I haven’t been sleeping well of late. I’m an insomniac anyway so a bit hit and miss with my sleep patterns. Getting to sleep within an hour or so of going to bed is a minor miracle for me. I find a red wine or two helps (not too much though!) but I still often lie there for hours – which has been the case lately.
I do all of the right things – no caffeine in the afternoon or at night and (now I’m making an effort to be healthier) I’m not eating a huge meal just before bed. I have a warm bath earlier in the evening and TRY not to use the computer before bed.
Of course there are things I can’t change. My computer’s in my bedroom so I can’t use my bedroom ONLY for sleeping. Indeed I spend many MANY hours a day in my bedroom… but I still find my bed to be of comfort and a fave place.
My problem lately is that I’ve been stressing about stuff which I do know I can do NOTHING about in the middle of the night. But – at that time of night it seems urgent and catastrophic. I get myself into such a state that even my fave Jennifer Polle meditation / hypnosis recordings can’t help me relax.
Not me. But could be.
Source: nhs.uk
Of course, the next morning I think about the same thing and am very #meh about it all and I can’t believe I was so freaked out the night before.
I’ve tried getting up and doing something towards the issue. For example… if I’m worrying about money or bills I’ll get up and search online for jobs or draft emails that I might (but never do) send businesses looking to write for them. Or if I feel I have a lot to do and stress about getting it done I’ll write a timetabled list. It possibly helps me feel a bit more in control or calmer but usually once I go back to bed the worrying recommences.
I know this isn’t just a ‘me’ thing and that it is actually quite common but does anyone have any suggestions?
How do you survive the Witching Hour?
February 6, 2014
If I can’t sleep, usually I get up and read a book – then I am often ready to go back to bed. I find morning exercise helps – too close to bedtime and I get hyper 🙂
February 6, 2014
I remember the days (probably when I was at school) when I used to have 9pm basketball games. I can’t believe I ever slept after such late exercise. (Perhaps I didn’t!)
February 6, 2014
You know, I never find technology to be a problem. When I can’t sleep, I just grab my phone and start scrolling through all my feeds and it eventually puts me to sleep.
If my Husband wakes up feeling stressed, he’ll go and lie in front of the TV and watch something monotous and it puts him back to sleep.
But maybe you could try one of those vitamin tablets that are for night time. A friend says they make her sleepy. Or this, which my insomniac grandfather swears byhttp://www.thearomatherapycompany.co.nz/product/Sleep-Pulse-Point?i=N20641
February 7, 2014
I actually play Taipei (Mahjong?) on my phone when I go to bed cos it makes my eyes tired.
Will have a look at your grandfather’s remedy!
February 6, 2014
*monotonous
February 7, 2014
I’ve had lots of those sorts of nights. Sometimes doing some relaxation yoga helps. Sometimes I need something stronger like Valium. Luckily that hasn’t happened so often this year.
February 7, 2014
Because my insomnia is so regular I don’t take anything for it. It’s only when my mind is super busy that I struggle.
February 7, 2014
I dont get insomnia a lot but when I do that is exactly my experience. I used to fight it and lay for hours in bed, but now I getup for a bit before I trygoing back to sleep. It is amazing how at 2am some problems seem out of control and then in the morning they are no biggie.
February 7, 2014
I know. My nighttime stress lately has almost been akin to a panic attack. I’m not usually prone to anxiety (thankfully) but I’ve been getting myself into a huge state!
February 7, 2014
I was very much like that – needed wine and TV set to turn off after 30 minutes to sleep. Would get to sleep but then wake up only a couple of hours later with the same stresses running around my head (max 3-4 hours sleep a night). I had to completely change that little scenario. No wine at all. No TV or electronics in my room at all. Same routine and bedtime each night (I know… just like training a baby). When I got into bed I would do my own meditation along the lines of “my body is a fat melting machine. Each day I will make good healthy choices. I will get to my goal” over and over. It took a bit but after a few weeks I was going to bed, mediating and then the next thing the alarm would go off. WTF! before I knew it was I sleeping all the way through (again just like a baby). I can now manage 6-7 hours unbroken a night – except for the dogs next door barking and on weekends its been noted I can manage a 12-13 hours of blissful ignorance of what is going on in the world (Sunday is my sleep-in, no gym day).
February 7, 2014
Oh 12-13hrs of sleep. I like the sound of that.
I need to improve my going-to-bed habits as I don’t have a regular bed time. I tell myself it’s going to be 10.30 but then usually find myself doing a few things and suddenly it’s midnight!