Trouble Sleeping

[Jenn060306]

Hey, I'm wondering if anyone eles is having as much trouble sleeping as i am.
I have just under 3 months to my wedding now. And i'm finding i am having a terrible time sleeping. I have been staying up much later then i typically would and waking up in the middle of the night. Many times if i wake up i am not able to get back to sleep because i find i am thinking too much. I start thinking about one thing or another about the wedding, then it gets into thinking about trivial things like cleaning out the pantry.
This morning i started to think about school and how long this strike will go on for and what is going to happen to my classes which isn't too silly to be thinking about. But i am just not sure how to handle it. I lay in bed thinking about the ways i can get myself to stop thinking and settle down and relax. I've tried thinking about the ocean and imagining walking on the beach and the sound of the surf but in the back of my mind i'm thinking about thinking and cleaning out the pantry.
I wondered about taking somthing to help me sleep, but because its already 5am and i would have to be up at 7am to drive Mark to work i really don't want to do that. Now i'm up and will be for the rest of the day unless i can get a nap in this afternoon. I really feel like i wish i still had my cold because i was so exhausted i was sleeping almost completely through the night and atleast an hour in the afternoon with it.
Has anyone eles been having this problem, or should i be seeking help from my family Dr?
Thanks!

[LaceyinPgh]

It sounds like good old fashioned stress. I have had bouts of sleeplessness over the years myself. You can go to your doctor and they will probably prescribe a sleeping pill. Which, if it goes on too long, you might want to try. But with those you wake up feeling groggy. Try some other stuff first. Try cutting down on caffeine and eating before bed. Both can make you hyper. Some people find a bath relaxing so maybe try a hot bath before bed. If you are into it, meditation is a good way to unwind before getting into bed. Also try training your body over the next week or two. Go to bed at the same time. Don't read or watch tv in bed. Make your body know that bed is a place for one (ok, two) things.

By the way, you mentioned earlier that you had a really bad cold. Do you still have it? Are you taking any over the counter decongestants with it? Those can have two side effects they can make you sleepy and some can really wind you up. You might be getting the latter if you are still taking them.

[ikkin510]

Jenn,
I have the same problem at times. With the stress from my job, wedding planning, and my sister driving me insane I just couldn't get to sleep. I take a long hot show before I got to bed and try to to involve myself in anything stressful in the evenings. Of course, I know that isn't possible all the time. A couple months ago I started taking Tylonal Simply Sleep. It works wonderful!! Definatly make sure you have time to sleep, because taking it and then getting up 4 or 5 hours later leaves you tired all day long. I was taking it every day for like 2 weeks and it was just enough to help my body get back on track. Now I only take it when I have to on extra stressful day. I also found reading a good book before bed help relax me and get my mind off everything. I'd say if this still continues after trying different things, talk to your doctor. He/she may have some other ideas to help you with out taking meds. Hope this helps out a bit!

[StaceyMc]

The Tylenol Sleep works for me. I use it periodically when I just can't sleep. I also have one of those sound machines - rain, crickets, etc. That works sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about work, home stuff.

If you're worried about waking your FH, my mom bought a sound machine that you put the speaker under your pillow so you're not bothering anyone else. She says that it works pretty well and it was pretty inexpensive...I think she got it at Radio Shack.

[Shawna Bride]

I totally understand your sleep problems.
I had it so bad I was tossing and turning so much I gave myself pinched nerves all throughout my back and neck!
I've been taking hot baths with epson salt and a glass of red wine, and I find that has been working well for me.

[countrygirl]

I havent had probs sleeping, but I have been having CRAZY dreams. I had one where Josh wanted me to take a hit off his pipe (pot), and was instant on it. He doesn't do drugs. Never has. My son's father does, but we haven't been together for nearly 3 years. Wierd.

I have had on where I fell off a roof, and died, but I was still 'awake' enough to watch everyone come and see if I was alive, and heard them talking.

I had another one where I was shot, several times, and the same, dead, but alive to see and hear all going on around me.

[CindySue]

I totally understand your sleep problems.
I had it so bad I was tossing and turning so much I gave myself pinched nerves all throughout my back and neck!
I've been taking hot baths with epson salt and a glass of red wine, and I find that has been working well for me.
I think stress and his tossing and turning is why Brian has a pinched nerve in his shoulder.


