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    Sleeping problems, any advice?

    Hey everyone,

    I'm hoping I can get some advice here. I have a real bad sleeping pattern. I take sleeping pills about 8:00 pm and end up waking up again about three hours later. I do try to stay up and read so I might be able to sleep later. I end up staying up about an hour or two then try sleeping again. What really is the problem is that when I try going back to sleep, I end up not being able because I have a lot of thoughts whirling around in my head. It's like a tornado. I try to meditate and push my thoughts out when trying to go back to sleep, but sometimes it takes an hour to get back to sleep even when i'm tired. Does anyone have any advice or have had this problem before? Thanks.
    Anubisa

    Dedicated and devoted to Lord Anubis and Lady Bast. A follower of the path of Egyptian Wicca.


    #2
    Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

    What is your daily routine regarding sleep, sleep habits, and pre-sleep routine? Also, do you have any screens or anything with blue tint light on in the 2 hours before you try to sleep?
    Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryPagan Devotionals, because the wind and the rain is our Bible
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      #3
      Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

      The only things that have ever worked for me to combat insomnia are writing things out at some point during the day and sticking to a pre-bed routine (which usually encompasses 2-3 hours before trying to sleep).

      For me, it's a shower, reading a bit, and having a drink (not alcoholic, usually it's hot chocolate, iced tea or juice).

      But I'll be honest and say that in the past year or so I've given up on sleeping a full night's sleep at a time and tend to sleep about 6 hours at night and take another nap sometime during the day when time allows.

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        #4
        Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

        Usually because I can't sleep well during the night, I may sleep till 12:00 during the day. I then stay up till about 8:00pm and read. During the day, I do chores, cook, etc... Regular things like that. I haven't thought about drinking something warm before bed. I am going to stop taking sleeping pills after this last bottle ends and see if that might help me get back into some routine. Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
        Anubisa

        Dedicated and devoted to Lord Anubis and Lady Bast. A follower of the path of Egyptian Wicca.

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          #5
          Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

          Originally posted by anubisa View Post
          Usually because I can't sleep well during the night, I may sleep till 12:00 during the day. I then stay up till about 8:00pm and read. During the day, I do chores, cook, etc... Regular things like that. I haven't thought about drinking something warm before bed. I am going to stop taking sleeping pills after this last bottle ends and see if that might help me get back into some routine. Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
          We all know my suffering with insomnia all too well. I feel your pain. I found after I swim I'm physically tired, but in a good relaxed way. Also trying to give up the sleeping pills (until the doc can give me some good ones!).
          Satan is my spirit animal

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            #6
            Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

            Thanks Medusa. Maybe I should try exercising before bed, then take a shower, read, and try to sleep. I'll try that after I finish my pill bottle. Not too many left.
            Anubisa

            Dedicated and devoted to Lord Anubis and Lady Bast. A follower of the path of Egyptian Wicca.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

              Originally posted by anubisa View Post
              Usually because I can't sleep well during the night, I may sleep till 12:00 during the day. I then stay up till about 8:00pm and read. During the day, I do chores, cook, etc... Regular things like that. I haven't thought about drinking something warm before bed. I am going to stop taking sleeping pills after this last bottle ends and see if that might help me get back into some routine. Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
              I have sleep issues. Not insomnia, but staying asleep issues. I've seen a sleep specialist, and basically it comes down to good sleep hygiene.
              If I want to be able to sleep all night, I can't sleep in and I can't nap. I had to establish a schedule, and it can't be deviated from without paying the piper. If I stay up later than normal, I still have to get up in the morning at the regular time and not take a nap...and there is no sleeping in, no snooze on the alarm clock (this is a horrible habit in terms of sleep hygiene that messes up your sleep clock). No caffine after 6 hours before bedtime. No TV in bed, reading in bed, computer time in bed, regardless of time of day--the bed is for two things only, and one of those is sleep. No lights on at night--all our nightlights are red (we even have one regular lamp with a red bulb in the livingroom so midnight wakers can sit in the rocking chair til they feel like going back to sleep); blue and white light is a big no-no. Personally, I cannot exercise after 6 pm (unless its yoga or walking) without being totally energized and awake for hours.


              Also, if you are trying to establish a health sleep pattern, try melatonin for a few weeks. Its something your body makes already to regulate your sleep cycle...take it about an hour or so before you want to go to sleep. If you wake up, don't read a book (or watch TV, etc)...find something non-stimulting to do that doesn't require light (light is basically like an alarm on your sleep clock)--a rocking chair, meditating, just sitting, etc. Consider a white noise machine (I use an air filter) to muffle any other noises that could startle you out of sleep. If you have pets, consider kicking them out of your bedroom.

