Insomnia

[murraymints]

I have terrible problems sleeping and can go 3 nights in a row without a single minutes sleep..does anyone have any advice or tips

[murraymints]

thanks bathy xx

[Buenchico]

See if anything here helps:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Insomnia/Pages/Prevention.aspx

[RATTER15]

Try lying very close to the edge of the bed, you will soon drop off!

[smurfchops]

I use Sominex, another over the counter sleep aid. Take one a night. But get the blue box, not the green herbal one, they are useless. But why would the herbal type not work, by the way?

[smurfchops]

By the way dr wont prescribe Temazapam any more, apparently it can cause Alzheimers. She told me to buy something over the counter. I didnt find Nytol worked very well.

[atalanta]

I used to work in a law Library. Try reading "Jarman on Wills" - the most yawn-inducing book in the whole place. And where law books are concerned, that's saying something. Another title which couldn't keep my eyes open was Gibbon's "Decline and fall of the roman empire."
But seriously, you need to clear your mind of stress and anxious thoughts. A few sessions with a medical hypnotist might give you some good techniques for calming your racing thoughts and anxieties.

[jennyjoan]

join my club Minty - I can go for days without sleep - I know people will say "ach you gotta be kidding". Many's a night just looked at clock - it is 1.30 in the morning - you look at it again - it is 4.30 in the morning - and so it goes on and on and I am exhausted when I have to get up.

have tried all the otc medications and for me only - nothing works. Dr will not prescribe anything at all. Sorry Minty - no cure for Insomniacs - methinks anyway.

[jennyjoan]

Smurfy's answer - By the way dr wont prescribe Temazapam any more, apparently it can cause Alzheimers.

As far as I can see - sleep deprivation causes Alzheimers. Six of one and half a dozen of the other - ye canna win.

[naomi24]

A Kindle Paperwhite containing a good book. Switch off your bedroom light, snuggle down with your kindle and read. I manage about 5 minutes!

[jennyjoan]

when you are a chronic insomniac - nothing but nothing works - kindle or not - kid ye not.

[naomi24]

Worth a try? No?

[shaneystar2]

Lettuce sandwiches. Those sandwich thins preferably stuffed with loads of lettuce.Sounds daft but lettuce is a soporific.
My brother has had a terrible time sleeping since my SiL died recently and the doctor won't give him anything because of other meds he takes and he says it helps.Worth a try.

[ladybirder]

Melatonin does it for me (1mg tablet) whenever I need it.
http://www.biovea.com/uk/productlist/results?KW=melatonin%201mg&FiltersObject=%7B%22SortValue%22:%7B%7D,%22PageSize%22:%2212%22,%22CompareProducts%22:%5B%5D,%22Brands%22:%7B%7D,%22FormValues%22:%7B%7D,%22PriceRanges%22:%7B%7D,%22Categories%22:%5B%5D,%22objects%22:%5B%5D%7D

[Sammy48]

Minty, try a Magnesium supplement or spray.

[Ken4155]

Blaming insomnia on tv, caffeine or smart phones is just modern day bunkum. I've suffered from insomnia since my early teens in the mid 70s. There were no smart phones, or computers then and i didn't watch late night tv as i was stationed in Germany and only knew just enough German to get by. Thankfully i was (and still am) an avid reader and i used to read myself to sleep - still do on occasion. But, like you mm, i can also sometimes go 2 or 3 days with very little or no sleep at all and i'm afraid i haven't found a solution to combat that particular problem.

[Bathsheba]

Minty.....I'm just about to take 5mg of Diazepam....luckily my GP is a realist. I have been on them since 2001,....before that I was on Temazepam. With a bit of luck I shall wake up on the sofa at about 4am, then I'll put myself to bed when OH wakes me + turns tv off ;-)

Baths
x x x

[seekeerz]

Minty try some lavender oil soaked in cotton wool balls in a bowl beside the bed or clary sage .....great for relaxing xx

[seekeerz]

Also take away your clock and have some gentle music playing ...and try not to think ....if your mind isn't running in circles, you won't try chasing it xx

[jennyjoan]

I tried lavender oil many years ago and was worse as I was up the whole night with the pungent smell.

[murraymints]

iI have a lavender pillow thing which heats up..does not seem to do anything..it was another awake till 6am last night but then managed a couple after that..still not enough by a long way