School related insomnia back again. Any tips?

[Sleeperandthespindle]

Every year this happens. I'm not anxious at school. I'm very experienced and love my job (most of it, mostly). My work load is ridiculous, as always, and like all teachers. The insomnia is about having too much to do and never getting it all done. I know that. But it doesn't help! It doesn't help to be awake for hours at night. I'm not doing the work and it makes me less able to do it productively enough the next day.

I have young children, teach full time, leave the house at 7am. I can't afford not to sleep!

Desperate for any tips. I fall asleep well, but wake in the night for hours and am always awake at 5am. This has crept into weekends now too

[Sleeperandthespindle]

That's a nice idea. But my mind will only use that awake time to think about work! I wish I could use it for happy thoughts x

[Catinthecorner]

Would you consider medication? Just to get you a couple of nights of rest to stop the spiral.

I've also found, in contradiction to all the medical advice, getting up and making a cup of tea helps. It stops the 'must sleep. X o'clock. If I sleep now I'll get y amount of sleep' cycle in my brain. So it's more like '3am, a cup of tea would be lovely' and then I'll often sleep once I've made it, but if I don't I don't have the internal panic to go with the sleeplessness.

[Ditsy4]

Morning.
Me too I slept well in the holidays. Too much to do, too much to think about, mustn't forget xyz!
I' m a HLTA so not as much to do as you but I do run intervention groups and teach some of the time. No small children nowdays except I do worry about some of the ones at school.
I ended up going to GP when I was down to 2 1/2 hours a night! He put me on a very small dose 10 mg and it does the trick but I do feel a bit dopey in the morning whereas normally I am that annoying person who is wide awake and bright and breezy at 6am. I also wake early at weekends and holidays.
I have some pain issues at night too so this wakes me too. The medication helps that too. I need to go back on them unfortunately as I had a break but I know I really shouldn't do that. I hope that the pattern stays but find it doesn't so it is definitely school which is the cause.
I suggest you go to your GP. You can't function like that for too long.

[Sleeperandthespindle]

Thanks. I will try the cup of tea thing tonight. I might even walk the dog! I'm wary of trying medication as when I've used it a couple of times in the past (during a crisis of some kind), I was very heavily affected by a small dose and couldn't wake properly.

[cariboo]

Warm milk with a glug of brandy, whisky or rum can help.

[Sleeperandthespindle]

Cross posted with other advice. This is the right time of day to post in 'The Staffroom'. I'll try to stop worrying and accept it I think. That's what happens as the year goes on - I just got a bit better at sleeping over the sunmer!

[teainbed]

Hi I'm not a teacher but this popped up in Active Convos. I have a job that makes me worry too, high responsibility etc. Someone on MN recommended this book a year ago and I have never looked back, worth a look. www.amazon.co.uk/Effortless-Sleep-Method-Incredible-Insomnia/dp/1456492543?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[chosenone]

Mindfulness/meditation. It takes some practice and takes a while to stop racing brain etc. But if you can truly slow your breathing down, tune into your breathing and de clutter your mind you should be able to get back to sleep. Fingers crossed

[Sleeperandthespindle]

Thanks everyone. I've ordered the sleep book recommended upthread - I'll probably fall asleep reading it. I can't feel any anxiety right now. Normal stresses of the beginning of term in a busy role really. I'll go to bed at 9.30, forcing myself to stay awake that long.