              It can take weeks or even a month or two to establish good sleep patterns...and it only takes a few days to wreck any progress you've made. I can realistically say that any time I mess up my sleep pattern for more than two days, I might as well be starting over.
              Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryPagan Devotionals, because the wind and the rain is our Bible
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                #8
                Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

                Sleep problems can also be signs of vitamin deficiency as well. When I use to have sleep issues, I got it checked out and found out I was low in both iron and b12. Started taking the suppliments and it helped a lot... not 100% but still a drastic improvement. Maybe get a full check up
                My Divination Shop

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                  #9
                  Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

                  Thanks Nue. I have started to take Melatonin, but the next time I see my physician which I think is in July, I will ask her for a work up. Thanks again!
                  Anubisa

                  Dedicated and devoted to Lord Anubis and Lady Bast. A follower of the path of Egyptian Wicca.

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                    #10
                    Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

                    Also, try taking a few days of getting up early, despite having slept too little. It will be really tough days, but you need to establish a healthier rythm for your body... and sleeping late because you're tired does nothing good for you the following night.
                    I usually drink lavender tea before bed when I'm feeling uneasy. And regarding the thoughts keeping you awake, try just writing a diary every night before sleeping, let the thoughts onto the paper. It works for me
                    You remind me of the babe
                    What babe?
                    The babe with the power
                    What power?
                    The Power of voodoo
                    Who do?
                    You do!
                    Do what?
                    Remind me of the babe!

                    Army of Darkness: Guardians of the Chat

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                      #11
                      Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

                      I generally go the more natural route when I can't sleep. I drink Tart Cherry juice since it only has a few micrograms of melatonin naturally as opposed to the tablets which are 5mg! Thats a lot where melatonin is concerned. I also use Valerian root drops in my tea or under my tongue before bed, the only problem with Valerian root is your body can adjust to it so it's better to use it for only a few days then stop and use something else for a while. "SleepyTime" chamomile tea with Valerian root works well too.

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                        #12
                        Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

                        Originally posted by Kiesha'ra View Post
                        I generally go the more natural route when I can't sleep. I drink Tart Cherry juice since it only has a few micrograms of melatonin naturally as opposed to the tablets which are 5mg! Thats a lot where melatonin is concerned.
                        Not really...only something like 15% is absorbed into the body. If you take 5 mg, thats maybe .65 mg making it into your body as melatonin...by the time you factor in blood volume, it probably comes to a couple of micrograms per milliliter (the average adult has 4.5-5.5 million microliters of blood). Plus you have to account for weight and individual metabolism, other medications or foods that interfere with uptake, the fact that people produce widely variable levels of melatonin on an individual basis, and the problem of variability in the supplement itself. Considering that individual melatonin levels vary from something like 18-75 microliters per milliliter, a 5 mg tablet is pretty much nothing for someone thats a low melatonin producer.
                        Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryPagan Devotionals, because the wind and the rain is our Bible
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                          #13
                          Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

                          Hello! I have struggled with sleep issues for a very long time, ranging from horrid insomnia to can't get back to sleep once woken. Various tips and techniques I've tried with moderate success over the years:

                          Someone already said melatonin, and I really agree. I took one a night every night for about a 3-4 weeks, an hour or two before bedtime. After I started getting into the habit, I reduced the nights I took it until I took it only once a week, and then every other week.

                          To help with waking up and being unable to go back to sleep, I kept track of what side I woke up on (I sleep on my side). I then purposefully lay down to sleep on the opposite side, because I know I flip flop anyways, and wait until I get almost to the point of sleep, then flip over to the preferred side and get comfy. Since I've started doing this, the nights I've woken up and been unable to sleep again has drastically reduced.

                          I also: keep water by my bed and take a sip everytime I wake up, do stretches (not necessarily yoga/meditation) before bed, used to sleep with a cd so that it would stop automatically after it was over, spray nice smelling stuff on my pillow/sheets, use extra pillows for my legs and arms.
                          ~Rudyard Kipling, The Cat Who Walks By Himself

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                            #14
                            Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

                            When I'm on planes or having a tough time sleeping, I use an herbal supplement called Tranquil Sleep. It's a little on the expensive side, I'm afraid, but it works really well for me. I have a friend with really bad OCD and anxiety and she can get 6 hours out of a half dose and 8 out of a full one, and one a normal night she usually get 3-4 hours.

                            I have also make lavender tea, scented temple balms, pillow sprays, aromatherapy blends, etc for her, and they seem to help. Perhaps a combination of things, including meditation and yoga might work for you?

                            Sleep therapy is also expensive, it may be an option if you can afford it. It did wonders for my aunt and father.
                            She is like a cat in the dark and then she is the darkness. ~~(=^._.^)

                            I got my war paint on and I'm off to go passive-aggressive all over these socially awkward man-witches. :XD:

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                              #15
                              Re: Sleeping problems, any advice?

                              I'm a bad sleeper and after trying all the tricks I've found the best for me is to try and free up my mind, do some mild meditative stretches and put on some gentle calming music leading up to sleep time. I suffer from anxiety and stress alot so for me it really is about turning off and not taking the days stresses to bed with me.

                              Not using the computer/looking at a screen for at least an hour before sleep time is also a winner... but I'm practically glued to my kindle and devices so I spite myself with this one sometimes ^_^'

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