Sleeping badly

[sherrardk]

I keep waking up during the night and finding it difficult to get back to sleep. Nothing in my life has changed and I have no worries (if anything, things seem t o be getting better for us). Anyone have any ideas of why this might be happening and what I can do to sort it out? Thanks (starting to feel. Bot knocked during the day now).

[scotman]

Are you getting cold/hot during the night? That can wake you up. You could try taking Camomile tea or something with valerian in it before bed. You can also get medication called Nytol(and others) over the counter if you are really bad.
I also go through phases of waking up at 3 - 4 am and having difficulty getting back to sleep.

[daisya]

I have problems with sleeping and that's through chronic illness. There are other things that can affect sleep like low iron or thyroid problems etc so unless it's just a phase or something is waking you up, maybe get checked out at the docs if you don't find an answer. Good luck, it's awful being sleep deprived, sometimes I go a few days with only around 2 hours sleep each night. Hope you find an answer.

[Buenchico]

Hi Sherrardk:

Here's the relevant section of the NHS website:
http://www.nhs.uk/Con...ges/Introduction.aspx
(Click through the black links, such as 'Symptoms', 'Causes' 'Diagnosis', etc, to get the full picture. The 'Treatment' link is, of course, probably the most important one!).

To me, the most likely causes include excessive alcohol or (particularly around this time of the year) simply being too warm.

Chris

[mayennaise]

I also have this problem, thankfully not every night. Usually happens after I have had to get up for a pee - something I have to do more frequently since being on a diet! If I am not asleep again in 20 mins or so, I put the light on and read till my eyelids are drooping again - usually 30 mins or so. Better than tossing and turning for the rest of the night. The upside is as it gets light at about 4.30 at the moment, I've seen some wonderful sunrises that otherwise I would have missed!!

[sherrardk]

Thanks all for your answers. I am so used to falling fast asleep after getting up during the night (for whatever reason, toilet, small person waking up, etc) that it is starting to take it's toll now (3 or 4 times a night at the moment).

PS - sorry for the appalling mistakes in my original post!

[AlBags]

I can't stand going to bed when I'm not tired.
Stay up with a cup of tea and surf the Sky channels.
Spent 'til 3.30 am this morning looking for ruddy Passport. Slept great when I did tho.

[albaqwerty]

Are there specific times you wake up each night? EG 2am or 4am or is it random?

I only ask as a reflexogolical (sp?) friend of mine heard that the clock relates to a body part but didn't offer any furhter info on that and I can't find anything on web to do with that.

Alternatively, you could just be relaxing after a lot of hard years.

[scotman]

Also it may be the early dawn. Does the sun come in your bedroom window soon after the time you are waking up?

[sherrardk]

Don't think it is specific times (but can't be sure), not too hot or cold and not anxious about anything. As I say, things are actually looking up for us at the moment - maybe I can't cope with things getting worse again? Sure it will sort itself out.

[jamesnan]

Try putting a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow - this usually works for me and it is a well known idea for difficulty in sleeping.

[Caran]

Don't go down the Nytol route. I did and used it for years, really worked but that was the cause of me having high blood pessdure. Only found out by going to chemist and getting prescription for high blood pressure tablets annd also buying Nytol. Pharmist asked were both tablets for me, on answer yes she told me Nytol can cause hbp. so stopped using them I now use an anti insomnia band that I bought mail ordera few years ago that you wear on your wrist when you go to bed. Works for me but maybe not for everyone, if you are interested I can try and find the link for it.

[rowanwitch]

apparently we have a natural sleep rhythm that cycles every 90 minutes giving a few times each night when we are more likely to wake .... it could be there is an external noise that is bringing you out of the light sleep phase... where I used to live it was lights/noise from a car ( a neighbour coming home at 0330) he worked a funny shift pattern,, even if he wasn't away some nights I still woke at that time as it became a habit things that might do it are animal calls foxes are the biggest culprits, unusual traffic....a heavy truck, or your OH being restless... if all is well and you feel ok it may pass....

[smurfchops]

Sherrard you sound like me. Are you going thru the change ? I go to bed at 11.30pm. Wake up every two hours. Loo or no loo. Really tired during the day. Dr said my thyroid is OK but I really don;t think it is - I have all the signs of hypothyroidism. This has been going on for 15 years now ! So I am used to it. I spoke to a Sleep Clinic professor at Guildford who said I should go to bed at 12 midnight, up at 6.30am (shorten the hours I sleep basically which makes sense), and look out the window at the early morning light. And no naps during the day - which I do cos I am so tired all the time ! I can't get up that early I would wake the whole house. So what do we do ??