Sleep tracker apps

[Graphista]

My sleep is screwed!

MH issues yes but honestly I've never been a good sleeper. I really want to improve it but other than the usual sleep hygiene guff can't find anything that suggests a way of getting me sleeping at normal times for a decent length of time and decent quality of sleep.

So I'm debating trying a sleep app.

A vibration based data source would be best as I can't sleep without tv or music on (I know! It's a whole catalogue of crap going on).

I'm currently sleeping maybe 5 hours every other day - and I do mean day, haven't slept at night for months, not regularly anyway.

So yea, sleep apps helpful? Or ANY other advice (I'm thinking especially those who work alternating shift patterns) would be very gratefully received.

Sleeping pills don't work either and I included Nytol, kalms etc in that.

Hello! Since you've been so supportive on my thread (thank you) I thought I'd share some suggestions - they might be obvious things you've already tried, but here goes:

• Are you getting effective treatment for your mental health issues? Medication and/or CBT or other therapy? I would prioritise this as I'm sure the MH issues must be affecting your sleep.

• Yoga, mindfulness and meditation... these are all great for mental health and for training yourself to relax. Could you do a short yoga practice or meditation every evening before bed?

• I assume you've tried blackout blinds and curtains, sleep music or white noise, lavender oil, etc?

• Lots of natural light and fresh air during the day if possible

Could you approach it as if you're sleep training yourself (the way you might sleep train a baby), ie introduce a sleep plan, with a bedtime routine and anything else you think might help, and stick to it consistently for at least a week to see if it helps?

Oh and I missed out a really obvious but tricky one!

NO SCREENS at night. I know this will be hard because Mumsnet is your lifeline when you can't sleep and you're going crazy. But could you replace it with something else? Books (could be short stories, novels, non-fiction, anything)? Trashy magazines? Colouring? (You can get those adult colouring books which are apparently good for mindfulness, calming anxiety etc.) Knitting? 3am bath with candles and music before going back to bed? (Just don't fall asleep in the bath!!)

Thanks for the support.

Unfortunately my mind races so the only way to keep it relatively calm is to bombard it with things to think about. So I'm on the phone until I'm shattered and even when settling to go to sleep telly/streaming is on my tablet. Even if I lose signal or streaming decides I must not still be watching and telly goes off, the silence wakes me.

MH help - currently housebound agoraphobic due to severe OCD. In hindsight always had it but took a full breakdown 13 years ago, well first one anyway. Have been on various meds, treatments, therapies since.

Nothing has stuck, plus my body rejects meds after a while. Took allergic to previous antid's which were great for the OCD. Been on "new" ones a few months now and I feel they're actually making me worse but nobody listening. I'm being told to persevere, have diazepam for if I'm really bad but not to take them regularly (to avoid addiction) but I don't like how they make me feel but find they don't do a great deal anyway.

Meditation etc works when I'm less ill than I am at the moment. But when I'm like this if I try to meditate i just end up with a whole load of OCD thoughts flooding in.

Psychologist for therapy will be available to me when I can get out but they aren't available for home visits. I've had several attempts at cbt but if anything it makes me worse and Cmht finally get that! I had a fantastic psychologist at one point but unfortunately he's left the area.

I got myself in the situation of being awake most of night and asleep during day. I'm trying to break that habit but not easy as my body seems to prefer that routine but of course life is noisier during day so get woken up by postman etc. Got noisy neighbours with hardwood floors and apparently cement slippers! Plus a penchant for DIY especially hammering and sanding stuff!

I'm also dependant on online ordering/deliveries for christmas so got deliveries arriving most days now. Plus I needed some household bits and with Amazon it makes sense to kinda order in bulk for the free delivery thing.

I wish I could just switch my brain off!!

I so envy people that can just lay down and be asleep even within half an hour.

I've always been a poor sleeper drove my mum nuts! She used to have to read and sit with me for ages, then I'd read once I was old enough but I was still awake later than she liked, I never had trouble getting up though.

Then my dads drinking got really bad and his temper worse so not the calmest home, then as I got older well let's say things became quite dicey and I barricaded my bedroom door, still can't sleep with it even ajar and I sleep facing it. "On alert" my ex used to say.

Just never learned or was able to learn to totally relax I'm afraid.

I have tried all sorts inc all the quackery like homeopathy and face tapping and all sorts out of desperation.

Wish there were effective, non-addictive, minimal side effect sleeping tablets. Whoever invents that will make a fortune!

Look up sleep restriction. I believe it works but you have to follow it very strictly & that includes nothing in the bed except sleep & sex!

