How do I stop waking up in the early hours?

[LivingDeadGirlUK]

I keep waking up at 4am, its really annoying, sometimes I get another hour or so, sometimes I just toss and turn. Its been weeks if not months. I'm not particularly stressed I don't think.

What do I do? :(

This hit me at 43. I’m 48 now and still about 3 nights a week I’m awake from 4 for the day.

As others have said - I no longer stress about it, and I have an eye mask, which now has a sightly Pavlovian response in getting me back to sleep (hence only 3 nights a week!). I have also started sleeping in the spare room - very recently - and that’s been a game changer because if I do wake up, I don’t worry about disturbing DH, so can read, and not on my phone.

My mum finally got over it at about 70. Now she sleeps all the way through again.

Get an eye mask-£8 for 2 silk ones off amazon. I’ve been telling my mum to get one for years as she’s been waking up at 4 for years. Finally got them and she is now evangelical. She still wakes up twice for the loo but gets straight back to sleep.
It’s so low tech that people are cynical but we really need pitch dark to sleep. I worked in camhs and I swear a sleep mask is the most effective thing you can do. And sleep is the best thing you can do for your mental health.

@fanothetan

I've googled and found a few there are there any you'd recommend in particular?

I buy these ones…
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08817H6HS?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Excellent! They are the ones I'd seen! Going to give them a a go

I bought this one twice already (it's amazon UK link, it's just get shortened weirdly)
amzn.eu/d/cVwhF5k

Eye masks ordered.

Trapped nerve in my hip is driving me doolally tonight.

Did you get any sleep at all Living?

Do trapped nerves respond to massage?

My bedside table is a clatter of lovely potions within fumbling distance as I get a lot of neck and jaw tension

Sometimes that helps to ease the tension enough to get to some sleep, or at least to ease the tension, or at v v least to be distracted from the tension by way of aiding the mind to wander to holidays past (lavender, rose, sage or anything pizza-y 😋)

Caveat: on occasion this leads to craving roast chicken or actual pizza on waking - I am happy to be the person who follows through on such cravings but others may not be (& for them I can only recommend a rethink or a multibag of mixed flavour crisps 😉)

I got up and had a snack because I was ravenous again and the walk about seemed to sort it out, think i was back asleep at 4am.

God I am tired.

Something I read yesterday was about making sure you drink during the day, (front load, it called it) then ease off in the evening. If we're working or on screens in the day, get thirsty but don't drink enough water, then fill up in the evening then we'll need to pee in the night.
If I wake up in the night I get straight up and pee and find I go back to sleep easily. If I don't get up I can't go back to sleep.

Slept through to half six today but I am wondering if the magnesium is giving me a dicky tummy. I might hold off it a few nights and see if it makes a difference to either sleep or my stomach.

Used my sleep mask and managed to drop off before DH turned lights out for reading. Then have a vague recollection of pulling it off at some point

Woke up for 3am wee then took hours to go back off again so may put mask back on tomorrow am at that point.

On a positive note, DH who snores like a fucking rhino, has been using those nose strips for a week now. The first few nights oddly, it got worse. Then gradually better to almost not at all last few nights. He has however been having antibiotics and is going through some dental treatment and advised by dentist to keep hydrated so whether it's all a fluke and will ramp up again when he drinks next is yet to be seen.

I ran this morning and the difference to my energy levels and general body/head feeling was remarkable after a couple of better nights sleep on a row. Just think, some people sleep this well all the time

I should get my partner to try those nose strips, he said they are rubbish but I think I would like to see confirmation of this!

You could try magnesium spray, it avoids the stomach upset issues. I use the Better You spray, from Amazon.

Brrr 🥶 awake since 3 and had to grab dressing gown for additional warmth

pretty stormy tonight but not getting the cosy vibe so time for winter blankets me thinks!

weirdly though I keep thinking I can smell a bonfire 😂

given the state of the world and slight it’s cold and miserable and dark and I’m stressed vibes I’m here shivering and wondering if that’s the lightly singed hand-basket arriving and we’re all about to board…

(it’s times like this I want the cats to be able to return the favour and bring me my first breakfast - or at least a hot cup of tea 😂)

3 nights of relatively good sleep! I am now waking and being aware its still early so keep my eyes closed and try empty my mind.

That’s good news Living like someone said upthread when you feel the relief of it and think some people sleep like that all the time it’s nearly impossible to believe

And on the topic of hard to believe I might start to worry about more sleep as after imaging bonfire smoke at the top of the day when I went up to bed last night the neighbour had lit a bonfire - my nose must be running about 20hrs ahead 😂

oooohhh!! was part of the witch craze fuelled by older menopausal female insomniacs developing clairvoyance??

🤔

<throws away lavender spray>

<downs more coffee>

<eagerly awaits incoming foresight of winning numbers for euromillions>

I like to think I've a bit lots of witch in me

We had our first date night in ages last night and went Out Out for a steak dinner with wine. Twas lovely but as one could predict I was awake at 3am with that whooshing in my ears we get these days. Then realised how loud the rain was and started fretting about how soaked DD would get going into college today. And that was me until 6am alarm. And the best bit? DH didn't snore. Not once.

> eyes up Owls coffee <

Yes its sometimes more annoying when they can't get the blame :P

I quite fancy some lavender pillow spray actually, think I have some lurking from an old advent.

If you don't find it.... My Mum and I use

This one. Sorry post went wrong.

<hands tell a mug fresh from the cauldron>

if you like lavender spray the oil is quite good too, suggest to OH that massaging it on to your shoulders every night is a new ‘snoring tax’ 👌