Insomnia?/Tips for good sleep

I have the occasional bout of insomnia. I am the early waking sufferer. Can drop off no problem.

So when this happens and there is no way I can go back to sleep, up I get and have a glass of milk and a biscuit. ZZZZZ after. I figure maybe my blood sugar was low or something.

Another thing that works for me (when I am too lazy/cold to get up out the warm bed when I wake) is to drop a fizzy multivitam into a small glass of water. Has to be one with magnesium in it (Aldi do a great one). ZZZZZZ.

Now the above tricks don't ALWAYS work, but most of the time they do. If they don't work, I listen to podcasts in the dark under the covers. It might take some time but I always drop off eventually.

Sleeplessness is awful, and is a very underrated condition for many.

I've tried almost everything listed here (and a lot more!) but my insomnia shows no sign of improving. Guess I'm stuck with it for the rest of my life.:o

Fathom wrote: »

Diet?

My diet's pretty good. Pretty sure that's not the cause.

Fathom wrote: »

Eating & drinking habits? When eaten or drank, not what. Late snacks?

I rarely eat late snacks. And I don't drink coffee after 3pm. My diet's not the cause.

Fathom wrote: »

Holistic approach? Meditation? Tai chi lessons?

I've tried meditation but never really stuck it out. Maybe I should give it another try....

Over the counter drowsy anti histamines are brilliant like Piriton or others with similar ingredients. Take the lowest dose possible and see how it works for you. Totally non addictive, and then zzzzz

CBear1993 wrote: »

Anyone tried buying melatonin supplement ? Someone mentioned to me about my circadian rhythm being off if I have trouble sleeping for a month now

It's worth a try but make sure you only take it in small dosages (less than 5mg). Taking it too regularly can affect your own ability to produce melatonin.

Kristopher Cool Redneck wrote: »

Can you recommend a brand

I don't think it's available over the counter in Ireland (I live overseas) which is completely ridiculous. Maybe you can order it online on iHerb etc.

JustAThought wrote: »

Too much bluescreen time (Tv/PC/iphone/games) actively interferes with your sleeping patterns and ability to produce and regulate melatonin. . I’d start there before meddling with potions. Says he typing & still on the internet at 4am !!!

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/should-you-use-night-mode-to-reduce-blue-light

Their counterpart Irish organisation issued a report and press release a few years back saying how damaging it was & were extremely concerned about childrens useage.

Yeah, blue-blocker glasses and the f.lux app on Windows or Blue Light Filter on Android are useful.

olestoepoke wrote: »

At my wits end, went 4 nights without sleep and had to take a Xanax to get about 5 hours then the night after another sleepless night. A lot of stress in the last 6 to 8 weeks so thats definitely the cause. I cut out tea and coffee completely, eat healthy, don't eat past 6pm. At what stage does this get dangerous? As in if I don't sleep tonight do I need to go see a doctor? My brain is frizzled, difficult to piece thoughts together at times. I tried guided meditation on Spotify on google home beside the bed but not sure about that, don't think its for everyone.

Have you tried magnesium or melatonin? it's probably a good idea to switch off your modem at night time as EMFs can be harmful. It's better to download the meditations rather than playing then online while you're trying to sleep. Working on the cause of your stress should probably be your top priority. Anyway, good luck.

Kristopher Cool Redneck wrote: »

I used cherry juice last night.knocked me out.hope it lasts.but i also used that blue light blocker on pc.iam not home on phone now can't remember the name of it.

I also turned off pc and lights an hour before bed.just sat relaxed in dark and didn't use phone to read.

I want to replace my bedside light bulb.what colour would be best?

Red or orange.

In my desperation today I read a book from start to finish. The effortless sleep method.

I have to say - I’m ruining my eyesight with bluescreen use in these lockdowns. Barely used the phone aNd didn’t use the PC at all yesterday - read all day instead and got a solid 6 hours sleep for change. FELT really relaxed too. There’s something in this no screen thing - it definately works.

Kristopher Cool Redneck wrote: »

what is the approach?

A lot of it was the usual sleep hygiene stuff u read elsewhere. She listed 12 rules that she's developed to cure insomnia. I suppose key points were bed is for sleep and sex thats it nothing else, if u can't sleep after 20 min or so get up leave the room. Break the association between the bed and lying there tortured. Another key rule was to try and change your mindset to a more positive outlook. Its worth a read for anyone thats suffering badly. I personally have only ever experienced the odd sleepless night, what she mentions event insomnia. If I've something important on the next day I'd struggle to get even 5 min sleep. But it has manifested into full now insomnia the last two weeks. Without getting too personal I've had a very stressful 4 or 5 weeks, a build up of a few things including a death to name one, so its all come to ahead I guess. I went 4 continuous nights without sleep, took a benzo and slept the 5th night then another sleepless night the 6th night. Im not a fan of taking pills but I was desperate and worried that a 5th night would drive me insane. Anyway the book is well worth a read, im gonna give her program a go.

Kristopher Cool Redneck wrote: »

I am not very impressed with that book. The one by Dr Guy https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleep-Book-Well-Every-Night/dp/1409149102 seems slightly better but it is padded out with some silly story of someone's experience

Hi, if u don't mind, where did you buy the cherry juice and is there a particular type? Thanks

Kristopher Cool Redneck wrote: »

Just saw your post now


The product is https://www.natureshealthbox.co.uk/active-edge-cherryactive-concentrate-cherry-juice-946ml


I got i a healthfood shop i cannot recall name. Mine was 12 euro a smaller bottle . Holland & Barret do a brand too



Anyway it worked great first night when i had not slept the night before.OK the second night and no sleep last night. It seems the search goes on. I am seriously thinking of parking up in some woodland and sleeping in car or at least staying in it, so fed up of walking around house

It's awful, I feel your pain. It really annoys me reading some of the older insomnia threads on boards to hear people making a joke of it. One OP was desperate and even mentioned being suicidal at times and the replies were mostly good but two or three people had a great time belittling the guys problem. Anyway this fellas youtube channel is quite, goodhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_tdQDMQon0CfD0xAbZPNDg
I think worrying about sleep is the main problem for a lot off people. .

You never know what you've got till its gone. I took sleep for granted for years, then due to stress all of a sudden terrible insomnia. Two or even three nights and not a wink. Walking dead the next day, taking a Benzo worked but after reading about how addictive they are and to be honest you don't get a proper sleep on them, I stopped taking them, you cant live your life dependent on a pill for sleep.

I read a few books on CBTI, put my smart watch on and started running/walking in the park everyday for about 5k. I was always a healthy eater but went overboard with this recently, zero sugar. One cup of tea and one cup of coffee in the morning and thats it for the day. Dinner around 5pm and no food or drinks after that bar a sip of water.

When I couldn't sleep after 30 min I get out of bed and downstairs to the living room, and repeat this 3 or even 4 times a night to break the association with being tortured in bed. Slowly I started getting a few hours sleep every night and this made a big difference. The first night I slept right through for 7 hours was an amazing feeling. Im almost back to normal now, I think the biggest issue is changing your mindset regarding the bed and no sleep and tortured tossing and turning and getting up after 20 min or half an hour and do something, I played an audiobook by Richard Dawkins, something about his voice that calms me, and when you feel tired again go back to bet and repeat. I only had this problem for a couple of months I really feel for people that suffer with it for years or decades.