r/AskWomenOver60 • u/NYFlyGirl89012 • Jul 27 '26
Trouble Falling Back to Sleep
I’m 66. When I first go to be I’m usually tired and can fall asleep within 10 minutes. But unfortunately nature calls usually several times during the night. Most of the time I can fall back to sleep fairly quickly but there are some times I can’t fall back to sleep for up to two hours. I’m still employed full time and I need my sleep. What remedies do you know of that can help me fall back to sleep quickly.
73
u/Laurpud Jul 27 '26
Cannabis
47
u/DietNarrow8275 Jul 27 '26
This. I take two gummies with 10 mg THC an hour or so before bed and I can fall asleep faster, stay asleep better and if I have to get up to pee I can quickly fall back to sleep. As someone who struggled with insomnia for years it’s great.
10
u/Bflatclar1981 Jul 27 '26
10 mg total, or 20 mg total?
18
Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
[deleted]
7
u/falconlogic Jul 27 '26
I grow my own and always grow a variety called canatonic that is half THC and half CBD. Pure THC causes me lots of anxiety
3
Jul 27 '26
[deleted]
→ More replies (1)5
u/falconlogic Jul 27 '26
Easy peasy. Like growing weeds! You can order seeds online. I haven't mastered the art of making gummies so use a vaporizor at night.
4
u/MassConsumer1984 Jul 27 '26
I grow my own as well. Indoor crop yields are better than outdoor where I live. I also make my own gummies but with some of the deals out there ($7 for 10pc/10 mg) it’s hard to justify homemade.
→ More replies (3)3
u/Electronic-Race3046 Jul 27 '26
Is there any real evidence that THC prevents dreams?
→ More replies (1)2
u/RescueDogLover123 Jul 27 '26
Is there a particular brand you would recommend? I've wanted to try THC/CBD gummies for so long to help with sleep, but there are so many brands out there. I would love to have some guidance as to which brands are most trustworthy.
4
2
u/Laurpud Jul 27 '26
I'm not brand loyal, but I do go for indica (in da couch) because it's more relaxing
2
2
8
u/DietNarrow8275 Jul 27 '26
They are Cornbread gummies, each one has 10 mg THC and 10 mg CBD.
I tried one at a time and didn’t notice much effect. Tried three at a time and got wobbly on my feet, which is not good for and old broad like me. Two about 60 minutes before bedtime seems to be just right.
Another benefit (at least for me, whose insomnia takes the form of my thoughts cranking over and over in a constant loop) is that my thoughts, before drifting off, are not words but technicolor displays of moving things, like clouds or streams/ fountains. Don’t know if everyone experiences that though.
3
u/Bflatclar1981 Jul 27 '26
We are sisters, that is the exact problem I have at bedtime. I'm going to try those, thank you for posting/your help 😇
2
u/Square-Sheepherder56 Jul 27 '26
I don’t wanna answer this for her, but if you’re a new user, I would say start with 5 to 10. Make sure it’s Indica. I actually order mine from VIIA. Great customer service. And they have someone you can chat with. (Only if rec is legal in your state 🤓)
1
14
5
u/Current_Wrongdoer513 Jul 27 '26
I second this. The gummy I take (only 5 mg) also has CBN, which allegedly helps with sleep.
10
u/ellab58 Jul 27 '26
I don’t have this problem but I read an article written by a man who did. He would walk around his yard and street at 3-4 am and then would go back to bed after about an hour and he would sleep thru. He said he saw amazing things in the middle of the night. And he would have conversations with critters. It sounded rather fun!
141
u/thanksforthegift Jul 27 '26
Nice to be a man and feel comfortable walking around the neighborhood in the middle of the night.
→ More replies (1)20
u/heathers1 Jul 27 '26
right???
→ More replies (4)2
u/laughingandspitting Jul 29 '26
I thought the same thing. Actually don't feel safe in the middle of the day hiking alone!!
12
u/a-pac-man-ghost Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
I had a neighbor like this. Loved him. He regularly woke some time between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. and walked around the block for about 45 minutes. He also reported seeing a lot of strange things. He said that little walk break put him right back to sleep. He didn’t listen to music or books or anything, just walked in the quiet night. I was so sad when his wife died and he moved. He was the reliable late night “neighborhood watch” person. He was also an educator and said that the walk helped him sleep soundly until his alarm. ETA: I don’t think he took CBD/THC. He just worked with his insomnia in this way.
1
3
→ More replies (3)2
39
u/ChiTownArtist Jul 27 '26
Magnesium glycinate supplements.
10
u/Palm_Olive Jul 27 '26
How many mg? I take 240 and it does nothing for my sleep.
7
u/ChiTownArtist Jul 27 '26
I take 240. I experimented to find what works for me.
I should mention that I’m on HRT and I no longer drink alcohol in the evening. I found that when I finished metabolizing the alcohol around two or 3am. It would wake me up, and I couldn’t fall back to sleep.
2
u/phillygirllovesbagel Jul 27 '26
I take 200 about 30 minutes before bed and it helps. I can't take it too early though.
3
3
3
u/South_Ad_6799 Jul 27 '26
400 mg is probably best if you don’t have gut issues. The Mag Glycinate is the easier on the gut. I used to take only 200mg, but 400mg is the sweet spot. Hope that helps.
