Can't Get to Sleep, Can't Figure Out Why
Discussion
In the last few weeks I've been having real difficulty getting to sleep. Some nights I'm ok, but around 50% of the time I just can't doze off. I feel tired, my eyes feel heavy yet I just lay there for hours. If I do get to sleep, I wake up in the early hours and cannot get back to sleep again. It's now happening often enough to rather concern me. I've never had this problem before, although I was on medication for some time that caused drowsiness, I came off that a few weeks before this started.
Problem I have is that I work until midnight as a delivery driver. So I'm wide awake now but my day won't finish for another 16 hours, having got about 5 hours sleep last night. I know it's not healthy and I'm worried it's not safe driving with so little sleep. Since this is ongoing, I fear it's all starting to mount up. Now I know they say one of the main causes could be stress or tension, but what I can't understand is that I'm not stressed at all (although this is starting to get to me). That aside, my life is genuinely good at the moment; I did suffer with depression but feel I've really turned the corner on that one and feel good about life. I've tried the low strength Nytol which doesn't make much of a difference, but am very reluctant to use any sort of pills as I may end up relying on them. I'm off travelling in under 2 months so need to get this sorted by then. I will book an appointment on Monday, but until then any ideas? Thanks!
Problem I have is that I work until midnight as a delivery driver. So I'm wide awake now but my day won't finish for another 16 hours, having got about 5 hours sleep last night. I know it's not healthy and I'm worried it's not safe driving with so little sleep. Since this is ongoing, I fear it's all starting to mount up. Now I know they say one of the main causes could be stress or tension, but what I can't understand is that I'm not stressed at all (although this is starting to get to me). That aside, my life is genuinely good at the moment; I did suffer with depression but feel I've really turned the corner on that one and feel good about life. I've tried the low strength Nytol which doesn't make much of a difference, but am very reluctant to use any sort of pills as I may end up relying on them. I'm off travelling in under 2 months so need to get this sorted by then. I will book an appointment on Monday, but until then any ideas? Thanks!
Try some or all of the following:
1) Cut caffeine out f your diet entirely
2) Avoid spicy / fatty foods in the afternoon (or the equivalent of the afternoon in your day)
3) Make sure your bedroom has blackout curtains if it is light outside when you are trying to sleep
4) Yoga / Exercise a couple of hours before getting your head down
5) Lavender on your pillow
6) Try a milky drink before bed
7) Try to avoid stimulation of any kind for 1/2 hour before putting the lights out - TV, PH, etc
8) Don't lie in bed trying to sleep for hours. 20-30 mins if you're not asleep get up and change the environment before having another go.
8) If all else fails count sheep
Good luck. On the odd occasion insomnia has bothered me I found it very frustrating.
1) Cut caffeine out f your diet entirely
2) Avoid spicy / fatty foods in the afternoon (or the equivalent of the afternoon in your day)
3) Make sure your bedroom has blackout curtains if it is light outside when you are trying to sleep
4) Yoga / Exercise a couple of hours before getting your head down
5) Lavender on your pillow
6) Try a milky drink before bed
7) Try to avoid stimulation of any kind for 1/2 hour before putting the lights out - TV, PH, etc
8) Don't lie in bed trying to sleep for hours. 20-30 mins if you're not asleep get up and change the environment before having another go.
8) If all else fails count sheep
Good luck. On the odd occasion insomnia has bothered me I found it very frustrating.
I know it sounds a really baby thing but what works for me is counting breaths.
Say in your head: "Inbreath, outbreath 1", ....up to 10, then start again.
If your mind drifts and you lose track, no problem, just start again.
All it's doing is stopping you thinking about other stuff and getting into a rhythm.
Say in your head: "Inbreath, outbreath 1", ....up to 10, then start again.
If your mind drifts and you lose track, no problem, just start again.
All it's doing is stopping you thinking about other stuff and getting into a rhythm.
Gnits said:
I had problems sleeping once (was doing LOADS of excercise) turned out I was low on Zinc (?!?) took some Zinc supplements and have not slept like that since I was a teenager and could sleep for days, it was great!
