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Insomniac for 35 years
I have been an Insomniac for decades. I sleep about 2 hours and wake up as often. I have not had a full nights sleep in all that time. I tried a prescription sleep medication and ended up in "sleep paralyzation" where I couldn't wake up. That was really frightening.
I have a Sensory Hypersensitivity issue as well. Basically my hearing, eye sight/sensitivity to light/ flashing lights etc./ touch/ odors - those things are like "Superman" and this is no fun. I can't shut any of it out and it all comes in so fast.
I use a fan for white noise at night, keep the room as cold and dark as I can (I am also a Migraineur). I have a soft mattress, not soft enough, it feels like concrete to me. My husband passed away 20 months ago (pancreatic cancer), before that he used to rub my forehead gently and my neck until I fell asleep and I could get 4 hours sleep at one time then the every 2 hour wake up would start.
Has anyone had success with getting at least 2 -four hour sections of sleep at night?
Kasey7
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@userfriendly2025 would you be more specific. What did you press on?
Scott: I finally found a machine that does Green Noise on Amazon. I this site will not let me leave you the link.
It is made by "Calm Me", its a round one that plugs into the wall for $39.00. I ordered it. I tried the YouTube Green Noise last night and was awakened by a Walmart ad at 2:00AM.....ugh!
I will say this, that Green Noise calmed me, and what sleep I achieved was better. Kasey7
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1 ReactionI am wondering if you have tried a variety of sleep aids??
Over the counter and prescription?
Some work for me & some don't so try taking different ones on different days.
Also, is there a sleep lab near you?
Also "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?" K
I've tried every sleep aid known to man.
One thing that actually worked pretty well but can't be used very often: half a bottle of Osborne Cream Sherry.
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1 ReactionWow! Half a bottle of Osborne Cream Sherry would tend to do that! lol
And I thought I was the only Veteran Sleep Insomniac!
I stopped sleeping when I was about 10 years old. I was ten in 1965.
I found a doc who helped me sleep and I love the doc.
As a child and younger adult the way I learned to "sleep" better was using the "sheer exhaustion method": stay so busy physically active until I crashed.
But that does not work once one gets to be older, my body gave out with all the physical stuff I constantly did and still do to this day, to a point.
Super athletic physical compensating for stress only lasts as long as your joints.
My doc and I discovered I was having blood pressure and blood sugar spikes - along with cortisol spikes that was causing most of my insomnia. That and an overactive brain.
My doc helped fixed that two years ago when I was 68.
I now sleep more nights a month than not: seven hours.
I used to sleep 2-4 hours, 4-5 days a week, sleep due to exhaustion one night a week, and no sleep at all at LEAST one whole night a week. It was horrendous and I ended up on social security disability due to insomnia and stress/exhaustion at age 62.
I was having nightmares, which led to increased cortisol, which leads to blood sugar spikes and night sweats; I was also having terrible blood pressure spikes during sleep due to nightmares.
So, he put me on several medications to fix the nightmares, the blood pressure spikes and the rest is history. I sleep well at least four nights a week now - 7-8 hours straight.
I also have to keep my weight normal, if I let my weight creep up I find I get an urge to pee in the middle of the night, doc says that is related to fat surrounding my bladder and lower intestinal track.
I also exercise religiously, HIT exercise. High intensity cardiac for one minute, then 5-10 min of low intensity exercise for one hour most days a week.