Chronic insomnia

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If you have an iPhone try an app called Deep Sleep it helped me. Read or a while then it is all about disengaging your thought process. I was told once to consciously think about
relaxing your body as if air is slowly leaking out from your feet. As you work your way up imagining you are slowly deflating/relaxing I usually don't remember getting past my knees
as I am usually asleep. It works for me.
 
offmenut said:
Can't take sleeping pills due to work marra. Can't be drowsy like. But maybe on my days off, however I've always been told they're a last resort .
I'm sure pills would come up on a D and A test?


Aye , I do 2 mornings, 2 afternoons 2 nights - That's how it started - struggling to sleep before early morning shift. Now it's all the f***ing time !
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As long as you've got approval from the Doc to take them it shouldn't be an issue. That's how it works for us and we're on the same standards you are. What I tend to do is take them pre-emptively 12 hours before the first shift starts. Cycling 10 miles in helps clear any lingering drowsiness like :)

Valerian tea is also good.
 
@offmenut, you say you can sleep when you've had a drink - how often do you have one, and is it a git skinful?

I have bother getting to sleep too, though I can't help but feel that going out on the hoy every weekend is a major factor.
 
The Exile said:
As long as you've got approval from the Doc to take them it shouldn't be an issue. That's how it works for us and we're on the same standards you are. What I tend to do is take them pre-emptively 12 hours before the first shift starts. Cycling 10 miles in helps clear any lingering drowsiness like :)

Valerian tea is also good.
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I've been to occupational health at work and they were useless like, but aye, any medication they need to approve, i always thought sleep pills wouldn't be allowed.
I'll go and see them again and see what they let us take.
 
A year? I have been insomniac for over 30 years. Frankly, you get used to it and can function OK. I have never/ would never medicate, that's just masking it. Nowt wrong with watching the news at 3:30am man.
 
offmenut said:
I've been to occupational health at work and they were useless like, but aye, any medication they need to approve, i always thought sleep pills wouldn't be allowed.
I'll go and see them again and see what they let us take.
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I've had temazepam in the past (magic!), so I reckon Nytol will be alright :)

Though I do tend to be very careful with it, would never take one when you've only got five or six hours to sleep. As I'm in tomorrow I'll take one about seven tonight, then read for an hour before I drop off, up at five and in for seven.
 
chriswallace85 said:
@offmenut, you say you can sleep when you've had a drink - how often do you have one, and is it a git skinful?

I have bother getting to sleep too, though I can't help but feel that going out on the hoy every weekend is a major factor.
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Nar, I'm a binge drinker like, but generally fit and healthy (box and gym 5/6 times a week).
I was off last weekend and got pissed thurs / fri/ sat and Sunday though and slept ok every night, though don't want you get into the habit of doing that!

The Exile said:
I've had temazepam in the past (magic!), so I reckon Nytol will be alright :)
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I'm off to get nytol today (think the there's a stronger one behind the counter you ask for?) and see if OHS approve it.

ouro said:
A year? I have been insomniac for over 30 years. Frankly, you get used to it and can function OK. I have never/ would never medicate, that's just masking it. Nowt wrong with watching the news at 3:30am man.
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I feel for you marra.
I got used to not having a couple of nights sleep a week, and functioning ok - still made myself goto the gym and do stuff, but it's now nearly every night and really effecting my life
 
Dont use sleeping tablets - very addictive and regular use increases risk of death 3x. Also suggestions they are linked to memory problems in later life.

Sounds like you have had 'sleep hygeine' advice and you dont sound depressed. Counselling can help with insoomnia - CBT has been shown to be as effective as tablets

Shift work is the issue - linked to all sorts of health problems physical and mental.

It may be worth looking at melatonin?. Its a hormone that is secreted by your brain at night. It is now being used mainly in ADHD kids and results can be pretty spectacular in them. Its also used a fair bit in people who work on airlines for jet lag. In theory its much better as its not a sedative as such but when present in your body tells your brain its time to go to sleep.

I used it when I went to Canada and seemed to help - it can be bought from online American pharmacies
 
offmenut said:
Nar, I'm a binge drinker like, but generally fit and healthy (box and gym 5/6 times a week).
I was off last weekend and got pissed thurs / fri/ sat and Sunday though and slept ok every night, though don't want you get into the habit of doing that!
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Aye well me anarl, but what I'm asking is how often are ya binge drinking? I take it the days you can't sleep are the dry days.

On a Friday I'll be up for work about 7, home half 3, out on the hoy by half 8, come home well after 12, sometimes as late as 4. That's just about every week. Lie in on the Saturday, sometimes not dragging mesell outta bed til after 1 to get to the match.

Saturday night it could be more of the same, or I might stop in and have a few beers and a takeaway. Either way, because of the lie in and getting over the previous night's skinful I'll be up 'til after two either still out on the hoy, or up watching shite on the telly.

Lie in Sunday - get up anywhere between 11 and half 3. Be a bit groggy, sit about doing fuck all. Half of the time I'll stop in and have a takeaway, half the time I'll gan up the club from 8 til 12. I tend to be able to get to kip better on the nights I've been drinking so sometimes I go just because of that. Either way I'm at work for 8 and feeling like shit.

Monday the fun starts. I'll be knackered most of the day, and what's dangerous is if I nod off for a doze after me tea or something for about half an hour/an hour. This will fuck me up no end, and because me body is used to going to sleep in the early hours, I'll be up til 3/4 o'clock of the Tuesday morning, and in work for 8.

There's weeks I don't get me sleep 'til the Wednesday and Thursday, and then the whole thing starts again.
 
chriswallace85 said:
Aye well me anarl, but what I'm asking is how often are ya binge drinking? I take it the days you can't sleep are the dry days.

On a Friday I'll be up for work about 7, home half 3, out on the hoy by half 8, come home well after 12, sometimes as late as 4. That's just about every week. Lie in on the Saturday, sometimes not dragging mesell outta bed til after 1 to get to the match.

Saturday night it could be more of the same, or I might stop in and have a few beers and a takeaway. Either way, because of the lie in and getting over the previous night's skinful I'll be up 'til after two either still out on the hoy, or up watching shite on the telly.

Lie in Sunday - get up anywhere between 11 and half 3. Be a bit groggy, sit about doing fuck all. Half of the time I'll stop in and have a takeaway, half the time I'll gan up the club from 8 til 12. I tend to be able to get to kip better on the nights I've been drinking so sometimes I go just because of that. Either way I'm at work for 8 and feeling like shit.

Monday the fun starts. I'll be knackered most of the day, and what's dangerous is if I nod off for a doze after me tea or something for about half an hour/an hour. This will fuck me up no end, and because me body is used to going to sleep in the early hours, I'll be up til 3/4 o'clock of the Tuesday morning, and in work for 8.

There's weeks I don't get me sleep 'til the Wednesday and Thursday, and then the whole thing starts again.
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I've got two bairns so don't stay out late, and even when I have a drink I'm up early , so I have a regular waking time (and try and have a regular bed time anarl).
I usually only drink weekends, and as I work a lot of weekends they're pretty much dry when I'm working.
Napping I've been told isn't good for you, can fuck up your sleeping pattern, so may be something you should try and avoid?
I know it's hard, but maybe getting up earlier on a Sunday will sort you out, though it sounds like you probably get enough sleep.
Even on the drink I'm up at 7, and don't think ive slept later than 8 for around ten years!!
 
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