Insomnia. What seems to help?

Posted by terryb1 @128128terry11t, Jan 7, 2017

@josephene I am having terrible insomnia as well. Nothing seems to help. Any specific suggestions? Many thanks.

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@robbinr

To say that you don't sleep invites a thousand questions - are you ill, stressed, under- or over-exercising?
I slept the sleep of the dead for a solid 6-7 hours every night until I had my son - I was an "older" mother -35.
Then, I got so stressed about the baby monitor, I stopped sleeping.
I've been on Ambien for 20+ years, and it never gave me more than 4 hours of down time.
My Dr. just put me on Seriquil, and now I have trouble getting back out of sleep. Too Strong.
Yoga? Warm Milk at night? Using sound tracks that put you into theta sleep?
Hot baths with Epsom salts seem to be very effective for me
when nothing else works...Pot? It knocks me out. Tell me more about why you don't sleep.
I find if I get overactive in they evening - I'm doomed for sleep. Take care.
Tell more.
R

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Hi all I had alot of trouble at first but then a nurse told me that at bedtime about 30 minutes before shut it all electronics take a combination of Magnesium and Calcium listen to soothing music take your pain med and Melotonin it takes several days for your body to adjust but eventually you will have no trouble getting g to sleep of course be stressfree, turn your mind of.

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@robbinr

To say that you don't sleep invites a thousand questions - are you ill, stressed, under- or over-exercising?
I slept the sleep of the dead for a solid 6-7 hours every night until I had my son - I was an "older" mother -35.
Then, I got so stressed about the baby monitor, I stopped sleeping.
I've been on Ambien for 20+ years, and it never gave me more than 4 hours of down time.
My Dr. just put me on Seriquil, and now I have trouble getting back out of sleep. Too Strong.
Yoga? Warm Milk at night? Using sound tracks that put you into theta sleep?
Hot baths with Epsom salts seem to be very effective for me
when nothing else works...Pot? It knocks me out. Tell me more about why you don't sleep.
I find if I get overactive in they evening - I'm doomed for sleep. Take care.
Tell more.
R

Jump to this post

@lioness sounds good but turning your mind off is more easily said than done.
JK

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@robbinr

To say that you don't sleep invites a thousand questions - are you ill, stressed, under- or over-exercising?
I slept the sleep of the dead for a solid 6-7 hours every night until I had my son - I was an "older" mother -35.
Then, I got so stressed about the baby monitor, I stopped sleeping.
I've been on Ambien for 20+ years, and it never gave me more than 4 hours of down time.
My Dr. just put me on Seriquil, and now I have trouble getting back out of sleep. Too Strong.
Yoga? Warm Milk at night? Using sound tracks that put you into theta sleep?
Hot baths with Epsom salts seem to be very effective for me
when nothing else works...Pot? It knocks me out. Tell me more about why you don't sleep.
I find if I get overactive in they evening - I'm doomed for sleep. Take care.
Tell more.
R

Jump to this post

Know what you mean I have been anxious the last several days so nothing helped me but generally I can best of luck

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I am weaning off ambien slowly and increasing trazodone.

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Try a sleep hypnosis CD or download app by Paul McKenna. Cured my insomnia. I bought the book, I Can Make You Sleep, and play it on a personal CD player in bed. I should say I used to play it. I dont really need it now.. I understand there are other Sleep hypnotists. You could search for those apps too.

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Until a few years ago, I would wake up during the night and not be able to get to sleep again. My solution was to get up, have a snack and read until I felt drowsy. Then one day, I was in a Thrift store and saw a book called, I Can Make You Sleep, by Paul McKenna. It was only a dollar so what did I have to lose? I didnt have faith that the book would live up to its title. Weeks later, I opened the book and found there was a sleep hypnosis CD inside, so I bought a personal CD player with ear buds and played it when I went to bed and if I woke up In the night. I have not had insomnia since. I have since discovered there is an app and the book/ CD seems to be out of print now, but there are used copies out there.

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@ladybirder

Until a few years ago, I would wake up during the night and not be able to get to sleep again. My solution was to get up, have a snack and read until I felt drowsy. Then one day, I was in a Thrift store and saw a book called, I Can Make You Sleep, by Paul McKenna. It was only a dollar so what did I have to lose? I didnt have faith that the book would live up to its title. Weeks later, I opened the book and found there was a sleep hypnosis CD inside, so I bought a personal CD player with ear buds and played it when I went to bed and if I woke up In the night. I have not had insomnia since. I have since discovered there is an app and the book/ CD seems to be out of print now, but there are used copies out there.

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I bought it in apple App Store two days ago. It worked the first night and last night not as well. I had a frustrating computer problem, that might have been part of the problem. I will try it again.

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hello to all you sleepless ones - including me! I'm new to the group but my problem is not being tired enough to fall asleep. Bight and alert at 2 a.m. I've always not needed 8 hrs of sleep - 5/6 hrs. was always enough. But now it's about 3 hrs. I can't go to bed and turn my mind off! Reading in bed doesn't work and trying mindfulness.is a no go. I'm 71 yr old and OK other than I had brain surgery last August for successful removal of benign tumor - yeah! I'm retired and have lots of interests - maybe too many 'cause can't stop my mind from thinking!

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@gloriajean

hello to all you sleepless ones - including me! I'm new to the group but my problem is not being tired enough to fall asleep. Bight and alert at 2 a.m. I've always not needed 8 hrs of sleep - 5/6 hrs. was always enough. But now it's about 3 hrs. I can't go to bed and turn my mind off! Reading in bed doesn't work and trying mindfulness.is a no go. I'm 71 yr old and OK other than I had brain surgery last August for successful removal of benign tumor - yeah! I'm retired and have lots of interests - maybe too many 'cause can't stop my mind from thinking!

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Hello @gloriajean and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect

Thank you for adding to our discussion about insomnia, a rather troubling disorder. From what you posted it appears that you are able to get to sleep but you are not able to maintain sleep. Is that correct?

Here is a link to some information from Mayo Clinic's website regarding staying asleep, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/insomnia/faq-20057824

You mentioned having brain surgery a year ago. Did you have this same type of sleep problem before the brain surgery?

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That is correct. When I do wake my mind starts thinking on overdrive. Although I think I am starting to get a handle on it.

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