-
Exercise if you can...otherwise pick your poison... Xanax, Ativan, Ambien, Lunesta, Marijuana if it's legal in your state..try them all until you find one that works well for you. Lack of sleep can have many negative impacts on your health. Once you find something that works you may find that you can go without it for a bit...
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
-
Re: Insomnia?
See your doctor, there's quite a bit that can help, but don't accept sleeping pills as a solution (because they're not they just relieve the symptoms)
Also some things that can help, the main one is sleep hygiene:
- stick to the same bed time and getting up time even at the weekend, your body clock getting out of synch is a common cause of insomnia or onset insomnia, it's like jet lag, but caused by sleeping in late and going to bed late at the weekend, then being unable to sleep at the right time during the week. the cure is to keep the same bedtime for all 7 days
- avoiding daytime sleeping helps many people, although others can catch up with sleep during the day and still sleep well at night. others find that daytime sleeping makes nighttime insomnia worse
- don't have screen time late at night, read a good (but not heavy or upsetting) book, something lighthearted but a little bit boring
- have a bath before bed, some herbs like lavender relax you and encourage sleep, and have a bedtime routine to give your brain the message that it's time to switch off now
- avoid any caffeinated drinks after 5pm, or even better give up caffeine altogether
- get plenty of exercise and activity during the day, but not in the 3 hrs before bed time
- get plenty of sunlight during the day, and dim the lights in the evening (bright enough to read your book by, but not much brighter than that)
- eat regular meals and don't eat too late in the evening. Lack of carbohydrate during the day or erratic eating habits can make insomnia worse
- sleep in a very dark room, and avoid noise pollution as much as possible. close the windows to shut out noise from traffic, neighbours etc
- find time to relax during the day, take study breaks etc
- if something is bothering you and making you feel stressed, *don't* bottle it up, talk about it and get it off your chest
- if you're feeling generally stressed (e.g. because of exams etc) do regular exercise to relieve the stress and also take time to relax, have fun, and talk about how you feel with people you trust
- visualise happy and relaxing things when you go to bed, e.g. relaxing on a beach somewhere nice
If the lack of sleep comes from psychological issues or started after a traumatic event, then counselling may help. Or if the worries/issues that are keeping you awake are something that you can't discuss with close friends or family, for whatever reason.
If the above measures don't help, or if you think you need counselling, see a doctor.
BTW I've had serious insomnia problems, even sleeping pills didn't work on me (I don't recommend them at all, although they may help some people *in the short term only*) the above things help somewhat, but what's helped me the most is counselling, But what helps depends on the cause so try all the above points and if they don't help see your doc
-
Post Thanks / Like - 2 Likes
-
Re: Insomnia?
Thank you for your response! Unfortunately, these are things I have been doing for years with no help. I've also been under a doctor's care for several years, had a sleep study done, etc. Fortunately, I am now retired, so I can get more rest. I am resigned, pretty much, to live with it and get as much rest as I can.
-
Re: Insomnia?
Arleta,
I think what you are experiencing is common with people in the silver generation. My insomnia is caused by the prednisone. I once received some advice (this was pre prednisone). When you can’t sleep get up and read the most boring thing you can find. You may have to do this a few times during the night.
When I was newly married to my husband, who sometimes talks in a monotone, I would ask him to tell me about the technical part of his business. It wasn’t for many years that I confessed he was putting me to sleep. We laugh about it now.
I know you have tried everything mentioned. Here is one more. There are sleep recordings out there. Some are just music, others talking. Also, I have never had acupuncture, but you might want to check into that.
I have also heard that eating a bowl of oatmeal or cream of wheat before sleep helps.
I know many seniors whose lights are on at all hours. My husband must be up four times a night. Our dogs think 2 am is playtime.
Sometimes not listening to others tell you what normal sleep times are and going along with your own body clock is the best thing. You are retired. If you stay up until 3 am and sleep until noon, that’s OK. Pull your phone plug out, so it doesn’t wake you at 9
Masha
-
Post Thanks / Like - 3 Likes
-
Re: Insomnia?
Thanks, Masha!
Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
----Arleta
-
Post Thanks / Like - 2 Likes
-
Re: Insomnia?
Pete
dx 1/11
"Every day is a good day. Some are better than others." - unknown
"Take your meds as directed and live your life as fully as you can." - Michael Chacey, MD
-
Post Thanks / Like - 3 Likes
Bookmarks