Anyone suffer bouts of insomnia?
Discussion
Last two nights I've got about 3 hours sleep. Last night I gave up and drank a fair whack of whisky which seemed to work. Got up for work, felt ok but clearly tired. Got home, cycled 30 miles, had some food, felt pretty tired, attempted to go to sleep and nothing, I've been awake since. It's f
king annoying, and affecting other people too.
Any tips?
king annoying, and affecting other people too.Any tips?
I suffer from it regularly. Maybe 6-8 weeks of approximately 4 hours a night, then a month of regular sleep before the cycle starts again. (guess what started tonight?) Only tips that I can offer that I find sometimes work are, drink nothing but water after 8, bit of exercise and a balanced meal. Other things I find help, is if you've been trying to sleep for a while do something non stimulating. Cleaning is a good one. I've just mopped the floors and done the washing up, walking is another good one. Avoid books and the internet (whoops), find a radio station that is soothing and have it on very quietly. Another tip is persistence, after all that if you can't sleep, just shut your eyes and wait.
Avoid booze, it's a short term solution, as the sleep you get from it is poor and you'll feel worse in the long run.
Alternatively, have a w
k.
Avoid booze, it's a short term solution, as the sleep you get from it is poor and you'll feel worse in the long run.
Alternatively, have a w
k. Hi,
Really? I'm not regular tbh but it has happened before, and it just stopped.
I know what you mean about non stimulating, as it's the second night now my gf has gone to spare room and I don't want to wake her by going out etc. I do have a lot going on at the minute, work, homelife, and obviously now the mounting pressure of sleep. Which I guess explains it.
Water after 8 sounds good, I'd have to make some lifestyle changes to put that into practice though.
Anyways for the sake of work tomorrow I've just had a few drams of Jameson, so we will see what happens
Really? I'm not regular tbh but it has happened before, and it just stopped.
I know what you mean about non stimulating, as it's the second night now my gf has gone to spare room and I don't want to wake her by going out etc. I do have a lot going on at the minute, work, homelife, and obviously now the mounting pressure of sleep. Which I guess explains it.
Water after 8 sounds good, I'd have to make some lifestyle changes to put that into practice though.
Anyways for the sake of work tomorrow I've just had a few drams of Jameson, so we will see what happens

Had it for years, go to bed around 2300 tired, wake up around 0200 full of the joys of spring, lay in bed, doze for a while, wake up about every hour, get up at 0530, breakfast, and go to work at 0600 and spend an hour or so on this thread et al.
The only time I sleep right through, is after a few bevvies. Join the club.

The only time I sleep right through, is after a few bevvies. Join the club.

Yup, been suffering from it most of my adult life. Never yet found a good long term solution (as I type this I have now been awake for roughly 24 hours and have a full day at the office to get through). Booze can help, but I only ever have a shot to get me to sleep at most once a month. The quality of the sleep is not great and personally, I don't actually like drinking much but I can imagine that if one does, having a shot or 3 every night could quickly become a habit that will do your sleep no good at all.
Every so often, I will sleep for a whole day because I simply cannot function. Utter pain.
Every so often, I will sleep for a whole day because I simply cannot function. Utter pain.
Pappa Lurve said:
Yup, been suffering from it most of my adult life. Never yet found a good long term solution (as I type this I have now been awake for roughly 24 hours and have a full day at the office to get through). Booze can help, but I only ever have a shot to get me to sleep at most once a month. The quality of the sleep is not great and personally, I don't actually like drinking much but I can imagine that if one does, having a shot or 3 every night could quickly become a habit that will do your sleep no good at all.
Every so often, I will sleep for a whole day because I simply cannot function. Utter pain.
I feel for you chap. That sounds awful.Every so often, I will sleep for a whole day because I simply cannot function. Utter pain.
I am dead on my feet at the minute, but look ok untill I smile and my eyes have the lines and wrinkles of a 60 year old

