Help me sleep....please

[Justpickaname]

I can't sleep, haven't had a decent night for months and it's driving me insane.
Someone sing me a lullaby or tell me a really boring story 😴😴

I hear you. I have Hashimoto’s and every few months I have a hyper thyroid flare which renders me unable to sleep, even if I exercise for hours or take Zolpidem. It’s the pits.

For me, I just have to ride it out as literally nothing is a match for my thyroid being in overdrive.

Any particular reason you haven’t slept in months? (I mean, besides the world being a total cluster fuck right now.)

Sorry to hear about your health problems 💐

Overthinking mainly, I just can't switch off. I go to bed exhausted then as soon as my head hits the pillow my brain starts working over time and PING I'm wide awake again.

I can't sleep either soon as I shut my eyes my mind goes mental or I need a wee etc..

Thankfully working from home at the moment but it's miserable being the only one awake

Have you tried the Calm app?

Or meditating? Close your eyes and try to think of nice things whilst breathing

Well you could just pass your worries along to the night shift and we will hold them so that get a good sleep. It works!

Exactly the same here, brain just won't shut up! Some of it is important but most of it drivel! Have you tried listening to podcasts? Just keeps the mind busy while you relax. The best one for a good sleep is BBC In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg, this week was about utilitarianism, it was so dull I was gone in 10 minutes!!

I'm the same. Some nights I used to watch TV and read a book at the same time so my mind wouldn't be racing with random things. It is like my brain never shuts off. Doesn't help I have an orientation meeting for a business I am starting tomorrow and I am nervous. I don't feel prepared and know I should have questions to ask but can't think what.

I sometimes have success with audiobooks. The Librovox website has a lot of free ones (and there are loads on youtube).

nytol (the blue ones, antihistamin based, not the green 'herbal' ones)
work really well, I never need to take them more than one night, helps to break the pattern of sleeplessness so that you don't lay awake endlessly fretting that you can;t sleep.

I find that once the pattern is broken, I'm fine for a while - probably only need to use them about once every three months or so now, used to be a lot more.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay you have to take them at a reasonable time as well, I've taken them at 1-2 in the morning and been zombified the next day

I’ve a long history with insomnia. A course of CBT changed/saved my life. Speak to your GP. I had mine privately but there are options on the nhs. It’s not perfect but it’s a million times better. Don’t use nytol long term, it’s got some scary long term side effects. I use phenergan antihistamine every now and then.

Calm app, guided sleep meditation or sleep stories.

Failing that kirkland sleep aid from the states.

Are you getting outdoors and exercising? Long tiring days in the fresh air usually fix my sleep.

Could you be in peri-menopause?

If you've tried all the usual advice on good sleep hygiene (nhs info page is all the doctor would point me to at first) then it gets tricky. I found calms, nytol, avoiding caffeine, having chamomile tea, stop looking at phone before bed etc still didn't work. What eventually did work was being prescribed amitriptylene to help me with my regular cluster headaches. I slep brilliantly now but sadly my sleep is dependant on it which it's better to avoid. One day I'm try to come off but during a pandemic doesnt feel like the right time (more stress to keep me awake!)