To ask for your insomnia cures?

[babouchette]

Posting in AIBU in desperation about my insomnia.

I've had it for years on and off. Pregnant at the moment so can't take sleeping tablets. On holiday with DH and DC, all in the same room. They are sleeping peacefully, I am wide awake. I can't listen to Headspace, can't really do anything that would wake them up. Last night I slept for 4 hours and am worried I wont even get that tonight. They'll be up at 7.

What would you do? What can I do? I am feeling pretty desperate right now.

Weird as it sounds I focus on the word 'the' and do muscle relaxing from toes upwards, a friend gave me this tip years ago and it's usually successful. I also find having socks on helps me drop over too. Had a really bad night last night and stupidly lay in until silly o'clock so have knocked myself for tonight again 🙄. Fortunately on holiday so don't need to be 'up'. Hope you get some rest soon 💐 💤

Thanks @mrsmacmc. I'll try that. I have worked my way through my whole repertoire of winding down tricks and nothing is working so far! Doesn't help I'm in the worlds most uncomfortable bed with DH snoring peacefully next to me. Really hate this stupid condition, it's torture.

I've had some luck closing my eyes and forcing myself to repeat the word 'sleep' in my head over and over again. It's just so boring that eventually my brain obeys the instruction and I drop off. It works best when I'm not too anxious.

My favourite insomnia cure is sleep headphones with soothing nature sounds, if you have access to earbuds or similar.

The alphabet game helps me. Think of 5 things starting with a, then b and so on. Can be anything you know well. Countries, characters in a book series, street names whatever. Distracting enough to take mind off but boring enough to be mundane. I used to plan my lottery winnings but got too carried away it woke me up more, so Harry Potter characters it is ...

I say the alphabet backwards in my head, it's just hard enough to require a little focus so it stops me from thinking about anything else.

Thanks all. Managed about 4 hours in the end. The Harry Potter thing was what eventually conked me out the third time I tried!

Now up for another action packed day with the family 😖