Insomnia

[Green-Moo]

i've got allot going on in my life just now, and believe that just general anxiety is probably at the root of the insomnia that I'm suffering from. I can go to sleep, but I can't stay asleep & wake far too early with my brain going around in circles.

Is there a way of sending the brain to sleep as well as the body? I don't necessarily feel anxious when I go to bed, but obviously all those subconcious worries are surfacing when my brain is supposed to be at rest.

Green-Moo

[Angel]

I would suggest meditation before you go to bed but it seems you are not having trouble Getting to sleep but staying asleep. If you do wake in the night, try some breathing exercises, to quieten the mind, for example, start at the top of your head and work down relaxing each muscle group in turn; breathe in through your nose and as you breathe out through your mouth and as you breathe out relax the muscle. Lavender oil on a pillow will also help to induce relaxation.

[Calypso]

Waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep can be a sign of depression, which can be caused by too much stress. It may be time for a chat with your doctor.

[Taggart]

Just on a side note, sometimes I find I wake through the night and check the time, especially when I have to get up early.

I find that if I don't keep checking the time, I have a better chance of getting back to sleep. Of course I need to check that the alarm is set properly before going to sleep.

[Green-Moo]

Angel, the realxing each muscle group in turn works for me when I'm going to sleep initially, but unfortunately not in the middle of the night

Calypso, thanks for that input but I'm hoping it's not that serious. I'm sure it's a temporary thing & hope it will pass.

Taggart, you are so right. When there is something on your mind, such as waking early, your brain doesn't allow itself to switch off as it should. In your case, convincing yourself that the alarm is set properly helps. Or perhaps even setting two alarms!

It's been suggested to me that writing down my worries one at a time before I go to bed might help, by encouraging my brain to think that I'm not going to forget them if it lets go for a while. It didn't work last night, but it was only the first night so I'll keep at it.

Any further solutions gladly received though!

Green-Moo

[mollyL]

Green, I have the same trouble as you and one thing that really helped me was getting up and making myself a big cup of tension tamer tea. After a cup or two I was relaxed enough to go back to sleep and not wake up until I was supposed to. Celestial Seasonings, I believe, is the brand name and I recommend it. Sweet dreams...

[Jewel]

I have a lot of trouble falling asleep before 4 or 5 in the morning, which is especially frustrating when I need to be up at 7 or 8 in the morning. I have found that it helps to get me in the mood to sleep after I drink a cup or two of hot tea.

[Taggart]

There are nights when I wake up a lot during the night, but I'm surprisingly rested in the morning.

I don't know how to trigger that. It just seems that sometimes my mind is too busy to go to sleep initially.

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by Jewel

I have found that it helps to get me in the mood to sleep after I drink a cup or two of hot tea.

All that tea drinking would be up several times in the night to pop to the toilet!

Thankfully, I'm sleeping a little better now. I guess I just got so tired that my mind conked out!

[crystal]

I have trouble sleeping at night some of the time and whenever I do, I usually have a hot cup of milk. I try not to take any medications because I become jittery and or restless. Try to drink some hot tea if you don't like milk and read a book.

[Taggart]

Sometimes I have a shower or bath just before going to bed, and that helps me relax, I think.

Also I try to get the bedroom fairly cool if possible. It's hard at this time of the year on a hot day, before the air conditioning has been turned on in the condo.

[Serenity]

If you can start some kind of bedtime wind down routine that can help, like a bath before bed or reading for an hour, or some soft music. Your body starts to recognize the signs that you're heading to bed soon and starts getting into sleep mode. Keeping your room at a comfortable temperature makes a lot of difference too.

[Lacey Anne]

I would make an appointment to discuss this with your doctor. He'll probably have some good ideas for you.

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by Serenity

If you can start some kind of bedtime wind down routine that can help, like a bath before bed or reading for an hour, or some soft music. Your body starts to recognize the signs that you're heading to bed soon and starts getting into sleep mode. Keeping your room at a comfortable temperature makes a lot of difference too.

Sort of like the routine I try & put into place with my toddler to make him sleep?

It's not the going to sleep I have a problem with though, it's the staying asleep!

Thankyou Mickie for your kind words. Most of my worries at the moment are things that I am unable to do anything about personally. Being in the hands of other people makes me very tense. I hate it. I've found the insommnia has crept back lately

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by Mickie31

I don't mean to be rude or anything, but what I find helps me to get to sleep sometimes is a love making session because it relaxes you.

That's not rude, it's a sensible suggestion! After all, they say that love making can help headaches. I think it's the endorphins that are released, though I'm not 100% sure on why it is.

Unfortunately, when I'm stressed, lovemaking is the last thing I want to do though.

[Chinook]

Personally I take a "shot" of a product that is manufactured in Canada, but distributed worldwide

I am not certain that I am allowed to post my website here though.

It's an all natural concentrate that helps Insomnia for sure.

Can anybody tell me how to get the name up here as I am new to this forum.

You asked and I believe I have the solution.

[snazzle]

Originally Posted by Jewel

I have a lot of trouble falling asleep before 4 or 5 in the morning, which is especially frustrating when I need to be up at 7 or 8 in the morning. I have found that it helps to get me in the mood to sleep after I drink a cup or two of hot tea.

You could also try meditation for 5 minutes before bedtime. A great way to do this is by gazing into a candle flame while sitting as still as possible. Focus your energies onto your third eye (the point between your eyes) and relax.

Good luck
Walt

[lisalesa]

Sleep hygiene is the term our youngest daughter's Doctor uses when discussing how to deal with Insomnia.

There are a lot of really good articles on this that provide help to those who suffer from poor sleep, lack of sleep or interrupted sleep.

Of the 5 in our family who are Anxiety/Phobia sufferers sleep has been an issue for all of us at one time or another.

Here is a great starting point to learn more.

[url]http://www.umm.edu/sleep/sleep_hyg.htm[/url]