3/18/09

Updated: How do you fall asleep?

Please, I need help! I just can't seem to fall asleep normally - it can take me up to an hour. Then - if I wake up at night for any reason at all - noise, girls, bathroom - it takes me another hour to fall asleep again.

I've been up since 4am and this happens all too often.

Anyone been through this before? Any advice? Thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart.

Update: Thank you all who commented. Caffeine has been gone from my diet for a long time, although I admit the sugar is still here! :)

I do think that a lot of it has to do with my mind racing at a mile a minute and I can't slow it down. I think of all the things I forgot to do and get stressed. Tylenol PM has worked for me, but I don't want to have to take it every night, you know? I'm going to try relaxing and praying, as almost all of you suggested, and just see how it goes. I'll let you know what happens tonight!

(Thank goodness for Tivo - I don't have to miss any of my shows if I go to bed early!)

9 comments:

Dawn said...

hi :)
well... i never have a hard time falling asleep at bedtime... usually i fall asleep on the couch! but if i wake up in the middle of the night and think one single thought, i am done for! i wish i had a solution for you- i lay back down in bed for a while and then i figure i might as well get up! i watch tv, play a game on teh computer... and sometimes i get tired enough to go back to sleep... sometimes there isn't time to go back though! i think it really runs in my family :) maybe, just maybe you can catch a nap today?

Unknown said...

Well you are much to young for the change, so, how much caffeine and sugar do you consume in the evenings? Maybe you aren't physically tired enough to fall asleep quickly.....maybe you are too tired mentally.......or, or, or!!! Balance girlie!!

Becca's Dirt said...

When I was young and had 2 young children I also had difficulty sleeping. Diet plays a big part in sleep. Packaged foods with so many dies and preservatives effect your sleep and ability to rest. Rest is key here not just the sleep. My doctor told me once that even though I might be sleeping my body was not resting. I was busy in my sleep. Over the counter medication can help like a tylenol pm. Check the diet first though. Hope I could help a little bit. Becca

Audrey Lois said...

Uncle John says I fall asleep every night within a minute I hit the pillow! When I wake up, I immediately get out of bed and go to the bathroom! This is KEY to getting into the habit of falling back to sleep! Keep a prayer list in your head; start to pray and before long, you will be out cold!

Anonymous said...

Hi Rose,

Do you have a lot on your mind lately? Is your mind going 'on' so much that you can't relax? If so, it might help to take a few minutes before you go to bed to write down all of your concerns, give them to G-d, and then now that He has them, rest peacefully. If it's not your mind going on, do you have any caffeine in your diet? Soda or tea, for instance? I found that when I cut out caffeine from my diet, I had an easier time falling asleep.

Anonymous said...

I don't have any problems falling asleep.

Here is what we tell our patients. If you can't fall asleep within 15 minutes of laying down then you need to get back up. Try to read or work on something for 20 minutes then try again. What tends to happen if you just lay there is your mind will start to race. We also recommend no sugar/ caffeine 4 hours before bedtime. Hope that helps.

Jen said...

AlL I have to do is lay down any where any time and I am out like a light.
Maybe it's that hard pillow you use? How's your mattress?
we got a sleep number bed four years ago and that did the trick for my husband, and proper pillows.
good luck

Safire said...

No ideas here other than the ones that people have already said. I do have a story I play in my head when I have a hard time sleeping and it always works. I pretend that I am in the hospital after some horrible accident and I imagine what my family would say over my comatose body. It's CRAZY but it gives me something to focus on and then I don't make lists of things I need to do. That seems to be my downfall. Good luck with sleeping!

Tiffany said...

I saw this post yesterday, but I'm the last person in the world that should give advise about this. I think I slept a total of four hours last night. I laid there for at least 8. It's maddening! If you find something that works please share!