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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your sleep remedies

192 replies

HerRoyalHappiness · 05/07/2022 12:24

Had a very useless appointment with the GP today who was more interested In how I parent as a disabled mother than the issue at hand. Which is my lack of sleep.
I haven't slept more than 3 hours in a month. I go to he'd at 10, drift off after 11 and I'm awake by 2am without fail then I can't get back to sleep.
I don't have screens in my room. I use a smart alarm clock to play rain sounds and wake me up in a morning.
It's not too hot or too cold.
I have a weighted blanket
I do need a new mattress and it's on my list to buy but I can't get one until the end of August as I don't have £200 spare right now.
I've tried chamomile tea
I've tried meditation
I've tried sleep pillow sprays
I've tried crystals (I know but I'm desperate)
I've tried hypnosis
I've tried counting sheep
I've tried everything. I don't even read in bed any more in case it was over stimulating my brain. I just lie there and try to sleep.
Please give me tips, hacks, anything at all to help me to sleep. I'm so exhausted 😩

OP posts:
Hibye23289 · 06/07/2022 23:02

Asmr, youtube ir

Hibye23289 · 06/07/2022 23:02

It

Defender90 · 06/07/2022 23:03

CBD relax balm from Herbal Health- it's been a lifesaver for me.

PinkArt · 06/07/2022 23:10

If you have a busy brain, one that won't turn off when you're trying to doze off, counting back from 10,000 might help. I can't remember where I saw it suggested but it helps. Don't worry if your brain starts to flit to something else, just go back to the last number you remember counting and carry on.
Starting from a high number helps as you're never going to hit 0. And counting back rather than forwards means your brain needs to concentrate on it a tiny bit more but also that it's not focusing on how high the count has reached. I don't think I've ever got any lower than 8000ish before dozing off

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 06/07/2022 23:20

The counting back really helps also the name game- as many names as you can think of beginning with A,then B and so on. I've only ever got to D😂

feistyoneyouare · 06/07/2022 23:22

You might also want to try listening to "Binaural Beats" music at bedtime.

Definitely. I've had insomnia all my life due to delayed sleep phase syndrome (if you've never heard of it, think 'permanent jet lag' 😖) and there's very little that will get me to sleep before about 1 a.m. (at the earliest) but I stumbled across this channel recently: https://www.youtube.com/c/SleepTube and these videos are quite effective even for a hardcore insomniac like me. Worth a shot.

jd88123 · 06/07/2022 23:22

Promethazine 25mg you can buy online. An antihistamine with sedating effects. Can get from chemists otc too.

feistyoneyouare · 06/07/2022 23:24

I also second the ASMR suggestion.

Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 01:34

Well, I'm up so CBD, lavender room spray, deep sleep pillow spray and magnesium on my legs didn't work.
I had high hopes too because I actually felt sleepy instead of wide awake but I've been up for half an hour now and can't settle back off.

Will try binaural beats now and hopefully settle again.

To the PP who asked about fibromyalgia, I do have fibro, as well as arthritis and hypermobile ehlers danlos syndrome.

I did have a really good sleep routine, routine, I'd go to bed around half 10, drop off at 11 and wake at 6. Some mornings I'd wake up still groggy and cursing that I couldn't sleep longer but right now I'd give anything for my old routine of 7 hours back!

OP posts:
Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 03:19

Binaural beats hasn't worked. Going to try brown noise now.

OP posts:
Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 04:05

Brown noise hasn't helped either and niwbthe birds are chirping

OP posts:
HedgehogPrincess · 07/07/2022 04:31

Vitamin C supplements, max recommended amount. It aids sleep but this seems not to be well known. Bigger impact for me than any other methods.

Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 04:44

Thank you ill try the vitamin C

OP posts:
applesandbananasandoranges · 07/07/2022 06:15

Maca powder. It's a superfood which can aid sleep. You'll need to take it for a few weeks before you see any benefits. A small teaspoon dissolved in warm water with a little juice added to mask the taste (it's disgusting). It's really helped my sleeping patterns. Any health food shop will stock it.

Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 06:37

Thank you. It's worth a try

OP posts:
Lndnmummy · 07/07/2022 06:52

I use Phenergarn (the brand name of what you are now being prescribed). It saved my life. My husband takes it too every now and again when he needs it. Insomnia is awful. Truly awful. I hope the Phenergan works for you🙏

Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 06:53

Thank you. I will be picking it up this afternoon. I really hope it works.

OP posts:
Cashwhat · 07/07/2022 07:36

This might sounds weird, but I thought h had chronic insomnia for almost 15 years. It got to the point where I was so exhausted I would be in tears and yet still couldn't sleep at night. Eventually h got referred to a sleep study and diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, I was falling asleep, but almost instantly waking up - over 116 times each hour. So it felt like I was constantly awake - well I was pretty much. I've not got a CPAP machine, which has improved things hugely. Might be worth getting checked out if you've tried everything else.

Also, re: melatonin, my daughter's psychiatrist wrote a letter to her GP to authorise the use and doseage of melatonin, as the GP wouldn't prescribe otherwise. Perhaps your pysch could do the same and it would save the private prescription fees charged by the pharmacy for non-nhs prescriptions (I think the most recent non-nhs one cost me over £50!).

Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 07:52

I don't think I have sleep apnea but it's worth looking into. Glad you finally got to the bottom of your sleeplessness.

OP posts:
pandora206 · 07/07/2022 08:00

YouTube has lots of relaxing sound films - rain, waves, chill out music. My current favourites are from the SleepTube channel, which have hypnotic binaural beats. Last night's was called Sleep waves for insomnia, part 2 waves. I slept for 8 hours! I've improved sleep hugely listening to these.

Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 08:08

I tried binaural beats and brown noise last night. Unfortunately neither worked for me.

I'm getting my new meds today though so hopefully they'll be the ones that do the trick. I really can't go on like this

OP posts:
Cyberworrier · 07/07/2022 08:15

Sounds like you've tried so many things, OP, so i can understand your frustration/desperation.
Have you tried CBT specifically for your sleep? Can be accessed online often, self referred through NHS.
It helped me a bit. Didn't solve the issues entirely but did make a difference. The other things I've found helpful you already seem to have tried, but you do mention stress and CBT or some other form of therapy could help with that?

Original poster
HerRoyalHappiness · 07/07/2022 08:18

I'm already accessing CBT through my psychosis team so unfortunately I'm not allowed to self refer for anything else at the moment, I tried.
My therapist will discuss sleep with me if I ask though, he's really good like that.
I'd recommend him to absolutely everyone. Everyone needs him in their lives.

OP posts:
Cyberworrier · 07/07/2022 08:26

I'm glad you have a good therapist.

There are some good self-help books for insomnia written by specialists, will try to find the one I read (I was actually looking prescribed one by the NHS).

I think a friend listened to an audiobook hypnosis thing for her insomnia, not sure if that's worth a go?