struggling to stay asleep

[sausage1968]

I have just been advised to try cbd to help me get a proper nights sleep. I fall asleep ok but usually wake up around 4 ish and cant drop back off.
I work 12 hour shifts as a support assistant so as you can imagine I'm shattered

sausage1968 I’m the same tonight. Went to bed shattered. Fell asleep quickly. Now suddenly wide awake. Still shattered but alert iyswim.

No advice but watching with interest.

I hope you get back to sleep!

Me three. I'm so fucking exhausted and can't stay asleep longer than about 3 hours.

just woke up again so just 3 hours and that'll be me done now ....I could cry...please if anyone knows anything about this oil !!!!! desperate ladies 😫

For me, waking up early and not being able to go back to sleep is directly related to amount of time I’ve spent looking at phone day before.

Have you tried herbal remedies?

For me when I couldn't sleep past 4am I was diagnosed with depression. Could you look into trying herbal St John's Wort?

I haven't tried herbal no...any suggestions

Google it, take some responsibility. You aren’t a child. If you want to change only you can make it happen

@Alicewond gosh how helpful. Don't you think it would be better to actually recommend something you have experience of? Herbal stuff could include anything!

Another one here.

Today will be day 3 of me on CBD oil. It's mainly for anxiety but I've always been a bad sleeper (and the two go hand in hand) so hoping this will sort out both problems.

I go to bed fairly early, wake up constantly, wake up properly at 3/4 and struggle to get back to sleep. If I do then I then struggle to get up for work. Really high hopes for the CBD oil!

WOW Alice we could all use a friend like you ...what I didn't mention was my husband walked out 3 months ago said he wasn't happy anymore ( 28 years married) some days I feel strong and other I just want to curl up and die !!

OP you're fine. You came on here to ask for advice and hopefully you will get some helpful input.

Ignore totally unhelpful poster.

Try 5-htp. I use it and it has changed my sleep, I feel much better in the morning also. I get mine from Holland and Barrett.

I listen to radio 4 podcasts. I think having a different voice to focus on replaces the voice in my head if that makes sense. If I don't fall asleep at least I am learning useless information! I listen through a speaker pillow so it doesn't affect anyone else. I find that the more I do it the more effective it is.

Sausage looking at your user name & subsequent posts you could be hit by the hormonal changes that happen to women. HRT is supposed to help with sleep. Look up which GP at your practice has had extra training in women’s health and see if you can get an appointment with them. If you have other perimenopausal symptoms write them all down & take the list with you. Good luck with getting help

thankyou everyone for all your help..I'll certainly look at the 5-htp and yes I agree could definitely be connected to the menopause..
supercee...good luck with oil.
Possibly slight depression due to my husbands shock exit ( thinking mid life crisis )

What do you do when you wake up? I know it's boring but the absolute best thing is to just keep your eyes closed and wait to fall back to sleep. If you allow ANY light in (even just glancing at the time)
then it tells your brain to stop producing melatonin and you'll properly wake up. So also, if you have to use the loo you should do it with the lights off.

I've tried this littlekitty...my mind just goes into overdrive

Hi OP

Another one in the same boat - am
knackered again this morning. One trick I was recommended ( doesn’t always work but I have found it does calm my mind) is to go through the alphabet naming day a fruit, or town or something for every letter - so apple, banana, cherry etc. Apparently this activates a different bit of the brain that assists with sleep/is calmer.

@BigmouseLittlehouse I do this too! I'm running out of new categories though haha

I'll try that one tonight big mouse...a friend has just given me a sleep serenity spray ( Avon) to spray on my pillows x

• @LittleKitty1985* my problem is sometimes I get to a letter and can’t think of anything which sort of defeats the purpose! I really have to resist googling ‘fruit beginning with H’ in the middle of the night

For short term use, you can buy phenegan (sp?) over the counter. It's an old school antihistamine and has gently sedating properties.

Also check your screen use, get some black out blinds, eye mask, ear plugs etc.

Unfortunately I know that both my mum and MIL have experienced poor sleep / early waking as part of the menopause :( female biology can be shit at times!

I also suffer from this, and on a friend's recommendation am about to order Menopace Night which has helped my friend - it's a herbal remedy. I also use Buddhify app to do a 'can't sleep' meditation which does help but would prefer not waking up in the first place!

I really appreciate all your responses x just wish my husband would come home ..