I keep waking at about 4 or 5 am and can't sleep - any ideas ?!

[binker]

I've posted on another thread about my various anxieties and as usual Mumsnetters have been a huge help - I'm now finding myself waking up at about 4 or 5 in the morning and being unable to get back to sleep because my mind is churning stuff around - does anyone know of any good remedies ? I get to sleep ok as I'm usually knackered, it's just the waking up (and it's sooo dark and unfriendly at that time in the morning which doesn't help). Forgive me for being self indulgent in my postings - I feel as though I've been asking for advice a lot and not helping anyone else with their difficulties !

My dh always tells me to think of nice thingss - lying on abeach or Our sons or whatever and it annoys me that it works.

My DH went to work at 4am this morning and I couldn't get back to sleep. I gave up at about 5am and put the TV on.......I was asleep again by 5:30am so when the alarm goes off that early again I'll try the TV as a sedative much sooner.

Maybe this could work for you too.

Don't now if you drink in the evenings, but I find that even if I have only one glass of wine in the evening, I will often wake around 4-5. I am restless and start worrying about all sorts of things. I have now stopped drinking completely and don't have the problem anymore.

You are lucky, my problems' the other way round. I couldn't get to sleep until 5am

Apart from the obvious stuff like avoiding caffeine, the weirdest tip I ever heard (but it works for me) is to keep your eyes open. After a while you do feel like you want to shut them for a nap!

I play on my gamecube(yes mine) or play a game on my mobile which i keep by my bed, it really really works

i don't stay in bed fighting for sleep- get up and read book. feel sleepy again much sooner

This is a sign of depression, perhaps you should speak to your doctor.

Take a piriton tablet. Old fashioned antihistamine which makes you sleepy for hours, I take one if I really need to have a lie in as I wake early otherwise.

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binker, I've found 'white horse chestnut' flower remedy from Holland & Barrett helpful when you get the 'insommnia because you need to think about all life's problems right now' type-of-thing.

gosh, what a lot of ideas - will look out for 2under2's white horse chestnut remedy and maybe try the piriton - though will I then not be able to wake up when I should ? I'd hate to feel any more tired during the day than I already do !
Poor Wiltshire - at least I get to sleep in the first place !

Nyto1 - it's marvellous stuff!