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need help with sleep

need help with sleep

Hi Everyone

I am at my wits end with trying to sleep and im hoping someone might have some other ideas.

I have a good bedtime routine but I will admit that since my sleep has gotten worse I havent been keeping up with everything. Im having trouble with the layout of how to describe things so will do more paragraphs...

my daily routine always has a walk often of an afternoon, eating well, limiting caffine (I dont have caffine after 12 oclcock except a cup of tea every now and then but not after 5 oclcock with dinner), basic hygeines of a bath or hot shower, and before bed calming down by reading a book or doing abit of relaxation and incorportating an extra self care activity of some sort like arts or baking, abit of extra exercise and watching a favourite movie.

The things ive tried are:

-limiting caffine

- going to bed early and sticking to a routine of sleep/wake

- going to bed only when im tired (with such little sleep atm im very fatigued and in bed by 9ish)

- relaxation methods inlcuding breathing and/PMR exercises.

- making sure I journal and use my worry box to get things off my mind

- when awake or constantly tossing and turning ill get up and go for a walk, get a drink or just get up out of bed. Lately ive been even more distressed over sleep and so jittery I find my self cleaning (scrubbing floors, mopping, scrubbing the sinks) or pacing.

- Ive tried natural remedies for sleep (as prescribed by a naturopath)

- Tried (one type) of sleeping medications to which my gp and psychiatrist are now telling me I dont have any other options.

- salt lamps- they are suppose to help so have one of those

- essential oils- I put abit on the tops of my feet and my wrists

- making sure my room is comfortable- with always clean and fresh sheets/bed covers, room is tidy, cool room with the fan on lo and often oscalting so its like white noise.

-listening to music both the music I actually like and calming music including certain sounds like waves or the rain (via youtube links)

-going to sleep with the tv on so its abit of noise.

- making sure im not in pain the best I possibly can by taking all my meds ive benn prescribed, and physio exercises etc.

-letting myself just move around and accepting itll stop eventually but it never seems to (takes over 4 hrs to even partly settle but then it starts back up again)

-recent one- as suggested by someone to try listening to a book while falling asleep but stayed away for a long time.

-

Ive spoken to my gp and psychiatrist to which their replys were I dont have any other options for sleep medications or other mh medications despite only trying 4 (one only for 3 days as had a reaction) with each being in a different drug category. She wont refer to me to a slepe specialist either.

I am forever tossing and turning, it becomes very distressing to me to the point I have tears of distress, desparation and frustration, I get hot like I have a fever but my temp is normall though occassionally goes up to 37.6 and im guessing its from being hot and very aggitated.

It has been over 3 weeks of either no sleep, or 3hrs and under. I think ive had one or 2 good nights (5 hrs). I am exhuasted but yet I cannot stop moving.

Any ideas on what I can do?

85 replies

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In response to: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

It sounds like you are describing me, and exactly what I have tried to get my sleep corrected.
I finally found the most amazing solution and have not looked back since Nov 2017 when I started with it.

Some people may be against the use of hemp, but it has literally saved my life otherwise I was getting max 2 hours sleep a night.
Get Canna Calm, made by Cannopathy. Rub it under your feet (about a credit card size amount) for quick uptake, or on your wrists if you want a slower update... and magic.... the most amazing sleep! I am getting min 7 hours sleep a night now with no side effects at all 🙂

Just Google Cannopathy - they have an online store xxx

In response to: Re: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

Hey @outlander hopefully you managed some decent sleep.

I totally understand the impact having someone else in your space has on the levels of anxiety, and having someone else in the house when trying to sleep, well for me, that means sleep is impossible.

I am fortunate enough to be able to manipulate my environment so it's my and my flatmate's space only. We're respectful of each other's wants and needs and very cautious as to who enters the space. Entry ways are arranged so their very rare visitors, or perhaps a night doctor's visit go into only 1 area.

It sounds like you aren't able to do that there. If your pop's visitor comes on a regular basis, on the same night, perhaps you might be able to arrange something for yourself around that, for that one night.

