American and West African cultures.

More:

https://thesleepdoctor.com/how-sleep-works/biphasic-sleep/

Iris

(16,086 posts)
23. I did that during a particularly stressful time in my life and it worked great for me.
Fri Dec 9, 2022, 07:04 AM
Dec 2022

I generally just got up at 3:00 am when I naturally woke and spent 2 hours on some work and then went back to bed for 4 more hours.

BubbaJoe

(20 posts)
21. Valerian Root works good for me
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 07:39 AM
Dec 2022

I usually get it from Vitacost, but you have to take 3 capsules to get the recommended amount. I started getting a "concentrated" form from Amazon and I just need one capsule. Bad thing is it smells like bad feet. My wife can tell when I open the bottle. Whatever works.

sheilahi

(277 posts)
22. Mysteries of life
Thu Dec 8, 2022, 07:58 AM
Dec 2022

Boy do I know how you feel. It's rare that I get a full night's sleep. I lay there and my mind starts wondering about VERY important things. One night it was trying to think of all the reindeer names. When I FINALLY figured that out all of a sudden i'm thinking "Oh damn! Who were those dwarfs? But what keeps me up most nights is trying to figure out what Billy Joe McAllister threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge. I am SOOOOOO sleepy.

Iris

(16,086 posts)
29. It took a while for it to work for me. Maybe a couple of weeks until I started consistently getting
Sat Dec 10, 2022, 11:42 PM
Dec 2022

a full night's sleep

Ziggysmom

(3,575 posts)
26. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I've tried melatonin, CBD, antidepressants and more.
Fri Dec 9, 2022, 12:56 PM
Dec 2022

I think a lot has to do with being a caretaker. My husband has severe COPD and it's an instinct like when you had a new baby, listening with one ear while asleep. I'm always listening to him cough or wheeze, anticipating a call for help, is his oxygen supply working etc... Hard to turn that off for a good nights sleep.

I have started to try an afternoon nap on days I work from home and he is awake and doing well. That helps a little bit. We do what we can for those we love because we never know when they will be taken from us.

Thanks again everyone.

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