Can't Sleep? You're Probably a Woman

I cannot seem to fall asleep at a decent hour. I get distracted with a show and do not want to turn it off, or I get so caught up in it, I lose track of time. I can't sleep when it is pitch dark, or silent, so I leave the TV on, which makes it extremely hard not to watch it.

I've always had a problem with sleep...Its hard for me to get to sleep and stay asleep once i get there. Therew all the years the things that usually help my usually resistive sleep habits are chamomile tea and candles, lights out, vanilla scent...the combo works the best....

I also have night sweats. I usually lay in bed with a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. Then when I do sleep,it's not a restful sleep ususally,because I have the craziest dreams.

girvenkl, you should start a discussion board topic on this!

Since I hit menopause, I have problems staying asleep. I have such terrible night sweats that I wake up every night absolutely soaked!! I sleep with the air on, and I only use a sheet, and a light quilt, but still suffer. Any suggestions??

I never really had any problems with sleep until menopause. Now there are nights I'm awake for hours or wake up MANY times during the night with those lovely power surges. All the doc suggests is black cohosh or antidepressants. No thanks -- I fell frumpy, bumpy, dumpy, lumpy, and grumpy from the lack of sleep, but at least I'm not popping pills! :)

This is an appropriate blog topic for me today! I spend hours last night trying to fall asleep. It's the worst feeling when you know it's not going to "just happen"! You can almost feel it before you get into bed.

I get so aggrivated sometimes. My husband is generally asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow, but I can lay there for hours trying to get to sleep. I used to be able to catch up on the weekends by sleeping in, but that's changed since I had my daughter, who is now almost 10 months old. Now, I just feel tired all the time.

I hate taking anything to help me sleep, but once in a great while I will take a Melatonin. I have a hard time taking anything like Tylenol PM or Nyquil because I always seem to feel so groggy the next day. I also don't want to become dependent on anything. Sometimes I will drink an herbal tea like Bigelow's Sweet Dreams tea to help me relax, but then I have to get up repeatedly to go to the bathroom because I go to bed with my bladder full.

I really wish I could fall asleep at a decent time at night so I would have more energy to play with my daughter. As it is now, I consider it very early if I can even get to bed by 11:00 pm (and I have to be at work by 7:30 am). Even if I do manage to get to bed that early, I usually don't fall asleep that quickly. It's not unusual for me to be awake until 1:30 or 2:00 am.

There are all kinds of studies showing that lack of sleep can affect your health and can even contribute to obesity. No wonder I feel like crap most of the time. I really wish there were a way for me to get on a more regular sleep schedule (without the use of drugs) - I'm sure if I could, that most areas of my life and health would improve.

I try deep breathing and relaxing all areas of my body one at a time from toes to head.