Sleep is eluding me - any advice PLEASE?

[Suzanne]

I have sleep problems for years usually around this time of the year when the light levels are falling. I haven't been officially diagnosed but with a few other indicators I think its SAD.

In 2007 this coincided with a lot of stress at work and so I had broken sleep for an extended period as after a while your body clock starts to form a pattern and for it broken sleep starts to become the norm.

I finally cracked it this year - I went on a two week holiday in Sept with no TV, no phones, no internet and no distractions which forced me to relax and rest. After a few difficult nights in the first week I got used to a new pattern of sleep and have been sleeping through since then.

I have borrowed a light box from a friend so I don't fall into the pattern again. Looking back now I think I was much more stressed than I thought at the time as the two weeks gave me a chance to take stock and not to get so uptight when things are hectic.

Two weeks holiday may be unrealistic - but I would advocate anything that breaks the cycle. I agree with Star in that sometimes our symptoms are what we concentrate on and not the underlyig cause - so get checked out and perhaps have a think about alternatives to medication such as hypnotherapy or acupuncture.

Hope this helps.

[Suzanne]

[SamLouise]

Thanks very much for the various bits of advice (ahem, ACE) I will definitely be working through some of them and with a bit of luck, find one that works or at the very least an answer for the sleeplessness! 

Just out of interest, am I right in thinking it can't be good to take things like anti-histamines or night nurse on a regular basis as they're bonafide medications?  ???

Thanks again :)

 

[cornykev]

I thought Ace was bang on, but then I plumped for Heldi's idea.  :-X       ;D ;D ;D

[Carol]

I feel sorry for you Sam because I am having sleeping problems as well at te moment.  Its awful being deprived of much needed sleep.  I am waking up at 6.22 every morning, its just like a light is being switched on at that time.  OH has taken Night Nurse off and on for years to get a good nights sleep.  He also goes for Nytol now and then and Sominex.  All available over the counter.  You aren't having a rush of adrenaline with going to the gymn in the evening?  You are in need of melatonin somehow.  Health Food shops used to sell it but its no longer available at HF shops.  Google Melatonin and see what it says.  Hope yo uget a sleep soon.

:( :(

[Froglegs]

Watch gardeners world!! it put me to sleep tonight. ;D

[hellohelenhere]

I second those people who have already recommended Zopiclone - great for an occasional night's rest in amongst it all, but not for regular use. It's a bit variable in its efficacy, and if you take it for more than 2 nights in a row, the effect really drops off. A 'clean' effect in that it doesn't leave you zombified in the morning - I'd really be wary of Temazepam & Diazepam! Bad news - addictive, and groggy-inducing.

I'd also add to what Star said. Could there be some depression or anxiety underlying it all? It's not always easy to identify anxiety, if you don't actually feel anxious as such - it can affect you in other ways that you don't at first recognise. I had what I thought was recurrent labyrinthitis till a very observant doctor suggested anxiety... I had no idea that it could knock me that flat without my even knowing what it was!

I wouldn't think regular use of anti-histamines would do you any harm - hayfever sufferers take them regularly for months on end. Beware of diphenhydramine, though; in Nytol, Sominex, Night Nurse, (I think) and Benadryl in the USA. It makes a certain proportion of people restless instead of sleepy - jumpy legs and so forth. It's also a common allergen, can bring you out in hives. I'm in both camps there so it's useless to me. :D

Chlorphenamine is worth a try, though - that's the one in Piriton.

d**n, I know far too much on this subject...  :-\

[ACE]

Instead of shoving all these chemicals down your throat, why don't you just address the problem, you poo poo my guilty concience, but there must be something you are worrying about. Even something so small and niggly you would not count it as a cause for worry.

Also my mother always swore by her hop pillow. I used to collect the wild hop flowers out off the hedge so she could make a new one each year. She had a lot to worry about, like would her husband come home from a war zone.

[SamLouise]

I don't shovel chemicals down my throat, ya numpty.  I tried them once to see if they'd help.  I didn't 'poo poo' your guilty conscience suggestion either, I laughed at it.  I don't have a gc but I probably do think too much.  Pfft, how do you stop your brain from working overtime before sleep?  If I knew that, I wouldn't have a sleep problem!  ;D 

I'm adverse to trying prescribed medication on a regular basis before trying all other options (which is why I've asked for suggestions on here) but at the end of the day if that's the route I end up going down to get me more than 2-3hrs sleep a night then that's what I'll do :) 

From today I'm going to try the 'empty head' suggestion (shouldn't have a problem there ......!) and try to clear my thoughts in the evening, put my routines in order so I've nothing to think about and then go up to bed with a nice relaxing book so my thoughts stay focused on the story before sleep :)