Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

[Croix]

Dear All
The purpose of this thread is as a meeting point for those that can’t sleep and it is late (I.E. AFTER midnight.)

It can be a useful space for users to share their issues with insomnia as well as coping strategies. It can also be a general space for users to converse and support one another throughout a difficult night.

Please note – for those that are just bored or lonely we already have a place - the BB Café, which I recommend instead of here

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/bb-social-zone/the-bb-cafe

Croix

[mmMekitty]

Hi Harpbird,😺

The CDs I have I bought many years ago, mostly from ABC - when they used to have shops. They have an online shop now, but I thought their delivery fee was too expensive.

Apps on phones do use up battery, so I'd plug my phone into its charger & power point when listening to anything there for longer than half an hour. With books the player allows me to set a timer or to play to the end of a chapter. Not sure about podcasts. Sometimes, when I have thought I'd like to hear a programme I've not heard in a while, I find they automatically play the next & next episode, & no option to 'play only one'. They also contribute to data usage limits, if you have any on your phone plan.

The only player I have now for my CDs & MP3s, is in my big desktop PC in my living/dining room. From there, I usually have to turn the volume up to hear in my bedroom, which is what I do to listen to books from there instead. I don't want lots of books or music taking relatively large amounts of storage space on my phone.

That white noise was something I've heard of as something to supposedly help wiith tinnitus. Didn't help me. & the sound of a vacuum? My tinnitus plays up when there is a lot of noise, such as vacuum cleaner, shower, big shopping centre noise. I'm hearing, in my good ear it seems, something like music, sometimes dang near recognisable, but also lacking something... really odd. The first time was a few years ago, when I was on a bus. I can interrupt the 'music' with having real music playing or by singing myself.

Over the years, I've learned I can usually distract myself away from focusing on listening to my tinnitus,,with distracting sounds, but I do better listening to books which alsohelpt with the thoughts when I want to sleep.

But it can't be TOO interesting!😺Warmly❤️❤️❤️,

mmMekitty

[Harpbird]

Oh sorry you have the dreaded tinnitus. I have it severely. Like screeching none stop cicadas 😖. I think the noise of my grandkids are the only noise I can drown it out with. I can’t get into a conversation if I have back ground noise. It really just reverberates in my head and I just can’t hear let alone concentrate on a conversation.
while I am out tomorrow I will go search out a disc with nice sounds on it. Most likely will need headphones as well. I have an old CD player that I got to learn the harmonica ( harp my teacher called it) and he Knitnamed named me harpbird because I picked it up so easily. So that I can use to put on repeat and just let play all night. Might drown out H snoring 🤦🏻‍♀️.

[Mum Chris]

Hi everyone

I have good nbn and I play YouTube meditation videos. I turn screen on iPad off and only use 1 earplug because I like to hear sounds in the house. I like the ones with meditation type music running and a calm ladies voice says positive things like you are safe you are secure you are wonderful etc. they go for hours but amazingly I usually nod off and then the earplug falls out and I’m asleep. I started listening to them just to calm my nighttime panic not to sleep but I found it put me to sleep so bonus. It’s the only thing I’ve found that works for me. When I’m anxious or overtired the ringing in my ears gets super loud and this drowns it out.
☺️MC

[Harpbird]

I tried everything to do meditation. Even when I was doing judo years ago they tried teaching me how to do it but my mind don’t turn of and I just think stuff. Or things I will do the next day to not cause a pain flare up. So I just lay here listening to the screeching in my ears , arggggg. So quiet up my moms , not a sound at all.

[mmMekitty]

Hi Harpbird,

When it's really quiet, I notice my tinnitus more. I used to think it was easing as the night wore on, (I was still awake not matte), but I don't really notice that anymore, so that's why the audiobooks. I'd liket to use music or soundscape recordings, but my thoughts get through that. The words of an audiobook distract me more, & they ccompete with the noise in my right ear. There is not nearly so much in my left.

Right now I've found a book with far too much whispering & some shouty bits too. It's a pretty good story as far as fantasy goes, but it's been annoying me too. A couple times my internet connection cut off also...argh! Now I've started this book, I want to finish it.

Warmly,❤️❤️❤️❤️

mmMekitty

[monkey_magic]

It's 3:01am and I'm lying in bed wide awake. I half blame the Chinese food I ate late.

Anyone else up?

The food is giving me heartburn 😭

[mmMekitty]

Hi Monkey,

Just by my internet history, I think we had been playing word games, up to very nearly 3a.m.?? That's what it has recorded. I was hoping I wasn't up that late before a little bulb went off in my head & my legs had suddenly were too painful/annoying to keep sitting. I didn't look at the time - just know it was very late. I'd even had dessert. I know how I lose track of time so easily, too. & final, the noise outside had stopped. But then I had to reload my audobook...the history records which sites, which pages & at what times.

I'm sorry I didn't see your post here, & more sorry, because I would not have been able to answer you then.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

mmMekitty

[monkey_magic]

That's ok mmMekitty,

Yes we were both playing word games at that time. I slept a bit during that day and was wide awake at night.

[mmMekitty]

It might have been better if I hadn't slept earlier as much as I did. I really only wanted to rest my legs, up awhile.

sometimes it makes a difference, but not always.

I didn't get a snooze today. My legs are complaining, really annoying, so I will have to rest & try not to snooze, again. Maybe I'll see you up late later?? I'd shrug my kitty shoulders only there is no emoji for that.

But I really hope you get to sleep tonight.😺That is so much more important for all of us. I got another audiobook started. 😺Don't know what it's like yet.

[mmMekitty]

I was awake late, uncomfortable, feeling my legs & feet were not going to settle & continue feeling cold. I got up, had a small yoghurt tub, bathroom again, tidied up my blankets again, put my bed socks back on again, took the jammie bottoms off, & getting into bed, I discovered a couple capsules in the bed, I had thought I had taken two hours before. But, no, I suddenly remember, I had to fill my filter jug & had left it to filter, then forgot it. So, that's why I couldn't settle!

Arrg! But then I got to sleep shortly after taking those capsules & woke after 8am.