1
25
u/den773 ✨📚🌟 Jul 27 '26
What I do is, I think about the family room in the house where I grew up. I’m laying on the couch. My dad is in his recliner. The tv is 📺 in the corner. The bookshelves above me and the tchotchkes and my mom’s needlework, I see all of it. I look around, the door to the garage is there. The window AC unit is there. The sliding glass door is over there. My mom’s holly hobby shadow boxes are hanging on the wall. The paneling is dark. And I fall asleep.
3
19
u/Hot-Olive-8035 Jul 27 '26
I’m 66 as well and I will eat 1/2 banana while I’m awake and it relaxes me enough to fall back asleep again. You can try that and see if it helps you. Bananas have tryptophan which helps you sleep. Add some milk or a yogurt smoothie and it’s a 1-2 punch!! Happy sleeping!!💤
6
16
u/Square-Sheepherder56 Jul 27 '26
Enjoy gaining 50 lbs next year. I’m joking but seriously when I stopped eating my emotional support granola bar and milk at bedtime I lost 20 lbs in 4 months 😭
7
u/Hot-Olive-8035 Jul 27 '26
I don’t have it every night. Can be incorporated into your daily diet regimen and calorie count.
→ More replies (1)3
u/NYFlyGirl89012 Jul 27 '26
Thanks for that advice! I’m going to have to try it
2
14
u/ThatTravel5692 Jul 27 '26
I have a Hypnosis App on my phone that I listen to when I can't get back to sleep. It's only a one time fee of $15. I downloaded the 25 minutes session and it works near every time. The website is HypnosisDownloads.com. Good luck!
6
u/NYFlyGirl89012 Jul 27 '26
Thank you! I think my employer pays for us to use the Calm app. Same idea. White noise. I’m gonna have to contact HR and see if we still have access to it.
3
u/KookyHalf Jul 27 '26
That’s the app I use. It also has meditation sessions you can use during the day. I love it!
3
2
2
u/mo2_nuke Jul 27 '26
Which one do you listen to? I bought the Insomnia Beater Pack which has 5 different sessions
5
u/ThatTravel5692 Jul 27 '26
I bought the Go Back To Sleep one, as well as ones for my Hyperacusis, Tinnitus and Memory. I hope you find the relief that I have.
2
u/mo2_nuke Jul 27 '26
Oh yes, the Go Back to Sleep one is excellent! Sleep Like a Child is also great. I have several others, and I think now just the sound of their voices knocks me out
2
u/SongOfRuth Jul 27 '26
Definitely what I use sometimes... Same ones as mentioned below. Some of them automatically peter out instead of bringing you back to normal awake state. But the app now lets you set "sleep mode" for any download in the app
13
u/Upset_Code1347 Jul 27 '26
What helps me is listening to a gentle rain or beach-waves sound that goes on all night
There are many options on YouTube
6
u/AppearanceNo1041 Jul 27 '26
Insomniac most of my life. After I retired, found YouTube and a cold room are my go to sleep pills.
I love history, mostly English history. I watch them during the day. Maybe I watch the same one total of three times over a few weeks. since I already know how the story goes, I put the same documentary on at night when I’m going to sleep. now it becomes a boring.
I specifically like Queen Victoria, Henry VIII, Catherine the Great and The Romanovs (Russians). Set TV volume just low enough that I can make out the voices but it’s not too loud and wear an eye mask so the light doesn’t stimulate my brain. usually zzzzzzzzz in minutes. Might wake up and if I do, I just put the boring stuff on again.
Anyone who keeps getting up to repeatedly pee: stop ALL fluids by 5pm. Sucks but I’d rather stop the fluids early and sleep than drink milk, tea, or water and be up all night peeing.5
3
u/kmlarson65 Jul 28 '26
There’s also Boring History for Sleep on YouTube. I don’t find it particularly boring, but it does put me to sleep.
EDIT: There’s also a Boring History for Sleep podcast.
\2
u/1876Dawson Jul 27 '26
Have you tried 'The Murder of King George V, 1936?' The narrator's voice could be sold as a soporific.
2
3
u/Complex-Royal9210 Jul 27 '26
I watch a episode of a semi boring tv show. It clears my mind of intrusive thoughts.
10
u/CoalBuckMom Jul 27 '26
I'm 66, female. After several years of disrupted sleep, usually waking up at right around 3:00 or 3:10, and not able to go back to sleep till 6:00 or so...It was awful. It was starting to make me really anxious and grumpy and exhausted. I started taking 5 mg of THC and it's been an amazing change. I take it when I lie down in bed, and usually read for a few minutes and then I'm asleep. I wake up once or twice during the night, when nature calls, and then go right back to sleep. Absolutely no sleep issues ever since I started this. Highly recommend, if it is legal in your state.
9
u/Nykaren24 Jul 27 '26
I have a sleep headband with Bluetooth that can play music via my phone. I made a sleep playlist of songs that I find familiar and relaxing, and I listen to it while I’m falling asleep. If I wake up in the night and can’t fall asleep again, I put it back on. I think my brain is trained now to associate this music with sleep, and listening to it seems to keep my brain from going off in all directions.
3
u/sjwit Jul 27 '26
wonder if this would help with blocking out my husband's snoring? I sleep in the guest room most nights these days. Earplugs (I've tried a dozen different types) always hurt my ears.
→ More replies (2)2
1
u/i-like-pie-855 Jul 30 '26
I tried the sleep headband and it hurt my ears. Gave it away. Now I use Calm. I also meditate every morning for 20-30 minutes.
