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kimbutgar

(25,537 posts)
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 10:39 AM Mar 2025

Anybody have a good tips about getting a good nights sleep ?

It seems since the national nightmare occurred I have trouble sleeping. I have taken some prescribed meds Atarax but it dries out my nose and eyes. I’ve done otc sleep aids and gummies. Also inhaling in 7 and exhaling 8.
I don’t look at my iPad after 7:00 pm and turn off the tv and read a little before turning in for the night.

But if anyone has any good tips please pass on!

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Anybody have a good tips about getting a good nights sleep ? (Original Post) kimbutgar Mar 2025 OP
Melatonin is fine but I avoid diphenhydramine Shermann Mar 2025 #1
Choline / inositol, B-50 & magnesium SheltieLover Mar 2025 #2
Yes, I take magnesium glycinate evey day. I had a bad case of insomnia and that did the trick. Butterflylady Mar 2025 #11
A few humble suggestions no_hypocrisy Mar 2025 #3
I had posted about sleep here a couple of years ago mdmc Mar 2025 #4
check it out check it in let me begin mdmc Mar 2025 #5
Thanks I will check out the suggestions there also! kimbutgar Mar 2025 #8
Unless you are eaten by your kid's pet bearded dragon. Ocelot II Mar 2025 #7
I wish I knew MichMan Mar 2025 #6
Look up EFT or tapping imaginary girl Mar 2025 #9
I find a white noise generator very helpful. It masks those sounds in the night that draw your attention. Midnight Writer Mar 2025 #10
Magnesium 1/2 hour before bedtime. It relaxes muscles and helps achieve deeper sleep. 58Sunliner Mar 2025 #12
Mirtazipine. Works wonders. OLDMDDEM Mar 2025 #13
Read some lighthearted fiction in bed, turn out the Ilsa Mar 2025 #14
What would you suggest? Zackzzzz Mar 2025 #16
My next book will probably be Ilsa Mar 2025 #23
I listen to a sleep-inducing podcast over headphones. femmedem Mar 2025 #15
Yes! I listen to Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris. Phoenix61 Mar 2025 #18
Thanks! I'll have to check it out. n/t femmedem Mar 2025 #22
Marconi Union 'Weightless' Zackzzzz Mar 2025 #17
Giving your brain something to do works very well. Phoenix61 Mar 2025 #19
I learned this in the military as part of stress management LogDog75 Mar 2025 #20
I do the whole body relax but I go from bottom to top. I tell my self "my feet are calm, my feet are relaxed my feet are mitch96 Mar 2025 #21
I have tinnitus, my ears ring really loud, cksmithy Apr 2025 #24

Shermann

(8,947 posts)
1. Melatonin is fine but I avoid diphenhydramine
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 10:46 AM
Mar 2025

That can cause a paradoxical effect which isn't good.

Exercise works well for me, also avoiding caffeine after noon.

SheltieLover

(71,276 posts)
2. Choline / inositol, B-50 & magnesium
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 10:46 AM
Mar 2025

Be careful to take magnesium 2 hrs before or after any meds as it can inhibit uptake. Also, magnesium is best taken with calcium.

Someone else suggested to me & has made a big improvement.

Do your own research on these / talk to healthcare provider, but these worked for me.

Butterflylady

(4,490 posts)
11. Yes, I take magnesium glycinate evey day. I had a bad case of insomnia and that did the trick.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 11:06 AM
Mar 2025

no_hypocrisy

(52,240 posts)
3. A few humble suggestions
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 10:46 AM
Mar 2025

1. Lavender. Either the flowers or something scented.
2. Tilo (Linden Flower Tea) a/k/a Cuban Valium. The tea tastes like straw, but you'll be running for the mattress before you finish a cup.
3. CBD. I take a capsule periodically due to nocturia. No side effects.
4. Valerian. Plant supplement. Smells like old, dirty socks. But take it, don't smell it. It works.

mdmc

(29,365 posts)
4. I had posted about sleep here a couple of years ago
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 10:47 AM
Mar 2025

Someone replied that rubbing your feet together like a cricket helps people sleep better..

MichMan

(15,438 posts)
6. I wish I knew
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 10:51 AM
Mar 2025

Retired a few years ago and friend were telling me how much better I would sleep. I can stay up as late as I want and sleep in if I feel like it. Wrong !

I have three rescue dogs. I stay up till at least 2 AM most nights, but they still get me up at 5 every morning to go out and get fed. I'm lucky if I ever get more than 5 hours. Wouldn't trade them for anything though

Midnight Writer

(24,353 posts)
10. I find a white noise generator very helpful. It masks those sounds in the night that draw your attention.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 10:58 AM
Mar 2025

I got a tiny unit with 36 sounds for about $20. Cheap-feeling thing, but it works a charm and is small and portable for travel.

