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Its 3:00am and once again I can't stay asleep.  I'm not even a caregiver anymore. My Mom passed six mths. ago. But I still suffer with insomnia.

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The best advice i ever got about insomnia was "get up". Don't stay in bed and worry. Get up and read a boring book. Do the dinner dishes. Sit in the dark and meditate. When you feel sleepy., go back to bed.
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Wow, you guys really came through for me.Maybe I'll try all of the above tonight. Listen to native music, smoke pot, open the window, pat my cats, read IRS instructions etc. etc. If I don't fall asleep I might flip out and be taken to the funny farm. I hear they have lots of good drugs there that would help me out.

But seriously friends. You guys are the absolute best. I knew I could count on you for great advice. Love you!!!
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I've had insomnia as long as I can remember, even as a teen ager. I've become a mini expert in all the home remedies. What type of bedding, what type of pjs, scents and lighting, sounds and warm drinks - some ridiculous some reasonable. I even sought rxs but avoided the real heavy hitters as I need to be able to wake up if I hear my disabled son getting up and wandering the house. Nothing worked. As my mom declined my insomnia got worse - I would have at least 2 nights a week with no sleep at all. On nights I could sleep I would only be able to sleep about two hours at a time - then up for one hour - then sleep for two. I never got to that REM stage that you need to hit to become truly rested. One thing has finally worked - it a bit radical. So, my AC friends please don't judge me. Cannibis. Being a child of the 60's I had tried it a long time ago but hadn't used it in over 30 years. In Oregon cannibus became legal for recreational use last summer. Now you can buy it in little shops where they have "bud tenders" who advise you like you are shopping for a fine wine, lol! I asked for one that would help with sleep. The pot today is nothing like the pot of my youth - it is very customized, if that's the right word. Two puffs and I fall asleep almost immediately and stay asleep for at least 4 hours. I never smoke during the day - although I've been tempted on particularly stressful days, lol. I don't drink alcohol at all. And I only resort to it on nights when I spent at least two hours trying to fall asleep the old fashion way. It has saved my freying sanity. My brother suffers from insomnia as well - I suggested it to him and has worked for him as well. Just a thought. Of course you need to be in a state where you might be able to get a medical marijauna Rx or in Oregon, Washington or Colorado where it is legal recreationally.
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It's at those times when I find myself saying some of the most honest, heartfelt & passionate prayers that I can...prayers for help & guidance as well as prayers of thanks for small victories & unexpectedly quiet moments. It always gives me a sense of peace that allows me to relax & fall asleep.
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Back before modern times (and modern lighting - thanks to Thomas Edison and the Industrial Revolution that required working on a set schedule) a lot of humans slept in two blocks of time. So they'd wake up and get up and do some stuff and then go back to bed. It's only recently that we think we should sleep in a solid 8 hour block of time. Here's an article from LiveScience about it. If they strip it out, google polyphasic sleep. It's pretty interesting. Once you realize you're "normal" when you wake up, it makes it easier to deal with, I think.
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Gershun, I hate it when that happens. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and have a hard time getting back to sleep. I rearrange the pillows and covers, but nothing works. I take the covers off, then pull them back up. Ack! I usually just lay there and convince myself that resting my body is good, too, so not to worry so much about not being asleep. Finally I go back to sleep.
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Melatonin usually works; sometimes I take a 81 mg aspirin, which a neurologist advised me to take years ago anyway. I used to drink certain kinds of herbal tea but haven't done that in years and don't remember which kinds I drank.

But first I try to redirect my mind. I read sometime ago that SERE military training incorporated a technique to refocus thoughts on something other than a current experience, such as that when someone was caught by an enemy combatant. It's a method of coping with an extremely unpleasant physical and mental situation (you can interpret from there).

So I think about waves lapping on a deserted beach, the scent of pines in a forest, and breath deeply as singers do - it takes concentration just to do that. Learning to breathe for vocal strength is different than the way most people breath naturally. Usually I'm out in about 5 minutes.

If worse comes to worse I get up and read IRS instructions. The ones for trust tax preparation are especially good; I can hardly get through a page without becoming drowsy.

Or get up and do something that always relaxes you, whether it's reading something soothing (unlike IRS instructions), or something that diverts your attention (sewing, crocheting, knitting, drawing).
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RainMom makes a good point - aromatherapy. I sniff cinnamon; it relaxes me so quickly. I also have a heating pad with lavender and geranium oil - Just a quick sniff relaxes me.

Heating cinnamon or ginger or cloves in water can also produce soothing aromas.

And if you have a cat or dog, petting them is soothing enough to be relaxing.
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Ugh, I was restless last night, too, and it was only a quarter moon in the sky. I usually turn on the TV and search for a show that normally would makes me sleepy... I tune into the Buzzr network with the old 1950's-1970's game show reruns which also has the old commercials from that time. Eventually I will doze off.

As for pets, I usually find all 3 cats on the bed, with two of them glaring at each other then in a blink of an eye a cat fight develops. Not easy to doze off after that :0
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Gershun, Sorry that you are missing your mom. I believe that once a caregiver, always a caregiver. A retired caregiver, but with a wealth of loving concern, compassion, burnout, and skills that could never be taught in schools. And, always a part of this caregiving community, a part of a special friendship and family that won't forget you. If that leaves you a bit undone for awhile, and sleepless, then you are not alone, friend.
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