How to overcome the "occasional" night of not being able to get to sleep.
 

Most of us have this happen from time to time. Maybe more often as we get older.......75+++.

Those times when you just can not turn off your brain.

What do you do?

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2 extra strength Aleve.

U R old enough to know about what not to eat & drink and timing.............common fix for some once learned.

Not a fan of warm milk, booze assistance, drugs or reading.

Some say, stay away from the TV because it stimulates..............not me.
Late night TV came put me asleep.
Jus be selective on what you watch.

:)

After a very special person died, there was no time I could sleep more than a few minutes at a time, for a long time. I listened to Mark Grant Sleep Restore Based on EMDR, on YouTube on my iPad. Later I blue tooth it to my Bose sound system for higher quality of sound. EMDR is psychiatric therapy for PTSD, very effective at breaking trauma. Sleep became slightly longer and in 4 months I was able to graduate to gentle, classical music. A warm bath and 1/2 glass of warm milk before bed time helped me too.

Oddly a small snack often works for me, just a cookie or a cracker. It seems that engaging the stomach often diverts the brain.

I have always been very lucky getting off to sleep pretty much as soon as my head hits the pillow
On the rare occasions when I cannot get off, I play a round of golf in my head at one of the different courses I have played over the years.
I very seldom finish a round.
If that does not work, I get up, put a blanket round myself, lay on sofa and turn on the tv, with no sound.
Works better than Mogadon!

Two Melatonin gummies, 10MG.

Mid 60’s and for 45 years of call, had to be awake and alert in seconds. 4 hours of solid sleep is all I have ever needed. It’s hereditary on my father side entire family doesn’t sleep more than 4 to 5 hours, almost all lived until late 90’s.

Never, tired, not sleepy and if I take a nap I’m not be sleeping that night. I haven’t used caffeine since 1971, super sensitive.

Everyone said when I slow down from working, I would stop waking at 3:30a, still going to bed around 11 or 1130.

They were right, I now wake at 3:45 that extra 15 minutes really changes your day.
Our gym up north was 24/7, 364.5, with indoor pool. Here have to wait til 7a to lap, so run for awhile, then zip over to swim, after cup of tea and a fruit.

I gave up trying to sleep longer in my 20’s, but sometimes I do envy when someone says I only got 10 hours of sleep last night

The best advice I can give is to stay active and eliminate any caffeine after mid-day. I used to have trouble but switching to decaffeinated drinks and tea, I drop off in just a couple of minutes.

I normally have the “occasionally” sleepless night the week before full moon and know of many others with that timing.

I don’t panic or worry about being awake. I dwell lightly on running through all the things I’m grateful for in my life and I can usually doze back off rather quickly. If that doesn’t work, I make sure I’m warm enough or cool enough and may take one adult aspirin if slightly achy.

And every once in awhile, it’s just a night of less sleep. :shrug:

We take a teaspoon of raw honey at bed time nd it has worked for us.

XANAX. Tiny piece.

I'm sure that was a very helpful response for the poster who asked a question.

I feel your pain. I used to sleep like a baby and now realize how much I took that for granted.

I think my problem is my addiction to my Ipad, it messes with sleepiness.

The only time I have trouble sleeping is if an event severely stresses me out during the day or I start worrying about something. What I have found helps me is that as soon as possible after the stressful event occurs to take a half hour walk or ride my stationary bicycle to bring my cortisol level down. Also when in bed I try to focus on pleasant thoughts and memories or meditate.