What can I buy my DM who can’t sleep anymore

[J333gr]

She can fall asleep very quickly but then wakes after an hour or so and doesn’t really sleep for the rest of the night. She uses lavender stuff and medication apps podcasts musics etc but nothing seems to work. I’d like to buy her a nice gift set that would help

The other thing is making her get as much daylight as possible. I think the receptors are in the eyes.

People think if they’ve been out all day that’s it’s fresh air making them sleep. But actually it’s the amount of light absorbed through the eyes that’s doing it.

[quote J333gr]@HemlockStarglimmer that looks good. Do
You know if it smells like coconut?[/quote]
@J333gr I don't think so.

How old is she? If she’s in her fifties it might be hormonal.

Audiobooks can help - I often drop off while listening to one, and if I don’t at least it keeps my mind off any worries or thoughts that are circling, while I rest quietly with my eyes closed. An audiobook or subscription might be a nice gift.

I’d especially recommend Penguin Sleep Tales, but anything fairly gentle is good. I’m listening to the James Herriot books at the moment.

Yoga helps too - the activity, the meditative breathing aspect, and the reduction in body aches (I am not elderly, but used to get a lot of fairly mild but still distracting neck and shoulder pain). I didn’t realise how much it affected me until it was gone. So maybe a yoga mat and a link to Yoga with Adrienne.

Magnesium supplements and melatonin.
I would get some blood work done to rule out any imbalances.

I buy melatonin too, out like a light.

The prescription ones take time to build up. They don’t work from day one. About 2 weeks.

www.onlinehomeshop.com/brentfords-teddy-fleece-weighted-blanket-silver

I bought the 8kg one and it has changed my life! I am definitely sleeping better now. It's cheaper than most but does the job.

Ugh l hated hated weighted blankets. I tried so hard, but it was like being in a straight jacket. And l got too hot.

I have an old fashioned wool blanket rather than a weighted blanket because I was worried about them making me sweaty. The wool one is pretty warm too and definitely not a year round solution but better for me than an artificial fabric.

Hard daily exercise and CBD oil

Oh....you mum....maybe not hard exercise then :)

This Works pillow spray. There are different types, one is for not staying asleep as in your Mum’s situation. There are also bath salts. I find these really work for me if I am either struggling to get to sleep or keep waking.

Bed socks. Apparently keeping your feet warmer than your body helps to keep you asleep. I suffer from bouts of insomnia and thought this sounded like bollocks when I first heard it but it does help a bit.

Does she really not sleep? Or does her brain let her think she doesn't?
(There is a type of sleep disorder, whose name I cannot recall, that does this.)
With all those bad effects on general health disrupted sleep can have (blood pressure, brain function, immune system), she should perhaps be seen by a sleep expert.
Though audio books and weighted blankets have their merits.

Melatonin tablets, gp can prescribe or it's possible to legally buy from Canadian pharmacies

But my method is to put "in our time" on repeat on my phone as it's sends me to sleep in seconds and Melvin Bragg's voice seems to keep me asleep, ditto audio books narrated by Stephen fry (who I love watching but his voice is so soothing)

Horlicks... maybe sounds... ocean waves etc

Just wondering if she has access to a Fitbit watch? I'm only asking as my one tracks my sleep pattern and I was finding that I was getting deep sleep and REM sleep at the start of my night of sleep and then mixed with light sleep and moments where I was waking up (though not long enough for me to register but enough for the watch to) I was getting a good night of sleep.
Sometimes I sleep better when I nod off to the sounds of rain on a window (one of the sounds that is available using the Calm app) and I have it on a sleep timer so it turns off after a set time (hopefully by that stage I'm asleep).
Does your mum suffer from restless legs? Eating a banana can help with that.
Oh, and an eye mask. Even though the room is dark and my eyes are closed, I regularly need an eye mask to get to sleep to make it pitch black for me. If I'm really struggling to nod off, ear plugs.
They all work for me. Maybe a mix might work for your mum?

[quote J333gr]@HemlockStarglimmer that looks good. Do
You know if it smells like coconut?[/quote]
Having had a stressful few days and very little sleep last night, I have slathered myself with the balm and can confirm there is no coconut smell.

If she does take melatonin, it takes a while to build up.A month?

How old is she? If she’s menopausal or even post menopausal HRT will help her to sleep better. Get her a private appointment for with a menopause specialist for advice - Newson Health clinic are amazing (if you google them their website comes up, lots of free resources and advice online too). When I became menopausal sleep was the first thing to go and the first thing to come back with HRT.

I also agree with a weighted blanket and have used melatonin successfully - but double check with melatonin whether it is suitable for her. From memory they don't recommend its used with people who have had breast cancer and other things. But in other countries you can buy it over the counter - I got it from a supermarket in canada.

A weighted blanket has made such a difference for me, I have this one for £49.
www.kudd.ly/flash-sale/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=8377757751&keyword=kuddly%20blanket&gclid=CjwKCAiA4rGCBhAQEiwAelVti8-M1QaKCpvWofIq5f2OmAFbmWjl21U3I94K17I4NUBgp5sCwskJExoCJPIQAvD_BwE

Hi everyone, I mentioned the melatonin to her and will leave it up to her if it’s something she wants to take or not
I bought her the ‘this works’ pillow spray plus and she used it last night and had 8 hours sleep!