Insomnia Tips Please

[purtig]

I have been getting insomnia for the last 4 months or so. I do have sleeping tablets I can take, but I don't want to rely on them and sometimes they don't work. I also have a 1 year old who wakes for the day between 5-5.30am without fail, so I really need my sleep. I am a light sleeper and find it hard to 'turn off' my brain.

Things I do already are....
have a warm milk half an hour before bed
have 2 panadol at around same time (I usually have a headache)
try and turn off the computer an hour before bed
I do read in bed but only 1 chapter or so
I don't watch tv in bed

If you can think of anything, please, any advice would be appreciated.

[LittleMissyMoo]

You poor thing it sucks not getting any sleep. I had pretty bad insomnia for a while and here's what I did.

Excercise every day but not 3 hours before bed time.
Do not read/watch tv before bed.
Healthy diet.
Meditation/relaxation/yoga classes to get rid of any anxiety or stress.
Get some Tranquil Calm tablets from the health food shop. They're 100% natural.
Drink herbal tea instead of caffine.
Use lavender products (shower gel, bath gel, moisturiser). They induce calm.

Give them a go and good luck!

[samsausage]

Just wanted to send you some , I've had worsening insomnia for 3 months now and it is truly horrid.

LittleMissyMoo has already given you some great advice, I'm starting a course of hypnotherapy in a couple of weeks in the hope that will help.

Take care - it WILL end

[Natsmummy]

I'll be watching this with interest as I've had terrible insomnia for the last 2 months. I feel so tired all the time but when I get into bed I just can't switch off, and I don't want to take sleeping tablets as I worry that DS would need me and I'd be too groggy.

[purtig]

Being groggy worries me too. I only take half a tablet if I am not asleep by 11.30pm, though a few times I have taken the other half after still being awake half an hour later, on my doctor's advice. When I have taken something I make sure I am sleeping with the door wide open so I will still hear ds. I had to take one once when DH was away and i was so scared but had been awake since 4am that morning so felt I really needed it.

I have just purchased some 'Tranquil Night' tablets to try.

[Feral]

I know how annoying insomnia can be, I have had it on and off over the years.

Littlemissymoo has given you some great tips,
I recommend Valerian root, a natural herbal remedy, can be taken as tablets, from chemist or health food shop, just ask -it is sometimes called 'sleep ezy' also comes as herbal tea- have a cup before bed.
If you feel you have tension, a nice bath can be very relaxing and sleep inducing
If anxiety is a problem, try having a note book near your bed and quickly make a note of anything on your mind, then tell yourself not to worry about these things- have a good nights sleep.
Soothing music works well, have the volume low so you can drift of to sleep.

Good luck, sweet dreams

[AliyahBlake]

All the suggestions here are good - I swear by Chamomile tea. It's an acquired taste but once you get used to it, it works quite well. Good luck!

[Rell]

Have you tried cutting addertives out of your diet. DS had problems with insomnia so we put him on the fail safe diet. A week later he was sleeping better then he ever had. I found flavour enhancers really seam to set him off.

good luck hopefully you get some much needed soon

[purtig]

Had another bad night last night - only 3 hours sleep despite being really really tired.

i have been for 2 walks this morning. I am eating healthy food and having a chocolate & caffeine free day. I have got some Tranquil Night tablets to try later, and some chammomile tea. Also got horlicks to try with my warm milk. I will have a warm bath this evening and may just take a full tablet and go to bed early - I really need a 'catch-up night'.

Thanks everyone for the advice and I'll see how I go.

[MyFourCubs]

Hi, I feel for you. My mother is a complete insomniac- has been for years and I go through periods. If I have to be somewhere important the next day I generally do not sleep. I dodn't know how you feel about medication but a few years ago, while I was working, I succumbed to an antidepressant called Avanza or "Mirtazon." I personally do not like meds but I had tried everything else inc short spells with temazepam and oxazepam out of desperation. I simply couldn't function on the lack of sleep so I caved in and took the avanza. The Avanza works in very low doses to induce sleep and help you stay asleep. (I have both problems as you probably do too.) Now I am on a med called endep or "Amitryptaline," because I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and this med works in low doses as a pain manager and to induce sleep. In higher doses it's an antidepressant. I would discuss these with your gp. I know what it's like. Truthfully, though, while the endep works GENERALLY, if there is something stressful stopping me from sleeping I still won't sleep, regardless of med. I seem to have a pretty high tolerance though to sleeping pills. The awful thing is, the less you sleep the more worried you are about sleeping and it's a very viscious circle.
HUGS,
Sara