Damn, I wish I could SLEEP!

Damn, I wish I could SLEEP!

Author
Discussion

Sheepshanks

32,538 posts

118 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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King Herald said:
brain is whizzing along a hundred miles an hour....
This is a really baby thing, but what works for me is to count breaths - you get in a breathing rhythm and the counting stops you thinking about other stuff.

Just say in your head - in-breath, out-breath 1, etc up to 10 then repeat. If you get side-tracked don't dwell on it, just start counting again.

Sometimes I like lying awake though - life flashes past so fast it's almost a relief when time drags sometimes.

R8Steve

4,150 posts

174 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Tuvra said:
Another one here :wave:

Lots of st going on in my life right now so I find it very hard to shut down. Night Nurse helps when It gets really bad boxedin
I'm not the best sleeper either, do you not feel night nurse makes you feel terrible the next day?

I tried some and was groggy and lethargic all day, never again.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Sheepshanks said:
King Herald said:
brain is whizzing along a hundred miles an hour....
This is a really baby thing, but what works for me is to count breaths - you get in a breathing rhythm and the counting stops you thinking about other stuff.

Just say in your head - in-breath, out-breath 1, etc up to 10 then repeat. If you get side-tracked don't dwell on it, just start counting again.

Sometimes I like lying awake though - life flashes past so fast it's almost a relief when time drags sometimes.
Good idea.

I like to imagine I'm going for a walk in the countryside around Boxhill (because I know the area well enough).

Ki3r

7,806 posts

158 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Sleep near the edge of the bed, you'll soon drop off.

SlackBladder

2,579 posts

202 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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For those insomniacs out there, think on the bright side................


Only 3 more sleeps till Christmas getmecoat

RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Interesting how many insomniacs are posting on this thread from their beds, so presumably on their phones. There have been a few news stories in recent years about how the light from mobile phone screens can effect peoples sleep.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Childrenssleep/Pages/ju...
Put the phone down a read a book for a half an hour or so instead.

Sheepshanks

32,538 posts

118 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Good idea.

I like to imagine I'm going for a walk in the countryside around Boxhill (because I know the area well enough).
I find anything has too much thought involved - if I try and count sheep they run off everywhere!

HannsG

3,031 posts

133 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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I have suffered from poor sleep for the past few years. This coincides with my 2 year lad arriving...

My wife saw it upon herself to put him in our bed from only a few months of age. The little guy has never left it.

And as a result I am always suffering from a flying elbow, kick, hug or generally being pushed off my bed.

It has got so bad we got rid of the King size and went with a Superking (which is one of the largest sizes in bed). Still does not help...

And wife is now 4 months pregnant so fk knows what we gonna do when second one arrives.

98elise

26,380 posts

160 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Sheepshanks said:
Hoofy said:
k

Good idea.

I like to imagine I'm going for a walk in the countryside around Boxhill (because I know the area well enough).
I find anything has too much thought involved - if I try and count sheep they run off everywhere!
Play a round of golf in your head. Stay focused on that though

or concentrate on your toes relaxing, your feet, your ankles, you calves, your......... slowly focus on them bit by bit.

or latest one is counting back from 200 in 3's.
Again focusing on that don't let the mind wander.
I struggle to sleep and the relaxing your body method often works for me. The trouble is I'm now waking up in the night so never get a full nights sleep frown

J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Try Phenergan, its a anti histamine, it will knock you out for ages but it does tend to need you to actually fall asleep, it just helps you sleep longer when you are asleep.

Diazepam is great but not advisable as it is habit forming.

Milky drinks do help, as does "Working on a Solo project" but that isnt advisable on a scheduled flight biggrin

Night Nurse works but again, its drugs and you feel rank the next day.

Alcohol, helps you get off to sleep but invariably end up waking up.

Sleeping alone helps.


crankedup

25,764 posts

242 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Being asleep is one thing but I sleep the wrong kind of sleep! Wake in morning feeling like the night before, tired and listless. Felt this way for so many years its what I consider as normal. Apparently I stop breathing during my sleep, can be for 15 or twenty seconds before the brain wakes me up.
Diagnosis at Papworth revealed recently that I have 'sleep apnea'. Nod off to sleep, muscle relaxes in the airway and blocks, then brain tells me to wake up. This occurs for up to 40 times an hour, can't remember any of this next morning. Had to inform DVLA of medical condition and insurance, under medical assistance therefore allowed to keep license.
Eavh night now have to wear a breathing mask which is under positive air pressure to keep airway open and allow for proper full restorative sleep. Getting used to the bloody mask is a right pain in the arris, hate it. Altogether now 'poor old Crankedup'. sleep I wish.

matsoc

853 posts

131 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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I never slept easily, I had taken several sleeping pills for years but since a while I managed to avoid them, I learnt to "wait", keeping calm. But when it is 3 AM and you know the alarm is set at 6 I know the following day won't be an easy one.

