Poor DH has so much trouble getting to sleep of a night. We go to bed, and I drift off to sleep after a few minutes, while DH lies wide awake for hours and hours. Last night we went to bed about 10.45pm. I fell asleep, and when I woke for one of my many toilet trips at about 2.30am, DH was still lying there wide awake -he hadn't been to sleep yet. This is a fairly normal and regular occurrence - I think his record is not getting to sleep until 4.30am. I've asked him about it, and he says he just can't get his brain to switch off. Simply lying there and waiting for sleep doesn't work. He's also tried listening to music, and reading - nothing seems to work.
Once he's fallen asleep, he's fine. He can wake up during the night and drift off to sleep again easily enough - it's just the initital getting to sleep that's a problem.
I know a lot of people have similar problems getting to sleep, so I was wondering if anyone has discovered any useful techniques for getting to sleep. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
My DH has always had trouble sleeping too, but for him it is more to do with shift work. We just bought a new bed which has helped heaps cause the one we had was sooooo old! The other thing I read was, go to bed when tired. If after half hour he's not asleep, then get back up and wait until he is tired again. Try to avoid things like the computer before bed. Camomile tea is also helpful to relax before bed.
DH gets into bed and is alseep faster then i can say good night.....where as i lay there and cant sleep. Even if im dead tired i just cant sleep.
I once seen someone about it and she suggested i keep a notebook by my bed and write everything down thats on my mind, then close the book and forget about it all til morning. That never worked.
She said trying thinking of a story in my mind and focus on it anf id drift off with the story playing and it would turn into a dream. Never worked.
Counting backwards...forwards, or by 2's. Never worked
Burn relaxing candles or soft music 30 mins before bed. Never worked
Try reading or watching tv, on the computer til you feel sleepy. [B]Never worked[/B
In conclusion: nothing worked and nothing still works...other then sleeping pills 1-2 times a week just to get *some* sleep.
Get him to cut out ALL caffeine. The withdrawals will be massive if he's a regular consumer and it might take a week or two to get a result but worth trying.
Also, when I have trouble sleeping, I find deep breathing helps best out of everything. Breathe in for the count of five, hold for the count of five, exhale for the count of five, hold for the count of five before breathing in again. Keep doing this for as long as he can and then at least if he's not asleep he'll be relaxed LOL.
Watching TV or being on the computer won't work cos its stimulating to your brain.
He should get up if he is not asleep in 30 mins or so, go into another room make a cuppa and read or something, then try again. You have to train your body to ready sleep signals.
Does he have 8 million thoughts going in his head? He could try Valerian...
DH has trouble sleeping
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