Home Care Advice for insomnia sufferers?

[Misfit_101]

Hi There,

I have a client that suffers from insomnia, she is in her late 50's and she is constantly on the go from morning til bedtime. I have already tried adversing her to wind down a bit before retiring to bed, like reading ortaking a relaxing bath with lavender added andcandles etc,but I think this is a lifetimehabbit. She has a problem getting off to sleep and when se does finally drop off she wakes again a couple of hours later, and thisgoes on through the night. I also advised that she cut down on tea and coffee, or at least try decaf.
When my client has a massage once a week she always sleeps so much better that night. I would like to be able to offer her some good home care advice for insomnia, has anybody got any suggestions?

 

[Lonnie P]

Seems like you have done your best. Has she taken up any of your advice?
Maybe as she has therapy with you, she may not be adverse to seeking hypnotherapy.
Everyone's different, does she want to change (yet)?
Good luck.

 

[Law Guru]

Does she feel unwell from the lack of sleep? I am lucky if I get four hours straight - I go to bed around 11.30pm, and invariably wake up at 3.30 - sometimes wide awake, so much so I get up. It is arare day that Ilast beyond 5.30am.

I do notfeelunwell, and have a good level of energy until about 7pm, when I sit down to watch the box. I don't drink coffee after 11 in the morning, and no tea after 6pm - 'builders' or herbal- just water.

I love it in the summer months, as I can take the dog for a walk. I was once stopped by a concerned policeman at 4am, out on his rounds, asking if I was OK - think he thought I was up to no good! If he sees me nowadays, he just waves and smiles and carries on driving past!!

I have always been like this, since childhood, and am 51 now. Old age should be interesting as you are supposed to need less sleep!

If your client is generally fit and healthy, then I don't think she should worry herself too much about it. Presume she has tried all the usual things like I have:
No tea/coffee after 6pm
Warm bath with sedative oils before bed
Warm milk based drink
No TV in the bedroom
Read an 'uncomplicated' book
Abdominal breathing techniques (with the lights switched off)
Lettuce with evening meals (once suggested to me by a TCM doctor - something in the lettuce that induces relaxation)

I tried them all, but it didn't make any difference, so have just concluded it is 'me', so I make the most of the few quiet hours I have in the early mornings - sometimes you find me on here!

 

[Lala M]

one of my clients liked to go to bed with a cup of peppermint tea!
the aromatherapy oil is listed as being contra indicated for insomniacs,
she has been sleeping better since cutting out the peppermint tea and having chamomile instead

HG

 

[Malbioraed]

Thank you for all your replies. My client says she doesnt particularly feel unwell through lack of sleep, but does feel really tired alot of the time, and finds it frustrating during the night when she cant sleep. She doesnt like to get up as she says she would start pottering about and wake other members of her family. Having the holistic approach with my massage therapy I want to be able to help by offering some good homecare advice, as this would be quite rewarding not only to clients but for me too.

Hi jabbathehut! From what you have said about your lack sleep its seems for you it has its good points, as when you say its nice in the summer months when you cango for an early morning walk with the dog, it must bevery peaceful i would imagine. You did make me giggle about bumping into a police man lol. Thank you for some of your tips, and lettuce eh? I never knew that!! I will certainly mention that to her. Also hypnotherapy is a consideration too, thanks mysterious me.

I guess for some people it doesnt cause any problems, I personally love my sleep and always slept very well, and if i dont get a good nights sleep it leaves me feeling prettygrotty for the rest of the day.

 

[LeFzency]

With my own experience i find their are two major causes to insomnia.

1) alcohol. even if its only a glass of wine with dinner each night it can seriously affect soem peoples sleep. majority of people think they dont drink too much but even small amounts may be too much for them and their liver at night.

2) somethign on their mind/worries. is this person worrying about anything? no matter how minor this is what might be keeping her awake at night.


you can drink peppermint tea or hot milk beofre bed till the cows come home and soak your pillow in lavender untill you unconcious, but if the two above arent addresses then the insomnia will continue, IMO.

you have to realise that insomnia is generally waking up after a short while and not beign able to get back to sleep, they usually don't have a problem getting to sleep in the first place. so whats waking them up?


It can be very beneficial when they wake to go eat or drink soemthing heavy to release the sleep enducing chemicals. weetabix is a good one, also warm milk.

 

[Eccentric]

Such a difficult topic when so many things can be affect the insomnia. Mine is sporadic, mostly due to the menopause (isn't everything?). When I am on an early shift at work, up by 0445, I find I am sleeping fitfully and then keep waking up also, so am very tired when I do get up. I am quite lucky in that I try and give myself reiki last thing at night and usually fall asleep with my hand on the heart chakra. This doesn't stop me waking in the night. I don't drink tea or coffee so can't blame that, alcohol not too often as my job is safety critical. When I went through a three month period of little sleep each nightit stressed it stressed me greatly.Then realised it was the peri-menopause and I stopped worrying about not sleeping! Now I just acknowledge the inability to sleep and realise it's just 'me' for now.

 

[heybulldog]

Hi All,
I am 41 and been a poor sleeper for over 20 years due to shoulder discomfort, any way I know it is habitual, I once had sleeping tablets for a week and slept well for over 2 months( not continuous.......) then woke up one night thinking about someting that must have been important at the time>>>> then slept poorly for months. Last month , one of my clients said I looked tired and she could help with accupuncture so we swapped a few sessions, on the second session she detected a blockage somewhere in the neck region, stabbed me with a big needle, no pain but within 5 seconds i was fast asleep, she left me for 30 mins, it was like having a general aneasthetic(spelling?). I slept well for most of last month, until one of my kids woke me in the middle of the night feeling unwell, now I dont sleep again.
My mind is always active and when I awaken, I am racing thoughts in my head and have to get up! I dont drink tea,coffee, fizzy pop, in fact I only drink water and very weak squash. At about 5 in the evening when I am listening to the kids read school books I can hardly keep my eyes open I feel so tired.
I have suggested that they read me a bedtime story, but that didnt go down well! best of luck with the sleep thing anyway whatever you decide to try.
regards
Gaz

 

[honitel]

Hello Misfit,
I can see that you really taking care of her much, and decaf is a better suggestion also. I got also a friend who only have decaf no matter how she want the other, its for her good. Tho still, I don't get why she still stay up so late! Atleast, when she started to have decaf she said there's still a good effect!