Is it normal to have frequent insomnia while caregiving?

I wake too at that time on occasion. I think the added stress of caregiving and anticipation of her coming home can create insomnia and restlessness. I get up and have a glass of milk and go back to bed. I try not to think of things and clear my mind using imagery. I imagine a little stream with trees and flowers with birds singing, a peaceful place. I sometimes use nature cd's which help me to go back to sleep. Sometimes we have to tell ourselves that things will work out, we can do this & it'll be ok. So what if your aunt doesn't get a bath at exactly 10am or if you don't get the laundry in right away. During the day if you do some sort of exercise, running the vacuum, a short walk, weeding your flowers etc will aid in sleeping well. I sometimes do chair exercises and that helps to. Caregiving isn't an easy task, but adding some exercise on top of your caregiving duties should help. You need to take care of yourself or you won't be able to care for anyone else. I take care of my dad, so as a caregiver I've learned not to get 'stressed' out over things, it takes practice but I have less stress not.

I have just seen and read this twice. I see a sleep dr. and take klonopin/anxiety and haven't had the opportunity to try it but will if I don't have my precsription for some reason. My son was the first one to tell me about and then I read it or heard it on tv. You inhale slowly for 8 seconds, hold it for 8 seconds, slowly exhale for 8 seconds, hold it. Do this 3 times and it's supposed to relax you. We don't breathe deeply enough and this is suppose fill our lungs with fresh air so that it will relax us. My husband has NEVER had any trouble sleeping. For 43 years it always made me mad (not really but kind of :) that he could fall asleep sitting at a mall in a chair while I struggled to stay asleep. All of a sudden a few mos. ago he started having trouble waking up in the middle of the night. Now he takes something to relax him. Don't know why our brains do this to us. Good Luck and God Bless

I meant that I wake between 2-3 AM! Home with Dad

I would wake up at 2am frequently. A bowl of milk and cereal helped me go back to sleep. Sometimes low blood sugar disturbs sleep, but a little milk will solve that.

Yes! I was waking around 3 and unable to go back to sleep, so I was down to about 4 hours a night. Not sustainable. I started taking liquid melatonin, which really helps without leaving me groggy in case I need to get up overnight with my dad. I also upped my exercise by swimming about 20 mins a day, started eating more nutritious foods, and a friend has been teaching me EFT. All of this put together has me sleeping 6-7 hours a night, and I feel like a new person. Hope some of this may help you!

Sometimes I will fall asleep in my recliner, next to my husband. We will go to bed, then I either cannot fall asleep or will sleep a couple of hours, then wake up with restless legs, my mind racing, etc. This goes on for an hour or two, then I go back to bed and fall asleep. I'm always up around 4 a.m. in order to have some "me" time before he and the dog are needing attention. It's a great life!

Exercise, walk 3 miles a day, or do an exercise tape, zumba or dance. Your sleep will be effortless, deep, and easy. Plus you will feel better about yourself.

Yes! For the first time in my life I asked my doc. He gave me a very small dose of xanax. Just enough to help me relax and fall back to sleep. No harm in asking to see if it can be added to your other meds.

Yes, I find that frequently I wake 2-3 PM and cannot go back to sleep - turning a problem related to the mother I care for over and over in my mind. Sometimes I take non-prescription sleep aids. Some time I drink milk and eat cheese. Last night I got up and wrote on a book I am working on for about one hour. Didn't help me go back to sleep but made me a lot happier.

With all that we are going through, it is normal to wake up and sometimes not be able to go to sleep. This usually happens when I start thinking and worrying. I have made a rule with myself that when this starts to happen I tell myself I am not going to worry in my bed but will address my worries at 8 am the next morning after at least one cup of coffee!

I was waking and worrying. DR prescribed small dose of Citalopram Celexa to relieve my anxiety and not make me sleep through call for assistance

Yes, it is frequent. DH hasnt been able to sleep since dad come four years ago. But now that Dad died a week ago, DH is sleeping more.