I havent had probs sleeping, but I have been having CRAZY dreams. I had one where Josh wanted me to take a hit off his pipe (pot), and was instant on it. He doesn't do drugs. Never has. My son's father does, but we haven't been together for nearly 3 years. Wierd.

I have had on where I fell off a roof, and died, but I was still 'awake' enough to watch everyone come and see if I was alive, and heard them talking.

I had another one where I was shot, several times, and the same, dead, but alive to see and hear all going on around me.

WOW!!!!!:bbeek: And I only thought I had been having crazy dreams...

I havent had "trouble" sleeping but I do wake up really easily for no apparent reason and sometimes have a hard time getting back to sleep.

[Shawna Bride]

My latest nightmare:
My Mom went to pick up my wedding gown the day of the wedding, and was totally late bringing it to me. She ended up showing up with it 1 hour after the ceremony was supposed to start. She also was wearing this black and white zebra printed dress with huge shoulder pads (this is an actual dress we make fun of her about that she wore in the 80's!). After I finally got the dress, I ran to put it on, and it turned out she got the wrong veil, it was sooo ugly. And to top it off, when I looked in the mirror I realized I hadn't waxed my eyebrows and I had a unibrow! (although they've never been that bad in real life). When I came out of my dressing room, everyone had gone home!

Ha ha! It makes me laugh now to think of it.

I've also had nightmares of someone spilling red wine on my wedding gown!

[Jenn060306]

I am thinking it is stress too. There is alot going on, so i need to figure out how to de-stress. I'm a bit worried that it is causing me to get sick.

I don't really have my cold anymore. My ears have been congested feeling (like the pressure has changed and need to pop but cant) But i haven't taken any cold meds for 2-3 days now. I was taking Tylenol cold Night time. Which in the past has made me sleepy.
I have been trying to cut back on my stress, but the last month hasn't been the greatest and my Dr. found that my blood pressure was elivated last time i saw her. I'm been trying to keep a journal of what's happening so i can try to figure out when i'm having trouble sleeping and if there is anything i can relate it to, as well as when i'm not feeling so cheery.
I don't think we have Tylenol Sleep here in Canada. But my mom is going to Las Vegas next week so i am going to ask her to check it out for me and bring me back some. I've heard it mentioned before on this board so i think it's worth trying.
I'd like the try a white noise machine.... i was trying to create my own in my head of waves coming in on the beach. Didn't work so well. I'm not too worried about waking Mar, he sleeps through it when i turn on the TV in the middle of the night because i am awake. He hates that i like to watch TV or have it on in the room when i am falling asleep. I find the flicker of the light very calming. And i relax and don't think as much because i am able to concentrate on the show.
Thanks for the ideas. I will try that Tyenol Sleep as soon as i can and i think i will look for a relaxation CD. Even if i listen to it for a bit before i go to bed it might help me calm down. If all eles fails i have another appointment with the Dr. on April 10th. So i will talk to her then about what my options are. I can't afford to be having alot of trouble sleeping in the weeks coming up to the wedding. I will need all the energy i can get and i don't want to be yawning all night either.
Thanks again! I know i can always count on you!

[countrygirl]

I have been known for my crazy dreams. Everytime I tell Josh that I had another dream, his response is.......oh no, waht now??

[Hayz]

I find if I'm having trouble sleeping then turning the radio on and just having it on quietly helps. I end up listening to the music which helps stop all the thoughts floating around in my mind. My clock radio turns itself off after 1 hour so it works out really good.

As for this:
I've also had nightmares of someone spilling red wine on my wedding gown!

we have an insurance ad on TV at the moment where the mother trips and her glass of red wine heads straight for the bride while getting ready, leaving a pink patch on her wedding dress. The Insurance lady sends for a case of red wine and when you see the bride walking up the isle she is wearing a pink wedding dress.

[CindySue]

we have an insurance ad on TV at the moment where the mother trips and her glass of red wine heads straight for the bride while getting ready, leaving a pink patch on her wedding dress. The Insurance lady sends for a case of red wine and when you see the bride walking up the isle she is wearing a pink wedding dress.
Thats sounds like something I would end up doing!!!!!

[CindySue]

And to top it off, when I looked in the mirror I realized I hadn't waxed my eyebrows and I had a unibrow! (although they've never been that bad in real life). When I came out of my dressing room, everyone had gone home!

Thanks Shawna.....I had your "unibrow" dream last night. Talk about freaky! It woke me up and had me checking things out in the mirror!!!