Insomnia

[Viva_Palmeiras]

What a pain in the rrrrrrrs that is. I feel for the longterm sufferers. Going through about of patchy temporary "insomnia" now although there's probably another term for this as I do manage to catch snatches of sleep.

Whenever I'm away from home on business or in this case the missus is away with my son with family overseas for a few weeks before I join them its a nightmare.

Staying up til I'm whacked then going to bed but having a disrputed nights sleep and waking up a few times then at about 4-5 and not getting back to sleep before heading to work. Not good.

Anyone else bovvered with this affliction? Sympathy

[brianmc]

Aye me! Grrrr.

[Lucius Apuleius]

Very very rarely sleep for more than an hour at a time without waking up. Discussed it with the doc who tells me this is better than popping pills and being zonked all night as it is not an artificial sleep. Pain in the ass to be honest. I would love a whole night's sleep.

[RyeSloan]

Sleeping used to be a problem with me, especially when I was pressured at work.

I read up on it and developed my own hybrid methods of relaxing using breathing techniques and 'forced thinking'.

Basically calm the body down, reduce the heart rate and distract the brain by plotting how Hibs would finally lift the holy grail with me as owner!!

Took a bit of practice and patience but it solved the problem compeltely and now I am capable of dropping of every night in 5 - 10 mins.

I think you have to try and identify WHY you are not sleeping and develop techniques that counter that, certainly read up on the myriad of suggestions on how to help you sleep better and try them out...a lot of people I know that have trouble sleeping don't actively try to do anything about it (barring the obligatory trip to the doc) and I really don't understand that tbh.

[steakbake]

I had this a few years ago and still do now and then. Had a nightmare time with it.

If you PM me with a mailing address (if you want to), I have got a CD my doctor gave me which has a series of relaxation techniques on it - I can burn you a copy.

They work a treat. Stick it on an ipod or something and listen to them when you're in bed.

Cheers.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

I've been experiencing this recently. I think its simply work related. Seriously considering jacking it in and finding something else. I got signed off for a couple of weeks during which I was fine, until it came round to contemplating going back, then back to square one!

[derekHFC]

Whatever you do, don't take sleeping tablets as they slow the heart down and can give a false sleep if you can call it that. The body doesn't like it and it can mess you up :greengrin

Try reading or just sitting without watching tv or doing anything too strenuous before going to bed and let the mind settle.

[Lucius Apuleius]

Dunno what it is with me. Been like it for years and it hasn't impaired my ability to work 56 x 12 hour shifts in a row. Tried all sorts as SiMar has said, relaxation CDs, stopped reading or watching TV in bed, etc etc. maybe it is just not to be:confused:

[Marabou Stork]

Yep, I had it a while ago. I started doing yoga, and trying to clear my head of all thoughts (don't even think about it :greengrin) before I went to bed. That sorted it out for me.

[CB_NO3]

I only get it during the light nights. I can sleep like a baby during the winter. I think its all to do with the light and the temperature. In the winter its cold and dark. I think that makes the body react and snuggle up to get warm as possible. In doing so it makes me feel relaxed and ill sleep no problem. In the summer ill wake up every hour. I think my mind is set, so when I see the light I feel I need to be active. It is horrible and the harder you try to get to sleep, the more impossible it gets. I normally just get up and watch TV for a bit. The problem for me is I will feel shattered when am at work. I dont think my problem is insomnia but more to the fact my body clock is all over the place.

[ArabHibee]

I only get it during the light nights. I can sleep like a baby during the winter. I think its all to do with the light and the temperature. In the winter its cold and dark. I think that makes the body react and snuggle up to get warm as possible. In doing so it makes me feel relaxed and ill sleep no problem. In the summer ill wake up every hour. I think my mind is set, so when I see the light I feel I need to be active. It is horrible and the harder you try to get to sleep, the more impossible it gets. I normally just get up and watch TV for a bit. The problem for me is I will feel shattered when am at work. I dont think my problem is insomnia but more to the fact my body clock is all over the place.
Have you never thought about getting black-out blinds or curtains?

