Can’t Sleep

I am awake literally every hour of the night at some point. Many times like this morning, I woke up at 2:30am and cannot go back to sleep. A long day of meetings are going to drain me. My hangup last night and this morning was having to return my kids to my separated wife. After not seeing them for two weeks and only seeing them this weekend for 24hrs, it is too much to handle. As there is no return to this marriage, it is something I will have to deal with but life is definitely tough at the moment.

[Hidden]

I can't remember my last good night's sleep. I, like you, wake up over and over. Sometimes I can't go back to even the restless slumber I call sleep.

I have trouble with not being able to shut down my thoughts. I worry.

I have recently started repeating prayers in my mind...the Our Father...the Hail Mary...shutting out all other thoughts.

It has helped.

If you do not pray, I'm sure any relaxing mantra would suffice. You just have to push everything else out of your mind.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I am learning to pray again but it has been hard after so much negativity, and bad things happening. I know it’s the devil but I am tired of him messing with me.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My life is a mess and I haven't prayed in years. I started a year or so ago just counting in my head. It was amazing how far I could go. Then I tried counting backwards. Same results.

The prayers I recall from my childhood and maybe that's the key. Looking back on a simpler time in life.

I also use melatonin and it helps. But regular use builds up a tolerance so I try to limit it.

[No1wthayla in reply to Hidden]

I count backwards as well. Try using a number, I start at 100, with each exhale. If you lose track of where you were, start over.

But you might check with your doctor about sleep disorders. You might have sleep apnea that can wake you up throughout the night. You basically stop breathing and the lack of oxygen usually wakes you up, often with headaches. Not waking up when this happens is a really bad sign. I was diagnosed five years ago. And I have had much better sleep since getting my BiPAP machine. CPAP = Constant Pressure. BiPap = 2 pressures (one higher to help you breathe and a lower pressure to help you exhale better).

I hope you can find some peace that will help you get the rest you need. And the strength to keep trying.

[Hidden in reply to No1wthayla]

I used to start at 100, then 500...

It is telling when you can make it to 0. I do have sleep apnea. Undiagnosed. My ex, I hate to call her that, said I stopped breathing constantly throughout the night.

I snore terribly.

The repetitive prayers really help me get back to sleep, more so than anything else.

Last night I tried a meditation video.

Very hard for me to let go of constant worry and second-guessing.

I am going to give the meditation an honest effort.

[No1wthayla in reply to Hidden]

Sleep apnea will really make you feel dog tired and unable to focus. I feel it also affects my pain levels from not getting good rest. If you can't get a sleep study, try to sleep while propped up on the headboard. An incline of about 30 degrees should work. It might help with the snoring and let you get better rest. Or sleep in a recliner.

And there are devices available without a sleep study, some from $12 and up online and a few at businesses like Walgreens, Walmart, etc. There are items for your mouth, nose, chin (strap that keeps your jaw shut so you are forced to breathe through your nose). Many are stop snoring aids. I never knew there were so many options. Some seem extremely weird to me though. (I stopped counting backwards a few years ago. Now I just breathe at a slow pace, focusing on a beautiful scene where I feel calm and safe. Then I'm usually asleep in a few minutes. Took longer when I first started.)

[Mumma_h]

Hello, my marriage has broken down too so I understand how painful it can be.I thought there was hope for us , but he just drove me somewhere, and out of the blue he lost it . Tried to kick me out of the car and hit me , ad was saying the most awful things to me . He has no interest in our children, well only one of them, the one that doesn't have Tourette's or epilepsy. I would be so happy if he just took a little interest in them; but he dosnt want to know them. I have begged him to get in touch with his children because I believe a child needs there father. When your with your children treasure them , which I'm sure you do , love and support them , they don't stay young forever, and when they're old enough to make decisions for them selves they can spend as much time with you as they want because they'll know how much you love them:I've seen it before . So sorry you're going through this , you obviously love them so so much. Don't let your hope be taken away.

[Hidden in reply to Mumma_h]

I am sorry to hear of all that you're dealing with.

I was with Pam almost 25 years and with job-stress and worry, I lost sight of my priorities and failed to make her understand how important she was to me. It has been almost a year...and I am still trying.

I know the pain. Unfortunately I caused it.

My situation seems so minor compared to yours.

I wish you hope and peace.

I will pray for you.

You matter. Never forget.