Sleep problems

[Stygimoloch]

I’m hoping someone has some magic advice to help me with me sleep problems, even if it’s only how to deal with the effects so that my life doesn’t feel so half lived right now.

During April, May time I started having nights when I couldn’t sleep. I don’t just mean I had trouble dropping off, I mean that I didn’t sleep at all. I would not shut my eyes all night. It was miserable.

I started taking magnesium supplements, I bought some melatonin online. Things got better. I’d still have the odd night, but it was maybe once a month or so.

Now the sleeplessness has come back with a vengeance. In the last week, I’ve had 4 nights when I haven’t closed my eyes at all. I don’t know what is happening to me but it’s tuned me into an anxious zombie.

I’ve always been a good sleeper previous to this and loved bedtime. Now I dread night times. I’m almost afraid to go to bed because of how distressed I get when I can’t sleep.

I feel like an utter baby but I’m really struggling to cope. I think a huge part of my problem is my reaction to not sleeping. I go into full on panic mode.

Has anyone had similar? I’m 42 so wondering if it’s due to peri menopause? I’m also a secondary school teacher and stressed out of my mind right now so that may well be part of it.

After a night of no sleeping, I spend the day miserable and anxious, dreading nighttime. As I said, my reaction is almost worse than the sleeplessness.

I’ve tried mindfulness and sleep apps and they haven’t really worked. I just can’t get out of the panicked mindset as I lie there with time ticking away until morning.

Can anyone relate/help?

Try listening to thunderstorms/rain on a device.
I suffered from this several years ago, I deeply sympathise, the nights just seem to drag on endlessly.
There is hope, you will sleep again, please see you GP tomorrow.
Don’t feel bad about taking medication be it zopiclone, diazepam etc use it that’s what it’s there for - we all need a crutch now and then.
It will help you get by whilst you get to the root of the issue.

Poor sleep can be a perimenopause symptom. HRT absolutely transformed my sleep.

Have you tried having a nice relaxing bath before bed with some nice oils? Lavender always does it for me.

Also try dimming the lights after your dinner time in preparation to falling asleep.

Significantly reduce or even stop screen time on your i pad, or phone after dinner.

Try reading a book rather than watching tv before bed.

Get some nice candles and lamps to soften the lights in your bedroom. And maybe a scented candle.

Try getting a nice soft/fluffy/fleecy comfort blanket to bed with you that you can take to bed and wrap yourself up in.

I’ve taken Zopiclone every night for the past 18 months. I get no side effects and it never fails.

Hows everyone's sleep going tonight? I'm having a really really bad one, up pacing now. My body is throbbing and I just feel generally unwell.. it's awful! Literally a living nightmare.
Thankyou to everyone who has offered advice, sorry others are suffering too xxx

@Magic1231 I’ve had worse nights recently but I’ve definitely had better. I’ve stopped looking at the clock so no idea when I fell asleep. I did fall asleep at some point though so I’ll take that as a positive.

More great advice since last night from people. I appreciate it so much.

@Magic1231 how about your night? Seems you were still up very late?

@Magic1231 I get physically unwell symptoms when I can’t sleep. My stomach becomes very upset and I start to feel really ill. It is like a nightmare, you’re so right.

Well I'm glad you got some sleep. I've literally only had an hour 😭 it was maybe 2 last night... I'm feeling pretty unwell, i started considering do I have covid? But I think it is mainly the insomnia making me feel unwell.
I'm gonna have to ring the doctors and see what they suggest today.. xxx

Also I read up on FFI which scared me to death!!