What's going on?

[Requin]

I'm annoyed. And tired.
That's the problem really, I have had problem sleeping recently. Well....kind of.

For the past week I have been waking up at the SAME time every morning. I sleep until about 4:00 ish. Then I wake up. And I can't go back to sleep for about an hour and a half, so I get half an hours sleep before I have to get up.

You may think that I still get more than you. But it's just the fact that my body is doing this...and it knackers me. I feel sooo tired all day.
And this has happened for about 5 days now. So it's all my lack of sleep rolled up into one...and I hate it.

And ideas on why I'm doing this? And how can I stop it?
If I can.

[zoig]

don't try to get to sleep straght away, just lie on your bed and read for a bit to unwind for about 15 mins before lights out and sleep.
Are you feeling stressed about anything at the present time?

[Burnthecity]

Anything big happeneing, mid terms or anything thats mabye stressing you out?

mabye try drinking a cup of camameal (sp) tea befor you sleep, mabye itll help you relax and give you a better night sleep

[Mzor203]

First, you should try to find the cause of this, then it will be easier to treat (If treatable).

Has something been bothering you recently? Any weird things going on in your life that have had some effect on you? Sometimes things like these can be cause sleeping problems, though waking up at the same time sounds like a bit of a strange symptom.

Maybe a bit more likely is that it is environmental. Maybe there's something going on every morning at this time which is disturbing you in which way. Maybe it would help to ask around to people if they heard or noticed anything at that time the previous night, and someone might have an answer.

Do you go to bed at the same time every night? If so, you could try going to bed an hour earlier one day and see if it still happens at the same time every night, or if it happens at a different time. Then you'll be able to better tell if it' mental or environmental.

If it's neither of these, then I'm out of ideas. But you should definitely try going to bed at an earlier time.

Good luck Joe!

[byee]

Poor Joe.

Weren't you sick last week? Are you fully better now?

When the body gets infected, it throws off a lot of the natural rhythms, like sleeping, etc. That's why sick people sleep so much, the body signals the brain to rest it so it can better fight the infection. Then, it takes a while to get back into synch.

The way to do this is to make sure you're shutting down the stimulation before bed to unwind, empty your bladder, make sure the temp in the room is comfortable, etc. And go to bed. Ideally, the goal is to make it thru the night, but if you awaken, Joe, the goal is to shorten that time.

If you wake up at 4AM and cannot go back to sleep, get out of bed, listen to some soft music, maybe read a book, something low key for about 20-30 mins. Then, get back into bed, and breathe slowly, like you do when you're asleep, and don't think about anything.

It might take a few days to get back into things, but if you get out of bed and do something low key, it helps when you get back into bed.

[Requin]

don't try to get to sleep straght away, just lie on your bed and read for a bit to unwind for about 15 mins before lights out and sleep.
Are you feeling stressed about anything at the present time?

I always read before I sleep. And I always seem to be stressed, but nothing particuallary abnormal for me. Thanks for the reply. :D

First, you should try to find the cause of this, then it will be easier to treat (If treatable).

Has something been bothering you recently? Any weird things going on in your life that have had some effect on you? Sometimes things like these can be cause sleeping problems, though waking up at the same time sounds like a bit of a strange symptom.

Maybe a bit more likely is that it is environmental. Maybe there's something going on every morning at this time which is disturbing you in which way. Maybe it would help to ask around to people if they heard or noticed anything at that time the previous night, and someone might have an answer.

Do you go to bed at the same time every night? If so, you could try going to bed an hour earlier one day and see if it still happens at the same time every night, or if it happens at a different time. Then you'll be able to better tell if it' mental or environmental.

If it's neither of these, then I'm out of ideas. But you should definitely try going to bed at an earlier time.

Good luck Joe!
I asked my parents if they were woken by anything? And they said no. My cat and dog were down stairs in the kitchen, so it can't be them.
And there's really been nothing massively different going on. I go to bed, roughly the same time every night. But I will try and go to bed a different time tonight...and see what happens.
Thanks for the reply. :D

Anything big happeneing, mid terms or anything thats mabye stressing you out?

mabye try drinking a cup of camameal (sp) tea befor you sleep, mabye itll help you relax and give you a better night sleep
Last night...my mum suggested hot milk (I added some coco) to drink...and that didn't help.
And I've finished all of my exams for the moment! But the only ones left are retakes and the important ones in June. So no not really.
Thanks for the reply. :D

Poor Joe.

Weren't you sick last week? Are you fully better now?

When the body gets infected, it throws off a lot of the natural rhythms, like sleeping, etc. That's why sick people sleep so much, the body signals the brain to rest it so it can better fight the infection. Then, it takes a while to get back into synch.

The way to do this is to make sure you're shutting down the stimulation before bed to unwind, empty your bladder, make sure the temp in the room is comfortable, etc. And go to bed. Ideally, the goal is to make it thru the night, but if you awaken, Joe, the goal is to shorten that time.

If you wake up at 4AM and cannot go back to sleep, get out of bed, listen to some soft music, maybe read a book, something low key for about 20-30 mins. Then, get back into bed, and breathe slowly, like you do when you're asleep, and don't think about anything.

It might take a few days to get back into things, but if you get out of bed and do something low key, it helps when you get back into bed.
I always 'shut down' before I go to bed. I always read etc.
But this waking up at the SAME time every day is annoying and tiring. Last night was the worst so far. It's combined all of my lack of sleep and disturbed body patterns and has smashed it all into one.

I gave up last night basically...I got up, wandered about for a bit, trying to find something to do. I read, then finished my book..then I listened to some music. Felt tired and went back to bed...and stayed awake. This was strange as when I listen to music after I've woken up etc then I normally go back to sleep. This was the first time that I've ever not gone back to sleep.
Thanks for the reply Sam! :D
And help...I feel like crap with a capital C.

[byee]

I like the idea of warm milk, Joe, but leave the cocoa out (as bizarre as that sounds coming from a chocoholic like ME!). Cocoa has *stuff* in it that'll keep you awake.

If you're stressed, you might try to identify what the stress is and resolve it, spend some time on it before you go to bed.

If you get up at 4 am, it might be best to really start your day, eventhough you'll be utterly exhausted later on. After a few days of this, your body might be so tired that it sleeps thru the nite.

I think the added mental stress of not being able to fall back asleep is compounding the awakening, making it more difficult to fall back asleep. You might need to just go thru a few really looong days to break the cycle.

[Requin]

yay. Can't wait.

Better find a good book then, and some more music. :-)
Thanks for the replies guys.
And I really hope I get some sleep. Otherwise I may just turn into a zombie.

[byee]

Maybe you're unable to fall asleep b/c of THAT piccie in your siggy, Joe? Maybe it's running thru your mind and unnerving you?

Hopefully, by the time you get up on your side of the pond and read this, you will have had a refreshing, full night's sleep. If not, plan on starting the day whenever it is you get up, and don't go to sleep until your regular bed time. In a day or two your sleep cycle should be normalized.

[Requin]

Hallo! Update.

Well I woke up in the night at guess what!! 4:30am!
I went to bed a little later as a fell asleep while watching something, then I went to bed proper. :-)

I did wake up, but after a while and after I'd got rid of my cat from annoying me. I managed to get back to sleep, and I had a lie-in. So I feel much better today.
Thanks for the replies Sam, and to the others. :-)

[Halibut]

it couldl have something to do with a lifestyle change. hagve you made any drastic changes in your life. expercizing, food, habits etc. or eating something before you go to bed or anything like that. because that might be the problem. good luck