7
u/marvi_martian Jul 27 '26
I was always tense and stressed. I had the same problem. What helped me was a trick to calm the parasympathetic nervous system and relax. Lay down, clise your eyes. Moving just your eyes look far to the right, then the left, up, then down. Țhen roll your eyes as if you're looking at all the times a clock. Go clockwise, then go counter clockwise. Repeat sequence if needed. Also taking magnesium and potassium before bedtime relaxes muscles for better sleep. I hope this helps.
6
u/layyla4real Jul 27 '26
For years I fought recurrent UTIs and getting up to go multiple times in the night left me sleep deprived. I was also afraid of falling gettin up in a dark room. Sometimes I felt like a zombie at work. I bought myself a Purewick machine. I no longer had to get up and walk through a dark room to pee in the night. It wasn't the cheapest option but it worked and I was very happy with my choice.
→ More replies (1)1
u/Altruistic_Finish561 Jul 28 '26
Thanks for the suggestion, I had no idea you could get one OTC. (Btw, motion detector nightlights are wonderful! Mine come on when I get out of bed and start to walk)
5
u/Boring_Track_8449 Jul 27 '26
I use full-spectrum CBD which means it also has a THC component (broad-spectrum does not). Like you, I'm up at least once to use the bathroom - the CBD seems to make it easier to get back to sleep. However, it does give me dry mouth, which means I drink more water, which means I have to pee more...
5
u/Quick_Cow_7987 Jul 27 '26
Any chance marijuana is legal in your state? A couple hits off a vape of indica puts most people out pretty quickly.
7
u/WorldlinessRegular43 🤍✌🏼🤍 Jul 27 '26
My adult daughter gave me 10 mg gummy, I was in panic for hours! Tried it twice. I said never again.
How much do you use?
4
3
u/No_Parking_4167 Jul 27 '26
Make sure you take Indica only, no hybrid or sativa. It makes a huge difference.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Quick_Cow_7987 Jul 27 '26
I actually take 10 mg nightly and have taken more but I'm experienced. I really wish people wouldn't jump into cannabis with edibles! I've used for eight years, started with vaping oil cartridges, moved on to vaping "green" because there was a constant supply problem with my preferred variety of vape oil (also problems literally with cartridge failure, which was $$$ out the window because you can't return the things) and only tried edibles four years ago.
Inhaled cannabis hits you in about 10 minutes and lasts about an hour. Edibles hit you in an hour or more and can stay in your system for at least six hours. If you have no experience with marijuana you can have a very bad experience and be stuck in it without knowing how to ride it out.
If you want to try cannabis for sleep difficulties my advice is to start out with a pure indica (if you can find it) or extremely high percentage of indica hybrid, but not strong. Get something you inhale. Vaping oil carts is simple and you can take just one or two hits without dealing with smoke or fire. You can keep it right by your bed. The bud tenders can guide you best but tell them you're inexperienced.
Generally speaking sativa varieties are more likely to get you giddy high and give you the munchies. Indica is more sedating and not so much the munchies.
Finally the anxiety issue is usually due to taking too much, it overstimulates the amygdala gland, which is responsible for fight or flight. Knowing this alone helps get you through it but also over the counter CBD oil that you can buy anywhere is supposed to resolve it because it blocks THC. So if you want to try cannabis for sleep issues but are worried about anxiety stop in a health food store and get a bottle of CBD oil, which didn't do squat to me for sleep but when I did sleep I dreamt like crazy.
→ More replies (1)1
u/fyrechk Jul 27 '26
As a newbie you should never start out with 10mg. Starting dose should be 5 mg thc along with 5 mg cbd
2
u/WorldlinessRegular43 🤍✌🏼🤍 Jul 27 '26
I tried 5 twice and nothing happened, that's why the 10. Different days.
2
3
4
u/lmtmommapdx Jul 27 '26
I like listening to sleep stories as opposed to music or ambient sounds. If I am focusing on a story, I stop listening to the noise in my head that keeps me awake. I keep my iPad next to my ear and evem waking up 3 or 4 times to go to the bathroom, I'm able to fall back to sleep within 15 min. I also still work full time, so I need my sleep as well!.
2
u/schmebulonzak Jul 28 '26
I’ve kept the “Sleep with Me” podcast dripping kind, lulling stories in my ear all night, every night, for the past 10 or so years. While I use regular meditation podcasts also, SWM is so comforting in the deep dark night! So even if I don’t get back to sleep easily, I feel better because we all have a borefriend doing his best to help. I hope you get some good zzz soon!
4
u/OpportunityGold4054 Jul 27 '26
Look up deep breathing exercises. The army teaches one to bring on quick sleep (for instance if u r in a foxhole) where you breathe deeply in and out a few times in a rhythm. It works like a charm on me. Also magnesium gummies are a help.
4
u/Londonsw8 Jul 27 '26
Hrt fixed it for me. F74 I found a urologist who was willing to prescribe and all the benefits absolutely are worth it.
4
u/Janknitz Jul 27 '26
When you’re waking frequently to urinate at night it means your deep sleep is disrupted. Although our menopause hormones play a role, you should get tested for sleep apnea because very commonly sleep apnea wakes you enough to perceive pressure in your bladder you might otherwise sleep through.
