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Sleeplessness? I am Really Having Trouble

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mike99gav

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I wonder if anyone else is experiencing what I'm experiencing. I REALLY have trouble sleeping at night, and I'm tired all the time.
It seems I can only fall asleep if the entire house is quiet and my husband is snoring beside me. And even then a flea can sneeze in the next block and I'd hear it!
Is this something I need to discuss with my doctor? I'd rather not have to take sleep aids if at all possible, but I'm tired!!!!!
 
Hi - I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone in this. I too have problems with sleeping and with being tired all the time. For me it's a mixture of sleep avoidance and sleep disturbance.
 
It seems I can only fall asleep if the entire house is quiet and my husband is snoring beside me. And even then a flea can sneeze in the next block and I'd hear it!
Is this something I need to discuss with my doctor? I'd rather not have to take sleep aids if at all possible, but I'm tired!!!!!
Same thing to me, but my hubby's snoring also keeps me awake...
Yes, the doctor should know about it, but his first advise will be sleep pills, which... I do not know abotu all of them, but for me they stop working after a short time.
 
This is defintely not a unique problem. Sleep is so hard for me and as someone said it is the mixture of sleep avoidance and sleep disturbance. I myslef am terrified of meds and have opted against sleep aids in the past. Reccently I have been wondering if they are maybe worth a try, I only normally get 2 hours a night, if I sleep and often no sleep at all. As a student it allows me to get all wokr completed but, it doens't do any good if I am getting kicked out of class for falling alseep.

Do you find it any easier to fall alseep in the daytime?
 
I suffered for over a year with lack of sleep.
Often I wouldn't sleep for days, and even though physically my body was begging for it, my mind wouldn't calm down enough.

Exhausted physically and mentally, I finally gave up, and starting taking sleep aids.
It's almost been a year now that I've been taking them, and I've never had to raise my dosage, nor change medications.

I used to be very anti-medication before.
Now, the way I look at it, it's helping me,
I don't want to sound like a drug pusher
but I strongly support the use of medication during treatment
(under close supervision by a Dr. of course).

But before you run to your docs office,
have you tried any alternate techniques already?
For example:
  • Earplugs
  • Listening to soothing music or "sleep aid CD's"
  • Not eating after a certain time at night.
  • Avoiding caffine around bedtime
  • Setting up a bedtime schedule
  • Trying to go to sleep at the same time every night
  • Breathing Exercises
  • Yoga
just to name a few
 
Sleep problems are very common with PTSD from what I know. Here are some things you could try that I have found helpful. You may know these things already. Proper sleep is so crucial to our well being, it's worth trying a few things.

- If you drink coffee or caffeinated drinks, cut down and have nothing < 4 hours before bedtime. Similar with alcohol. Don't have any heavy meals soon before bedtime.

- Focus on relaxation for a couple of hours before bedtime. Don't read anything challenging or do anything too stimulating.

- Exercise. Try to get at least half an hour a day, this can help a lot. Don't exercise before bedtime, it will wake you up.

- Change your diet. Try to eat helthily, get plenty of fruit, vegetables and fish, cut down on sugar, fat and red meat.

- If you have nightmares, keep a notebook by your bed and write them down breifly when you wake.

- If your mind is active when you're trying to go to sleep, try thinking of a colour (e.g. blue) and focus on that thought. It may help to block out intrusive thoughts and allow you to sleep.

- If you still really can't sleep, get up and get a glass of water, go to the loo, or read something until you feel sleepy.

- If you're disturbed by noises, try some earplugs. I have had success with the brightly coloured foam ones, they feel odd to start with but are fairly comfortable and you get used to them. You can get them from travel shops, airports, and some outdoor/hiking/camping shops.

- If your husband disturbs you too much, try sleeping in separate beds.

- Try a massage with lavendar oil.

- Try aromatherapy. This could be oil that you rub into your temples (I like a product called "ant-stress") or an oil burner with some oil designed to aid relaxation. Probably best to put the oil burner out before you go to sleep, but in case you forget, make sure the candle can't set fire to anything while you sleep, put it on a large ceramic dish away from anything it could set light to.
 
I hunted up this thread because I'm annoyed about my sleep and glad I'm not alone!

I'm pouting because I wanted to go out with friends tonight but have learned the hard way that I do much better if I don't go out late even on weekend nights. It just throws my schedule off too much--I only do it for important events.

I turn the tv off by 8 and read in dim light till 10 or so, then try to sleep. It takes 1-2 hours of me alternating between reading in another room and trying to sleep. I have to be up at 6 and I usually get about 6 hours. I take my benzo on Sunday nights because those in particular are rough nights for me to get enough sleep. Otherwise I try to go it on my own.
 
If you practice Y&A's post and bob's you will see a real difference over time that will last. Me I had to cut out all caffeine period and add herbal teas. Or you can go to the doc to get a band aid that will become addictive, not heal, and then be forced to heal while going through withdrawals since docs love to give you dope that works and since it works so well they pull you off making you sick as a dog with the same issue.
 
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