I HATE it when I wake up too early. Especially when it's too close to alarm time to go back to sleep! My insomnia doesn't come at bed time, oh no, I fall asleep easily. In fact, my DH tells me that the average is about two minutes after my light is off before I'm sleeping. BUT, on the other end of sleep is where it kicks in. I've tried getting up and going for a walk when I wake up early. That just makes me want to go to bed earlier and shifts me to getting up earlier and earlier. I've tried just lying still and telling myself that resting is as good as sleeping. Yeah, right. I've tried getting up and walking around a bit, then going back to bed to try for more sleep but once I'm up, I'm really awake. Any more ideas???

I used to have a tape that I listened to that was very relaxing. It ran for about 45 minutes. I do not remember the name of it but a book store may have it.

I get up and sew. No use just laying around wide awake...rather do something productive and fun.

I made myself stay in bed for atleast 6 hours straight...sometimes you get into a bad sleep habit and it is hard to break. I also was advised not to exercise or eat within 3 hours of bedtime as that can interrupt sleep patterns.
Have you changed medications...over the counter meds, supplements? these can all contribute to sleeplessness, too.

I have insomnia also. Mine is just where I will wake up at some point in the sleep cycle. Some tricks that I have might work for you.

1. No caffeine after 4:00 pm.
2. A set bedtime, i.e. 10:30 pm. no excuses.
3. A set routine before bedtime: comb/brush hair; brush teeth, wash face, etc.
4. Good smelling sheets - lavender or other relaxing smells
5. Sleepy-time tea or relaxing herbal tea 30-45 minutes before bedtime.

If you wake back up, just get up. Sit up for a while. Don't stress over it. If you feel drowsy, go back and lie down in the bed.

You might want to try taking a low dose of melatonin & see if that helps.

Hope something here helps out.

Ambein does it for me!

I took that for a couple of weeks, the one that has the double agent in it worked awesome!!! One ingredient helps you go right to sleep, the other one keeps you asleep. Can you take this long term?

I need to be up and doing something for a good hour and a half, (reading, sewing, or ironing) then it's back to bed and go out light a light! :-)

Oh did you see the school bus driver on t.v. yesterday who passed out while driving due to his sleep medication he'd taken the night before? Colorado somewhere.

I listen to talk radio when I wake up in the middle of the night. Usually bores me back to sleep!

Renee

I read for a while and it usually relaxes me enough to go back to sleep.

me too. I have fibromyalgia and can't sleep through the because of pressure point pain. Watch it though, Ambien can cause sleep walking/eating. It is quite odd to find an empty cookie box on the kitchen counter in the morning...

I never go to bed until I'm sleepy and when I wake up I get up. It's not a problem to me to wake up at odd hours or go to bed at odd hours. I think the alarm clock is the worst sound in the world. I detest it. The first thing I did when I quit working was to get rid of my alarm clock. I never want another one.

Hilarious :-D :-D

I'm going to track this a bit and see if my hunch is right.....I think it's the full moon!
Thank goodness this doesn't happen all the time, or I'd be a wreck. Or in a wreck, considering I drive 800 km per week to get to work.

I like a lot of suggestions put out here.

Nothing seems to work for me, either. I either grab a book or turn the tv on, barely audible. Usually when I am almost back to sleep, a train goes through, or a siren gets me wide awake again.

this may sound silly, but it works. Pick out a word, say "yesterday", and then spell it over and over. This keeps your mind busy, and will lull you back to sleep. It really works!!

I read or take a benedryl, which was recommended by my doctor instead of prescription and it works for me. I sometimes have to take benedryl during the day if I am around kitties. I always get sleepy.

I kept a record of my sleeping patterns and I am the same as you, go straight to sleep but wake at 3 or 4 am and can't go back to sleep. Mine seems to last about 1 week out of the month (I think hormonal) I'm trying some herbal tablets hopefully they will work.

Lately, I've just been hunting down the Fab Shop Hop bunnies. Tried the spelling, but it just bored me.

I'm not a "sleeper" and I've found this has probably been the best thing for me, too. When I do actually sleep, I sleep very hard and wake up rejuvenated. I don't stress about lying there trying to get back to sleep. After 15 or 20 minutes, I get up and read or get on the QB. Sometimes I make a cup of hot cocoa. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. But when I'm really sleep deprived, I do get back to sleep. Stressing over it is no help. So relax and enjoy your wakeful hours. Our body clocks change as we age, so just enjoy whatever stage you're in right now. Good luck.