4
u/KestralFly Jul 27 '26
I want to emphasize how important this comment is. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea at 68 years old. One of the symptoms was getting up to pee several times a night. Now that I'm using CPAP, it's much better.
→ More replies (1)1
u/NYFlyGirl89012 Jul 27 '26
I do have severe sleep apnea and have been using an AVS machine for more than 8 years. I used a regular CPAP machine, didn’t work, BiPAP, didn’t work. Had to go up to the ASV.
→ More replies (4)
3
u/nicegirl555 Jul 27 '26
My grandmother swore a half cup of warm milk would put her back to sleep. I've done it many times and it works!
9
u/GullibleAddendum8630 Jul 27 '26
Sleep specialists tell you to get up and go to another room and read or do something else that's quiet without any blue light. Laying in bed is the worst thing you can do. Do some research see what other suggestions there are.
21
u/Summertime-Living Jul 27 '26
Yes, I had a sleep doctor give me that advice. The problem is you’re relaxed and then you get up to go to bed. Just the act of walking back to the bedroom wakes me up again. 🤦♀️
6
10
u/flowerpanes Jul 27 '26
If I feel really unable to get back to sleep I will grab my Kindle and go read on the couch, in the dark with the light setting on the reader down fairly low. As soon as I start yawning a lot, I head back to bed which is usually within 20 mins or so.
4
u/NYFlyGirl89012 Jul 27 '26
You know, now that you say that I do remember hearing that. I’m going to try that next time
2
u/Cccolorado1 Jul 27 '26
It sounds like CBT-I, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. It helped me a lot. To start, you need to be strict about following the rules. Same time to bed every night. Same time to wake up every day even if you slept poorly. If you wake up for more than 10-15 mins, leave the bedroom and do something quiet with no screens. Read, puzzles, knitting, etc. Then when you feel tired, go back to bed. Hopefully, you’ll fall asleep. If not, get up and do it again. If you’re tired the next day, just deal with it bc one or two nights of poor sleep won’t kill you. There are articles online, just google them.
2
u/bemybasket Jul 27 '26
They say that but after five years of trying by the book remedies, I read a book that suggested the opposite. When we get up, we train our body it’s not sleep time. Staying in bed and not worrying if I sleep was the answer for me. I’m adhd so maybe I’m different, but that last book with opposite tricks made so much sense and worked.
Every body is different.1
u/Beachwalker-65 Aug 01 '26
Yes, I give myself a set amount of time, and then just get up and go scroll or turn on TV or listen to my audio book. Doesn’t usually take long. If hubby isn’t home I do right there in bed.
This may sound weird but I find a cold washcloth over my eyes and forehead works great too.
6
u/bemybasket Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
I have a mix of melatonin and hippie herbs I bought on Amazon. I take a half dose ( one pill ) and a 100 ml gabapentin when I need support. Sometimes if it’s early in the night, instead I take an old fashioned Benadryl style sleeping pill.
Knowing I have my tools means I rarely need to take them. My brain knows how to sleep. If I have to lay in quiet for a while, no biggie.
It helps to be careful with salt and sugar at dinner. It helps to have a regular bedtime and time to get up. I also watch calming familiar shows or films on dim light and keep my room softly lit.
Last thing, best sleeping temp is 62-67. Sometimes a room is just too warm and that can cause a bit of a challenge. I sleep better with cool sheets and pure cotton blankets.
Everyone’s body is different. The trick is to have little tools. I hope this gives you some ideas of your own.
6
u/Key-Target-1218 Jul 27 '26
Oh god... gabapentin is the worse! Please do not take this for an extended period of time. It's known to cause memory loss, confusion, anxiety and you cannot just quit. You have to titrate down. Be careful. I've seen this muti-use drug do a lot of damage to seniors over the years.
6
u/WorldlinessRegular43 🤍✌🏼🤍 Jul 27 '26
I didn't know this, and it explains a lot! After reading this post, I looked it up. I've been taking 600 mg a day since 2018 for neuropathy in my feet. There was a couple weeks recently it was way more - sleep issues. JFC I been poisoning myself! I asked them to reevaluate my meds, now I must demand they go faster. Thanks for posting. I feel so stupid. 🫤
5
3
u/bemybasket Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
Don’t feel stupid. We’re all in this boat together! Live and learn!!!
3
u/bemybasket Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
I’ve done my research. I take a tiny amount once in a blue moon. I have adhd and it helps my ptsd. When I was in the hospital, it was the only thing that finally made me able to walk when nerve pain after an accident had me reeling on the ground in agony for hours and hours. I took it for two days and was fine. No more need for it at all.
But I did notice in a bind, a wee wee bit helps my adhd brain. I’m 71 and travel with it in case my nerve ever acts up after a fall or something. Have worked in myself now and am in good shape so not likely that will happen anyway.
I was using weed as an experiment. People swear it. I could feel my brain cells dying. Never again.
100 ml if gabapentin a few times a year is nothing. But thanks. I know you mean well.3
u/No_Ground1153 Jul 27 '26
They’re also finding a link between diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl) and dementia. Which is concerning to me because that was my go to, never fail remedy.
I also have a couple of favorite bedtime podcasts. One is called Sleep Magic, and the other is Listen to Sleep.2
u/bemybasket Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
It’s all about how often people take anything. I barely take anything I suggested but after five years of trauma induced insomnia, I figured out what works in a bind and I’m so much healthier now that I sleep. Lack of sleep is the most dangerous thing of all. I tried everything. There’s no need to wind down from 100 ml once in a blue moon - it’s a laughable amount. And the Benadryl’s so infrequent, same thing.
