jdub27 Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Ever since my recent breakup, I cannot get a good night's sleep. Surprisingly, I fall asleep perfectly fine... but in the middle of the night when i go to use the bathroom, I can't fall back asleep. I'm going on 3-4 hours of sleep a night. I try not to think about my ex, but it seems every time I get up in the middle of the night, I end up thinking of her.. how she's not next to me and that she's sleeping next to another man.. and it kills me.. keeps me up all night.. I don't want to take sleeping pills or any drugs, because it just make me sluggish and groggy the next day, and it only makes the depression worse.. Link to post Share on other sites
written in the stars Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Try a glass of wine and a boring movie. Link to post Share on other sites
collegeguy_24 Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 As a man who was in your position, and sometimes still is, here is what I suggest you do. Get a glass of warm water or milk. Try listening to calming music or with the TV on, you'd be surprised how that helps one avoid thinking on the ex. Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 For myself, light exercise, an early dinner and no fluids near bedtime worked well, most of the time. I took a natural sleep aid, melatonin, occasionally and only resorted to stronger drugs when insomnia became intractable or when I was having vivid nightmares. 25-50mg of Seroquel would knock me out. There was a three-four month period last year when my mom was end stage and my divorce was in settlement that drugs were a good choice. I knew the psychosis of sleep deprivation only too well. I'd rather be a bit rum-dum the next day than see things and hear voices. No thanks. Seven months hence, no issues. It's like a new life Link to post Share on other sites
lovnlost Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 The best thing that worked for me was working out very hard....then laying in bed and writing....writing out every thought that came to my head about her. Whether its a poem about anger or love, a story, personal feelings no matter what they are. Just write. It helps to poor out what you are feeling and get it out. Pages may pile up, but you will soon start to fade to sleep before you know it. Emotions like this, can be very exhausting. Link to post Share on other sites
9Lives Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I didnt handle it well at first. What i did find that worked was finding my favorite book either about what I was going thru or something else and when I woke up, just occupied my mind with that. Or else it was just a lot of crying and thinking and crying and thinking...very exausting. Have a plan, you will need it. Link to post Share on other sites
D-Lish Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I went through a horrible break up and blow to my self esteem 6 years ago. I don't remember having a good nights sleep since then. Six months ago I met someone that I fell head over heels in love with, the first person to move me in 6 years. All of a sudden, I started sleeping well again. I felt secure and loved- and I was able to sleep. As soon as things started to unravel between us, I lost my ability to sleep again. I get an average of 4 hours a night. I've tried script sleeping pills, and I get 6 hours max, it's never enough. I went back to my dr after my recent break up and filled my script again. The first night I slept like a baby and it was so awesome to sleep like that. Unforunately the next night, I got only 4, instead of 8 hours out of it. I hope your sleeplessness is just anxiety related and not long term. If you need a script to get you through a tough time, go for it- you need your sleep, it's so important. Link to post Share on other sites
Broken Dreams Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 (edited) For me, If I'm tossing and turning in bed, thinking about her... I just turn the TV on. Put on a channel that can bore you to sleep .. you just need to stop laying there and thinking of her, and occupy your mind on something else. TV is the easiest thing. If it's not something that stimulates my mind, I'll usually fall right asleep. Not for everyone though. Some can't sleep with light on, so a TV may not help in those cases... Edited April 19, 2011 by Broken Dreams Link to post Share on other sites
radiodarcy Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Ever since my recent breakup, I cannot get a good night's sleep. Surprisingly, I fall asleep perfectly fine... but in the middle of the night when i go to use the bathroom, I can't fall back asleep. I'm going on 3-4 hours of sleep a night. I try not to think about my ex, but it seems every time I get up in the middle of the night, I end up thinking of her.. how she's not next to me and that she's sleeping next to another man.. and it kills me.. keeps me up all night.. I don't want to take sleeping pills or any drugs, because it just make me sluggish and groggy the next day, and it only makes the depression worse.. i have the exact same problem! fall asleep with no trouble then wake up in the middle of the night. lately, i've been forcing myself to think of something else. like alternate ways to get to the gym or work. or remembering the plot to a complex book. or i'll start going through the different literary theories i learned in college. anything that forces my brain to work in different ways so it's not stuck on that continuous loop of thinking about my ex. it seems to be working so far and i usually fall asleep within a few minutes. i've also found on the days that i work out - - i usually sleep through the night. so that could be another option. Link to post Share on other sites
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