I've had the hardest time sleeping the last few weeks....it's hard enough with the baby, then I've had a sinus infection for the past two weeks that kept me up all night in pain....the infection is going away, but I'm still having a lot of trouble sleeping. I'll wake up at like 3 or 4 in the morning and not feel tired at all...I know I need the sleep, but I can't do anything about it. I have to get up with Noah at 7:30.....I'm exhausted. I've been trying to take naps in the daytime, but I don't have many opportunities and I think it keeps me from being tired at bedtime. Are there certain foods I can eat that will knock me out, or some kind of tea or something? I tried chamomile, but it never really did anything. Of course, it was some store brand I bought at Kroger or something, so maybe the quality was lacking...I don't know. Anyway, I feel awful. I have no energy. I need sleep! Help me before I die! *Note that I just went through an bad breakup, which might play a part in my insomnia, due to the fact that most nights I lie in bed crying until I can sleep. I have been surpressing it the last few nights, though...no crying, but I've slept even worse and had awful dreams.... last night, I was on the set of Home Improvement and I was all pissed off because everyone was high and they couldn't remember their lines....isn't that awful!???
I had some chamomile tea once...and it was awful. Must have not been good quality. But try not to engage in any type of exercises a few hours prior to bed time. Also, maybe try getting some exercise in the day time...a walk or something, where you could take Noah with you. Try not to eat heavy meals, or drink cafinated stuff prior to bed time. Do something relaxing, take a nice bath, meditate, listen to some music, etc...that might help you get to sleep.
melatonin works well. dont get dependent on it though. or your body will stop producing it on it's own. and that is not good!
Well... After fighting my natural cycle (for 20 years) and not wanting to get dependent on sleeping medicine, I finally gave in... I had a doctor that I worked closely with. One day I was complaining of not sleeping. He said "take something". I told him that being a recovering drug addict, I didn't want to become dependent on something. He said "so what if you get dependent on it, at least you'll sleep. whats better, never getting a good nights sleep, or taking something for the rest of your life to help you sleep?" I found that he had a valid point... I've been struggling with sleep for decades... Perhaps it was time to give in and take something... So I do. I take melatonin and benadryl. I sleep, often a good nights sleep. Let me get dependent on it. I need to sleep...
Post Script: I've been taking the melatonin and benadryl, almost daily, for several months... I have yet to feel a "need" for it, like other drugs I've been dependent on. When I don't take it, I simply revert to my old pattern of not being able to fall asleep until 3 am... No biggie...
I always take a nice hot bath when I can't sleep. put a little lavendar oil in it to relax you. And cry if you need to! Don't hold it in.
For most people 1-2 Benadryl are an awesome sleep-aid, and it will help with the tail end of the sinus infection (its a decongestant-loosens up all the muck in your sinuses). Tylenol PM is just regular old Tylenol and Benadryl in the same pill. If you are just looking for the sleep, and not to kill any pain-stick to the benadryl. No point in taking a painkiller if there is no pain. Those nature CD's are great to fall asleep to-my personal favorite are ocean sounds...works every time...
Yeah, I had some hardcore sinus pain the other night...take some Benadryl, and I was good to go. That stuff works wonders! I didn't know it actually had a decongestant in it, though! Interesting...that's good to know.
So, Have we put you to sleep yet with our sage advice? If not, I'm with Midget. When I can't sleep, a healthy amount of activity/exercise during the day usually solves the problem, especially if I'm doing a lot of sedentary work, like being on the internet a lot. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you're on the internet too much. I think people around here would hang me if I told you that. But, have you fed the ducks lately? A little activity goes a long way if you've had none recently. Naps always mess with my normal sleep pattern. They're probably not a good idea if you're having trouble sleeping at night. Just my 2 cents...maybe worth even less than that.