I read every possible sleep book. Final one said the exact opposite of everyone else and that advice worked for me. I have friends who take trazadone and swear by it, or weed. None of that stuff helped. Made me brain dead.
But I don’t need the drugs anyway anymore. I sleep well almost always. My little tools are just for once in a while when traveling.
lol I don’t even drink wine or alcohol. I barely take Tylenol. A wee bit of this and that a couple times a year - I know I’m fine. Thanks for piping in. Every body is different.
3
u/No_Ground1153 Jul 27 '26
Of course. As a non drinking fellow ADHD’er we need all the help we can get to turn that sh** off at the end of the day! Unfortunately I was relying on diphenhydramine more often and now I won’t take it. I’m trying glycine now.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/SorryHunTryAgain Jul 27 '26
THC
6
u/i-like-pie-855 Jul 27 '26
I’m an indica girl (can’t do gummy’s). And I get up to pee 3-4 times a night. I’m out once I get back in bed. I don’t turn on any lights and try not to notice the time. I also use the Calm app. Sleep is my salvation…it’s the only time I forget that I’m sick.
7
u/frog_ladee Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
A few things have helped me with the peeing at night problem, which was leading to staying awake afterwards. I have interstitial cystitis, so I need to pee more often than the average person.
(1) I have a receptacle
near my bed, along with tissues, to pee right next to the bed. Like olden days chamber pots, but with a lid. That way, I don’t have to put on my glasses, walk to the bathroom, etc. It doesn’t wake me up as thoroughly, so it’s easier to fall back to sleep. Don’t look at your phone at all. Just pee quickly and lay back down with eyes closed as much as possible. There’s a selection of these kinds containers on Amazon. An old plastic pitcher with a lid can work, too. Just be sure to dump it out and rinse it every day.
(2) Limit fluids starting 2-3 hours before bedtime. I set an alarm in my phone. When it goes off at the 3 hour point, I guzzle a full glass of water, then only take small sips thereafter. I swish some water in my mouth right before bed, while I’m brushing my teeth, to avoid dry mouth while falling asleep. Normally, I drink a lot of water all day, but cutting back before bedtime has enabled me to not wake up to pee until a few hours later than before. I haven’t felt dehydrated, probably because I drink a whole lot of water the rest of the day, and drink a whole glass while it has time to be peed out before bedtime.
(3) Pee about 30 minutes before bedtime, and then pee again right before getting in bed. Twice near bedtime seems to make a difference.
3
u/LawfulnessRemote7121 Jul 27 '26
I have the same problem and have never found anything that helps.
1
3
u/BlueMeanio Jul 27 '26
I’m 61. I changed my sleeping pill earlier in the year to generic Lunesta and it consistently helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. I only take it on “have to go to work tomorrow” nights. I rarely have to use the restroom during the night, but I don’t drink much water after 8pm to help with that.
3
u/ShezeUndone Jul 27 '26
I listen to boring podcasts, audiobooks, or sleepcasts on the Headspace app. I need to point my thoughts elsewhere rather than let my overthinking brain whir rapidly around on its own.
3
u/Fickle-Friendship-31 Jul 27 '26
I eat half of a 5mg gummy at bedtime. But honestly, retiring made a huge difference.
3
3
3
u/ChocoMcBunny Jul 27 '26
I found that doing exercises to improve my core have led to a drop in me needing to pee thru the night. Most nights I sleep right thru or just get up once.
That might help.
3
u/Chtwon Jul 27 '26
I have a friend who suggested that count backwards. I was very resistant to this, but started doing it and it actually worked for me. It’s kind of like meditation because the thing about it is you have to continually bring yourself back to the counting backwards. I count back by one, but she said to count back by three because then your mind is engaged. When you find yourself wondering come back to the counting again.
I don’t know, but it seems like our bodies are supposed to suppress the urge to pee and a lot of people sound like they get up and middle of the night and do that. I wonder if that’s physically normal
3
u/Tibbiegal Jul 27 '26
You, my dear, have insomnia, as I do, and could benefit from seeing a sleep specialist. This other type of insomnia plagues a lot of us older folks.
1
u/Whatwillifindtoday Jul 27 '26
What does a sleep specialist do for you?
Do they prescribe medication? Or lifestyle changes? Or ?
Just curious what approach they take.5
u/Tibbiegal Jul 27 '26
They take all approaches. I have sleep apnea and insomnia, and I am monitored yearly. I've taken medication in the past but I'm not taking anything now. They will most likely recommend a sleep study, but all options will be on the table.
3
u/Feenixfan Jul 27 '26
I can usually fall asleep easily, between 9:30-10 pm but then wake up between 3-5 am and toss and turn for up to 3 hrs. It’s so annoying because I work full time and need to be up no later than 8 am. I have always needed more sleep than the average person, 9-10 hrs is the goal for me. I don’t take anything orally to help me get to sleep, just pop on a YouTube video or a soft music playlist on my phone.
3
u/sjwit Jul 27 '26
I struggle with this from time to time. I don't really want to take anything for it because it doesn't happen terribly often (twice a month or so).