[DaveF]

I only get it during the light nights. I can sleep like a baby during the winter. I think its all to do with the light and the temperature. In the winter its cold and dark. I think that makes the body react and snuggle up to get warm as possible. In doing so it makes me feel relaxed and ill sleep no problem. In the summer ill wake up every hour. I think my mind is set, so when I see the light I feel I need to be active. It is horrible and the harder you try to get to sleep, the more impossible it gets. I normally just get up and watch TV for a bit. The problem for me is I will feel shattered when am at work. I dont think my problem is insomnia but more to the fact my body clock is all over the place.

I'm in more or less the same boat.

Up with the birds at 4am or thereabouts as well as sometimes lying awake at 1 and 2am. I think work pressure is playing a part in my case, but its a real pain.

I'm absolutely shattered right now and could easily fall alseep here at my desk.

Mind you, it could be handy to have a kip at ER during August \ September time :greengrin

[heretoday]

Try reading until you drop off. Maybe a new mattress or new pillows might help. I change my pillows quite regularly.

It works for a while but pretty soon it's back to cups of tea and flipping through Ceefax at 4 am.

[Lucius Apuleius]

Wow, weird weekend. Two bottles of Mouton Cadet gave me a decent sleep on Saturday night :greengrin Last night, lights off at 21.00 sleeping by 21.05. Woke up once all night!!!! I was even woken by my alarm at 05.00 which is virtually unheard of. Brilliant, feel like a new man (oops, thats another thread isn't it?):greengrin

[Lofarl]

I used to suffer from terrible sleep. I still get the odd night here and then occasionally. I tired the usual relaxation tapes etc, best thing that worked for me was a nightcap or read for a while. But they very best thing you can do is get a new comfy bed.

I got a brand new one last month and I have never slept so good for years. Dont go cheap on a bed. I spent around £800 getting the whole lot. The Divan, the duvet, the memory foam pillows. I got one with a pocket spring base and a memory foam layer and its so comfy. I now find that instead of tossing and turning all night I tend to sleep in the same spot.

I cant stress enough how much a good bed will help insomnia, since Ive had it ive only had one sleepless night and that a combination of sleeping late the day before and it being real hot.

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Yup pills not the way to go.

Was out for a few drinks on Friday and Saturday got in around 1-2 slept past my alarm - normally I'd be up before it. Think things are catching up with me.

Off on hols tomorrow. Flight at 6 checkin supposedly from 4 so didn't bother to go to bed. 4 hour time difference so thought i'd get the jet lag in early :greengrin:flag:

[1two]

Nat King Cole is usually enough to tire and relax me and I'm zonked after!
:agree:

[Phil D. Rolls]

I've found that using CDs like Paul McKenna's "Seep Like a Log" do the trick.

[Hibrandenburg]

Doesn't that make your mattress all gooey?

[Phil D. Rolls]

Doesn't that make your mattress all gooey?

:greengrin

[Dashing Bob S]

Get a Hearts season review video, stick it in, watch. You'll be asleep with two or three minutes.

Make sure though, it's not season '85-86, or you'll wake up in fits of laughter at the end having pissed the bed.

[lapsedhibee]

Get a Hearts season review video, stick it in, watch. You'll be asleep with two or three minutes.

Make sure though, it's not season '85-86, or you'll wake up in fits of laughter at the end having pissed the bed.

:bitchy: Hardly think them winning the double is a laughing matter, since we haven't even won the cup, on its own, since well before they won WWI.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Try reading until you drop off. Maybe a new mattress or new pillows might help. I change my pillows quite regularly.

It works for a while but pretty soon it's back to cups of tea and flipping through Ceefax at 4 am.

Could have posted that word for word. Its a bloody nightmare, unfortunately I've been an insomniac off and on all my adult life and I just have to live with it I suppose. :confused: