[mamacrina]

...sigh. My daughter has been sleeping through the night for almost a month now. The first couple of nights, I was sleeping, too. But now...nada. In fact, I have an uncanny knack of falling asleep about 30-60 minutes before she wakes up. It would really be better if I didn't go to sleep, cause waking up after that short nap makes me rather cranky. lol (Her sweet "waking up" smile does help with that) Fortunately, dh comes home around 8-9am and I can usually get a 2-3 hr nap...but lately, that's not enough.

I should add that I have narcolepsy, and insomnia is an odd, but common, symptom of the disorder. I've had this problem for years.

I guess I'm not looking for solutions(I've literally tried everything in the last 15+ years), but rather to see if I have company on the insomnia front. We all know lack of sleep doesn't help any sort of depression!

The wide-eyed mama...member of the Sisterhood of the Sleepless

[MajaHedman]

I'm totally an insomniac.... I get tons of crafting done in the middle of the night....

[echaos]

I'm not an insomniac, but lately I've found that Roiboos tea knocks me right out! It's an herbal red tea from South Africa, and Tetley has just started making bags of it. My favorite is Vanillla flavoured. From what I've read it does have some sleep aid quality to it.

Can't hurt to try!

Happy sleeping.

[aspenhall]

Have you tried Melatonin Supplements? It is the chemical produced by the body to shut down the brain to allow sleep to take place. Sunlight breaks it down and you wake up refreshed.

Be sure to ask your DR first and see if it can be found as a prescription, and read up on the different types out there. Then go to a health food store and find out which company is the most reputable (that is carried by them) and you can buy it there instead of a prescription if you want.

[mamacrina]

Maja-hmmm...I think I may start back on my daughters scrapbooks...good idea. When I have a website project, they are usually completed at night.

Echaos-I love the Kalahari Highlands Honey red tea..it's so good! It doesn't help me sleep, but it's a great beverage. <running to turn the tea kettle on>

Aspen-yep...I have tried Melatonin...the last time was last year...as suggested by my doc. Didn't work for me. Neither did Valerian Root.

I'm to the point of acceptance...I think. I just wish I could sleep a little more during the day, but dd is teething and isn't napping much. If I could muster up some energy, I'd exercise and get it back ten-fold. LOL

ETA:Thank you ladies, for reading this ramble, and for your suggestions!

[maddensmom]

I have the worst insomnia when really low. I know that seems completely opposite of what people would expect, but I think it is the anxiety that comes with depression keeping me up.
I just wanted to let you know you are not always alone in your sleepless land...

[aspenhall]

Perhaps a larger dose of melatonin???

Or, a nightly back/leg rub from DH to relax you. Do you have a sleep mate ...it's a white noise machine.

[mamacrina]

Madden's Mom--<nodding head in agreement> I think you hit the nail on the head, my friend. And because I'm not sleeping, I feel worse...it's a cycle. Now to break the cycle...

Aspen--The back/leg rub sounds nice...but dh works 3rd. I had to laugh at the sleep mate question...I didn't automatically think of a machine! LOL But to answer your question, I don't. I'll have to check that out, thank you!

[mikeintexas]

My sleep problems developed in grad school about 9 years ago... unfortunately they were connected with anxiety and panic attacks! I finally had had enough when I was driving in to school and drove off the road. I had tried all the non-medical ideas that existed at the time so I finally broke down and let my doctor work with me on this. I don't have the problems much any more (sometimes I guess when things are really stressful or I am in a hotel ... for the love of God, how come I go to a hotel where it is all peace and quiet and I CAN NOT SLEEP!!!). Sorry to digress. Anyhow, I'm sure you've discussed this with your doctor.

The other thing...the best sleep I get is when I work out at the gym!!! Need to get back to going though.

Mike

[LisaCA]

sleeping is one of the things I do best, lol. the only times i have insomnia is when I'm truly panicking about something, truly worried and keeping myself awake. but if I had insomnia it would be treated by my constant migraines (usually 3x a week). I take imitrex and vicodin, both of which knock me out, lol.

my sympathies. my sis has a broken sleep pattern and has a hard time getting the sleep she needs. it was harder when she had her son, who was a very easy baby but still difficult to manage with no sleep.

I wish you luck. And putting together a journal and scrapbook, now that's a good use of your time. Hey, if you want to put my wedding one together (it's been 16 years now) i'd love to have the help .

[mamacrina]

And putting together a journal and scrapbook, now that's a good use of your time. Hey, if you want to put my wedding one together (it's been 16 years now) i'd love to have the help .

LOL, Lisa. I haven't gotten back to my scrapbook yet. But I have been catching up on my reading and journaling...and web surfing.

I had tried all the non-medical ideas that existed at the time so I finally broke down and let my doctor work with me on this. I don't have the problems much any more (sometimes I guess when things are really stressful or I am in a hotel ... for the love of God, how come I go to a hotel where it is all peace and quiet and I CAN NOT SLEEP!!!). Sorry to digress. Anyhow, I'm sure you've discussed this with your doctor.

The other thing...the best sleep I get is when I work out at the gym!!! Need to get back to going though.

Did you get hurt when you drove off the road? I did that before I was diagnosed and treated for narcolepsy 10 years ago...scared me to death. I didn't get hurt, fortunately.

And about not sleeping at a hotel...it's unfamiliar...maybe it's hard to relax there?

[mamacrina]

I was looking through some poetry I've gathered, and found a stanza that describes insomnia to me [you know, when I'm feeling dramatic ]:

slipping into the scene of space
the fear of night seeps cross your face.
there is no feeling this could replace-
the thrill of the catch, the defeat of the chase.
--A.S.Adams