Are you concerned for something that might go awry while the visitor is present, like being ultra messy, or something breaking or intruding on your personal space (other than the noise they make)?

Is it possible (or perhaps it would only inflame his behaviour) for you to write a note to your pop asking for more respect for the things you do around the place and in return that he be more considerate of his and his visitor's behaviour in light of that? Or something similar maybe - sort of clutching at straws a bit here trying to find a way to get some calm for you.

Re the melatonin, did you take it for a few months, as it takes quite the while for it to kick in, and it's a long term management rather than a fast acting one? I'm told I'm fortunate to have had it begin to make a difference in the first month.

Thinking of you and your situation.

In response to: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

Thank you @Bunniekins @Former-Member @Teelee ( also welcome) i cant get many words out atm in the state im in mentally but wanted to say thank you and will respond more when i can 💕💕

In response to: Re: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

@outlander I remembered another thing I do to help me with the anxiety/ mind won't stop stuff.

I keep 2 note books, about A5 ish size by my bed, with a pencil of course.

When I have those thoughts about, oh sh!t I have to remember to do that tomorrow etc, I jot it down, 'cos I know I'm either going to have to get up and do it, or trying to remember it will keep me from sleeping anyway.

I also turn some of the 're experienicing' stuff that happens when I'm worrying, into a story and write it out, often I can then get back to sleep.

I don't turn a light on, there's usually enough light to see well enough by to write - I am used to writing in semi dark now too, so I guess that helps.

maybe adapting something like that might work for you too. It's a bit of a mixture of methods and maybe using some of them at different times will help.

In response to: Re: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

@outlander outlander sorry to hear that you are doing so badly ... are you off to the gp today?

In response to: Re: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

Quick fly by to check in with you @outlander. Hope sleep found you last night and it was restful, at least for a time.

Hope you have some pleasantness in your day today, you too @Bunniekins.

In response to: Re: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

@Former-Member you too SunShower 😄 xx

In response to: Re: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

Hi @Teelee im not sure if youve been back on since your first post or not but again welcome.. i hope your finding the forums ok and if you need any help just give a shout and someone will help

thank you for your suggestion ill take a look at it and go from there...

thank you for everything youve written @Former-Memberr theres lots of info there

my pop always seems to have visitors however they are mostly through the day. The person who came was his brother. We see him still wuite abit but he lives about 2 and abit hrs away so its nice to see him but not at 10 oclcock at night when im trying to settle for bed. Its the noise they create, less space and even though I am struggling (they dont understand it so need to wear the mask or cop the whats up your backside talk) im still expected to be around them all the time. I wasnt that time and I felt awful. I could feel the pressure from both my pop and him for me to be my happy self and to be really social. My pop is usually really good he does respect my space most of the time often gets abit annoying but I think its abit of boredom sometimes too- usually happens a day or so after hes had no visitors or he hasnt visited anyone. My uncle is abit weird and he talks and talks and half the time I havent got a clue what hes talking about but he 'looses' me a lot even though I try to keep up but he repeated the same thing over again in the same conversation or we could be talking about one thing and then all of a sudden will tlak about something else. My pops like that too so they get along well!

Yep I took melatoniin for 6 months with increased doses and no change.

I often journal before bed to get my thoughts out but didnt think of having a notebook for reminders. Im usually pretty organised but will put one there just in case and for use if I choose to thank you.

I got abit of sleep after taking sleepers- im not suppose to but had a few left and was super super desparate so managed 5 hrs sleep- most ive had in weeks.

Thank you for checking in

how are you going?

Hello @Bunniekins thank you for checking in too, how are you

In response to: Re: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

Hi @outlander I hope I find you sleeping at present. I am doing well. Have a busy week ahead being topped off by seeing Dr G for the last time 😞 Dont worry I feel okay about it now .... and wont burst into tears I dont think ...

In response to: need help with sleep

Re: need help with sleep

Aww not Mr G @Bunniekins hopefully you'll have someone just as good as him ❤ glad your going ok though
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