I can't sleep!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
I can't sleep!!
7
Tue, 03-14-2006 - 1:56pm

I have been having more and more trouble getting to sleep. Once I get to sleep I do fine. But I CAN NOT get to sleep at night. It's the wierdest thing, because during the day I can lay down for a "quick nap" and end up falling asleep within minutes and sleeping for hours. But at night it takes me hours to fall asleep!!

Last night, I even took some OTC sleeping meds to try to help myself go to sleep, but they made no difference, I laid in bed and tried to relax and clear my mind, I tried deep breathing, but no matter what I tried consciously it was like there was another channel in my brain, a channel with constant chatter that I COULD NOT STOP!! I just wanted to bang my head against the wall or pull my hair out or something, I only wanted to sleep, and I just couldn't. :(

Any suggestions?
- Heather

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  &nb

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Tue, 03-14-2006 - 2:01pm

The most obvious thing that comes to mind is that if you are sleeping during the day, you will have trouble sleeping at night.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Tue, 03-14-2006 - 2:26pm

I might not be in any shape to give people my opinion, but I can tell you I also have trouble sleeping at night. Yup, during the day after work I sit down at the sofa and watch TV...I feel tired...so by 9:30 I end up going to bed...and then I can't sleep because all I do is think about things... but just a second ago I was ready to fall asleep on the couch!

The minute I get into my bed I just constantly worry! There was a time when I wouldn't even go into my bedroom because I didn't want to face the night. For months I would avoid it at all cost. Then, I finally got the courage to sleeping in my bed again. Although now I think I am slowly falling back into my worrying "bedroom" mode again, but...

In any case, my mind goes a MILE A MINUTE too - especially at night!!!

This is what I've tried to do to help me: Read a book before you go to bed. That helped me a little, but last night I stumbled upon something else that might work. I pictured a big blank screen in my mind... like when you stare at a TV when it is off... I just kept focusing on this blank screen and tuned all the other thoughts in my mind...I kept concentrating on it and it kinda helped I have to say!

Just my thoughts... ya, I can't help myself but I can help other people! ha ha! :-) I know what you are going thru...we all do!

Good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 03-14-2006 - 3:26pm

There's a wealth of info in this link from our *coping tips & tricks* folder below. HTH http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhpanic&msg=18865.1&ctx=16384


I know that following a bedtime routine helps me. I unwind with relaxing activities, a warm bath & a cup of chamomile tea. Avoiding upsets & overstimulating activity near bedtime is the best. Once in bed, I listen to the nature sounds on my alarm clock. The sounds of the ocean waves co-ordinate with the belly breathing that relaxes me. I know all too well about the racing thoughts. The person who invents the switch to turn them off will be a billionaire:) Good luck! (((hugs))) jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2005
Tue, 03-14-2006 - 4:15pm

The constant chatter in your head is the worst! I have more problems with morning sleep problems (wake up too early, can't get back to sleep). However, I did get something from a natural foods store once to deal with "getting to sleep" issues. It is caled A-B Calm and it is a calcium magneisum drink that you mix with boiling water. It does not taste like anything - and was a nice, natural way to calm myself.

Good luck!

Avatar for glitterngold
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2003
Wed, 03-15-2006 - 7:33am

Hi Heather,

I suffer from insomnia from time to time, especially when experiencing anxiety. One thing that has helped me is giving up caffeine. I find that I am less anxious in general, plus I am sleeping better.

I agree with Jan, a bedtime routine is a must!! I stop all activity around 9pm. I put away my school books, get in my jammies, wash up, and relax until 10pm, then go to bed. I have also started "planning" for tomorrow before bed, I write down what I need to do the next day in my 'home' planner. This gets it off my mind and onto paper.

Lisa

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-18-2005
Wed, 03-15-2006 - 8:36am

This may fly in the face of everything that everybody has said or that you have heard but eh what's something else to try gonna hurt right? :) How about DON"T try to stop the chatter. Your mind is racing with all these thoughts and you are laying there fighting em and fighting em and just not winning are ya? Let the chatter come. Then when you do, try to separate the thoughts into single coherent thoughts. If I may suggest, try keeping a journal, not a diary, lol, you don't need Deep Thoughts with Heather or anythiing like that. But once you can separate your thoughts try writing them down. LOL!! You should see what some of my journal pages look like and it is NOT supposed to be anything rational or in any kind of order.

One of mine that I was looking back on says something like I wonder where my other red shoe is...mmmmm eggs and bacon sound good right now...oooo i gotta call jenn about that school project....nope oatmeal with cinnamon sounds better.

As you can see none of my thoughts are connected or make any sense, (lol, except the food ones, but I am prego ;) but as I learned to let them come and then tried to separate them, I subconciously trained my brain to slow down enough to recognize thought patterns and then I was able to get relief from them by writing them down. Now, I just lay in bed, let the thoughts come and as I separate them my mind automatically slows down and I fall asleep, usually for the night, still trying to separate the thoughts.

Just a thought, there are alot of great suggestions on here and you may try them all or just a couple before you find the one that works for you. Good luck and I will be thinking and praying for you. :)

Andrea

Andrea

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Wed, 03-15-2006 - 9:14am

Hi Heather,


I know how you feel. I was the same way... for me I Pray and that helps to calm me and get me to sleep.


I take klonopin at night to help me sleep. You can try some chamomile tea or sleeptime tea? Or see your PCP and maybe get a sleep med.


Hugs and please post whenever you need!

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