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Anonymous
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| Posted: Dec 31 2011 at 11:17am | IP Logged
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For the past few weeks, when I go to bed at night, I just cannot fall asleep. I find myself physically and mentally exhausted, however as I lay down my mind is racing. I try to calm myself, I pray, I toss and turn...and toss and turn. For hours!
The last 2 days when I put my toddler down for his nap, I couldn't fall asleep then either. I used to be able to doze off right away. It's like something in my mind is going back and forth, and I can't relax.
You know the feeling when the next day you're teaching co-op, and you're excited and nervous at the same time? Plus you don't want to miss the alarm? Well, that's the way I feel e-v-e-r-y night.
Has this ever happened to anyone of you?
How do you deal with it? Or better yet, how do you fall asleep?
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SaraP
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| Posted: Dec 31 2011 at 2:45pm | IP Logged
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This sometimes happens to me if I have sugar or caffeine or use the computer or watch a video in the evening.
The caffeine doesn't surprise me, but it's weird to me that a small dish of ice cream or 20 minutes of checking email can have the same effect.
I also sometimes feel sort of the same way and have trouble sleeping when my thyroid hormone levels are too high.
I hope you find an answer soon!
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Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
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amarytbc
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| Posted: Dec 31 2011 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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Are you in the luteal phase of your cycle? If so, it could be a little perimenopause sneaking up on you. If you've tried cutting out caffeine and are getting at least 20-30 minutes of serious walking or other exercise, you could try melatonin once in a while. I usually have to take it at least 5 times a month to fall asleep.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Dec 31 2011 at 8:16pm | IP Logged
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I find that I have a certain "sleep window" each night, and if that is disturbed I have trouble falling asleep.
If I stay up too late, I may miss that window. Or- if I am doing "active" things before bed like handiwork (knitting, typing on the computer), I don't fall asleep nearly as easily.
Sometimes, when I have a lot on my mind, I will say my prayers and then , rather than rehashing all the days events or worrying, I will force myself to think of something completely different. I will often try to make up a story in my mind (use my imagination a la Anne of Green Gables).
I must be a pretty boring story teller, because trying to come up with my own characters and plot nearly always puts me to sleep fairly quickly.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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kristinannie
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| Posted: Dec 31 2011 at 8:38pm | IP Logged
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I used to have this problem. I started doing a daily time with God and during that time really turned over anything that I was anxious about to him. At night, I pray the rosary until I fall asleep. I rarely make it past the first decade anymore before I am asleep. 
Is there a certain problem that is bothering you now? I would do some soul searching about that. Also, maybe a nice relaxing shower at night would settle you a little. I spent years dealing with this problem. I hope you find a solution!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Dec 31 2011 at 9:10pm | IP Logged
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I hate it when that happens! A glass of wine and a not-too-good book will usually do it for me.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Maggie
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| Posted: Jan 02 2012 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
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I avoid caffeine after 2pm like the plague.
This malady can also signal low progesterone in the luteal phase of your cycle...I would check your charting and run it by a practitioner if possible.
Vitamin B6 is crucial for calming and relaxing.
Also, Calcium-Magnesium is necessary.
I have enjoyed a hot beverage called Natural Calm. This is great for getting calcium/magnesium that your body needs.
I believe it is cheaper on vitacost. com
I hope that helps a bit.
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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JodieLyn
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If it's your mind racing there's a couple things I've found helpful.
A notebook next to the bed so I can write down whatever it is so I don't worry about not remembering.
And sometimes I play solitaire.. with real cards.. I find it very repetitive and keeps me just "busy" enough it's hard to focus on other things and I can wind down and relax.
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JodieLyn
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oh and.. if I'm not asleep in about a half hour.. I get up. I find that staying in bed longer than that actually increases my difficulty in sleeping while getting up and reading for a bit or playing solitaire without trying to sleep is more relaxing so that I can get sleepy and go to bed and relax. Once I start tossing and turning I'm not relaxing and it only feeds on itself and keeps me awake longer.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Michaela
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| Posted: Jan 03 2012 at 12:20am | IP Logged
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amarytbc wrote:
| Are you in the luteal phase of your cycle? If so, it could be a little perimenopause sneaking up on you. |
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This is EXACTLY what was happening to me, but I didn't realize it until I started keeping track. I have PMDD and hints of perimenopause. I've been staying up all night until 3-4am.
Praying you can find out what is at the root of your insomnia.
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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Turtle
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| Posted: Jan 03 2012 at 12:10pm | IP Logged
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You might want to consider having your thyroid levels tested. I was experiencing the same insomnia and nervous anxiety, plus things like unexplained weight loss and lower back pain. It turned out it was due to hyperthyroidism.
