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

[demonblaster]

Hi Dools and all 

lol masking tape Doolsy wondering if it wouldn't be uncomfy or too hot a beanie might hold them in place 

I heard someone say they wonder if sleep studies can be done at home. An ad on TV that they can.

Depanx welcome to BB 🙂 poor thing, hope something here can help. That's right they used it as torture. Very powerful. 

Not sure if I mentioned this about the counting back from 1000 in 3's I noticed my eyes when closed and counting were going down ways which seemed but don't know a good thing to help sleep. Cause when I can't my eyes seem to be in the middle. lol may not be making much sense here, I know what I'm on about 😄

[Guest_032]

One of my issues is staying asleep. Anyone found anything to help with this? I fall asleep quickly, the first time. Then wake numerous times overnight. Taking up to an hour to get back to sleep each time. No matter what I do - meditate, etc. If I could stop the waking up I’d be in absolute dreamland. I had a night where I slept for 4 hours and OMG it was bliss. Makes me sad that sleep is a problem. It really affects EVERYTHING.

[blondguy]

Hi Depanx (and Dools for the great thread topic!)

Thankyou for posting with us! Waking up frequently can be an absolute pain for sure. Can I ask you if you are experiencing any stress during the day at all? Whether its work or personal difficulties our sleep can be effected a great deal

I used to have the same sleep wake ups as you do and yes they are awful to have as we are mentally and physically exhausted the next day

I hope you can post back when its convenient for you 🙂

My kind thoughts

Paul

[Guest_032]

Yeah, things are rather stressful. Recent marriage breakup. 2 kids. Work full time in a job that’s rather full on. I think the lack of sleep is also in itself causing stress. I’m trying to stress manage - self care, showers, meditation, yoga, deep breathing, exercise etc.

[Doolhof]

Hi Depanx,

It certainly sounds like you have some triggers that would be affecting your sleep.

I am also very impressed with all the ways you are trying to help yourself.

Hope you manage to find something that works to help you relax, de-stress a little and sleep better.

Cheers form Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi All,

Just bumping this thread up again. There have been a couple of posts recently about sleep issues. Maybe people would like to add their suggestions on how to gain a better night's sleep here.

Usually I manage to fall asleep okay, but seem to be so restless and such a light sleeper that any noise wakes me up and I have trouble sleeping again.

Is it best to get up and do something or stay in bed and rest? Any ideas?

I use ear plugs sometimes but have found I take them out in my sleep as they hurt my ears after a while. I wake up and the ear plugs are not in my ears!

Hope you all manage to find ways to gain enough sleep!

Cheers from Dools

[quirkywords]

Dools

I am glad you have bumped up this thread.

I am probably repeating myself but I have not slept more than 2-3 hrs in one stretch of several decades.

I have a bladder that wakes me up many times a night so I cant get back to sleep easily.

I sort of accept it will be like this. I have seen several urologists ,gps, sleep experts over the years but this is me I don't sleep well.

I have read if you cant sleep to get up and do things and also I have read one should try focussing on getting back to sleep.

It seems that sleep experts can't agree and maybe we all have different problems so there will not be one size fits all remedy.

Quirky

[Doolhof]

Hey Quirky,

Bladder issues certainly don't help with sleeping! I went to a urologist who for some reason referred me to a gynaecologist. So there I am sitting in a waiting room full of pregnant ladies...after experiencing 5 pregnancy losses to see a gynaecologist!

I'm so freaked out by the time I get into my appointment that I have a panic attack and run away from the hospital clinic! I did ask "if I was a man with a bladder problem would I have to sit in a waiting room full of pregnant ladies?"

What does this have to do with sleep apart from needing to go to the bathroom during the night? If I allow the stress to build up regarding my next appointment at the hospital I will have even less sleep than I am managing now.

Hopefully I will be able to sit through the appointment this time!

Cheers from Dools

[Sueetties]

Hi Dools,

thanks for bumping up the thread. The sleeping difficulty has been the whole of my life, talking about since when I was in my 20’s. Now 40 so I have been suffering for 20 yrs and still ongoing.

Not until late last year when I started looking for treatments. I tried my first sleeping pill and it worked so good. It was the only time I could sleep for 4hrs in one lot. Unfortunately this can’t last and won’t be a long term solution.

Therefore I looked for something else more reliable. I tried melantonin for a month. The GP said it could work for some people but may not work for me. After a month i declared it’s not for me...

The third one is the mindfulness exercise. See how many people say it’s good and how much benefits it gives you. but i found it so difficult (and possibly too confusing) to keep doing and don’t see any apparent improvement after sometime. Now I have give up! I guess I stress so much on quick fix and I am not kind of being patient enough! So bad and so sad.

Now my last resort, I cut back completely my tea after 3pm and I will hopefully see some positive change in terms of sleeping. It’s giving me some good signs now. I still wake up at 5am but less sleepless....

yes Quirky, sleeping difficulty is a very common problem and yet it’s not to be ignored! It’s not easy to fix. My therapist said if you can’t sleep don’t stay in bed as the bed is only for sleeping. Get up and do something boring. No iPad etc. I am practising this - only go to bed when I feel sleepy and tired.

Also I am using a sleep spray with lavender smell. It gives a bit of comfort to my mind and it’s kind of falling asleep naturally! It’s worth a try!

[Sueetties]

I haven’t finished writing and it just posted....

Quirky mentioned the bladder issue. Is it not something about drinking excessive fluid before bedtime?! If I drink too much water before bed, i will certainly wake up multiple times for toilet runs.