How to fall asleep - so tired but not sleeping

[walkingtheplank]

I think it's been a bit over 2 years since I slept properly.

I think initially it was mostly around my period, or just before, that I struggled - I'd be stewing in bed, hating the world - but now it's almost every night. Last week I did have a proper night's sleep but I think that was at least the first time this year.

I go to be between 11pm and midnight. I'll probably still be awake around 3am. I often move from my bedroom to the spare room due to the noise of my DH breathing. If it's close to my period I don't even start off in our bedroom and go straight to the spare room.

DH says that I should go to the GP but I'm not confident that anything will come of it. My mum says she was like this for a about a decade starting around my age. I am not menopausal. My periods are more regular than ever.

Any ideas/thoughts?

@walkingtheplank so sorry to hear you are a fellow sufferer. I have chronic pain so bit slept well in years either. No quick fix unfortunately but sleepfoundation.org/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips might be worth a read. Presume you have got black out blinds, ear plugs and tried over the counter sleep aids? I'd suggest visit to GP tiotoo ... I've had short doses of sleeping pills to help in then past which can help with kick starting my body into a routine

I did have some ailments which meant I would be laying in bed in paid for quite some time. I forgot to mention that but perhaps that got me out of the habit of sleeping.

We do have thick blinds but we also have a very strong street light so it's not entirely dark.

I try ear plugs but usually end up pulling them out - have tried all types.

Haven't tried over the counter sleep aids as have assumed they'll leave me tired in the morning.

I'll have a look at the website you've suggested.

Thank you.

I find podcasts and apps can help - sleep meditation or soporific stories eg sleep with me. They help me focus on them so my mind doesn’t start whirring.

I listen to relaxing youtube videos.

Read Why We Sleep by Professor Matthew Walker (think he has a podcast also)

Hot bath or shower, fresh sheets and PJs, black out eye mask, hot drink, lavender essential oil, background noise oh and exercise during the day. Dim lights only after it gets dark outside, too.

I read in newspaper about magnesium oil. You just spray it on.
So I tried it . It is works . It also pain kills .
The reason it works is that we don't have enough magnesium in our body.

I bought mine from Amazon.

I have tried over the counter sleep aids and I found just taking half a pill, would let me sleep but made me feel like a zombie the next day.

I now used a meditation app through headphones. It works well for me, not every night,but most nights. I wake up later after falling to sleep during the meditation,take off the headphones and go straight back to sleep.its worth a try.

I have also tried
Relaxation techniques
Lavender spray
Bath before bed
Hypnosis apps
Window open
Window closed
Pan pipes/ chime music
Etc

But meditation works for me.
Hope you find something that works for you.

Another one who struggles with this and often insomnia. YouTube has been my absolute saviour!

I listen to hypnotherapy, mindfulness videos and white noise, my fave one at moment is rain and thunder sounds.

For getting off to sleep I highly recommend Michael Sealey, he's very soothing and it works.
Dp woke up recently when I had it on and thought I had another man in the house
MS is Australian and I've listened to many others but he works for me.

I've also been using an eye mask.

Good luck op

Thanks to thise who replied today. M8ght look at some hypnosis or meditation CDs and will look up the magnesium.

Headspace is a free to start app. Could be worth a punt.

I’ve also used Sominex in the past but had to only take half a tablet to avoid being like a zombie.

m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Melatonina-3-mg-60-tabletek/323302766315?hash=item4b4658b6eb:g:A70AAOSwnTpbI-LW

Have just ordered some Magnesium spray.

I'm not sure about an app as I try to keep devices out of the bedroom.

1. Stay off your phone/internet from about 8pm
2. Make sure room is cool & dark
3. Don't drink tea/coffee after lunchtime

Yoga.
Do some stretches before bed: physically releases the tension

vigorous exercise, audio books, sedatives... good luck x

I haven't had time to RTFT but I've found iron supplement; spa tone has helped.

Feeling less groggy after a few days of it.

I struggle to get to sleep and I've recently started mindfulness yoga. They use a relaxation technique of naming parts of the body in a calming voice and you put all your thoughts into that part of your body which clears your mind of everything else: I fall asleep every single time it's quite surreal

Yoga instructor also recommended valarian hops which I haven't tried yet but look them up on Amazon they have good reviews

Holy Basil is an excellent supplement for sleep.
Magnesium in the form of epsom salts used in a warm bath before bed also helps.
There's a book called the Magnesium Miracle which is really good too which goes into lots of detail on how it can help with pain, insomnia and loads of other problems.

So I bought some magnesium oil. I'm only using 5-6 squirts as it is so greasy. I can't see how I can work up to 20 squirts as my skin is already covered . And it's not helped me sleep yet. Will have to look at the other suggestions.

I'm doing well with my spa tone supplement.

Although last night I needed earplugs due to dh snoring

Sleep/wake seems improved though.

I read my Kindle in bed - the Paperwhite one which has a backlight but is for books only so not a tablet (there's a difference in the light they give off) and I always fall asleep well within half an hour.

Following

Another 10 days of using the magnesium oil - still not having any positive impact other than it's clearing my eczema up nicely! I was still awake at 4am listening to DH breathing.