AIBU to accept insomnia and give up trying

[Castiron12]

I can’t sleep and I know I won’t sleep until I need to be up at 06:45am for work.

This is longstanding and partly due to me being on-call for advice for work one evening a week and having to work varying shift patterns sometimes earlier starts than others. (I don’t think this will be sustainable for me)
I am such a sensitive sleeper and have always suffered with this, even the thought of an early alarm sets me off and I’m awake all night.
I have tried everything under the sun - if one more person tells me to listen to music or “deep breathe” I may scream!
These days if I can tell it’s going to be a sleepless night due, I just get comfortable with drinks / snacks and either read most of a book or watch several films then spend the next day nackered and a zombie at work. Ironically come around 6:30-7:00am I can sleep fine (just when I need to get up). AIBU for giving up on trying? Sometimes it feels more exhausting laying in silence awake than accepting it.
Thought I’d hop on mumsnet to hopefully chat on some threads to not feel like the only person on the planet!

I'm awake too and my alarm is set for 6. Menopause and twitchy legs. Just had a banana and some milk and heading back to bed in a minute. Can you do something relaxing for a bit then try again? You might still get 5 hours or so.

@lurchermummy oh I’m sorry, restless legs really are horrid :(
I have also just had a banana it must be a no sleep thing! I think I may try and put a nice programme on or read my kindle a bit more… I know I should reduce screen time but laying in silence drives me mad!

I mostly just go with it. My dad used to say (when I couldn't sleep) "well just lie there and rest your eyes and your body and it's as good as sleeping"

So usually put a heated eye mask on and think I'm just resting my body. 7/10 times I fall asleep

Yes i know what you mean but I think if it helps take your mind off not sleeping for a while then it's ok. I sometimes put my headphones in and listen to a podcast or some music. Hope you get some zzzz soon

Have you tried listening to podcasts or audiobooks? When I'm struggling I lie in bed and put one on and it usually sends me off, especially if you struggle with silence could help

I’m awake too . Crying. Insomnia is like a living nightmare

Thank you everyone! I’m so sorry @Forgiveitall sounds awful. I will try and pop on an audio book now. It can feel like you are the man on the moon in the middle of the night!

Posted this before but here's my can't sleep fave YouTube channel to watch

https://youtube.com/channel/UC_RDtmUq7RISJ4mFKAhjzTg

Calm is good for sleep stories as well
Something like Tetris often helps, anything repetitive you don't need to think about

OP I wish I could ignore it but I end up in such a state if I don't find a way to knock myself out!

but if ignoring it works for you, then do that.

I was improving but developed the restless legs problem. I think aspirin helps but I don't want to take it too often. Magnesium had no effect. Extra exercise, no effect. So annoying.

I'm the same. It really gets to you being permanently exhausted doesn't it ?

@EmmaH2022 i totally understand where you are coming from! I’ve found that if I just ignore it and pretend it’s “part of the plan” to be awake then I stay more relaxed. If I keep trying to force it then I get anxious.
I have tried extra exercise too! Interestingly I find if I exercise I start to drop off to sleep initially but then end up waking again! At least I get a few minutes…

@newbiename absolutely! I’m so tired of being tired

I don't have insomnia, but in the last few weeks I've been staying awake til this time or later. I don't know why I'm doing it.Maybe I just don't need as much sleep these days. Fortunately, I don't have to get up to an alarm, but when I had to in the past, the pressure I felt from that often gave me restless nights sleep.

How you all nod off soon.

Someone said on here recently, try to see it as your body is resting , lying down etc.

Joining in the Wide Awake and Just Had a Banana club!
I have a hideous cough atm which is stopping me from relaxing but I too can't fall asleep when I know I've to be up in the morning and have an alarm. It's really hard going.
Sorry to you all who are going through this too 😔

Welcome to the no sleep & banana club! It’s nice to talk to others going through the same!
I have a busy day in work tomorrow , roll on 5pm. Do you all find it happens every night or just here and there?

I'm still awake too. My brain is too active at night and I struggle to switch off. I've been so tired all day and yet now I can't sleep. I'm in pain too and considering taking some painkillers.

Every night.. Used to fall asleep then wake somewhere 2-5 and not get back until 6.30/7 by which time need to be getting up for school run,
But now can’t get to sleep until 2/3/4 and then up at 8 while kids are off for the summer. Barely functioning at work and home. HRT has stopped helping with sleep. I’m screen addicted but it’s so boring, what else to do.

@FackerelMillet
im screen addicted too. There are just only so many guided visualisations we can listen to with it wanting to throw the phone through a wall! Easier to just keep scrolling & reading until we eventually conk

Exactly the same here re:screen time. I can’t just lay there in silence.
I’ve watched 2 films tonight.
no chance of sleeping in the next hour or so anyway as there’s currently a fox screaming outside the window. I thought someone was being attacked!

Yep I agree ForgiveItAll
hoping that it happens soon! Good luck for everyone.

Yep, same here castiron- not a fox but noisy car traffic here. Too hot for shut windows.

@FackerelMillet oh no!! That doesn’t help :(

Still awake 😬 have listened to a few sleepcasts. Must get off my phone.