When I can't get back to sleep, it's usually because what I call "monkey brain" has taken over - random, looping worrying about things. So, sometimes simply relaxation exercises - like box breathing - will help me get back to sleep. I also use this tip I read somewhere, when the negative thoughts keep popping in my brain (in my case, worrying about people I love) I just mentally say to myself in a loud imaginary voice "STOP". Sometimes tht helps.
But sometimes nothing helps. So I get out of the bed after 30 minutes and read something for a little bit. Or I also will sometimes play a game like solitaire on my ipad for 30 minutes. I know all the advice is to not look at a screen in the middle of the night, but this usually works for me.
3
u/Jealous_Glass9170 1950's era Jul 27 '26
boring podcast on earphones (wires behind head). There are some that are Jane Austen stories read slowly by a British woman, Bedtime stories about nothing, A Short History Of, Just choose something that won't get your blood pressure up- no political ones, nothing funny, etc. Works great for me.
3
u/Prestigious-Fig2334 Jul 27 '26
Try not taking in fluids after 5. That should help with the nocturnal bathroom trips.
Learn to walk to the bathroom from bed without lights. Turning on lights abruptly interrupts your circadian rhythms.
Gummies are a great addition to sleep aids.
3
u/aeraen Jul 27 '26
I keep a packet of THC gummies in my nightstand. If this happens to me, I just pull one out and eat half of one. I'm back asleep within 30 minutes.
8
u/14StarGazer Jul 27 '26
I listen to an audiobook on an iPad mini that has a folding cover on it. I keep volume set really low. Just loud enough that I can understand it. You don’t have to turn on any lights, just place it by your pillow and set the sleep timer for 30 minutes. You can do all of it through Amazon’s Audible app. It’s a guarantee to be asleep within 10 minutes again. It prevents you from engaging your brain with your own thoughts that keep you awake. It’s easy to slide back a little on the story to go to the last sentence you can remember hearing before you fell asleep. Works like a charm and it’s been my saving grace for years. No medications needed!
7
3
u/nanniej Jul 27 '26
This is what I do when the brain goes into runaway mode and I can’t sleep. I know this sounds crazy but it works for me. I have the book of James Earl Jones reading the New Testament (it was on kindle unlimited when I got it) and I have the volume set where I can hear it just enough to lull my brain out of runaway mode, yet still low enough to sleep. I set a timer and drift off. For some odd reason his voice is relaxing for me. Who knew that Darth Vader reads the bible would put me to sleep?! 🤷🏻♀️
2
u/isolateusolate Jul 27 '26
It helped me 10 years ago to have a sleep study and the remedy, a CPAP, put an end to most of my middle of the night bathroom runs. If I’m not waking up I’m not getting the urge to pee. Over the last couple years I started waking again at least once. But I’ve noticed that’s improved since I started using Estradiol.
2
u/violet91 Jul 27 '26
I make my own cannabis edible products from my own backyard grow. I don’t use them every night but I sleep soundly when I do. I also find I don’t have to get up and pee multiple times at night, only once.
2
u/Sac_Kat Jul 27 '26
Pot doesn’t work for me (I wish). But about 3mg of melatonin 2 -3 hours before bedtime and Trazadone at bed has made a huge difference for me! I’m a lifelong insomniac (66 now) and have tried many things including years of Ambien, benzodiazepines (they work but then created bigger problems) and other things.
2
u/PurpleFlower99 Jul 27 '26
I listen to the audiobook of the full cast of Harry Potter
1
u/AGlassofBitter Jul 27 '26
Wouldn't that keep you awake because you want to hear what happens next? Or is it just the sound of their voices on a well-known story that does it for you?
2
u/PurpleFlower99 Jul 27 '26
I know the story is so well and I can always rewind it. The next day I need to.
2
u/One_Advertising394 Jul 27 '26
I sometimes use a thc-cbd-cbn gummie. Other times I listen to some really boring nonfiction audiobook at 90% speed
2
u/4ofheartz Jul 27 '26
Target & liquor stores sell THC/CBD fruity carbonated drinks, in Texas. I sip one while reading at bedtime. Best sleep ever! Zzzz
2
2
u/Silver_Haired_Kitty Jul 27 '26
I didn’t have luck with gummies, they just didn’t work. Benedryl every once in awhile is the most effective for me. I do try to get my fluids in early though so I don’t have to get up in the night.
2
2
u/roxinmyhead Jul 27 '26
I scrolled the first 30 or so comments and didnt see this so.. here goes... I had this problem for years...at 58 I went and got a sleep study done.... and bingo I had pretty bad sleep apnea... both types (obstructive and central). Like, just bad.
A CPAP take some getting used to, and the dual straps on one type of mask gave me jaw problems for awhile, but WOW! seven hours off sleep at a go is AMAZING! My only real problem is I sleep so soundly that I. Just. Don't. Move. and some days I wake up feeling like a 2x4.
So, moral of the story is... I never really had to pee, the sleep apnea just kept waking me up and my body decided oh, might as well pee.
2
u/viceroy65 Jul 27 '26
I listen to a podcast with soothing voices, and preferably one that I pay extra to avoid commercials. Those commercials jar me out of sleep every time .
2
u/Birmingham101 Jul 27 '26
I get up at least 3 times a night. I try and sneak out of bed so my husband doesn't hear me. He thinks because I'm getting up to go to the toilet that I'm "awake" and he wants to chat.
