Trouble sleeping? Not due to kids?

[MandyC2]

I'm having problems sleeping. Everynight, I'm tired and I go to bed, but cannot get to sleep and toss and turn for an hour /so before I actually fall asleep. I have trouble waking up in the morning, and am still tired when I wake with my kids and have to get them ready for school.

I am a full-time mum. I've just quit my job as an account manager, my kids don't wake up in the night. I've quit my job to start a new business path, but this is something I've wanted to do for years, so this shouldn't be troubling me. If it's something I've wanted to do for years, shouldn't it be a good thing, as opposed to stressing me out? I'm worried, my lack of sleep and tossing and turning is now affecting my DH.

I'm wary of trying medication to sleep as I believe in getting to the route of the problem. I've been to see my doctor who says I'm fine and it's a phase. Is my dr the problem? lol!

If anyone has any advice, it's be much appreciated. Thanks

Biggest cause of worrying about not sleeping is.... worrying about not sleeping. In other words, the more conscious you are of the problem, the longer you'll lie there tossing and turning, taking occasional looks at the clock and thinking 'three quarters of a bloody hour!!' Emptying the mind is difficult but you can try meditating on a subject or other mind-emptying tricks like reciting the alphabet backwards.

If you're mentally tired at the end of the day rather than physically tired then you can get an unfortuate 'wired' effect which makes it difficult to sleep. Boredom, ironically, produces the same effect.... if you've given up a busy job you may take a while to adjust mentally. Physical tiredness can be induced by taking regular exercise... preferably outside in the fresh air.

Have a good wind-down routine prior to going to bed.... avoid stimulants like caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, read a book rather than watch TV, take a warm bath, reduce the lighting levels etc. And I can highly recommend camomile tea as a very natural, mild sedative.

Good luck

I have trouble sleeping sometimes but more to do with waking in the night and not getting back to sleep. It's worse than your problem though as i can lie awake for hours!

To be honest i wouldn't have thought taking an hour or so to get to sleep was that unusual, i'm sure most people don't pass out the moment their head hits the pillow.

Have you tried nytols? The behind the counter ones work for me and rescue remedy night spray is also good. I have also had sleeping pills prescribed but hated the thought of taking them like you so i only ever took a couple. Like Chil says exercise also really helps - i try and have one good long walk a day.