Trouble Sleeping

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Trouble Sleeping
11
Wed, 01-10-2007 - 11:33pm

DD15 is having a great deal of trouble sleeping lately.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 12:26am

I have been prone to insomnia since I was a kid and it's gotten worse the older I get. I play Bunko with a bunch of ladies old enough to be my mother and this is a very, very common problem among females, I find. Most everyone complains of not sleeping! Like all these other women, I've resorted to a little 'help' with this in the form of Benedryl allergy medicine. My doctor actually suggested it over a year ago and I'm a bit embarassed to say I still use it.

DD has never been a great 'sleeper' and has trouble turning off at night, too. This was an absolute nightmare for me when she was small because it was so hard for her to fall asleep. Since starting hs, however, her days are so long and she's busy enough that she finds it easier to sleep.

Anyway, what sort of bedtime/shutting down routine does your DD have? I've always been a big believer in night-time routines that mentally prepares a body for sleep -- especially when the kids were little.

Cutting back on caffeine is a good first step. Another good one is to keep your DD's evening meals light or easy to digest. A body can't sleep or won't sleep well if it's trying to digest a heavy meal.

A warm bath always helps me. I have a Lavender & Vanilla aromatherapy bubble bath from Bath & Body Works that really does help me relax. They also have one called 'Relax' that I also really like but I think that one's been discontinued.

DD sometimes listens to classical, instrumental or one of those nature sounds CD's. She claims those are calming and help her settle down.

As much homework as kids have to do, doing it right before bed often gets their brains really working and then hard for them to turn them off. Maybe suggest to your DD she finish her homework early in the evening so she can decompress in the hours leading up to bed.

Is she troubled about anything? I am a chronic worrier and THAT particular habit has been known to keep me up all night.

Anyway, hth, and {{{higs}}} you both.

Julie

 

 

 

Avatar for suzyk2118
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-1997
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 8:54am

One more thing to add to Julie's great list is to be sure there's no athletics/exercise a few hours before bed. Get that adrenaline and those endorphins pumping and good luck resting! So stop exercise early, no caffiene at dinner/evenings, wind-down routine...can even try doing some slow stretching right before bed to get the muscles to calm down...best of luck.

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2006
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 9:41am

So far, my kids have handled going to sleep on their own. I require them to be in their rooms at a certain time, but I don't tell them when they have to turn out the light and lay their head on the pillow.

I'm not sure that this is your situation, but I know when I have trouble sleeping, I just make it worse when I "force" myself to lay in bed. I will usually switch on a lamp and read or work a crossword puzzle until I start yawning. Most of the time, I'm asleep again within 30 minutes. And, of course, I agree with what the other posters suggested, as well.

Good luck!
Amelia

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-31-2003
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 10:58am
DD13 has had problems sleeping for the past year. She's an overachiever and worrier. We've done it all - the hot bath before bed routine, no activities prior to bed etc. Basically now I just let her go to bed when she's ready. I found that imposing a bedtime on her and MAKING her go to bed when she wasnt ready wasnt working. So now I'm usually in bed at 10 and she's still up later than me - sometimes still awake until 11:30 or so. Told her that if her grades start to suffer then we'll have to figure something else out but so far this has worked well. She's still an honour student but definitely cranky by the end of the week. However, she makes up for it on the weekend - sleeping until noon each day! HA HA
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 11:02am

I've heard good things about melatonin and have little ones on my caseload that take it so I think it's pretty safe

Your dd isnt on ADD meds, is she? I can keep everyone straight-I need to make a spreadsheet!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 11:37am

LOL, no she's not on ADD meds, or any other.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 12:33pm

Amelia,


I'm just like you - I tend to read myself to sleep, always have, always will.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 1:41pm

Funny you should say that, because I think part of the problem might be that she doesn't have enough physical activity in her life.

Avatar for suzyk2118
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-1997
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 1:57pm

Well, if you do get her on the treadmill, be sure she's done a couple of hours prior to trying to lay down so she can wind down!

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-11-2007 - 2:37pm

Here's a link

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Melatonincs.html

It regulates the sleep cycle(circadian rhythm)

This link also talked about how darkness should increase melatonin production and how not getting enough light during the day can also disrupt the sleep cycle. Thought that was interesting!

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