Insomnia
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I'm the same some nights.. ive tried taking nytol if I have a run of bad nights. Deepens my sleep generally but doesn't stop me waking up for baby. I've never been able to sleep when baby is sleeping during day either 🙃 Agree with the above too.. if you have anyone that could help for a night or two to give you a mental break to try and get some sleep.
Hi, I know the struggle! I used to struggle with insomnia before having a baby, and barely struggle anymore. I’m going to give my two cents as I really don’t want you to go down the horrible insomnia rabbit hole that so many of us end up doing. I have 6 years of experience with insomnia. On top of that, I have a PhD in sleep and a sleep coach certification. First things first - sleep is a natural process that happens on its own and does not need any intervention (eg sleep hygiene, sleepy teas etc). There is a distinct difference between sleep optimisation and insomnia. The former is basically when someone sleep generally well but wants to optimise or deepen their sleep - here, sleep hygiene and stuff like that can come in handy. Insomnia on the other hand is more of an anxiety-related state rather than a sleep disorder. Insomnia simply happens when we start seeing wakefulness as something dangerous, unwanted, undesired. The more negative and fearful we feel about being awake…
..the more prominent the insomnia will become. The key here is to practice acceptance. Accept that your brain is currently in a state of fear due to not sleeping, and learn how to lean into the fear. Break down those catastrophic beliefs. Yes, not being able to sleep well is annoying, but it’s not completely unmanageable. Sleep is a passive process and we can never unlearn it. Accept that this is a period in which your sleep isn’t ideal, and try to see it as only that. Practicing sleep hygiene and stuff like that will give you a false sense of control, but sleep inherently cannot be controlled.
The reason why many of us struggle for years is simply because we think sleep needs problem-solving when the opposite is true. Sleep will come when your body needs it. Until then, try to be ok with not sleeping too well. I know it’s easier said than done but this mindset is honestly what actually combats insomnia.
I’ve had insomnia for the last 10 years, at my worst I was living on 30 minutes sleep a day and 2 years ago 3 hours was considered a ‘great’ sleep to me. I’ve also struggled with going to sleep after baby where I’ve been not sleeping at night and then trying to stay awake for partner to get home to basically collapse out of exhaustion. If you don’t want to disturb your partner I honestly suggest inviting a relative or friend to do a night shift because it’s so hard to function with normal insomnia never mind looking after some one else on top. What can help me is going on a walk / bike ride then having a really hot shower, and just staying really under simulated 3 hours before bed. But appreciate this can be difficult to do now.