That's interesting. Were you struggling to get to sleep? Couldn't stay asleep? Waking in the night? Be interested to know. Negative Creep said:
In the last few weeks I've been having real difficulty getting to sleep. Some nights I'm ok, but around 50% of the time I just can't doze off. I feel tired, my eyes feel heavy yet I just lay there for hours. If I do get to sleep, I wake up in the early hours and cannot get back to sleep again. It's now happening often enough to rather concern me. I've never had this problem before, although I was on medication for some time that caused drowsiness, I came off that a few weeks before this started.
Problem I have is that I work until midnight as a delivery driver. So I'm wide awake now but my day won't finish for another 16 hours, having got about 5 hours sleep last night. I know it's not healthy and I'm worried it's not safe driving with so little sleep. Since this is ongoing, I fear it's all starting to mount up. Now I know they say one of the main causes could be stress or tension, but what I can't understand is that I'm not stressed at all (although this is starting to get to me). That aside, my life is genuinely good at the moment; I did suffer with depression but feel I've really turned the corner on that one and feel good about life. I've tried the low strength Nytol which doesn't make much of a difference, but am very reluctant to use any sort of pills as I may end up relying on them. I'm off travelling in under 2 months so need to get this sorted by then. I will book an appointment on Monday, but until then any ideas? Thanks!
Check to make sure you are breathing easily through your nose. Can you do this without making an effort to force the air through or, when you start to doze off, are you woken up by the sensation of a restricted air flow through the nose?Problem I have is that I work until midnight as a delivery driver. So I'm wide awake now but my day won't finish for another 16 hours, having got about 5 hours sleep last night. I know it's not healthy and I'm worried it's not safe driving with so little sleep. Since this is ongoing, I fear it's all starting to mount up. Now I know they say one of the main causes could be stress or tension, but what I can't understand is that I'm not stressed at all (although this is starting to get to me). That aside, my life is genuinely good at the moment; I did suffer with depression but feel I've really turned the corner on that one and feel good about life. I've tried the low strength Nytol which doesn't make much of a difference, but am very reluctant to use any sort of pills as I may end up relying on them. I'm off travelling in under 2 months so need to get this sorted by then. I will book an appointment on Monday, but until then any ideas? Thanks!
Do you wake up in the morning with a headache and/or a very dry mouth?
Are yuo overweight? Do you snore? How old are you?
Have a read about sleep apnea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea
Deep breaths, relax, focus on your toes. Then with every out breath Imagine them getting lighter and going to sleep, then move to your feet, your calfs, your thighs etc. Without question that does it for me every time - not matter how stressed I am. Just remember to breath and sleep on the out breath.
I have real issues getting to sleep too. The only thing that works for me is to fall asleep at whichever time I naturally fall asleep but then make sure I get up at a normal time. It means I'm sleep deprived for that day and feel a bit crap but it starts to put me back on track as I will be really tired that evening.
Maybe with your job this won't be possible though
Have you tried hypnosis or relaxation cds? Even if you think they are utter rubbish while you're listening, they do work. Usually I listen to the Paul McKenna ones for half an hour and fall asleep, or feel so relaxed that I fall asleep soon afer.
Good luck!
Maybe with your job this won't be possible though
Have you tried hypnosis or relaxation cds? Even if you think they are utter rubbish while you're listening, they do work. Usually I listen to the Paul McKenna ones for half an hour and fall asleep, or feel so relaxed that I fall asleep soon afer.Good luck!
swansea v6 said:
Try and google GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)it is an amino acid which can help "calm down" our CNS and help you to sleep. It is sold as a sports supplement as it helps with muscle tone. Could be worth a try as its harmless and works.
I tried this ages ago and it does work. Gave me a slightly tingly feeling in my hands too. Didnt really mind that though.Thanks for all the replies and advice. Saturday was pretty bad and I managed to get to about 10pm before I managed to leave work early as I was too tired t continue driving safely. However, every subsequent night has been fine and I've got to sleep in good time and mostly stayed there (although thanks a lot to the tosser on the motorbike who woke me at 7am this morning). Still got a doctors on Monday, but hopefully it was just a short term thing. I wonder if it was anything to do with the injections I had a few days previously? Just have to wait a few days to see if I'm back to normal!
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