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Elena
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I agree that it could be a hormonal thing. If you could get some vigorous exercise in the day, that might be enough to do the trick along with avoiding caffeine.
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Elena
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Jan 03 2012 at 11:29pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
| oh and.. if I'm not asleep in about a half hour.. I get up. I find that staying in bed longer than that actually increases my difficulty in sleeping while getting up and reading for a bit or playing solitaire without trying to sleep is more relaxing so that I can get sleepy and go to bed and relax. Once I start tossing and turning I'm not relaxing and it only feeds on itself and keeps me awake longer. |
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Me too. And a connected trick is to try to actually enjoy laying still...relaxing...thinking pleasant thoughts...saying a rosary very slowly...But once my mind or body becomes anxious/moves, I'm up.
Hope you find just the right helps!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: Jan 04 2012 at 2:30pm | IP Logged
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SaraP wrote:
This sometimes happens to me if I have sugar or caffeine or use the computer or watch a video in the evening.
The caffeine doesn't surprise me, but it's weird to me that a small dish of ice cream or 20 minutes of checking email can have the same effect. |
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White light from your computer screen can really mess with your sleep ability. My 19 yr. old son didn't believe me until I convinced him to download and install f.lux. It's a (free) program that's changes your computers lighting based on the time of day. Guess what? He's sleeping better!
I would also second the magnesium though I have found topical/transdermal magnesium seems to work the best for me.
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Jan 04 2012 at 9:41pm | IP Logged
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MicheleQ wrote:
White light from your computer screen can really mess with your sleep ability. My 19 yr. old son didn't believe me until I convinced him to download and install f.lux. It's a (free) program that's changes your computers lighting based on the time of day. Guess what? He's sleeping better!
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Love it! Thanks!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Jan 10 2012 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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I hope that you're sleeping better or are trying some of the suggestions here! This happens to me on and off. It is almost always a result of what's going on in my life -- too much that my brain is trying to process even when I don't actively realize that my brain is processing. Recently someone suggested that journaling (writing down anything and everything that comes to mind) can help get that all out of the brain and allow for better sleep (maybe not in one day). I haven't needed to try it yet... I also turn to the rosary (if I'm already in bed) or a glass of wine and a book or food network (if I'm still up but can tell that I've got too much on the brain). Definitely helps!
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mommy4ever
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Sounds like you have a lot on your mind. Even if it isn't big things and just a bunch of little things, your subconscious is worried you'll forget something so it keeps the neurons firing so you don't forget. Result for me is insomnia.
What I do is an hour with pen and paper and any floating lists I have. I write them ALL down, every little thing of a to do list, things I'm hoping to do, ideas I liked.
Then I break it down. What needs to be done now, and this week. What needs to be done in next few months, and the stuff that is later.
There are things that if I carve out an hour a week i can do then. Pay bills, make appt, etc. Other things I can delegate so I assign them. And the rest is planned, so now my brain can relax.
I know I need to do so, as I went to take my Synthroid 4 times this morning, and I don't think I took it! So distract-ability is another indication that my brain is on overload.
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: Jan 11 2012 at 12:31pm | IP Logged
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I know I posted about this before elsewhere..but insomnia was something that plagued me BADLY when I was pregnant the last 5 times. Turns out that I have adrenals that run too high at the wrong time (at night) and it is tied to an undiagnosed thyroid condition (hypothyroidism type II and low basil body temp)
Adrenal issues can be determined by a saliva test. Basically, you just spit into a vial several times a day and mail the test away and they test your levels at different times of the day and can advise you accordingly how to remedy the problem. I see a holistic practitioner that is helping me regulate my out of balance body and so far so good. I also have a gluten sensitivity and I am gluten free for awhile until I go through the GAPS protocol to help heal the whole shebang. (I am only partially doing GAPS right now and will be doing it more when I get our order of beef in) anyhoo..if you want to know more about what I am doing and why..just ask away.
I have very little sugar in my diet and no caffeine. I am starting to use the spray-on magnesium (mineral absorption is key to healing, btw in the past i could take lots and have my body not absorb it...so the spray is very helpful) Here is an article about Magnesium deficiencythat explains it better than I can...
I really hope this helps someone. I was suffering for such a long time and no one I saw could tell me what I had or why as my other tests came back clean...sorry if I sound rushed but I knew I wanted to get back to you and I have oodles to do today... I hope you find relief soon! I will pray for you!!
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Donna Marie from NJ
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Help! I Can't Sleep!
