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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how you deal with insomnia

27 replies

SoftlyCatchyMonkey1 · 19/08/2018 04:15

I go through bouts of insomnia every now and then. Nowadays I just kind of accept it and try not to let it bother me.

I've tried taking piriton, cocodamol, natural sleep tablets, reading, listening to the sound of rain on an app. Sometimes these work. A lot of the time they don't.

OP posts:
BlueBug45 · 19/08/2018 04:30

By not worrying about it.

If it's not consistent then you know at some point you will get some sleep.

Katedotness1963 · 19/08/2018 04:36

Netflix. Nothing works for me, I think it’s my menopause symptom.

Takfujimoto · 19/08/2018 04:42

When I'm really desperate I have resorted to cooling myself, even if I'm not hot, just lowering my temperature, either by sitting on the porch or having a cold shower, it shocks you a bit but after the initial adrenaline/alertness I find it much easier to drift off.

Otherwise I just accept it and let it roll over me, try to calm my mind as much as possible for a rest.

Oliversmumsarmy · 19/08/2018 04:53

I use Valerian.

Dp travels to the US and brought me back 6 months supply of melatonin which is great but I find it takes about a week to kick in and because it can leave me groggy if I have to get up early it sometimes take a few more days to kick in after

Rupoy · 19/08/2018 05:04

Before I retired from work it negatively affected my job & I took to a shot or two of whiskey to get me off. Not the best idea I know but I was desparate.
Since I've retired the insomnia is just as bad but now it doesn't matter as much as I can catch up on sleep in the day.
My problem is that I'm strictly a night owl. Come 11pm & I feel as awake as I could be, even though I might be short on sleep from the previous night. I don't drink now but I'm often fast asleep in the afternoons. Grrr...

Original poster
SoftlyCatchyMonkey1 · 19/08/2018 05:10

Thanks for the interesting replies!

I do dry January every year and I sleep amazingly well then.

OP posts:
RaymondHolt · 19/08/2018 05:20

The BBC radio app - so many different shows from radio 4 to listen to. I either enjoy listening or fall asleep.

Desert Island Discs can be fascinating and calming. They are all on there and you can scroll through lots of different people - so inspiring. People really seem to open up to Kirsty Young, Dr Sue Black is one of my favourites as well as Kelsey Grammar and Dr Kevin Fong.

There are some good comedy shows as well. Definitely worth an investigation.

I found when I really struggle these helped.

AStatelyPleasureDome · 19/08/2018 05:23

Audible, so effective that I have to keep rewinding to catch up!

Bloodybridget · 19/08/2018 05:31

I take piriton sometimes if I've had a run of particularly bad nights; it usually helps. Generally I've got used to less sleep. I'm retired so I can have a nap during the day if I need to.

Fruitbatdancer · 19/08/2018 05:48

Mumsnet!

MumsGoneToIceland · 19/08/2018 05:51

Listening to hypnosis sound tracks works best for me

Rupoy · 19/08/2018 05:56

I tried hypnosis soundtracks & they worked for a short time but eventually I got to know them off by heart at which point they stopped working.

alison3001 · 19/08/2018 05:59

My insomnia hits when I am stressed, so I find writing down what I am stressed about gets it out of my head and then I'm not allowed to think about it and I fall asleep. However on really bad nights I've also used piriton too. Also listening to the Shipping Forecast has helped in the past!

FloydWasACat · 19/08/2018 06:01

I might not be able to get this across very well, but...
I lay on my back as comfy as I can with my eyes closed and then I start counting in my head, focussing on the counting, then (this is the bit that might sound weird), everytime I do an involuntary twitch or my stomach growls, or anything that is not me counting I start counting again. Repeat etc, seems to work for me. I have to be sure that my pillows are in the right place before I start though!

FloydWasACat · 19/08/2018 06:02

Also, there's an app called Headspace which is really good. I find the bloke's voice fascinating. Oh, and the Lightning Bug app, had it for years now

Cornishclio · 19/08/2018 06:15

I have to get up and either read or surf the net until I feel tired again.

fuckthisforfun · 19/08/2018 06:23

I get up. I read somewhere this is the best thing to do, get up leave the bedroom, sit in low light in the living room and read a book until I feel tired again and go back to bed.
It makes a massive difference and stops my lying in bed getting frustrated that I can't sleep.

I try to keep to the same bedtime routine, warm but not hot shower, a warm drink usually a herbal tea, read for 15mins and then light out along with a pillow spray. Breathing exercises help too particularly the 4-7-8.

Aquamarine1029 · 19/08/2018 06:25

If you drink alcohol, are you aware that even moderate drinking can severely effect your sleep? This can also get much worse the older you get. That's why dry January is such a good time for you.

AStatelyPleasureDome · 19/08/2018 06:28

@Aquamarine - a strange suggestion make in August?

FloydWasACat · 19/08/2018 06:31

GrinGrin

applesisapple5 · 19/08/2018 06:42

I use podcasts, Sleep with Me is a favourite. Also the New Yorker Fiction one has some really boring stories on it.
I also do Relax apps with Andrew Johnson, you can get the free one. It is more effective for me if I donit a few times a week. It's just relaxation exercises, sequential muscle relaxation etc etc. Funny to start with but really works for me!

ButchyRestingFace · 19/08/2018 06:45

I watch Susie Amy’s (Chardonnay from Footballer’s Wives) very detailed beauty products reviews on Youtube.

Knocks me out like a 💡. No, I’m not kidding.

liquidrevolution · 19/08/2018 07:00

Night nurse Blush but only taken after a few days of no sleep.

Foreverlexicon · 19/08/2018 07:02

I’ve been taking melatonin for about a week. Not been great this weekend though - I always fall asleep ok but then wake up to pee or something and i’m WIDE awake and can’t sleep, sometimes for hours.

In my case it’s mostly due to working a lot of night shifts then trying to switch my sleep pattern back for my rest days. Seriously considering changing my shift pattern but I can’t for a few months as spend the quiet time doing a diploma I need for career progression and work is too busy during the day - be a real shame as I love nights and much prefer my job then but starting to really struggle!

CycleWoman · 19/08/2018 07:10

Insomnia is horrible. I don’t suffer all the time but I do get bouts of it that last for weeks and I hate it. Here are a couple of things I try; no caffeine after lunch time, no drinks a couple of hours before bed, no booze, read before bed, if it’s definitely one of those nights then a sleep app called ‘Sleepwell’ (its a self hypnosis thing. The more I use it the more it seems to work).

As others have said, trying not to worry about it also helps. I used to get really stressed and anxious because I new if I didn’t get sleep I’d be tired and miserable. Now I try to accept its one of those nights and remind myself that it will pass.