You have a lot to deal with. Can't write a long reply as I must sleep myself but sending you my sleepiest thoughts and best wishes

Thanks AnotherEmma sleep well yourself

Furry that would have me climbing walls with anxiety absolutely not an option. Sorry

If you don't find it easy to put down the screens late at night consider using a screen dimmer app like Twilight. You can reduce the brightness/intensity and change the colour temperature. Blue light keeps you alert like morning where as red/orange is more like dusk making your brain get into preparing for sleep phase.

Thanks for that tip I'll look into that

How was your night?

Sorry you haven't found meds you can take that help, and can't access the right therapy atm. Tbh I'm not surprised about your MH and sleep issues given your experiences when younger I can see that CBT and mindfulness aren't going to cut it at this point! Have you ever had trauma based therapy? Is there any way you could get therapy via phone or webchat?

I don't think nhs offers anything like that and I can't afford to go private.

Thanks for the flowers, yea shit childhood but also OCD is genetic in part and so I was always "highly strung" as they say so I maybe responded worse than someone else would have.

Dd caused hassles last night (generally a good kid but pushing some boundaries at the moment!)

So I ended up awake till 1am and woke naturally around 7am with a couple of periods of wakefulness in night.

I know we all wake throughout night but most people don't wake enough to be aware they're awake whereas I am. It's usually cos tablets gone silent and I turn over pop it back on and go back to sleep.

7am was some sodding lorry stuck in street (there's signs up re height and width restrictions but some numpties ignore it!) so it was reversing and of course that bloody bleeping reverse alert thing going! Once I'm awake and it's light - that's me awake!

I'm definitely one of those if I ever get a huge windfall (highly unlikely ) I'm buying a cottage well away from anyone! (But still with good wifi! ) people bug me!

Well I very very rarely have a night when I don't wake up and go back to sleep again, I am usually semi awake and can hear DS on the monitor or just notice the time. I think that's what parenthood does to you. Or at least being a parent of a bad sleeper!

How old is ds? At least you know where he is! Dd driving me nuts currently

But yea, I used to be able to "lie in" at least but after having dd no chance. She was a good sleeper from beginning, sleeps like the dead! But until teens was a REALLY early riser and once she was up she was up!

Wasn't so bad while still with ex as he had to be up early for working out and work anyway (job required high fitness & he preferred to work out in mornings) and we used to take turns at weekends when he was home (army)

But after we split and it was just me @ her?! OMG it knackered me! 6 am was a lie in! Plus of course being single mum working full time very tiring.

I bet it was!

DS is 20 months and was a terrible sleeper for a long time, he had silent reflux and CMPA which wasn't diagnosed for ages, and once we got those under control we did manage to improve his sleep, although it's still bad if he's ill or reacting.

Poor wee thing.

And poor you, not just the lack of sleep but the worry for ds too.

My bro's youngest has cmpa and I know it was a tough time getting a Dx

Thanks, yes it's been tough.

Hope your DD turns up or at least lets you know where she is! I guess I have the teenage years to look forward to

Hey,
Poor you, how very frustrating, but after reading what you have been through I can see why.
I too am a telly on sleeper.
I need it on to get to sleep, stops me hearing anything creepy and also if I'm listening to it I'm not listening to my head.

I really don't have any advice to offer.
Just didn't want to read and run.

I do find reading makes me tired.
And if I'm tossing and turning I lay on my back and try relax my toes to feet legs etc moving up my body.

Have you ever tried a massage? The holistic therapy stuff?
That's quite good for the body to be able to relax.
I hope you sleep better soon xx

Emma - ugh teen years 🙄 she's home early thankfully not sure what will happen tomorrow night.

Kcc - "and also if I'm listening to it I'm not listening to my head" that's exactly it!

I'd like to get back to reading I'm a book lover at heart. Just finding it difficult at moment.

Massage is not an option, partly the OCD but also the physical condition (nerve & muscle pain main issues) means I barely trust physios let alone someone not medically trained. Yes wary due to pain but also potential temporary paralysis if they hit wrong nerve at wrong time. I have to be careful how I move as it is.

Weirdly when I'm up to going out (currently agoraphobic housebound) one thing that does seem to help my spine is a hair appointment. It's the special sinks + gently head massage.

I think it kinda temporarily realigns me right?

Have you ever tried an osteopath?

I've seen one who's a bit of a miracle worker

I've not. Are they not just a private practice thing though?

Yes I think you would have to pay unfortunately.

Yea not something I have spare money for unfortunately