cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,376
Jun 26, 2014 0:42:38 GMT
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Post by cycworker on Feb 18, 2019 13:36:02 GMT
I deal with fairly regular insomnia. By that I mean a week a month where I have a terrible time getting to sleep. It ends up culminating in a day like today. It's almost 530 am and I'm awake. At this point I'll force myself to stay awake all day, go to bed around 10 pm Monday evening, and be back on track, until it starts up again.
I should note I was cold this afternoon around 430 pm. I went to lay down and - you guessed it - fell asleep until 945. Woke up because I needed to go to the washroom. Been awake ever since.
Usually on insomnia nights I'm awake until 2 or 3, I get up 730 for home support, fall back asleep until 1030, then get up for the day.
I get to bed at midnight on non insomnia nights - asleep within a half hour.
any tips for breaking this cycle?
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Post by disneypal on Feb 18, 2019 14:31:14 GMT
I have insomnia often but found some things that have really helped
1) Have a set bedtime that allows you to get at least 7 hours of sleep - (ex: if you must get up at 6 am, make sure you are in bed at least by 11pm)
2) Ensure the room is a little cool and there are no lights (no TV, no cellphones or other electronics, etc)
3) Stop using cellphones/computers at least 2 hours before bedtime (I set a 9pm deadline and generally do not use them after 9pm)
4) Try herbal solutions before bed, I find that Valerian Root works good for me.
5) On nights, when I wake up and cannot fall back to sleep, I listen to some videos I found on youtube that help you fall asleep (like hypnosis videos) - I don't watch them, I just turn them on, plug in my earphones and close my eyes and they usually help me drift off back to sleep.
Sorry you are dealing with this - it is so hard when you can't sleep - it effects so many aspects of your life.
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Insomnia
Feb 18, 2019 14:36:58 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Feb 18, 2019 14:36:58 GMT
Sorry you’re having trouble. It happens to me regularly. Usually I fall asleep early but wake in the night and have trouble getting back to sleep. It usually has to do with my brain turning on and not turning off so I can relax. If I can distract myself I can fall back asleep. I turn on the tv and listen to it but don’t watch it. Or I read. Either of those tricks will help me 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time I’m awake.
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Post by mcjunkin on Feb 18, 2019 16:07:52 GMT
No tips or tricks, but a question: Does your insomnia match up with your period in any regular fashion? There is no sleep to be had here the week leading up to my period EVERY TIME. My cycle varies from 21 to 28 days, and the insomnia moves with it. My DH and I lovingly call it "Insomnia Week". It is rough on top of the normal PMS/period yuck, to go into all that on no sleep. Blech.
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,376
Jun 26, 2014 0:42:38 GMT
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Post by cycworker on Feb 18, 2019 16:43:08 GMT
No tips or tricks, but a question: Does your insomnia match up with your period in any regular fashion? There is no sleep to be had here the week leading up to my period EVERY TIME. My cycle varies from 21 to 28 days, and the insomnia moves with it. My DH and I lovingly call it "Insomnia Week". It is rough on top of the normal PMS/period yuck, to go into all that on no sleep. Blech. Absolutely! Just before & during my period. Consistently - as I'm every month.
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miyooper2b
Full Member
Posts: 330
Location: Central Indiana
Jun 27, 2014 15:38:05 GMT
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Post by miyooper2b on Feb 18, 2019 18:26:30 GMT
I have insomnia often but found some things that have really helped 1) Have a set bedtime that allows you to get at least 7 hours of sleep - (ex: if you must get up at 6 am, make sure you are in bed at least by 11pm) 2) Ensure the room is a little cool and there are no lights (no TV, no cellphones or other electronics, etc) 3) Stop using cellphones/computers at least 2 hours before bedtime (I set a 9pm deadline and generally do not use them after 9pm) 4) Try herbal solutions before bed, I find that Valerian Root works good for me. 5) On nights, when I wake up and cannot fall back to sleep, I listen to some videos I found on youtube that help you fall asleep (like hypnosis videos) - I don't watch them, I just turn them on, plug in my earphones and close my eyes and they usually help me drift off back to sleep. Sorry you are dealing with this - it is so hard when you can't sleep - it effects so many aspects of your life. I agree with all of this. I would add you could try a magnesium supplement. I take one about an hour before bed it helps a lot. You may have to play with the dosage as magnesium will affect your bowel movements. I've also found that once I cut out caffeine my sleep really improved. I use to drink one or two cups of coffee in the morning and one after right after lunch (to help with that mid afternoon slump). I now drink one cup of decaf in the morning and none after lunch. I was amazed how much even a cup of decaf after lunch affected my sleep. I miss the coffee but I like sleeping through the night a lot better!
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Post by dewryce on Feb 18, 2019 18:45:26 GMT
Lots of good suggestions already. Another thing my sleep doctor recommends is those daylight lights to help reset your circadian rhythm.
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Post by annabella on Feb 18, 2019 18:54:41 GMT
Have you tried herbal sleep aids like Magnesium, Melatonin, 5-HTP, L-theanine, or Valerian Root?
Alcohol disrupts sleep, while you fall asleep fast, you wake up in the middle of the night. It's recommended not to watch TV or be on your computer for one hour before bed. Or get blue light blocking glasses.
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Post by scrappyem on Feb 19, 2019 1:46:13 GMT
Insomnia is the worst. Cutting down my caffeine to 2 cups in the morning & exercise helped but the #1 thing that helped me is regular mediation. I was shocked at what a huge difference it made. I use the app "Insight Timer" on my phone. It's a free app and has tons and tons of different mediations on all kinds of different topics. My advice would be to keep it easy, start with 5 to 10 minutes a day. I do it every morning before work. I'm amazed at the difference. Good luck.
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Post by georgiee on Feb 19, 2019 3:43:49 GMT
CBD oil. It fixed my sleeping problems within two days after I started taking it.
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