SLEEP

[Doolhof]

Hi All,

In the past there may have been threads on sleep and how to improve our quality of sleep.

I am starting this thread up and hope to include past thread titles.

For some of us sleep is a real issue, the more we can learn about it the better informed we will be.

Funny stories on weird places you have fallen asleep are welcome as well.

For me, I had just moved house and was very busy getting everything organised. Friends invited me to the drag races. I was so tired and exhausted that I sat down, leant against the fence right near the starting line and fell asleep for most of the evening.

Hope to read some of your stories and tips.

Cheerio for now, from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Paw Prints,

The sound of rain on the roof is lovely, it has been some time since we have heard that here! I love the cooler weather and having the windows open, the dirt flying in is a bit too much though! Guess I just have to keep on dusting and vacuuming until the rains come.

Hope you manage to find something that helps with your sleep!

Have you had a sleep study done or discussed this with your Dr? I do realise there may be some people who just have trouble sleeping for reasons the Drs aren't able to help.

I agree with Shelley, you do own a big dog!

I can't have the cat sleep on the bed as she walks all over me during the night, hits my nose with her paw or sits with her back to me and whacks me in the face with her tail! Nice cat! Not! Ha. Ha.

Hi to Everyone!

Cheers from Dools

[Paw Prints]

Hello Dools,

Thank you for your reply. Like all Danes my boy thinks he is a little lap dog. Your cat sounds like she is quite a character, though definitely not a good sleeping companion. I had to chuckle at the paw to the nose.

My sleeping had improved with my move to the country. That combined with my meds, my Dane & having a routine helped me to get off to sleep & reduced the nightmares. Unfortunately something triggered me in January & I've been struggling since. At least I know it can get better, I just have to keep trying.

Hello Shelley Anne, I don't think we have met before, nice to meet you. I'm glad your sleeping better.

Best Wishes

Paw Prints

[Doolhof]

Hi Paw Prints,

Maybe get another Dane for the other side of the bed! Nightmares are horrible things. I have been experiencing some flash backs during the day of a recent horrible event. Thankfully I don't seem to have nightmares so that is beneficial.

Yer, the cat is a lousy sleeping companion. I am sure in a past life she used to pierce noses for a living. Ha. Ha.

Now it is cooler I am sleeping a bit better.

Hope everyone manages to find ways to get more sleep!

Cheers from Dools

[Paw Prints]

Hello Dools

I am really sorry you are having to deal with flashbacks, they can be so debilitating. I hope you are getting help from your Dr's or perhaps you have a friend/family you can call just to be there for you. I wish there was something I could say that would make it better for you.

Take care

Paw Prints

[Doolhof]

Hi Paw Prints,

Thanks. It is certain things that are triggering. I am trying to tell myself each time that it is okay, to ask myself what is really happening and is there anything to actually fear. The answer is NO. I just need to keep reminding myself of that.

I am so looking forward to some rain so I can open the bedroom window at night and have fresh air instead of a dust storm!

Thanks again, hope your nightmares are reducing for you!

Cheers from Dools

[IreneM]

Hi all

I can relate to the nightmares or flashbacks as I still occasionally get them. I am usually a lucky one who "when I go to sleep I go to sleep." In other words out-to-it. Don't hear anything! But like some of you I still have the flashbacks and say negative things about the flashbacks in my sleep which concern my partner, but over time they are reducing as my self-confidence grows.

Love the thoughts from Grand and Dools about listening to natural sounds. I enjoy the rain on the roof when we get it as it can be quite relaxing sometimes the wind can also be relaxing, knowing that you are sheltered. I still have a set of CDs with nature sounds. Think I need to record them onto an mp3 or similar so that I can still hear it regardless of when it finishes. But I am not the best with sound or picture files.

Someone also mentioned the heat. I have had up to three nights this week when I have just had to lie on the cold tiles in our living area just to cool me down enough to relax. Sounds awful but it works, then I go back to bed and soon fall asleep if I'm tired enough.

Re: meds. I am kind of lucky in that my medications seem to sedate me within an hour of taking them, which helps me feel sleepy. But with my busy committee-style life now (see post in Committees), I am usually dead by around 4 or 5 pm. I was once put on an antidepressant by my psychiatrist at the time to assist with the nightmares, it was a lifesaver. But when I came off it almost two years ago I have been fairly fortunate to no longer get them like I did.

Sleep well everyone!

[something_missing]

hello sherie. so someone else who has trouble sleeping. i have not had a decent uninterrupted sleep for about 10 plus yrs. i have tryed many things which include meditating b 4 bed ,about half and hr b 4 bed, while doing this i am telling myself to relax as well concentrating on my breathing. u have to keep everything else out of the grey matter.[sometimes easier said than done] . go to bed at a set time every nite this way it becomes routine. no coffee after 3 pm. turn off the tv and maybe do some lite reading. try and turn off from the days activities even if it is bugging u. do u do any excicse during the day or at nite. i find it helps a bit as u need to rest up after. quite often i will sit out side and just look at the cosmos for 30 to 40 minutes ,i live on a station so nice and quiet. basically try and leave the day behind,i no not always easy, slow the brain down, have positive thoughts and keep smiling life is good. hope this helps a bit

[Doolhof]

Hi Something Missing,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I really like everything you have mentioned, especially the idea of looking at the night sky for a while. I used to do that more when my husband was working, but haven't done so for a while.

It is still dark when my husband leaves for work in the morning. I sometimes go out and look at the stars then before the dawn approaches.

I have read before that a set bed time works well. I might try and stick to atime more myself. Thanks again for sharing!

Cheers from Dools

[sparrowhawk]

Hi all,

I am so glad to find this thread. I do not get enough sleep; I work full-time and my morning schedule requires me to be up early (by 4:30AM). I try to go to bed early but there's a limit to how early I can go. I make sure my room is dark and there is no tech stuff around (phone off/silent). My work is quite heavy and does tire me, even more with less sleep.

Sometimes I get anxious before sleep, like last night. I was crying and crying and couldn't relax. Really wanted to sleep but couldn't. I tried some deep breathing and ended up having to take Valerian, which I use to get me to sleep.

[Doolhof]

Hi sparrowhawk,

Not getting adequate sleep can affect so much of our lives. Sorry to read you have such a difficult time getting to sleep. Certainly sounds like you were very wound up the other night.

Are you aware when you begin to feel anxious? Are there ways you can accept the anxiousness and try to work through it before it becomes overbearing?

Have you spoken to your Dr about your sleep pattern?

Sometimes I will write down what ever is bothering me a couple of hours before sleep or at least go through it in my mind so I don't think too much at bed time.

Would some calming music help you before bed?

Hope you find some solutions. Look up Sleep Hygiene on the internet, you may get some ideas there as well.

All the best from Dools