sleeping through the night issues...for me

[dara1012]

For the past 2 weeks or so I have struggled w/ sleeping soundly throughout the night. I typically am a very good sleeper, but lately cannot stay asleep and don't wake up feeling rested even if I am in bed for 8-9 hrs.

Last night I made sure I didn't drink any caffeine past 4:30p, I didn't have any alcohol and I stopped using my computer 45 min before bed. I fell asleep okay, but couldn't stay asleep.

Any non-medication tips for staying asleep and being well rested?

[deannemdm]

well, this hapened to me and talked to my doctor after a few months of it and I now take Trazadone to keep me asleep. Worked great for the last few years and still does.
However for non-meds solutions I would still suggest seeing your doctor to see if this new condition may be the result of medical condition (low thyroid or other imbalance that could be cauing this).
For me, I just couldn't shut off my brain and keep it shut off for the night I was waking up 4-6 times a night and sometimes not falling back to sleep.
There aer certain foods that could be helpful-- cherry juice comes to mind, but most of them are to help you fall asleep, not keep you asleep.
Sounds like you are trying the right things, but it is still not enough.
Ask you doctor-- do internet searched-- try www.medlineplus.gov it is the website for national institutes of health and you can search conditions related to frequent waking? or sleep issues?

[laurac]

I take melatonin. It's a non-drug natural pill that helps you stay asleep.

Deb, you also have A LOT on your plate and your mind just goes like crazy! Hopefully, as your life becomes a little less hectic you'll be able to sleep through the night again.

[dara1012]

Thanks for the response. I definitely think it is stress/not getting my brain to shut down. I had class for grad school til 9:30p last night, then home, get caught up on work stuff, talk to DH about plans for the next day to coordinate everything and I just can't shut it down effectively.

[laurac]

I think I also heard bananas help you fall and stay asleep. Something in them. Maybe you even told me that! Or Sara did..

[dara1012]

I've never heard of bananas....must have been Sarah

I don't know why I didn't think of melatonin as I know quite a few people who take that (must be b/c my brain is tired). I am hoping that things get better this week. I like the class I am in for grad school more so that is less stressful and I don't work late every night this week like I did last week.

[laurac]

The melatonin really works for me. Once in a while if it's been some time since I slept really good I'll take a sleep aid but that totally knocks me out and I'm sleeping for way longer than I want to be!

[elizac]

DH bought Calms Forte from the Mississippi market to help him sleep. It is a homeopathic remedy to help you sleep due to stress/nervousness. It works for him. The Mississippi Market has a policy where you can return the remedies if they did not work for you and get the full refund.

[sarahisis]

Lol bananas and Gatorade... works great to for restless legs and arms

[deannemdm]

also I have heard (from a doctor I saw at a conference) that L-tryptofan (yeah like from turkey) can work really well-- (he claimed better than Trazadone, but I didn't quite think so) so that is comething fairly natural too-- check out writings from Dr. Henry Emmons--- he is from MN and wrote the cehmistry of Joy and the chemistry of calm-- certain foods at certain times can energize or relax oyu. Foods with tryptofan help as it turns into serotonin (which relaxes you), but you have ot eat it with the rights stuff or else the tryptofan ddoesn't have receptors in the brain to connect to as ther foods get processed by the body faster

[ReneeW]

Maybe try exercising in the morning. I also read once that having your body get hot and then cold is good for your sleeping ... so you could take a hot shower or a bath right before bed. The other thing would perhaps be to try meditation during the day to lower your stress and write down what stresses you out--try to get your stress level down so that your brain can really "shut off" and keep you asleep. Good luck!!

[danikasmom]

I give my son melatonin to sleep. He is 14 and has ADHD. Our doctor told us to try it and he can tell the difference when he doesn't take it. He can't get his mind to shut off either.