Why is it...

[gabrielle1976]

That Im soo tired all day , some times I can barely keep my eyes open , But when I actually go to bed I lay here for hours and cant sleep .

 

[HeatherLynn]

It could be your internal clock is off a bit or your staying up just long enough to get your second wind or your body has just gotten used to you not being able to sleep. I find if I have a few to many bad nights with the baby then even when she sleeps great I am still staying up. I have little herbal pills I take that help me sleep. Usually have stuff in them like hops and melatonin.

 

[EweSheep]

Taking any medications? A new baby? Or slept too hard? Worried about something? Mind won't shut down? Drinking soda?

Yep, one or several of those things can make your body in a zzzzzzzzzzzz zone during the day.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

When you get in bed, just take a little bit of a DOCTOR APROVED sleeping med, for one night. If your internal clock is off, one good night rest might reset it

Just a thought

 

[Texokie1]

gabrielle1976 - I feel ya...been up for about 45 minutes (it is 4:20 am here)...gave up on sleeping...I swear there are times a person is just TOO tired to sleep...

 

[Kikiriki]

So Gabriella, 

1. Are you really just laying there or is your mind churning over the events of the day?  
2. Are you on the computer or watching TV right before you go to bed?  
3. Do you have drinks that are caffeinated during the day?  
4. Do women in your family tend to experience early menopause? 
5. How long has this been going on?

1. Ruminating is a real problem for women... We chew over and over the problems of the day, often beconing upset and aggitated.  Why?  Becuase our memories are ormed with a strong tie to our emotions.  We remember an event and we feel the emotions as strongly as we felt them when the event happened.  The emotional response then serves as a trigger for memories and pulls more memories out from other times we felt the emotion. And then we are on our way to merry cycle of chewing over and over the same old crap well into the wee hours of morn'n...  The key is to break the cycle.  

>Meditate for 20 minutes before bed.
>Learn a visualization routine for when you go to bed ( look up self hypnosis...very similar) and practice visualization and controlled breathing.
http://time-outformoms.com/self-hypnosis/self-hypnosis-and-visualization/
>Give your mind permission and the instruction to let go of problems for the night: write down what is on your mind and literally set it aside...tell your brain "I acknowledge this problem, but there is nothing I can do to fix this tonight. I direct my subconscious to consider solutions while I sleep."

2. Media use: the light from TVs and computers is known to disrupt the sleep/wake cycle by stimulating the brain. 
 >No matter what, turn the electronics off a half an hour before bed time...
>Listen to relaxing music (instrumental is best). 
>Do that relaxation meditation
>Spend the time gently grooming pets....it is known to lower blood pressure and slow heat rate.

3. Caffeine or even nicotine can keep you awake.  I have nothing but my own story: i used to drink coffee whenever I wanted, sometimes well into the evening and never had a problem.  Suddenly, in my mid thirties, it got to where I could not have caffeine after 3 pm.  Over time it has become even earilier.  If I have caffeine after noon I will be awake at 2 am, guaranteed.
>Check all food and drink labels for caffeine

4. Changing hormones: perimenopause is the four to six years before actual menopause.  During this time homones start to fluctuate disturbing our normal functions like sleep.  While there is an average age for this to start, there is no " normal" age for it.  
>Get a physical and request a hormone level check.
>Investigate a diet that supports female hormones and adopt what you can.
>Make your bedroom cooler...69 degrees is the optimal temperature for sleep and this becomes important because our hormones affect our body temperature regulation.

5.  Habit: we can get into the habit of not sleeping well.  A few bad nights happens for some reason then we begin to worry it will happen, then expect it to happen and sure enough we are not sleeping!  We worry about it, dread it, and actually cause it.
>Make a new habit:
*Reset your internal clock by staying up all night on a weekend, then going to bed when you need to for your daily routine. Do not sleep late the next morning, but get up at your normal weekday time.
*Always go to bed and get up at the same time: hard, I know, but try to keep it within an hour of your weekday times.
*If you find yourself not sleeping after 10 minutes in bed, get out of bed. Bed is the place to sleep, not lie awake.
*Do not exercise after 6 pm, but do make time for a brisk walk or other exercise during the day.
*Get a prescription for 2 weeks of a sleep aid for establishing sleep times. A limit means you'll ration them reducing the risk of forming a psychological addiction, but allows the opportunity for the help in getting into a sleep routine.
*Use the tips in 1 through 4 above.

General tip: I am not a morning person, I am a night owl.  I hate alarm clocks and always struggled to awaken with them.  I invested in an alarm clock that awakens by slowly brightening a light which mimics sunrise.  It has a noise alarm as back up, but I never slept to the point of it going off.  I did not dread going to sleep knowing I would hear that abrupt and horrible noise in the morning.  I love that clock and I awaken truely awake instead of groggy and grouchy.  It is a little expensive, but it is an INVESTMENT in your quality of life and your health....worth every penny for me!

http://room-lighting-alarm-clock.okshoppingnowstore168.com/

So I hope you find something useful in all this and good luck!  (Or should I say good night?)

 

[gabrielle1976]

I think I have most of the problems that can mess with sleep. I have had insomnia off and on from way back when I was like 16. I do drink some coffe or soda most days but not a ton. I dont smoke . I do tend to be on the computer till I actually want to sleep , My life is rather stressfull being a single mom , suffering from chronic illnesses , takeing meds , Im also in constant pain , so I dont usually just fall blissfully asleep at night but its been much worse lately with me not getting to sleep till 3 or after and my son wakeing me by 7. I will have to start trying things to help out cuase this sucks . I just mostly feel frustrated by it becuase I feel so sleepy all day then bamn when Im sapose to sleep nothin.

 

[sumi]

My cousin swears a drop of lavender oil on your pillow will knock you out. Have you tried that? I don't like sleeping pills, they mess with my head, so if I can't sleep I have a glass of wine in the evenings. Or a glass of hot milk with a little sugar/honey. I sip it slowly and by the time I finished it I'm half asleep.

 

[calicokat]

After looking at your avatar, I think it's because that kitty cat is taking up too much space LOL

Seriously, I struggle with it too. One thing that helps me a bit is earplugs. Maybe it just cuts enough noise that my mind can quiet down.

I also play the alphabet game to busy my mind. Pick a catagory and go through the alphabet and name an item for that catagory (ie. animals, music groups, tv shows, etc.). Sometimes I have to go through a few catagories to fall asleep. I also do a twist on that and do a gratitude alphabet - name something from that day that I'm grateful for.

 

[sumi]

I also do the alphabet thing! But then I drive myself crazy trying to come up with a song/name/whatever for each letter. And I use earplugs. Since my son was born I woke up for every sound, from him or otherwise. Earplugs helped a lot! What helps me sleep sometimes is letting my mind wander. I'm telling you, I think such nonsense. I bore myself to sleep

But seriously, thinking about positive things help. Calms you down.