Tired of waking up at 2am..Sonata

@eliana5 Ive never been prescribed any medication for sleep problems but I will share my experience and thoughts in the hope some of my comments will help. I have a friend who takes Melatonin and swears by it to help her sleep. Melatonin is produced naturally in the body. I don’t use it. Starting several years ago, after I retired, I too would wake around 2 during the night to go to the bathroom and be unable to go to sleep again. I would get out if bed and look at my iPad and also have a snack and a little milk. After an hour or so, I would start feeling sleepy and would go back to bed and fall asleep for a few more hours. Then I came across Paul McKenna’s Sleep CD in a portable CD player in bed with the earbuds in my ears. This helped a lot and I stopped getting out of bed. Some other suggestions are to keep the lights low before going to bed. Do not brush your teeth before bed with bright lights on. And don’t drink for an hour or more before going to bed. Keep your bedroom cool and as dark as possible. I read that you will always sleep if tired enough. If you dont have to go to work in the morning, dont worry about your lack of sleep. McKenna’s recommendation is to get up half an hour before you usually do and go to bed when you’re tired. You might find his book, I can make you sleep in your library. It includes the CD. Or you could probably get a used copy from Abebooks.com. Just make sure it includes the CD. Just google sleep hypnosis, there are several hypnosis apps. As I improved, I worried less about it and I sleep better. Dont take alcohol near bedtime. That starts as a sedative but turns into a stimulant later. Hope this helps.

Have you tried taking your anxiety medicine when you wake up at 2 am? I have some success with that approach.

Thank you for the for the great tips and responding. ☺🌹. I have a sound machine that I use, I use the "White noise"..although it masks out slamming doors, traffic, etc..does nothing for sleep. I will try to get a nightlight for my bathroom. Thanks. Hopefully, I will find an answer..this is no way to live. 😳

Yes, I'm only prescribed 4mg of Clonazepam. 2mg in morning. 2 mg at bedtime. I split one in 1/2 before bed, but when I wake up at 1 or two am, take the other 1/2. But I wake up again at 4am..😳 and have nothing more to take.

@eliana5 sorry to hear about the noise. I’ve never had that problem. Ear plugs might help with that.

@eliana5 4:00 A.M. seems to be the magic time. I always end up getting back to sleep at around 7:00 and then have to get up at 7:30.
JK

Hi @ev2nana I wish I had some magic ideas, but all I can say is after the interruption in my sleep pattern while caring for my wife it took my body over two years to begin to finally get back to anything close (but not the same) pattern as before. My GP actually told me it can take time to readjust your sleep patterns once they are altered.
Just my experience.

@ev2nana The causes of sleep interruption can be many.
Environmental/physical: is there a temperature change in the room? Do you have a bed partner who is restless, disturbing your sleep? Do you first cuddle under a lot of bedclothes for the comfort, then awaken when your body temp changes? Did you eat or drink within an hour of bedtime, possibly causing a sugar spike and drop in your system? Are you wearing pajamas or nightgown that are binding your movement as you sleep? Sleep apnea?
Emotional/mental: are there issues in your life that you are facing right now, that won't let you relax? Are you a caretaker for someone, and wake up to check on them? Is your brain unable to "turn off" to let you rest?
I hope you find a solution to your dilemma. Myself, I haven't had a decent night sleep in decades.
Ginger

Fascinating article. Are there any Gender differences in sleep difficulties? Some women state they go to bed freezing and wake up sweating. Some say they ruminate a lot. Any tips to help (sleep tapes). Here is a small that may help students sleep a little better.

I wake up multiple times at night and often have difficulty falling asleep after the third awakening. Any thoughts? Any suggestions