When I have that happen, I get up, fix some cocoa, read or go online for awhile until I get sleepy, then go back to bed. No sense just laying in bed trying to go to sleep and watching the clock.

Going online tends to wake me up - and here I am - now online at 1:30 am when I really need to get to sleep.

If you figure it out, let me know OK? I find myself in the same situation as you and no answers. Maybe a Time Machine? I know my life was certainly better 20 months ago. No problem sleeping cuddled up with my sweetheart.

((((HUGS))))
Karl

If I try to go back to sleep, I get that crazy slideshow in my head of when Bri died... For me, it's better just to get out of bed and do something/anything... Play with the dogs, turn on the tv, get on FB and play some dumb game... Anything is better than reliving the night he died. I think that's why I only sleep a couple of hours at a time - and I haven't woken up rested in over 10 weeks.

I pretend I'm sleeping because if I wake up Daisy the Wonder Dog, all hell will break loose at 4am. I write to you all from my laptop, play scrabble, read. I have a pattern I can't break - most of it has to do with my pee schedule too.

I try not to worry about it. I mean, if you're sleeping most nights, then you're rested up. Just lie there, the body is still getting rest. If you start looking at the clock, and wondering what you'll do if you can't sleep, you'll stay up even later.

I am not sure how long it has been since I have slept right through the night. Seems the hot flashes wake me up (covers on, covers off) and then my mind kicks into gear. Then, I have to pee so now I am truly awake and it is 3am.
I tried turning on the TV in the bedroom but the Shopping Channel has soem good deals through the night and it was just too tempting.
So now I turn on my clock radio to some all night talk show, keep the volume low and it helps me drift off for a few more hours.

My problem is I wake up earlier am, and can not get back to sleep.
I usually fix that cocoa or milk (supposed to get you alseep altho' can not stand warm milk), cuddle up on couch with dogs, warm comforter turn on tv and a book. It does help me. I think the resting thing cuddling up under something warm with something warm in the tummy.....

Switch on my overhead nightlight, then grab one of my books,mags or papers that take up the unused portion of my bed and read until i am tired. Then switch off the light and relive some of my beautiful moments with my husband until I fall asleep.

I have found, that a heating pad on my lower back, has helped me get sleepy. I have done this for years, and my husband would fuss about me forgetting to turn it off. I have one now, that has a shut off after a while. I watch tv or read, until sleepy, then turn it off.
Paula

I was taking zanax but have broken the habit, don't need another bad one. I don't go up to bed until my eyes are squinting so I usually am done reading. I bought audio books, mostly inspirational stuff, Wayne Dyer on Inpiration, Eckert Tolle - Even the Sun will Die, that's a good one. Also bought meditation tapes. I can usually fall asleep within 1/2 hour, the CDs are still playing and I hope I learn in my sleep. Hug, Donna

I toss and turn...In the beginning I actually slept okay...four hours straight through does me fine...lately I wake up every 2 hours...I turn my Bible on cd back on...go to the br...and repeat that cycle several more times during the night...this just started and I hope it is a passing thing...I need the rest...

Hello,I do not usually post here,but come here often to read comments.It has been 12 years since the death of my husband,the love of my life.But as you can see,time does not always heal everything.I am also awake and unable to sleep.I just wanted to tell you all about a dream I had recently.After tossing and turning,I finally dozed off and on.At some point I dreamed that my husband was with me and offering me a goblet of warm milk.I drank it of course,and slept until 2pm,the following day.Boy did I need that,the best sleep I have had in years.Blessings............Cheryl

This has been my story so many times. I finally realized that people don't typically die from a lack of sleep, and that if I became exhausted enough I would fall asleep. So I just "went with the flow." If I couldn't sleep I simply got up, read, journaled, prayed, or worked on a project. Sometimes that meant I fell asleep in the middle of the day, but naps are healthy.

Sleep or lack of it has always been a problem with me. Now that I don't have to go to work, if I can't sleep, I turn on the light and read for a while. Sometimes I turn on the TV. I can always rest during the day if I need to. Judith