There was a program on tv with Kate Silverton recently re: sleep disorders. There was a guy on their who had had insomnia for years, tried all sorts of techniques to no avail often only getting 2hrs sleep in one go.
He went to a specialist, they advised strict routines, can't remember all of them but the basics were only use bedroom to sleep in, no reading, watching tv etc. He was to go to bed same time EVERY night regardless of how tired (or not tired) he felt e.g. 10pm and get up at same time every morning. (No doubt diet and d rink played a part but I can't remember).
This was not an overnight success more like weeks but eventually he was getting something like 6hrs of solid sleep.
He went to a specialist, they advised strict routines, can't remember all of them but the basics were only use bedroom to sleep in, no reading, watching tv etc. He was to go to bed same time EVERY night regardless of how tired (or not tired) he felt e.g. 10pm and get up at same time every morning. (No doubt diet and d rink played a part but I can't remember).
This was not an overnight success more like weeks but eventually he was getting something like 6hrs of solid sleep.
I go through bouts of this ever since I was about 14.
It used to be much worse, where I wouldnt sleep for days on end, Doctors tried several different sleep pills from normal ones to herbal and much stronger stuff. Never really worked.
It just eased off after a few years and I will go through periods where I will only get 2-3 hours sleep in a night. I can't really offer any advise other than get up and do something (as said above) non stimulating. Don't lie there getting aggitated that you can't sleep as it just makes it worse. Or at least it does for me.
Good luck though.
p.s. I found recently that NightNurse does actually send me to sleep.
It used to be much worse, where I wouldnt sleep for days on end, Doctors tried several different sleep pills from normal ones to herbal and much stronger stuff. Never really worked.
It just eased off after a few years and I will go through periods where I will only get 2-3 hours sleep in a night. I can't really offer any advise other than get up and do something (as said above) non stimulating. Don't lie there getting aggitated that you can't sleep as it just makes it worse. Or at least it does for me.
Good luck though.
p.s. I found recently that NightNurse does actually send me to sleep.
I've been having recent problems...though have put it down to the longer darkness hours in the morning. Previously mostly slept through and woke up about 6-7am.
Sleep well for 4 hours approx 10pm -2pm then wake up, need the loo, can't get back to sleep for another 3 hours or so...then wake up 8-9am. No apparent stress although possibly lack of mental tiredness /exercise.
Near enough 11 hours spent in bed, but only 6-7 hours sleeping - I need to cut out the middle wastage. In the early hours when I'm awake I currently do the lets just lie here and try to sleep method.
I've put the heating on, just in case that might be an issue.
Sleep well for 4 hours approx 10pm -2pm then wake up, need the loo, can't get back to sleep for another 3 hours or so...then wake up 8-9am. No apparent stress although possibly lack of mental tiredness /exercise.
Near enough 11 hours spent in bed, but only 6-7 hours sleeping - I need to cut out the middle wastage. In the early hours when I'm awake I currently do the lets just lie here and try to sleep method.
I've put the heating on, just in case that might be an issue.
condor said:
I've been having recent problems...though have put it down to the longer darkness hours in the morning. Previously mostly slept through and woke up about 6-7am.
Sleep well for 4 hours approx 10pm -2pm then wake up, need the loo, can't get back to sleep for another 3 hours or so...then wake up 8-9am. No apparent stress although possibly lack of mental tiredness /exercise.
Near enough 11 hours spent in bed, but only 6-7 hours sleeping - I need to cut out the middle wastage. In the early hours when I'm awake I currently do the lets just lie here and try to sleep method.
I've put the heating on, just in case that might be an issue.
that sounds like a pleasure to me - 6-7 hours a night, I honestly don't mean to be rude but you clasify that as a sleep problem? Wjat are you used to out of interest?Sleep well for 4 hours approx 10pm -2pm then wake up, need the loo, can't get back to sleep for another 3 hours or so...then wake up 8-9am. No apparent stress although possibly lack of mental tiredness /exercise.
Near enough 11 hours spent in bed, but only 6-7 hours sleeping - I need to cut out the middle wastage. In the early hours when I'm awake I currently do the lets just lie here and try to sleep method.
I've put the heating on, just in case that might be an issue.
another insomniac here. it used to come and go, but this last one has been going on close to a year.
i put mine down to stress. i am busy at work, and have a lot on at home that sees me active until 11-12pm most nights. i just can't seem to relax and switch off after this. if i go to bed at midnight it takes until 3-4am to sleep and i'm up at 7 again.
a warm bath sometimes helps but exercise doesn't. i've also been stopped by the fuzz 3 times now whilst running in the small hours. apparently it's suspicious!
i put mine down to stress. i am busy at work, and have a lot on at home that sees me active until 11-12pm most nights. i just can't seem to relax and switch off after this. if i go to bed at midnight it takes until 3-4am to sleep and i'm up at 7 again.
a warm bath sometimes helps but exercise doesn't. i've also been stopped by the fuzz 3 times now whilst running in the small hours. apparently it's suspicious!
gilla said:
condor said:
I've been having recent problems...though have put it down to the longer darkness hours in the morning. Previously mostly slept through and woke up about 6-7am.
Sleep well for 4 hours approx 10pm -2pm then wake up, need the loo, can't get back to sleep for another 3 hours or so...then wake up 8-9am. No apparent stress although possibly lack of mental tiredness /exercise.
Near enough 11 hours spent in bed, but only 6-7 hours sleeping - I need to cut out the middle wastage. In the early hours when I'm awake I currently do the lets just lie here and try to sleep method.
I've put the heating on, just in case that might be an issue.
that sounds like a pleasure to me - 6-7 hours a night, I honestly don't mean to be rude but you clasify that as a sleep problem? Wjat are you used to out of interest?Sleep well for 4 hours approx 10pm -2pm then wake up, need the loo, can't get back to sleep for another 3 hours or so...then wake up 8-9am. No apparent stress although possibly lack of mental tiredness /exercise.
Near enough 11 hours spent in bed, but only 6-7 hours sleeping - I need to cut out the middle wastage. In the early hours when I'm awake I currently do the lets just lie here and try to sleep method.
I've put the heating on, just in case that might be an issue.
Normally I should have a clean 7-8 hours without interruptions.
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