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Viking Chat => Off Topic => Topic started by: The Red Baron on October 04, 2016, 06:53:27 am

Title: Insomnia
Post by: The Red Baron on October 04, 2016, 06:53:27 am
Anyone got any good suggestions please? I've been struggling to get a decent night's sleep for months now.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Nudga on October 04, 2016, 07:57:50 am
Don't drink tea, coffee or booze before bed. Drink a pint of water an hour before.
Stay off phones or tablets an hour before bed, read a book instead.
When you get in bed, breath in slowly and deeply through your nose and exhale the same way. Do this for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Oh, and if you have things on your mind, work etc don't take it to bed with you. Think of something you enjoy doing.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: hoolahoop on October 04, 2016, 08:44:01 am
Anyone got any good suggestions please? I've been struggling to get a decent night's sleep for months now.

RB have a chat with me I'm usually awake up until c. 4:00 am. It's a horrible thing and gradually slows your brain down and makes you edgy.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: hoolahoop on October 04, 2016, 08:57:46 am
Don't drink tea, coffee or booze before bed. Drink a pint of water an hour before.
Stay off phones or tablets an hour before bed, read a book instead.
When you get in bed, breath in slowly and deeply through your nose and exhale the same way. Do this for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Oh, and if you have things on your mind, work etc don't take it to bed with you. Think of something you enjoy doing.

Good advice - I bet you're always planning the next Nudgarobics video though. Oh having sex is great too as it relieves stress and releases all those endorphines. Arr lass is usually asleep by the end of it these days so it works for her - only joking !!

Most people swear by reading a book - try a really boring one on a subject you have absolutely no interest at all in.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: The Red Baron on October 04, 2016, 09:03:13 am
Don't drink tea, coffee or booze before bed. Drink a pint of water an hour before.
Stay off phones or tablets an hour before bed, read a book instead.
When you get in bed, breath in slowly and deeply through your nose and exhale the same way. Do this for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Oh, and if you have things on your mind, work etc don't take it to bed with you. Think of something you enjoy doing.

Funnily enough the only nights I've had a half decent sleep have been those when I've had excessive amounts of alcohol in the evening.

I don't tend to drink coffee less than a couple of hours before I go to bed. Is that too late?
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: IDM on October 04, 2016, 09:05:43 am
Read a book that you are interested in!  You won't get bored but your mind should clear of other matters, and you may find you wake yourself up when you finally drop the book out of your hands.

It might just be me, but I find a moderate drink an hour or two before regular bedtime helps to relax me.. 
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Bentley Bullet on October 04, 2016, 09:05:52 am
The main thing is try not to lose any sleep over it.

 If I can't sleep I pretend I'm at work, and have gone for a kip in one of the many nice warm offices, which is unoccupied because the usual dweller is out playing Golf or is on the sick with a paper cut or something.

Failing that, a glass of Whisky helps.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: The Red Baron on October 04, 2016, 09:17:29 am
Sunday night. No alcohol at all. Couldn't sleep.
Monday night. Glass of whisky. Slept for a couple of hours and wide awake.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: hoolahoop on October 04, 2016, 09:18:51 am
"The main thing is try not to lose any sleep over it." Lol BB
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: hoolahoop on October 04, 2016, 09:20:50 am
RB seems you are trying too hard - just how bad is it , do you work and how many hours do you get on average .
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: IDM on October 04, 2016, 09:23:06 am
How about a full 90 mins video of our home game vs Crawley (?) from a season or so ago?
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Rios on October 04, 2016, 10:36:50 am
I have this too brought on by the passing of my Mother and I've not been able to shake it.  Most nights are broken sleep with a maximum of four or five hours.  Sunday nights before returning to work I won't get any at all.  It's not good try to drive home on Monday evening when you've been up for nearly 40 hours.  I can tell when I'm going to have a bad night, my hearts beating out of my chest and my brain won't switch off.  No amount of "relaxation" techniques or "good sleeping" techniques work for me.

The doctor will prescribe you a weeks worth of sleeping tablets to try and knock you back into normal sleeping pattern, but after that you have to find the underlying cause.

