insomnia

[Maniah]

My mum has insomnia,she cant sleep without pills has anyone has a solution on this apart from pills,she have been taking them for 20 years and shes 55yrs now

[specialmom]

Ugh, I'm sorry to hear that.  I'm a part time insomniac myself.  And hormonal changes that happen around age 55 make it worse!  My insomnia is cyclic related to my cycle.  Anyway, I try not to give into it.  I don't get up and do things.  I stay in bed with lights out.  I fall asleep easily but wake up.  The waking up is the problem so I try to eliminate chances of that.  I make sure not to drink too much liquid before bed so I don't have to get up to go the bathroom.  I use a fan on me to keep me cool and I have white noise that blocks out sound that might wake me up.  I got to bed early but try to stay routine with when I go to bed, wake up overall.  I don't eat too much at night which can impede sleep.  Alcohol is a no no.  Sleeping pills compound the problem and people can grow dependent on them.  I hope this has not happened to your mom.  If so, giving them up and retraining herself to sleep may be a good thing to do in order to get things on track.  I do take a 20 minute cat nap occasionally and try to catch up on sleep one day a week.  Anything more than that throws sleep off again.  Is she in menopause?  

[Maniah]

thank you for the advice ,i think shes in her menopause

[mombojombo]

Oh ya, I've read hormones can impact that.