So tired yet can't get to sleep

[Feellikeafailure45]

I am absolutely exhausted all the time. I work from home and I just want to sleep. Yet when I go to bed it takes me ages to get to sleep.
I've been tested for low iron, b12, both fine but I do take liquid iron and pay privately for b12 injections as they are both on the low side.
I eat healthily, rarely drink alcohol, I exercise, don't smoke.
Not sure what to do really.

I've got hayfever but I've stopped taking the tablets cos I'm sure they make me drowsy.

Try yogi bedtime herbal tea, 1-2 cups and hour before bed. It has valerian root in, where valium comes from, but it's a natural relaxant.

Try the hay fever tablets at night?

I did try that with the tablets but then needed another one in the mornings.

Take a strong omega supplement before bed, most people don't know it actually really helps you sleep! Also mineral supplement before bed. And make sure you're drinking loads of water all day as if you don't and are dehydrated it can stop you sleeping. Try iron in the mornings as I remember something about how iron tests can show ok levels but it can be low and now show up.

Feather and Down Sleep butter works for me - it’s a cream you apply at bedtime, with magnesium, camomile and lavender in it. I have tried pillow sprays, over the counter and prescription sleeping tablets, mindfulness, supplements, melatonin - all sorts of things, but this is the one thing that has helped my insomnia. I now fall asleep in under half an hour, instead of tossing and turning until 2 or 3am.

I feel your pain. @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius I've just ordered that F&D butter off Amazon Prime in desperation - I'll give it a go.

@Outofthepark what sort of Omega supplement, and what strength?

I really hope it works for you, @LadyLardy.

High strength magnesium

Is there anything in particular keeping you awake at night? E.g. can't switch off thoughts or on screens right up to bedtime? Do you have a set bedtime and wake up time? I suppose I'm just wondering what your sleep hygiene is like in general.

Had problems sleeping here. I’ve just ordered some magnesium glycinate as I’ve read that’s good to take an hour before bed.

I've got quite a few colleagues who swear my magnesium. Could you be peri-menopausal?

Kirkland sleep aid, mixed with a large glass of red 🍷

Tried magnesium last night, I did sleep better but still exhausted today.

I sometimes have insomnia. I find it helps to spend the last hour or two before bedtime really relaxing and winding down. Maybe have a long bath or spend some quiet time reading, lower the lighting. You need to get your mind and body in a very relaxed state. I take Kalms Night if I'm having trouble and I really think it does help me to feel sleepy and relaxed.
Also are you active during the day? I notice a huge difference in terms of activity. If I have a physically inactive day I find it hard to sleep. If I do 10,000 steps or more then I sleep more quickly.

I found taking a magnesium supplement did not work for me - and upset my digestion (I have IBS and colitis), but the magnesium in the F&D cream does seem to work for me. It makes no sense, but as long as it works.

I'm glad you did sleep better, but if you've had insomnia for any length of time, it's going to take a while to recover from that. But I really hope things carry on well for you.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius I know we are supposed to hate them, but ta very much, Amazon Prime. The sleep butter is here. 😁

I'm about to go for a quick shower and slather it on. I'm a long term, menopausal insomniac, so I'm not expecting an instant fix. But I'd settle for a minor improvement. I also take Magnesium Glycinate, and I think it's helped a little.

I'll let you know if the butter works at all for me!

Fingers crossed for you, @LadyLardy.

Thanks everyone, bought some tea to help tonight. I wake up at least three times a night for the toilet too which doesn't help.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius Well, I gingerly rubbed the butter in to the bits of me I could be bothered to/or could reach - mostly arms, legs and chest. It smelled gorgeous and was very lovely, but I don't usually use body lotion/cream so I was a bit dubious over how much to use/where to put it!

I slept from (roughly) 11pm to 3am, which is an improvement on the usual. I then dropped off, woke about 4.30 for a wee, and about 5.30 for a wee, so all in all a slight improvement on my usual shit night, where I generally wake after 2 hours (around 1 - 1.30am) and then doze on and off til about 6am.

I'm intending to keep going with it! Thank you for the recommendation.

Sounds like the butter is helping.

What worked for me: Viewing daylight first thing in the morning (has to be outside) for 5-10 minutes (helps set the body clock and stimulates melatonin 16 hours later).

No coffee after 12.
Magnesium glycinate
Cherry supplements
Something called Neurorest which you can get off Amazon.
Not stressing if I don’t sleep.
Not going to bed until I’m really tired. You need to create a ‘sleep hunger’. For those that struggle to sleep going to bed early is counterproductive.

I’m off to look at the butter to add to my arsenal.

Mine is defo linked to perimenopause though. I have no solution to waking multiple times. It’s a bonus if I go back to sleep quickly though. Also need a wee about 4 times a night.

Sorry what's the butter again please

It’s Feather and Down Sleep butter - it contains magnesium, lavender and camomile.

Thank you

I'm still persisting with the sleep butter, and I genuinely think it's helping. Like @Delatron a lot of mine is hormonal/menopause and nothing seems to stop me waking several times a night, but I am at least getting back to sleep quickly rather than then being pretty much awake for a couple of hours (or more).