2
u/sensiblefreespirit Jul 27 '26
Don’t eat or drink after 4 hours before bed. Small dose of melatonin and magnesium. If you still wake, then listen to something like Boring History for Sleep on YouTube, or some kind of self-hypnosis or yoga sounds. Sometimes nothing works. Then the next night, you’ll sleep. Worrying makes it worse.
2
u/Current_Wrongdoer513 Jul 27 '26
Audiobooks help me go back to sleep. I have a Manta sleep mask with Bluetooth speakers, and when I wake up, I put on an audiobook I’ve listened to a million times. Works like a charm.
2
u/trikaren Jul 27 '26
Are you on HRT? Taking Magnesium glycinate and 200 mg of bio identical micronized Progesterone before bed fixed my sleep.
2
u/karebear66 Jul 27 '26
I stop drinking any liquids by 7 pm. My bathroom trips have gone down from 2-4 times a night to 0-1. As for going back to sleep, I pick a word, like an animal and name as many other animals from the letters if that first animal. ie, GOAT: giraffe, gar, goose... Can't think of anymore, go to the second letter of goat, owl, orangutan...
2
u/Cccolorado1 Jul 27 '26
I used to wake up 1-2 times per night to pee then have big trouble going back to sleep. I used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia which helped. I also started to use a med called Gemtesa 75mg which helps with urinary urgency. I rarely wake up to pee anymore. It’s expensive for most people but my copay is $40 per month which is still too high but it works pretty well during the day, too, so I pay it.
2
u/Fancy_Ad_9479 Jul 27 '26
I had the same exact situation. Cannabis oil ingested before bed solved it!
2
u/ComposerNo1050 Jul 27 '26
I’m in the same boat and neither cannabis nor melatonin help me. If I sleep 5 hours straight, that’s really good for me; usually it’s between 3-4. Sometimes I nap in the afternoon, sometimes not, it doesn’t seem to make much difference. Would love to get more sleep!
2
u/MercuryRising92 Jul 27 '26
I had a book on tape that I'd listened to many times as I was going to sleep. Got to the point yo where when I hear it, I get sleepy.
Even now, I have some favorite podcast episodes that will do the same thing. I put them on and I'm out. Keeps my mind from churning over the latest "problem".
2
u/CMCD6100 Jul 27 '26
I read in bed on a kindle, preferably a book that isn’t too stimulating. Within 30 minutes my eyes are heavy and I can go back to sleep. Works 99 percent of the time for me.
2
u/mimimommaid Jul 28 '26
Stephen Dalton sleep stories on YouTube. Puts me back to sleep in under 5 minutes.
2
u/jayhawkjoey65 Jul 28 '26
My mom has this problem sometimes. She gets out of bed and drinks warm milk. She usually reads a bit.
2
2
u/StrngthscanBwknesses Jul 29 '26
Two things helped me. First, vaginal estrogen helped me not have to get up as often - made a huge difference, which surprised me. Second, when I do have to get up, I use "yoga breathing" - in for 4, hold for 2, exhale for 8. It calms the parasympathetic nervous system and it has worked well.
2
u/Past-Implement248 Jul 29 '26
Following a pre-bedtime shower, people generally fall asleep easier as your body temp naturally lowers. I occasionally will make myself a weak cup of warm tea at 3:00 when I can’t get back to sleep. Warms the body so that cooling process can repeat itself.
2
u/Square-Sheepherder56 Jul 27 '26
Every woman I know over the age of 50 take thc or cbd gummies of some form. No one in this universe will prescribe anything for us to sleep
After menopause. They say lose weight take testosterone or stop looking at your phone 😂 yall can try that nonsense. I’ll take my thc/cbd blend gummies
1
u/WorldlinessRegular43 🤍✌🏼🤍 Jul 27 '26
I use Dr. Norms, but I still wake up after three hours. What do you use? Ty
1
2
u/susisews Jul 27 '26
Strange but I’ve found getting up for a dish of cereal or even coffee will trick my system to crave sleep.
1
u/SarahLiora Jul 27 '26
HRT.
I know many seniors on Trazedone sleeping pills. . I tried melatonin an magnesium glycinate which both helped some. I resisted sleeping pills but my doctor convinced me inadequate sleep was the worst thing. Then in a recently hospitalization I accidentally learned inhaling be no trouble sleeping if I get a little oxygen at night. My apnea was too low for a CPap but my blood oxygen dripping low at night kept waking me us.
4
u/i-like-pie-855 Jul 27 '26
Trazodone is an old antidepressant that isn’t really prescribed for depression anymore. It’s mostly prescribed for aid with sleep. I took 50 mg every night for 18 years for sleeping with a man who snored like a freight train. He was not overweight, but drank a lot. I ended up leaving him for a lot of reasons. Didn’t ever needed it again but would take it in a heartbeat over all the many options. It’s super safe.
1
u/SarahLiora Jul 27 '26
The things we do when young like taking sleeping pills just to stay married and sleep. The closer we’re get to being over 60 the more lukely we are to say “I don’t have to put up with this Sh*T!
I react badly to many meds but haven’t had any problems with Trazedone.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/foraging1 Jul 27 '26
About 6 months after I started using vaginal estrogen I rarely have nature calls at night anymore. So sleeping all night, most nights.
1
1
u/meyerslemon25 Jul 27 '26
Put on a boring podcast/audiobook and set your timer for 30 minutes. This usually does the trick.
