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?

Do you need to keep busier during the day?

Ha, ha, if only. I could not be busier unfortunately.
Having said that, for the first time in about 3 months I was home alone today for a few hours with nothing urgent to do and it was all I could do to not pop upstairs for a nap.

I'm with you OP. All what is suggested here I've tried in 5ge last 2 years but nothing really does it. All in all the less stressed I am the better the sleep but being relaxed doesn't mean great sleep. I'm in my 2bd week of holiday which is as relaxing as it get although still active not one worry and my sleep is ok ish. Still woke up at 5am this morning and couldn't get back into proper sleep.

In my case it's the menopause and that's that. I used to sleep so well never had a problem even when at the most stressful time of my life. I just try to come to terms with it and accept what I can't control.

I will use sleeping pills but only in desperation and be we more than 2 days in a raw as once you can down that road it can be for life and the idea thst the only way I'll get some sleep is through pill really horrified me.

Sounds like Peri-menopausal insomnia to me. It's very common. Perhaps talk to your gp about hormone therapy.

Thanks aqua yes definitely hormone related. Tried hrt but didn't help that much with sleep and didn't like it overall.

I've got a soft headband that has Bluetooth headphones in. I put this on then stick on a podcast from iplayer. I put it on autoplay so that it's continuous but set it to turn off after an hour (you can vary the time)

Concentrating on listening really helps.

I know you want to keep devices out of the bedroom but keep it face down with notifications turned off so you won't be distracted.

Of,course,try your GP -why wouldn’t you?