I've tried loads of stuff that people swear by (Night nurse, Piriton, etc).  None of it worked.  I didn't try weed, but there were plenty that suggested that too.  The only thing that did/does is phenergan and two (one didn't work!) pills on a Sunday evening get me to sleep.  The problems with it are the drowsyness next day and that if you take it every night it stops working pretty quickly, hence why I only take it once a week.  You can get it at Boots or Weldricks.  I'd suggest starting on the lighter stuff (Piriton for example) as they have less side effects and go to Phenergan if you are desperate.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: NickDRFC on October 04, 2016, 11:19:41 am
Don't drink tea, coffee or booze before bed. Drink a pint of water an hour before.
Stay off phones or tablets an hour before bed, read a book instead.
When you get in bed, breath in slowly and deeply through your nose and exhale the same way. Do this for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Oh, and if you have things on your mind, work etc don't take it to bed with you. Think of something you enjoy doing.

Funnily enough the only nights I've had a half decent sleep have been those when I've had excessive amounts of alcohol in the evening.

I don't tend to drink coffee less than a couple of hours before I go to bed. Is that too late?

That's too late. If you think caffeine may be a problem then don't drink tea/coffee after about 5pm.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: The Red Baron on October 04, 2016, 03:38:42 pm
Not working at the moment, though I hope to be soon. Partly I'm wondering how I will cope at work if I'm only getting 2-3 hours of (broken) sleep every night. (Unless I drink to excess and then I sleep but feel rotten in the morning anyway).

Will try the no tea/ coffee / alcohol thing tonight. Thanks for the suggestions. I am booking an appointment with my GP as well.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: LongbridgeMGRover on October 04, 2016, 04:01:48 pm
Yes good to go to doc's.
I had a really bad spell of sleeplessness a couple of years ago, plus other health problems, all caused by workload and stress in a job where the organisation was going down the toilet.

Once the underlying issues were sorted, the presenting problems disappeared.

Not working may well be your issue, so when you are, things will be ok again.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Sprotyrover on October 04, 2016, 04:11:49 pm
Beatrix Potter was right lettuce is very soporific!try a lettuce sandwich for supper.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Dutch Uncle on October 04, 2016, 04:17:14 pm
I hope TRB that Longbridge's assessment is correct - it seems reasonable. My wife has had sleep problems for some years now and although it is not great she has learned to manage them most of the time. Everyone is different, but a few little things have been important like if prescribed sleep tablets, try not to use them more than twice a week. Then she can at least usually have decent sleep on a night she chooses (may be important when you start work). She does not take any coffee after lunchtime, and avoids hyper television programmes (including quiz shows) in the last hour before going to bed. Also good curtains to cut out maximum light (she also sometimes uses one of those eyecovers you can get on long haul flights). Good luck TRB.

A story just to lighten the mood, and to show the level of competence of our occupational doctor in the Netherlands - we were all made to take a yearly checkup.  I have congenital anosmia , i.e. I have had no sense of smell since birth, and indeed I have no idea what smell is. As a comparison imagine trying to explain to someone blind from birth the difference between red and blue. So in the yearly questionnaire in the 'any other health issues' box I put permanent anosmia. I went in and he was reading my questionnaire .......... and then he looked up and actually asked me how my sleeping was  :facepalm:     

Not calculated to inspire confidence!
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: idler on October 04, 2016, 05:24:09 pm
If you have a late drink RB try a warm milky one as long as it isn't coffee.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: RedJ on October 04, 2016, 05:32:58 pm
I have sleep issues too, the doctors believe caused by other mental health issues. If you lie awake for more than 20 minutes, it's worth getting out of bed and doing something to relax yourself, as apparently it isn't good for you lying there trying to force it.

Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: BobG on October 04, 2016, 09:59:21 pm
I suspect some of sleeplessness is related to age. It's a purely personal observation, but I can't think of any other reason why I, who have spent 30 odd years sleeping for England with never a sign of insomnia should find myself this last 2 years with a body that is changing uber fast, a metabolism likewise and sleep that never lasts for more than about 3 hours at a time now. I'm not unhappy. I work a bit and I have time off a bit. I'm not worried about anything particularly. But I am getting older.

Is that a possible cause?

My Mum, (clearly a fair bit older than me!) has what I have - but she has it in Spades. I hope increasing age isn't the cause!

Bob
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: hoolahoop on October 05, 2016, 12:49:38 am
hmm ive had it since that long 1st stay ( just short of 7 weeks ) in hodpital where they woke  me up every 2 hours or so to administer a boatload of antibiotics. That was nearly 3 years ago now and still i struggle to get a decent nights sleep :(
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Sammy Chung was King on October 05, 2016, 01:21:50 am
Try a paul mckenna relaxation cd, it might work for you.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Orlandokarla on October 05, 2016, 05:13:17 am
As you get older, your body produces less and less melatonin, which is vital for a good night's sleep.
You can get it in pill form over the counter, and it can be an instant cure in many cases. Well worth a try.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: The Red Baron on October 05, 2016, 12:51:47 pm
Been to the doctor. Doesn't want to give me sleeping pills, which I understand, and suggested Nytol. So I will give that a try.

