ADHD and the ‘chatter’

[Handbagcuriosity]

I’m being assessed for ADHD. One of my issues is sleep. Very often, even though I’m tired, when I get into bed and turn the lights off I can’t seem to get to sleep, every night what I call the ‘chatter’ begins.

Usually there’s a song running through my head and then it’s like I can hear people talking, but it will be snippets of conversations I’ve either had or heard, or I’ll be replaying bits of the day without trying to, or I’ll hear snippets from either tv, films, books, it’s just a constant noise. Earlier on I had Fleetwood mac’s Tusk in my head, it’s now switched to Linkin Park Numb

Eventually I fall asleep. Tonight isn’t one of those nights. Been trying to get to sleep since 10:45 and I’m up at 6 for work and nursery drop off.

Can anyone else relate?

Yes, I relate hugely. It's worse for me if I am feeling anxious, weirdly since starting sertraline for anxiety this brain noise has reduced. I'm suggesting this as a strategy by the way and I'm not medicated with ADHD meds. I've figured out some sleep hygiene- no caffeine after 1pm, read by a dim light for about 30 mins. This seems to quieten it all. If his doesn't work then sleep stories/ sleep meditation, bilateral binaural music generally works. The GP prescribed me phernegan for when I couldn't sleep during burnout last year. I don't think there's an easy answer unfortunately.

Yes! Everyday. I have started taking melatonin gummies and it helps me sleep.

Phenergan tablets are available online - it's mainly sold for travel sickness but it makes me sleep but a bit groggy the next day.

Thanks for replying. I’m sorry but for some reason I had no notifications that anyone had replied. I revisited the thread as I’m having one of those nights.

This time I’ve had an official ADHD diagnosis. Tonight I’ve Michael Jackson’s Don’t stop till you get enough and the last song from Disney’s Encanto playing in my head.

Im on the waiting list for medication but it is a 5-7 month wait. Have tried taking neuromind multivitamins and Tyrosine to see if it helps with focus. Have also cut out all caffeine. Not really helping at the moment with the sleep unfortunately. Might try those melatonin gummies.

The noise in my brain is how I know when my ADHD meds have run out. I wake with a song going around my head 😁 In my experience, the medication does help.

I tried tyrosine but had to stop in a few days as it was too much.

I don't get auditory stimulation, mine is just constant thoughts.

Sometimes a small carby snack can help with sleep. Also generally eating good amounts of protein and healthy fats help my brain.

Thank you. Again I’m not getting notification! Am really hopeful that the medication will help

It is a relief to find this thread as I experience this quite regularly, especially if I am stressed or have a temperature. I have been recommended melatonin, which has been helpful in the past, but haven't followed this up with the gp yet.

Sometimes…. I can pre-empt it with a daydream. I have a sort of long running soap opera in my head that I tune into when I want to sleep.

But if I’ve been to a group event, or in the case of particular people, just talked to them at all, I’ll have snippets of their conversations floating around. And if something bad happens it’s next level.

Yes exactly that! I have a constant song, plus snippets of conversation, sometimes there is also a kind of random sequence of film clips visually going on as well. A bit of break through I had, is sleeping with white noise playing. I also have tinnitus, which I think can be common with ADHD. It helps with that too.

Does anyone else also have any faux pas comments they may have made during the day, randomly pop back too?