COVID-19 Sleep problems during lockdown

piggles 7000

piggles 7000

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I know I'm not the only one and we all have different circumstances but I am not sleeping at all well. I just start to drift off and wake with a jolt.This goes on most of the night.I dread bed time.I was wondering about other peoples experiences and what might have worked for them? I am going to see if I can get some prescription sleeping tablets today as I have tried over the counter ones which arent helping. I would prefer not to though as I dont like taking this sort of thing.
Its difficult for us all I know but there is light and the end of the tunnel and we seem to be over the worst.
 
I am.I do a power walk every morning and a walk to a local field to forage for my piggies in the afternoon.Maybe I should try to do more though.
 
I have M.E and poor sleep is one of the symptoms.
I was having EMW (early morning wakening) and would wake up around 3am or 4am without really going back to sleep again properly.
Doctor prescribed me 10mg per night of Amitriptyline.
I still occasionally wake up sometimes but I'm able to go straight back to sleep.

There is a really good app I use too called Calm. It's free, unless you want access to everything on the app, but I find it helpful to wind down before bed time.

Hope you get some sleep soon x
 
I know it sounds silly but when I have trouble sleeping I recite my times tables in my head. It's so boring it sends me to sleep! :zzz: Another one I find works is to deep breathe and after every breath count down from 100 to 1. Remember to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.
 
Betsy said:
I know it sounds silly but when I have trouble sleeping I recite my times tables in my head. It's so boring it sends me to sleep! :zzz: Another one I find works is to deep breathe and after every breath count down from 100 to 1. Remember to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.
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Will give that a try!
 
I have a couple of techniques I learned when I lost my sleep pattern a while back.
One is to take deep (diaphragmatic) breaths and mentally (ie in your head) say the word "the" randomly and repetitively. The deep breathing is relaxing you and if you only say the word "the" in your head then it stops any other thoughts - intrusive or otherwise from keeping you awake.
The other is the one recommended by the military to get to sleep quickly. Works a treat for me. Relax your body and particularly shoulders and jaw. Deep breathing. Then visualising you are lying on the floor of a boat on water. And saying mentally "don't think" Here is a link that explains it. This is the secret military technique to falling asleep in just two minutes
 
What are you doing before bedtime? In the early weeks of lockdown I was sitting on my phone before bedtime reading all the latest news and opinions and then couldn't sleep or stay asleep because my mind was racing.

Putting the phone down earlier, having a relaxing bath, watching comedy shows, reading a book has helped me massivley. Also watch alcohol intake as it is a stimulant and can wake you up. Try to create a healthy natural sleep habitat - no screens or blue light in the bedroom!
 
I try to have a relaxing "wind down" bath and some hot choccy although I admit I might be looking at my phone or pc or the TV til later.I will try to do less of that.
 
VickiA said:
I have a couple of techniques I learned when I lost my sleep pattern a while back.
One is to take deep (diaphragmatic) breaths and mentally (ie in your head) say the word "the" randomly and repetitively. The deep breathing is relaxing you and if you only say the word "the" in your head then it stops any other thoughts - intrusive or otherwise from keeping you awake.
The other is the one recommended by the military to get to sleep quickly. Works a treat for me. Relax your body and particularly shoulders and jaw. Deep breathing. Then visualising you are lying on the floor of a boat on water. And saying mentally "don't think" Here is a link that explains it. This is the secret military technique to falling asleep in just two minutes
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Thank you.I will try these techniques
 
I’ve been completely the same, getting to me (and my epileptic brain :doh:) a lot! Why I’ve hardly been on the forum last couple of weeks!
Unfortunately my epilepsy meds make me very sleepy so an afternoon nap most days, then I’m up til 4-5am atm trying to get more sleep! Then the annoying brain clock wakes me at 8-9, it’s killing me!:mal:
Hope you can get more sleep soon x
 
I have to walk on my treadmill, do moderate house work, and drink a warm glass of milk before going to bed. If I miss doing one of these, I can’t fall asleep and when I do, it will be 3am.
I don’t recommend falling asleep at 3am. It ruins the mood for the entire day.
 
alpacasqueak said:
I’ve been completely the same, getting to me (and my epileptic brain :doh:) a lot! Why I’ve hardly been on the forum last couple of weeks!
Unfortunately my epilepsy meds make me very sleepy so an afternoon nap most days, then I’m up til 4-5am atm trying to get more sleep! Then the annoying brain clock wakes me at 8-9, it’s killing me!:mal:
Hope you can get more sleep soon x
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What a nightmare! I hope you get some good consistent sleep soon.x
 
Seven7 said:
I have to walk on my treadmill, do moderate house work, and drink a warm glass of milk before going to bed. If I miss doing one of these, I can’t fall asleep and when I do, it will be 3am.
I don’t recommend falling asleep at 3am. It ruins the mood for the entire day.
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It really does.You effectively lose the day to a low mood and extreme tiredness
 
VickiA said:
I have a couple of techniques I learned when I lost my sleep pattern a while back.
One is to take deep (diaphragmatic) breaths and mentally (ie in your head) say the word "the" randomly and repetitively. The deep breathing is relaxing you and if you only say the word "the" in your head then it stops any other thoughts - intrusive or otherwise from keeping you awake.
The other is the one recommended by the military to get to sleep quickly. Works a treat for me. Relax your body and particularly shoulders and jaw. Deep breathing. Then visualising you are lying on the floor of a boat on water. And saying mentally "don't think" Here is a link that explains it. This is the secret military technique to falling asleep in just two minutes
Click to expand...
Blimey the "the" way really works! Never thought it would but it does!
 
Definitely have this problem, especially the children, we had a movie night beginning of lockdown and now my children won't go to bed until between 1 and 4am 🤦‍♀️😔 keep trying to wake them early but they just end up napping 🙄 as such I am now in the fall asleep 4am wake up 8am routine and very tired! 🤦‍♀️
 
The only thing that ever stops me sleeping is if it's too warm other than that I can sleep anywhere anytime although I do have epilepsy medication with the side effect of drowsiness to thank for that :zzz:. hope you get some good sleep soon.
 
I think I need to try the ‘the’ method as it’s my brain being busy that stops me sleeping sometimes. My issue is that whatever time I fall asleep (even last week when I slept at 6am!), I still wake up between 9-9:30am! I may try it tonight, though I feel like I could fall asleep now.
 
Claire W said:
I do deep breathing and mindfulness to help me sleep but like you, I haven’t been sleeping well at the minute either. I hope you get some decent sleep soon x
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Same to you. The 6am was due to work though, and I have the same this week as well! I need an early night tonight as the kids are back at homeschool tomorrow.
 
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