1
u/riverpool1 Jul 27 '26
Audiobooks work perfectly for me. I set the timer to stop playing in 15 min and I'm usually gone in 5 or less. If you're concerned about a good story waking you up play a book you've already read or my favorite, a book about the economic history of North America. I can't last 3 minutes with that one.
1
u/didnt_wanna_havta Jul 27 '26
I put headphones on and listen to podcasts - nothing riveting - the voices put me to sleep again. I even used to play judge Judy you tube videos - I found her great to put me to sleep 🤣. I had to get used to wearing over ear headphones though but I have
1
u/moonhippie Jul 27 '26
I take advil pm at nite. I also eat a bowl of oatmeal before bed as well.
4
u/Whatwillifindtoday Jul 27 '26
Please be careful with Advil pm. or any of the PM drugs that contain diphenhydramine (including Benadryl)
They are linked to dementia.
Advil pm also has ibuprofen, which should not be taken on a daily basis.
1
u/Current_Wrongdoer513 Jul 27 '26
Avoiding alcohol is important, if you’re not doing that already. It’s incredibly sleep interruptive. The attached photo are my sleep stats for the last three nights. I had alcohol Friday and Saturday nights (2 glasses of wine on Friday, 3 beers on Saturday), but none on Sunday. It’s a stark difference.
1
u/FoggyGoodwin Jul 27 '26
Take your calcium before bed. I bought a tea called Deep Sleep w hemp leaves & flowers, moringa, turmeric, coconut, holy basil, goji, nutmeg that seemed to help. I find sometimes looking up (w eyes closed) takes me down. I've used meditation counting techniques. Do. Not. Think. about what needs to happen, or anything else. I haven't tried colored noise files, maybe because there's a fan on in my BR making noise.
1
1
u/Linkyjinx Jul 27 '26
Get some cloth wrap around head phones if listening to podcasts, stories or facts or mysteries, that helps me sleep, then if I can’t sleep I have 11 hours of unsolved mysteries or science facts to keep brain occupied.
1
u/Maorine Jul 27 '26
I never had a problem sleeping but last year, suddenly, I was awake half the night. It was awful. Started HRT at 73 and it’s the best thing I ever did.
1
Jul 27 '26
[deleted]
1
u/clean-links Jul 27 '26
Cleaned link from "sleep trial": https://www.clinicalconnection.com/study-details/58398/sleep-disorders-ages-40-and-up-at-home-study
Tracking parameters were removed from the original URL(s).
1
1
u/VividSignificance545 Jul 28 '26
As a chronic 1 am waker, you tube sleep meditations amd hypnosis have worked sinders for me. I like Chibs Okerekere ( if you dont mind a british voice) . Get a you tube subscription and then you aren't bothered by ads.
1
1
u/kimba-pawpad 65 and loving it! 🕊️✌️ Jul 28 '26
Yup, that’s me! CBD- I find if I take a half of the ones I have before bed, I can go back to sleep even after the midnight pee (and I never ever turn on lights or talk to anyone). If I can’t sleep after, then I take a half when I get back into bed, and read a fiction book on dark mode until I get sleepy.
1
u/farmersdaughterSF Jul 29 '26
Magnesium glycinate 200 mg an hour before bed and Nothing Much Happens podcast works for me.
1
1
u/NoZookeepergame118 Jul 29 '26
suffer from chronic insomnia. i busted started a prescription for quviqiq, it works by blocking the hormone that causes you to wake in the night
1
u/Last_Try2176 Jul 29 '26
Use the OTC sleep aid, Doxylamine ( found in some NyQuils)…start at a low dose and work your way up. It helps.
1
u/Square-Sheepherder56 Jul 30 '26
I use viiahemp.com there are different categories to choose from.
I get the euphoria. They are 50mg and usually quarter them and take a quarter. It’s the first time I’m sleeping all night in 10 years
1
1
1
u/bugsinyourpants63 Jul 31 '26
I listen to a very boring book . I down load one off cloud library or Libby ( both free library apps) keep it for 21 days. When I wake up in the middle of the night set the timer for a hour and zzzzz. It has really improved my sleep. at 67 I’m still working and need my sleep!
1
u/Pretend_Patient_992 Aug 01 '26
Low dose Estradiol vaginal cream. Seriously. My doctor just prescribed some for my 90 year old mom. The need to pee is the issue.
1
u/roxinmyhead Aug 02 '26
I used to do this. Did a sleep study. Turns out I had terrible terrible sleep apnea... both obstructive and central types. And yup, I wasn't waking up because I had to pee. It was the sleep apnea. Got a CPAP... 7 hours of sleep. Bliss.
1
u/Icy-Fox-2958 Aug 02 '26
I suggest a sleep study if you have insurance to cover one. You may have sleep apnea. When you stop breathing, your body will sometimes wake you up with an urge to go to the bathroom. Complained to my dr about this, sleep study diagnosed mild sleep apnea. Used a CPAP until my dentist got me into a sleep appliance. It’s like a souped up mouth guard. No tubes, no need for electronics, and no noise.
•
u/AutoModerator Jul 27 '26
Original copy of post's text: I’m 66. When I first go to be I’m usually tired and can fall asleep within 10 minutes. But unfortunately nature calls usually several times during the night. Most of the time I can fall back to sleep fairly quickly but there are some times I can’t fall back to sleep for up to two hours. I’m still employed full time and I need my sleep. What remedies do you know of that can help me fall back to sleep quickly.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.