Advice on how to sleep

Hello Lauzloo, it’s a horrible feeling. I remember the wait too. Everyone is different, but for me, deep breathing really helps, I can’t recommend it enough. It just seems to slow everything down. Anxiety is such an individual thing. Might be worth trying a few things to see what works best for you. Take care, the wait will be over soon. Xx

Hi Lauzloo
I have a google home hub and an Amazon Dot in my bedroom and I listen to audio books or podcasts when I can't sleep.
I find that this helps to distract me from my thoughts.
I give the instruction " Alexa (or Ok Google), read my audio book (or podcast depending on what I'm wanting) and then I give the instruction to turn off in 20 mins.

It works for me

Sometimes I have to repeat the sequence a few times if dropping off is really tricky.

Sending hugs xx

Lavender can help - pillow spray, bubble bath, etc.  I use Lavender self-heating steam eye masks nearly every night as they are really relaxing and block out all light.  Spotify has an 8-hour crystal bowl sound bath which you can listen to drift off to. Bach's Nighttime Rescue Remedy is also really helpful. Good luck. 

Hi Lauzloo,

Hang on in there, you will find a way through.  I had a great deal of trouble sleeping and was given access to the Sleepio app following surgery and radiotherapy and a needs assesment by the breast care nurse team.  Its based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques and is quite structured.  One of the things it suggests as a way to combat intrusive thoughts seems very simple  but is effective if you can focus.  If you can't sleep, breathe in deeply and slowly and as you breathe out slowly say a non emotionally charged word e.g. Relax.  Initially its important to say it out loud and once you have got into the swing of things, say it under your breath, then just think it. So for me I breathe in counting 1,2,3,4 and then breathe out saying the word Relax slowly enough to cover the whole of my breathe out, then repeat over and over again. The theory is that if you are counting and speaking you can't be thinking of other things or having intrusive thoughts that keep you awake and this allows your brain to switch off.

The other thing I've found helpful it to listen to the late Dr Michael Mosely's radio programme Just One thing on sleep which helps.  Available on BBC Sounds & BBC website

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0d7003n

Good luck & be kind to yourself

xx

Hi Lauzloo,

I am currently withdrawing from HRT amd awaiting Histology results from my lumpectomy and SLNB. Needless to say I suffer terribly with insomnia. How a person can manage on little sleep is beyond me but I have been. I agree, waiting for results is hard. I have 6 more days to wait and the closer it gets the further away it seems. 

Sanctuary Spa do some lovely Sleep aid bath salts and oils that really help with anxiety. 

You Tube have some great sleep ambience options. I like to listen to the sounds of rain on window, healing ambience music. I pop in some ear plugs and have a private session to relax me down before attempting sleep. 

Pukka do some lovely herbal teas for Sleep Aid and for calming

I try to switch off with Suduko, reading a book, Crochet in the evening to help tire my mind down. 

Sometimes it works 1/3 nights, sometimes it don't. 

I hope you find some comfort in everybody's suggestion to help. Remember your not alone and we will get through it. 

Take care xx