Last night- no booze, no tea or coffee after 5.30- brought no improvement.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: wilts rover on October 05, 2016, 06:07:40 pm
Try a paul mckenna relaxation cd, it might work for you.

Or an early Tangerine Dream album?

Maybe try caffine free & herbal drinks instead of normal tea & coffee?
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Bentley Bullet on October 05, 2016, 06:22:05 pm
If everything else fails have you considered asking BBC Radio Sheffield for copies of their archive tapes of Paul Sturrock's post match analysis, when he was manager of Sheffield Wednesday?

I realise there could be side effects of banging your head against a wall if you don't drop off immediately, but at least concussion might then do the trick. 
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Nudga on October 05, 2016, 06:30:47 pm
Been to the doctor. Doesn't want to give me sleeping pills, which I understand, and suggested Nytol. So I will give that a try.

Last night- no booze, no tea or coffee after 5.30- brought no improvement.

It will take longer than one night to break the cycle.
Maybe even have a walk round the block late on, helps clear the mind.
Try the breathing techniques though, it works for me.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: The Red Baron on October 06, 2016, 07:27:38 am
Last night. Several glasses of wine followed by a large whisky.

Slept like a log. Only woke up twice and went straight back both times.

So it seems my choice is insomnia or alcoholism!

Will try the Nytol (no booze) tonight.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Glyn_Wigley on October 06, 2016, 05:17:23 pm
No offence TRB, but are you a large sized bloke? If you are, you might have sleep apnoea like I do.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: The Red Baron on October 06, 2016, 05:22:44 pm
I am but I don't think it is that. More that I can't get my brain to switch off.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Glyn_Wigley on October 06, 2016, 05:27:57 pm
I've had something similar to that in the past as well - rather than alcohol, perhaps try an over-the-counter antihystamine (ie hay fever meds). They can cause mild drowsiness, might be enough to do the trick..?
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Muttley on October 07, 2016, 07:22:06 am
Hot milky drink, soothing music or talk radio on in the background, regularised breathing, counting sheep.

And if all that fails, have a w**k. Might not send you to sleep, but at least you'll have had a w**k!
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: IDM on October 07, 2016, 12:38:49 pm
Have a w*nk or read one of SCWK's epic posts.


I would never have put those two things together.. quite the opposite!

Back to the OP - I hope you get some respite soon...
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: jonnydog on October 08, 2016, 12:30:03 am
Do you do much exercise? I found when I started doing regular exercise it helped me sleep much better.

Sadly, at the moment, if I wake up after 6am for a gypsies, my mind will start thinking too much and work stresses/anxieties often mean I can't get back to sleep.

... So, it's a w**k in the morning for Jonnydog!!! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: i_ateallthepies on October 08, 2016, 08:36:14 am
If I wake up after 6am and am not thinking about work, my alarm's not gone off.
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: rich1471 on October 08, 2016, 08:13:27 pm
Try not drinking for a month your sleep pattern will return to normal , and try drinking peppermint tea it will help you relax I used to drink to help me sleep but you just end up drinking more and more , I did from time to time use night all sleeping tables they worked really well for me 2 a night and I slept for 9hours solid
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Bentley Bullet on October 12, 2016, 08:37:08 am
Copied and pasted this article from fb.

Banana tea is all-natural, inexpensive, easy to make and totally delicious. Bananas are high in magnesium and potassium, and this duo can do wonders for helping your body relax so that you can get the sleep that you need.

Ingredients

1 organic banana (you’ll be using the peel so make sure it’s free of chemicals and pesticides)
pot of water
dash of cinnamon

Instructions

Bring pot of water to a boil
cut the ends off of the banana and peel it
place the banana and the peel in boiling water and leave it for about 10 minutes
strain the liquid through a colander and pour it into a mug
add the cinnamon
drink your banana tea before going to sleep!

Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: The Red Baron on October 12, 2016, 09:51:19 am
I've found the ultimate cure for you! Watch England.

I did last night. Slept like a log afterwards!
Title: Re: Insomnia
Post by: Bentley Bullet on October 12, 2016, 09:56:16 am
AFTERWARDS? You must have it bad. I fell asleep after 20 minutes!