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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you do when you can't get to sleep?

91 replies

WillBendTheKnee4Jon · 22/03/2019 01:08

She asks while on her smartphone at 1 in the bastard morning

Fuck me I've tried everything I can but just can't drop off. I get maybe 3 hours during the day. It's starting to take its toll. I'm miserable. Dd is going through a very difficult time right now (waiting on a Cahms referral, the school are just now starting the process of getting her formally diagnosed with ADHD and Autism. I've had emergency meetings with the Senco officer and her teachers. Plus I had to get her an emergency appointment when she started crying and hyperventilating in class. Her teacher rang me in a panic) so as you can see I've plenty on my mind.
I was even prescribed a short course of zopiclone which had no effect at all. I'm stuck in a vicious cycle.

OP posts:
Decormad38 · 22/03/2019 01:10

Get up. Make a cup of tea. Usually camomile but Ive run out. Sit up until I start to get tired again.

DroningOn · 22/03/2019 02:15

Mumsnet.......

dellacucina · 22/03/2019 02:19

Based on the forum and time of night, I have a feeling you have chosen an audience who is all likely to give the same response?

Eminybob · 22/03/2019 02:34

Count backwards from 100 or similar
Alphabet game (pick a category ie films, and name one beginning with each letter of the alphabet)
Basically stuff that takes your mind off what is keeping you up and/or bores you to sleep.
(Chronic insomniac here - although I am currently up feeding the baby it’s a lottery if I’ll be able to get back to sleep after)

chocolatemademefat · 22/03/2019 02:39

I’m up and showered and hair washed and it’s not 3am yet. I go downstairs and read or watch tv and usually find by about five o’clock I could sleep. Which is no bloody good because my alarm goes off at six.

Threeminis · 22/03/2019 02:47

I often take zopiclone. Can't now as it's too late.

I listen to podcasts- sleep to strange, sleep meditation etc but it's more to stop me thinking if that makes sense.

It's fucking horrible though, hope you get some sleep op

WorldCupWidow · 22/03/2019 02:53

Mumsnet, mop kitchen floor, ironising, hot drink (no caffeine), read, podcasts or audio books anything that makes my brain switch off

Dueinnov19 · 22/03/2019 03:07

Sat here drinking hot milk waiting for my stretching pains and restless legs to subside before I can get back to sleep.

Normally I think about my breathing or just lie with my eyes shut because at least that way I am resting

mintymurray · 22/03/2019 03:11

Plenty o f books on the subject,
nut one to read is about circadian rhythm's, www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/what-circadian-rhythm
Matthew Walker also wrote a book "why we sleep" my friend gave it to me to read the , my other half got through the first chapter then past it on,
I ten d not to have a mobile phone in the room that i sleep in or put it far out of reach !
hope you find something to help

runwithme · 22/03/2019 03:26

Try listening to Weightless by Marconi Union. It's been proven to aid sleep somehow. Something to do with the rhythm.
I've got an awful cough so it's no good to me at the moment but hopefully it will help you. Or try blinking your eyes really fast. Good luck and hope you get your problems solved XX

Original poster
WillBendTheKnee4Jon · 22/03/2019 03:30

I hope not Della. Hopefully someone will give me good idea to try. Plus there's always daytime users (who might suffer occasionally). One of them might change my life. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
WillBendTheKnee4Jon · 22/03/2019 03:32

Thanks for all suggestions.Going to look up that Marconi thing now. Who knows? I might not be back? Fingers crossed

OP posts:
ZaraW · 22/03/2019 04:12

Try restrictive sleep it sorted out my long term insomnia. I also listen to a sleep aid app which also works well. No screen time at least an hour before going to bed.

Jenda · 22/03/2019 04:24

Sorry you're going through all that. I'm pregnant and have been struggling to sleep, I bought a hypnobirth mp3 and have not yet managed to listen for more than 2 minutes before I pass out!! So I recommend some kind of relaxing hypnosis on YouTube, worth a goSmile

TheClaifeCrier · 22/03/2019 04:33

Not look at my phone (I'm up because I'm at a friend's house who has had to go to hospital and I'm looking after her kids and need to stay awake for updates which is why I'm currently on my phone!) Grin

It's one of the worst things you can do because the blue light wakes you up more.

I try a sort of mindfulness I suppose. I close my eyes and try to listen to all the different sounds. It helps if the window is cracked because you can hear the wind, the occasional owl, the odd car on the main road at the bottom of the valley etc. It seems to help me.

brizzlemint · 22/03/2019 04:34

Mumsnet, colouring in, lesson planning, reading.

SteppinOutwithMyBaby · 22/03/2019 04:37

I have had reasonable luck with "sleep stories" like those found on the Calms app. There are lots of differents apps that do the same thing. I think there are some on YouTube as well.

My pharmacist recommended Magnesium to help ease the anxiety about not sleeping.

Probably helps that I've started taking Melatonin.

scarfattack · 22/03/2019 04:39

I used to have this little electronic game called 20questions. Or 20Q. Something like that. A little handheld thing which asks you 20 questions and ends up guessing whatever thing you've thought of (was quite good actually). Anyway, I could never get to sleep. I'd be up all night reading or watching tv etc. However, I couldn't get through a whole game of this before falling asleep. It was a pointless game but distracting enough to allow me to sleep. Worked every time pretty much.

ZaraW · 22/03/2019 05:46

I use Melatonin as well it works.

MrsRubyMonday · 22/03/2019 05:52

I listen to the Deep Sleep with Andrew Johnson app. He takes you through guided relaxation exercises and then talks to you for a bit. I hardly ever make it through the relaxation part, his voice is so soothing and following the instructions both relaxes me and gives me something other than whatever is worrying me to think about.

Parttime1 · 22/03/2019 06:03

Listen to Radio 4 in our time podcast - something about the voices sends me to sleep and if it doesn't I might learn something!

Ivegotthree · 22/03/2019 06:30

How useless of the teacher to ring you in a panic. How frightening for you.

You will be okay and it will all be sorted out. This is just a tough phase you are going through.

I go down to the kitchen and make hot chocolate with milk not water and a piece of toast and honey, have that and then come back to bed. The carbs/full tummy/milk seem to do the trick. Also writing a to do list helps a lot - I leave that in the kitchen.

Good luck OP

Sooperkat · 22/03/2019 06:34

I use the Calm app, I find it quietens the panicky thoughts in my head. I also have rescue remedy sleep. I try to avoid reading my phone as the blue light doesn’t help.

hipslikecinderella · 22/03/2019 06:48

I plan houses on my head, visually walking through them and working out floor plans. Or go over floor plans of houses I've been in.

Relaxes the hell out of me and I normally drop off.

hipslikecinderella · 22/03/2019 06:49

in my head, not on !