Most of the sounds would bother me more than help, but it does have some nice, soothing static-type sounds, like low speed fan, that really help me.

58Sunliner

(5,874 posts)
12. Magnesium 1/2 hour before bedtime. It relaxes muscles and helps achieve deeper sleep.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 11:06 AM
Mar 2025

I just started taking low doses of creatine, which helps me have more energy and better recovery for daily activities, and may also be helping my sleep as I am more active during the day.

Ilsa

(63,028 posts)
14. Read some lighthearted fiction in bed, turn out the
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 11:30 AM
Mar 2025

lights, and sleep. Make it something silly and fun, but decently written. It's helped me not dream about our long national nightmare.

Ilsa

(63,028 posts)
23. My next book will probably be
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 07:24 PM
Mar 2025
Walking Home: Common Sense and Other Misadventures on the Pacific Crest Trail, which is nonfiction (I think) but looks like fun for me. I like mysteries, adventures, etc.

Another favorite of mine was A Discovery of Witches, which has genetics, history, and supernatural elements. Since it falls under fiction, I don't have to strain my brain over the science.

Patricia Cornwell's two stand-alone novels, Quantum and Spin.

Think of things you enjoy, and try to find a story set in it. My likes are all over, like True Blood, but that's pretty intense all around.

Good luck.

femmedem

(8,521 posts)
15. I listen to a sleep-inducing podcast over headphones.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 12:27 PM
Mar 2025

I have a few that I listen to, but my favorite is Get Sleepy, especially if Thomas Jones is the narrator. I find his voice calming. He starts with a few minutes of a meditative introduction, then eases into a story.

The theory behind sleep podcasts is that they give your brain something to do other than ruminate over anything anxiety-producing while not being so thrilling that you can't doze off.

My headphones are actually a stretchy sleep mask/headband with the speakers inside.

Phoenix61

(18,457 posts)
18. Yes! I listen to Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 01:28 PM
Mar 2025

I have no idea why I like it so much but I do. I rarely make it to the end.

Phoenix61

(18,457 posts)
19. Giving your brain something to do works very well.
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 01:30 PM
Mar 2025

There’s a free pod cast, nothingmuchhappens.com that is very good.

LogDog75

(624 posts)
20. I learned this in the military as part of stress management
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 03:21 PM
Mar 2025

You need to relax your body before you go to sleep. To do this, follow these instructions:

Get into bed and have all lights and distractions off.

Tell you body to relax first by relaxing your face muscles. You should be able to feel your face muscles sag. Do it again and again until you can't relax your face anymore.

Once your face muscles are relaxed, move down to your neck and relax your neck muscles the same as you did with your face.

Continue doing this with your arms, chest, abdomen, legs, ankles, and feet.

Once everything is relaxed, you'll fall asleep fast and have a good rest.

What can I say, it works for me.

mitch96

(15,328 posts)
21. I do the whole body relax but I go from bottom to top. I tell my self "my feet are calm, my feet are relaxed my feet are
Sun Mar 30, 2025, 03:50 PM
Mar 2025

heavy. Next lower legs then thighs, butt, abdomen, chest, back, shoulders, neck and then head.
After that I do what is called the 4-7-8 breathing. It relaxes the vagus nerve that runs from the gut to the base fo the brain..
Breath in quickly and completely for 4 seconds.. Hold for 7 seconds and then blow out thru pursed lips for
the count of 8. Breath and then repeat.. I do it 3 rounds and I'm out...Works for me!!
m



https://www.youtube.com/shorts/O3qPvP07MT0

cksmithy

(360 posts)
24. I have tinnitus, my ears ring really loud,
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:02 PM
Apr 2025

24/7. So, using my Roku, remote and ear buds, I stream UK tv shows, on acorn and brit box, to listen to tv shows, I can turn the tv off, the Roku box still works audibly. It's like having a story read to you. I fall asleep. When I wake up during the middle of the night, I use the restroom, reconnect the Roku, turn on a different show, and fall back asleep. Acorn and Brit box probably think I am nuts because I listen to the same 5 to 8 tv shows over and over again during the night time. A soft soothing story, puts me to sleep. I like hearing a story. It usually takes about 10 minutes for me to fall asleep, and the murmur of the tv show blocks the tinnitus noise. I think I've read about apps or pod casts where famous actors read stories to help you sleep. My method works really well for me.

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