Recent problems waking up during the night and not going back to sleep
Posted , 5 users are following.
I'm in my late 50's and never had trouble sleeping before. However, the past few weeks have been brutal. Initially, I go to sleep fine but within an hour or so, I'm wide awake and restless. I'll stay awake for long periods and the longer it takes to go back to sleep, the more frustrating it becomes. sometimes, I just don't feel tired. But, after these types of nights. I wake feeling exhausted. Nothing in my normal routine has changed other than not being able to sleep. Where can I start trying to figure out what's causing my sleeplessness?
John
0 likes, 10 replies
alpine john75668
Posted
Hello John
Sleepless nights are no fun, I've had my share. Do you read in bed before turning off the light ?
It helps me, should have tried it a long time ago. Some people swear by drinking hot milk at bedtime or having a warm bath. Do you get enough exercise such as walking, swimming or cycling ?
alpine
john75668 alpine
Posted
alpine,
Thanks for taking time to reply! I have a sales position that keeps me pretty active. I also use free weights and elliptical 2 - 3 times a week. No real changes in life style other than getting older. I do love to read though. That might be a good way to unwind before bed. The trouble is, my problem is not falling asleep; it's staying asleep. I've been waking up around 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning and can't get back to sleep. Maybe that's when I should break out the book. Beats laying in bed wide awake.
edgar30813 john75668
Posted
Hi, John.
I'm in more or less the same boat as you, no problem initially falling asleep, but I can't remember the last time I stayed asleep long enough to feel normal and well rested.
My solution isn't a good one,but beggars can't be choosers. I take a small dose of Valium (2.5 mg) to get back to sleep, which usually does the trick.
All the typical advice are OK, like avoid bright lights,exercise or the good old hot milk routine, but like you said they work only for easier initial falling asleep. Sadly, there isn't a lot of advice for going back to sleep once you are awake.
Good luck, though. I always say that perhaps it will just go away as suddenly as it started.
john75668 edgar30813
Posted
Edgar,
I appreciate your thoughts. I would really like to avoid medications if possible. That said, my mind may change if this continues. Hope your sleep issue gets resolved soon too!
john01376 john75668
Posted
Hi John, I sometimes have the same issue, I'll fall asleep on the couch, go to bed, read, nod off, then wake in the early hours, I can be awake for a few hours, the issue is the more you think about it the more the brain goes into flight mode, I've tried yoga, self help, magnesium oil, but i still wake, I found downloading a app called sleep fan helps me a lot, I stick the ear buds in and the calming sound of the fan helps me go back to sleep....you are not alone, regards, John
john75668
Posted
Thanks John! I was actually considering a sound machine. I may give that a try! Thanks again!
Liam36009 john75668
Posted
Hi John. Not sleeping properly can be awful. I've dealt with it now for many months, it is mentally and physically tiring... Sleeping is important for the body to re-new, ignore people on here that say it isn't important or nothing bad will happen. Long term insomnia can absolutely contribute to depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, stroke, high blood pressure and even heart disease. So it's important you can at least improve your sleep because not being able to fall back asleep for hours isn't great, if you wake up then fall back asleep reasonably then it isn't a problem. Insomnia does increase with age, so this maybe your problem?
I think mine is most likely caused by prolonged stress over the last 10 years and bad life experiences. Plus I've suffered with anxiety most of my life, so not surprising it finally affected my sleep. I guess life is about experiencing good and bad things.
edgar30813 Liam36009
Posted
Absolutely , they did experiments on mice that proved prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to all kinds of bad things. But the thing is when you can't sleep you don't think about those long term consequences. You just want to sleep because you can't take the exhaustion anymore. Because you want to feel normal and healthy, clear-headed and able to enjoy life like everyone else. My wife and I just bought an apartment, which has been a long term wish for us, but I can't fully enjoy that fact because I'm just too exhausted. People can't enjoy their kids, grandparents can't enjoy their grandchildren... Sleep is essential for a happy life. I hope we can all one day sleep normally, and if it takes pills to achieve that, then so be it. If not, even better, of course.
john75668 edgar30813
Posted
Edgar, I had no idea until recently how wide spread this issue is. And yes, even short term sleeplessness is pretty debilitating.
john75668
Posted
Liam,
Sorry to hear this has been such a long term problem for you. I don't have a lot of stress in my life right now; other than not sleeping of course. What I'm finding though is little things I would have brushed off before now seem more bothersome when I'm tired. I'm for sure more irritable lately. Thinking a visit to my doctor might not be a bad idea.