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Top tips please. Switching your brain off.

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SoTired

Member since
March 2021

387 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 12:57amReport post

Post deleted by user


Edited Wed March 29, 2023 9:36am

loulou74

Member since
September 2022

255 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 3:33amReport post

Welcome to the wide awake club! I'm okay unless the dog wake me up and then I struggle to get back to sleep as my mind starts whirring away.

I have a good bed routine. Always go to bed at 10. Phone stays downstairs. No caffeine after lunch. Try not to watch anything to scary just before bed! After arrest, when I was really struggling, I found a sleep meditation really helped me to switch off. I also find switching off tv/phone etc an hour or so before bed helps as it gives the mind time to wind down while pottering about. I use the Bedtime mode on phone and tablet. I also do most of my processing when walking the dog in the morning.

I think you also need to cut yourself a bit of slack. You need to leave enough in the pot for you. Nobody is going to criticise you for not being totally on top of everything x

Kt

Member since
January 2023

180 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 7:38amReport post

Hey So tired... I would definitely say my best tip to help at bedtime is not touching my phone once I am in bed.

Nice hot bubble bath and no phone xxx

Lola53

Member since
May 2021

269 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 8:09amReport post

I can easily fall asleep when I go to bed - it's the staying asleep that's the problem, and the demons that come calling at about 3am. Sleep meditation is the only thing that works for me; I use ones on Spotify, in particular Yogi Bryan.

Seaside

Member since
July 2022

558 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 8:25amReport post

I'm also a member of the wide awake club !!

I just can't seem to switch off my brain and 3 am usually finds me either ironing or sitting up in bed with my thoughts wirring.

I'm going to try doing some yoga and see if that helps but I've tried just about everything else ( except sleeping pills which I really don't want to take)- camonmile tea, baths etc no good.

Like you So tired I was also a teacher so used to working late preparing stuff for the following day with my brain on overload.

Maybe we should arrange a can't sleep message time with a playlist of soothing music?

Runawaygirl

Member since
March 2023

85 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 12:30pmReport post

Usually similar to Lola53 - drop off quite easily (usually after some wine) and then wake up early hours. But last night was awful. Tossing and turning for hours with all this running through my head. So early in this journey. How do you all cope?

loulou74

Member since
September 2022

255 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 3:00pmReport post

It does get easier. While I didn't sleep well last night, my sleepless nights aren't that frequent now. We're 7 months in and post-sentencing, and I do worry about my husband (we're now separated), but otherwise things are fairly calm and we know what we're dealing with. I can't imagine what it is like to wait months/years for charges.

SoTired

Member since
March 2021

387 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 7:16pmReport post

Post deleted by user


Edited Wed March 29, 2023 9:36am

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 9:22pmReport post

The only thing that seemed to work for me was anti anxiety medication. I have two children so must also be up nice and bright and early. Sometimes my DS likes to wake me about an hour after I finally manage to drift off and I'm back to square one (he didn't do it on purpose). I tried pretty much everything else, but having spoken to my doctor on only having 3-4 hours sleep each night I couldn't keep going like that and sleeping pills were not an option as had to be up early and not groggy.

my advise to all in the wide awake club is speak to your doctor, tell them how little sleep you are getting, dissuade sleeping pills and make sure you get something that works for you xx

Anne20

Member since
March 2021

141 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 9:34pmReport post

think the first thing will be put the phone away easier said than done. Most of us need to check our phones before we sleep.

A nice warm bath, candle, bath bomb, bubbles then wrap up in cosy PJs.

I don't sleep much and I had no problems before. I'm looking into sleep sprays that you spray on the pillow, but theres lots out there.

Anne

Sparrow

Member since
April 2022

40 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 10:23pmReport post

I too am a firm member of the wide awake club'

I really like my pillow spray. I use a lavender based one. Even if it don't work it smells lovely!

I have listened to relaxing sleep music and audio books. Like others I tend to fall asleep fine but wake most nights and really struggle with the brain whirring away! I have always been like that since I had kids but got worse after the knock.



I had heard magnisiam is meant to help. I may look into that.

Dragonmama

Member since
November 2022

251 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 10:57pmReport post

Just a thought

there is an app called "rain rain" you can set a timer on it but it plays your own mix of white noise.

white noise of rain is very relaxing (be aware if you have a full bladder when you start to relax you will need to pee within minutes lol and it's so annoying as you have just started to relax too)

SoTired

Member since
March 2021

387 posts

Posted Tue March 28, 2023 11:19pmReport post

Well... I've just done something that's a bit wild for me (gasp). No I haven't plastered another wall or painted an entire room in 3 hours, I've spent my Christmas money that I was saving for the house and splurged. This is really out of character for me as it was meant to be going towards a dishwasher. I've bought a REALLY expensive face cream that people have told me is amazing... I've likely bought into a fad. Im more of a boots cucumber range 3 for 2 fan (seriously so good for puffy eyes and cooling on the skin, or alternatively spoons in the freezer).

Boy, am I dragging this out. I feel so naughty, like I've been a real rebel.



It's called Repose by Temple Spa. For those of you like me who don't deal well with shocks after the knock, please be aware, you may be triggered by the price if you Google it. This was meant to be a dishwasher. What have I done?

RIG22

Member since
September 2022

138 posts

Posted Wed March 29, 2023 1:40amReport post

SoTired; good for you! Your last post made me smile. Let me know how well the cream worked. I might treat myself too (haven't googled the price yet!)..... Sod the dishwasher! Glad you did something for you. X

Upset mum

Member since
June 2020

2385 posts

Posted Wed March 29, 2023 6:32amReport post

SoTired

Your last post made me chuckle :-)

Good for you , sod the dishwasher lol xx

K4

Member since
October 2022

609 posts

Posted Wed March 29, 2023 8:24amReport post

I should very much like to know how it pans out for you. Full review next week??

Deffo a better investment than a dishwasher...



x

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

994 posts

Posted Wed March 29, 2023 8:25amReport post

Hi,

Meditation works for me. A walk or getting outside for a while at sunset can be helpful for reminding your brain that it's nearly time to switch off.
Let me know how you get on with the cream, feeling desperately old and tired the last couple of weeks xxx

Loulou22

Member since
October 2022

50 posts

Posted Fri March 31, 2023 1:33amReport post

Here I am at 0130 afraid of going to bed because of all the thoughts. A few nights ago I went to bed at about this time, was then awake at 3am thinking all the things that have happened, are probably going to happen, the carnage, the family breakdown and was awake til gone 6am. Then I had a nightmare. Then the alarm went off at 645am. I'm afraid of trying to go to sleep ????

Smile through tears

Member since
September 2021

2539 posts

Posted Fri March 31, 2023 8:06amReport post

I love watching Classic Coronation Street pm, tea + warm blanket perhaps a sarnie. I get lost for an hour a day. So I'd say soaps.... or easy watch TV.

SoTired

Member since
March 2021

387 posts

Posted Fri March 31, 2023 9:55pmReport post

LouLou.. we are incredibly similar!