Luke Warm

496 posts

143 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Ask your GP about melatonin.

silverthorn2151

6,298 posts

178 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Play a round of golf in your head. Stay focused on that though

or concentrate on your toes relaxing, your feet, your ankles, you calves, your......... slowly focus on them bit by bit.

or latest one is counting back from 200 in 3's.
Again focusing on that don't let the mind wander.
That's funny, I play a round of golf when too distracted for dropping off. I always score pretty well too!

I have more recently taken to listening to a radio show from Australia on Tunein that plays The Goon Show on rotation. That or a very boring podcast from radio 4!.

My secretary suffers a lot and has been to all sort of clinics about her inability to sleep. Exercise before going to bed is essential for her. Any clocks in the room have something draped over them so you can't see the time if you wake up, and if you wake up don't worry about it.

I've tried those and they work very well.

Vipers

32,799 posts

227 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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King Herald said:
Been traveling several days, offshore Mexico to England, hardly a wink of sleep, been on shifts, changing time zones, long flight, 9 hours in Mexico airport.....

Last night hit the sack at 11pm, tossed and turned until gone 4, then woke up at 9 feeling like death. Tonight, in 2 hours time, I have to hit the road to London to fly again. I did hope to get my head down and knock out at least a few hours kip.....

So, I've laid here two hours already, in bed, brain is whizzing along a hundred miles an hour....

I hate people who can lay down and simply sleep like the dead, with no problem!
In the mid 70's there were two barges in the North Sea, the Thor and the Herculese. The divers were bunked in a 32 man room. The saying there was "If you cant sleep, you dont need it", like you I dont sleep sound, never have done, the OH is head down, chucking out the zeds. Most days I am wide awake at 4 ish.




smile

hidetheelephants

23,772 posts

192 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Something dull like BBC World Service on headphones usually gets me nodding off if I'm having trouble sleeping.

HannsG said:
I have suffered from poor sleep for the past few years. This coincides with my 2 year lad arriving...

My wife saw it upon herself to put him in our bed from only a few months of age. The little guy has never left it.

And as a result I am always suffering from a flying elbow, kick, hug or generally being pushed off my bed.

It has got so bad we got rid of the King size and went with a Superking (which is one of the largest sizes in bed). Still does not help...

And wife is now 4 months pregnant so fk knows what we gonna do when second one arrives.
You're insane; put the rugrat in a cot or get yourself on the sofa.

Edited by hidetheelephants on Tuesday 1st September 19:06

Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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Noise cancelling headphones (over ear) - e.g. Bose
Podcast or audio book - with a soporific reader. Audible is a good subscription for books.
Advil PM
Maybe a glass of wine
Breathing exercises

Above will catch me 5-6 hours on a 10 hour flight. Rubbish quality sleep but better than nothing. Advil PM leaves me less drowsy, but I would prefer not to drive afterwards.

MentalSarcasm

6,083 posts

210 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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I go through phases of sleeping badly for a few weeks/months, and then it seems to sort itself out for a few weeks, then gets worse again.

Most annoying bit is that if I have a week off work I quickly fall in to a sleep pattern of going to bed at 1am, and waking up around 9am, generally without waking up at all in those 8 hours. But the rest of the time I have to go to bed at 10pm, I'll still be awake around 11pm, eventually all asleep before midnight, and the alarm would go off around 7:15, but I frequently wake up during the night, so don't get a proper rest. Unfortunately I work in an office and I don't think they'd be too happy if I proposed new hours to fit around an acceptable sleep pattern hehe

In the past people have told me to try reading if I can't get to sleep, but I have to be careful as I've been known to just read until 1am and only then realise the time, and STILL not be able to get to sleep.

Last night was also a bad night as I think there was a mouse in the room with me and it really freaked me out, but I'd already woken up once before I heard it so clearly I wasn't going to get much sleep anyway.

MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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When much younger, mainly throughout my thirties when I had a very demanding job with too many deadlines and too many staff to manage and listen to all their aches and pains, I did not have the nouse to realise what I was trying to do was close to impossible. I would become over tired and my head would hit the pillow but my brain was so active that I often could not sleep. That was until I dropped off as my various functions simply switched off from total fatigue. More than one occasion, living out of a suitcase constantly travelling coupled with bed and breakfast many nights away from home, still fully dressed shoes and all, late back into the B&B I'd just close my over tired eyes and rest my head on the pillow for a few moments ..... then wake up still fully clothed suit jacket shoes and all at seven in the morning, TV still on!

Despite nice company car, generous expenses account, as much petrol as I like ( often far too tired to take advantage ) and a well paid job, into my forties I took stock. Fearing the reality of "burn out", cannot go on like that so gave my notice in and had a long break before starting my own business. Never looked back and I could sleep nights even when putting in more than a sixteen hour day frequently. I was my own boss doing something I really enjoyed and all I had to manage was me.

Now, the only thing that stops me from a continuous eight hours now is when I have a large mug of tea, chocolate or coffee before turning in. I still drop off quickly but always wake up two hours later needing to vacate the full bladder. Cut that late night drink out and usually a solid uninterrupted eight hours.


tactical lizard

164 posts

130 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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s6boy said:
Melatonin.
This but more specifically webber brand melatonin that you take under your tongue, 15 minutes and its zZzZz,

I find tablet melatonin does not work.