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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

I have insomnia - I assume it is stress related. I can't lose the stress, can I do anything abut the insomnia?

24 replies

KatyMac · 05/10/2008 00:22

It is often combined with my IBS symptoms

I have only really suffered these last few months

DH & DD are easily disturbed so I get up & come downstairs

It is starting to affect my daytimes

Help?

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brimfull · 05/10/2008 00:27

melatonin helps me to sleep after coming off night duty

my friend uses a relaxation tape to get to sleep

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KatyMac · 05/10/2008 00:34

Thanks for the suggestions I think a tape would disturb DH - though I really like the idea

I'll think about melatonin - I'm not sure I know much/anything about it

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SuperBunny · 05/10/2008 00:45

My dr just suggested melatonin to me. My insomnia is getting worse and worse. All stress-related and even sleep meds are not helping. I am a grumpy witch most days.

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brimfull · 05/10/2008 00:48

I have 1mg tablets of melatonin and usually take half a tablet ,anymoe and I am sleepy the next day.

My mum sends them to me from canada but you can buy online.

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KatyMac · 05/10/2008 01:04

Thanks
I will have a look at it

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Saturn74 · 05/10/2008 01:08

One tip really is not to go online, as it is stimulating to the brain, rather than relaxing.
I never heed my own advice though.

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KatyMac · 05/10/2008 01:11

I suppose reading is too

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SuperBunny · 05/10/2008 06:43

Thats good to know ggirl. I might try it this week.

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TheMadHouse · 05/10/2008 07:25

Katy Mac - different things work for different people.

Often if it is streaa related then a book and a pen by the bed to write down what is going on in your head helps.

Warm milk
Warm bath
Lavender
Relaxation tape - ipod?
Music
Non gripping book

The mian thing is not to stress about the lack of sleep, dont just lay worring about it. Get up, do something, try again.

Sorry you are suffering - It is a real nightmare

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PumpkinPatty · 05/10/2008 08:33

I take a low dose AD for my chronic insomnia. It is the only thing I have found that works and I now sleep really well. But I don't like the fact I'm dependent on medication for a good nights sleep

I have never heard of melatonin though, can you only get it online? Is it wise to take it without Dr's advice (just curious...).

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stitch · 05/10/2008 08:35

take something herbal like kalms. it might help you sleep.

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Celery · 05/10/2008 08:47

I have tried melatonin, and it did nothing for me. I think it only works if you have low melatonin levels, obviously I don't and that's not the reason I am an insomniac. The herbal remedies do nothing for me either. The only thing that works is Nytol, which has an anti-hystamine in it. It's the same ingrediant that is in Medised. It's not a good long term solution, but it does work.

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PavlovtheDog · 05/10/2008 08:54

camomile tea, tastes foul, but better with honey, but works for me. Does not sort it, but makes me feel calmer and more relaxed so does help.

relaxation tapes.

A good book.

Don't lie awake trying to get to sleep, this will stress you more as you get frustrated/upset at not sleeping. Get up, do something like read your book, have a hot drink, have a bath, something relaxing, then go back to bed and try again.

Write your stresses down in a diary before you go to bed. If you are awake and cannot sleep, get up and write them down before trying to go back to sleep again.

Depending what kind of insomnia you are experiencing, sleep aids from your GP might help. I had amiltrypiline to kick start my REM sleep as I always woke just before this (when you would sort out a lot of your stress through dreaming). A very low dose on a very short course (3 months, only took it for two), to just nudge me into my REM sleep as my sleep was out of rhythm due to PTSD, enabled my natural sleep to start again). Do not take sleep aids to solve the problem, only if it might help natural sleep re-occur.

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KatyMac · 05/10/2008 09:18

Thanks everyone - these are really good suggestions I will have a play & see which helps me

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TheGabster · 06/10/2008 19:19

Just read your post - oh poor you. Know just how you feel too. Are you managing to get a lid on the IBS? Are you on medication? Do you think it is contributing to the insomnia? I know that the two go hand in hand for me - if I get an IBS flare up, I know I'm going to have a restless few nights. Bummer because a nice glass of red wine helps me sleep .....

At 3am when stressing/lying awake, I have started getting up and going into living room - do something construction (balance bank account/prepare stuff for next day if worried about time etc) and found this is helping. Allow myself 20m "work" and then go back to bed and try again (beats listening to lucky DH snoring).

Also agree with the computer thing - MN is such a double edged sword!

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TheGabster · 06/10/2008 19:21

Meant to say, have lots of "alternative" ways to help IBS if you don't want to go the drug route.

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dustystar · 06/10/2008 19:22

I found that Kalms nightime really helped.

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KatyMac · 07/10/2008 21:11

Thanks for these suggestions/sympathy

I guess it's bad at because of a major chest infection I have

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Cappuccino · 07/10/2008 21:15

I take these

they are meant to be some kind of cheery-uppy thing but they have a great effect on my sleep; I was having insomnia after ME

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Libra · 07/10/2008 21:15

I know this is going to sound insane, but I have a tendency to wake up at 2.00 practically every night, and I have found that going back to sleep upside in the bed really helps.

I used to be able to go and sleep in another room and found that moving from one room to another sorted the insomnia. But we don't have a spare room any more, so instead I have found that moving around, so that my feet are at the pillow end and my head (and pillow) are down at the foot end really helps.

Just moving positions seems to say to my brain that it should go to sleep.

You might want to try it - warn DH first though!

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TheGabster · 07/10/2008 21:23

Hey Libra - X post.

Think going to have to try this tonight!! Has anyone else done it?

Hope I'm not hijacking thread, Katey. OOoh, excited about going to bed now for the first time in months!!!

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Libra · 07/10/2008 21:30

Thousands of women found lying upside down in their beds....

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smugmumofboys · 07/10/2008 21:34

I periodically suffer from insomnia (usually the wake up at 2 am and can't gat back to sleep till 6 am variety) and it's a reaction to stress. I have always found Kalms really helpful and don't leave me groggy the next day.

Sympathies.

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KatyMac · 08/10/2008 22:10

I slept like the dead last night - sat up on the sofa

Guess where I am sleeping tonite?