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Sarah M Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 06 2008 Location: Washington
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Posted: Sept 22 2008 at 10:17am | IP Logged
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Lately I have been dog-tired, but can't slow my mind down to sleep at night. This last night I woke up at 3 am and couldn't fall back asleep. I have a feeling this afteroon is going to be rough . It's so frustrating to feel so tired and yet be unable to sleep!
What do you do to help calm down and sleep?
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sept 22 2008 at 10:38am | IP Logged
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part of it depends on why I can't wind down.. when I'm working at getting things ready for something.. and have lots of things I need to do and can't forget.. I just take a notebook to bed with me so that I can write down those things that I'm fussing over so I can let it go and still remember it the next day to fuss over then
Sometimes I just need something repetitive that holds little desire to finish.. I played solitaire a lot.. shuffling and dealing the cards and moving the cards around was soothing and rather mindless.. and was the best strategy I found in college.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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DominaCaeli Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
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Posted: Sept 22 2008 at 12:19pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
when I'm working at getting things ready for something.. and have lots of things I need to do and can't forget.. I just take a notebook to bed with me so that I can write down those things that I'm fussing over so I can let it go and still remember it the next day to fuss over then |
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This is exactly what I do too, and it usually works really well.
Often I'll just lie down in the dark and pray Hail Mary's--the repetition works, and I usually ask the Blessed Mother to help me rest.
__________________ Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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organiclilac Forum All-Star
Joined: March 30 2006 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Sept 22 2008 at 2:14pm | IP Logged
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My husband was having terrible problems with not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep or sleep restfully - finally I got him a homeopathic remedy and it has been working wonders. He takes Hyland's Calms Forte.
__________________ Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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mary theresa Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 08 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Sept 22 2008 at 3:35pm | IP Logged
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Someone I know said this Rescue Sleep helps her. It's non-addictive and all herb and flower essences.
Also, maybe you are awake because someone in the world or your family needs a prayer AT THAT MOMENT. When I wake up or am woken up and am grumpy about it I try to pray for whoever needs prayers and/or for any sins that are being committed in the nighttime.
__________________ Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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SueW Forum Newbie
Joined: May 08 2006 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 2:00pm | IP Logged
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I had this problem too for a few years, Sarah. What worked for me was trying a variety of remedies before I hit on a few that helped.
While going through this, I made it worse by stressing over the fact that I couldn't sleep! It helped, finally, to do what Mary Therese suggests- assume you are awake for a reason, and pray. I embraced it, so to speak, and didn't bring on extra worry by fretting over how tired I'd be the following day.
For me, the most beneficial were Calms Forte,or Moodrops (homeopathic lozenges), or 5-HTP at bedtime. Some brands are not as good, so ask at the supplement store. It can take consistent use for two weeks before seeing a difference in sleep (I'm usually horrible with follow-through so that was important for me to remember).
__________________ Sue
wife to Mike~
dc Aaron, Christopher, Matthew, Anthony, Mary Rose, Elizabeth, Magdalene, Susanna and John
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hereinantwerp Forum Pro
Joined: Dec 17 2005 Location: Washington
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Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 2:37am | IP Logged
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oh dear----I've had long term sleep problems in my life. At times I resorted to Benedryl!
I used to feel guilty over that, but my dr. actually told me it was quite safe and non-addictive. Anyway if I just got desperate for sleep after several bad nights I would sometimes take a couple of benedryl or excedrin pm before I went to bed!
A few years ago I was having a really bad spell of not sleeping well/anxiety. I got this brilliant idea during prayer: I bought myself a cheap mp3 player and downloaded sermons from the internet. I would listen to 2 or 3 per night! I used to get so discouraged (spiritually) about the not sleeping thing--I'd quote verses to myself like "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for Thou alone, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety," then lie there, not sleeping, berating myself for not being able to trust God!! Listening to the sermons was great! The "enemy" couldn't discourage me, and at least I was using the time to input good stuff into my brain, vs. beating myself up and feeling frustrated!
Sometimes getting up and eating a snack of wheat crackers helps me. Really! I thought it was my own quirk, but apparently the carbohydrates do make you sleepy. Sometimes I'll lie there and lie there feeling restless, then finally I get up and have a snack and, bingo, it works.
LONG TERM what has helped me has been being on an anti-depressant to deal with anxiety, and counseling. But I had not had a good night sleep since childhood ! I'm enjoying sleeping pretty well now for the first time in my life and---not quite ready to give up my antidepressant!
__________________ Angela Nelson
Mother to Simon (13), Calvin (9), and Lyddie Rose (3)
my blog: live and learn
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Bella Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 18 2006
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Posted: Nov 26 2008 at 10:45pm | IP Logged
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I am like Angela, in that my own sleep problems go waay back.
I have a mixed cocktail I take before bed-a few natural things,and a sleep med.
Let's start with some basics,though.(In addition to what the other Ladies have suggested.)
~Are you getting enough regular exercise?
~Can you keep a journal with a flashlight, to write down thoughts that come to you when you wake?
~Are you sticking to a somewhat regular sleep schedule? Same(ish) wind down and wake-up?
~Have you tried reading by flashlight when you wake-either spiritual or fluff-type stuff?
~Can you journal your sleep pattern around your menstrual cycle? Seeing if there is a timein your cycle that makes sleeping harder?
~At the health food store, there are natural supplements-the ones the other ladies have mentioned. Plus melatonin,chamomile tea,Calm-ease,Magnesium ,warm milk before bed,or when waking.
~White noise.
~Lavendar drops on your pillow.
Trust me,I can suggest more...my brain is fading!!
Keep us posted! I will keep you in my prayers.
__________________ Peace and Blessings,
Bella
Wife and Mom to my sweeties!
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