<p>I’m not sure how valuable this is, but if you’re a woman the problem may not be fixable. There is growing evidence that women suffer from sleep disorders so often that may rationally be called the natural state. Women, particularly if they’ve had children, have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep and then falling back to sleep. Research says they tend to focus on lists of things that need to be done and on worries and tasks when they try to sleep. The ideas about why are all over the map and many are just speculative junk, but the evidence is pretty strong that not sleeping well is essentially normal for women. </p>
<p>I’ve spent a lot of time on this subject because my wife has trouble sleeping. Her symptoms are exactly what the evidence finds is common. She has tried medication but it works poorly or too well and doesn’t address her biggest issue, which is waking and then not being able to fall back to sleep. </p>
<p>As a male, I have no idea what she experiences. It sounds completely different from what goes in my head and my body. I try to understand why she starts listing things to do or worries about what needs to be done as she’s trying to go to sleep but I can’t cross that gap in my head. It’s completely alien to me. I lie down and fall asleep if I’m tired. If I don’t feel particularly tired, I think about something and fall asleep. If I worry, I can’t sleep so I don’t do that except for that one or two times when nothing works and my mind is racing. Most men sleep more like me. Most women are more like my wife or like the exceptional nights when I can’t sleep. </p>
<p>I’ve looked into the differences between the sleeping pills on sale and found little to recommend any of them.</p>
<p>My S had surgery on his collarbone and was given Benedryl in hospital that night. I didn’t stay with him because Doctor said S would be out. S didn’t sleep a wink…so wired! Talked soccer with an orderly all night–when he wasn’t texting me! Doc apologized next day, saying about 10% of people react like they are on speed…</p>
<p>Just a few comments on the comments (besides that the melatonin didn’t do squat). I too am a person whose body often reacts to medicine opposite from what you’d expect. That’s why I’m wary about taking anything–even OTC meds. Cough medicine that knocks most people out will have me absolutely twitching for 24 hours.</p>
<p>And Lergnom–yes, definitely female and very aware of sleep issues we tend to have (and your description sounds spot on). I definitely go through periods when my life is high intensity/stress of waking up and mental list-making. (That’s pretty much what’s going on now–I’m waking up at 2, may or may not get back to sleep around 4 or 5.) I’ve tended to take periods of bad sleep in stride–kind of comes with the territory. I only thought about trying to find a little artificial sleep help because of the big day on Saturday. Like 150 people coming to my house. We’ve been working like dogs around here for the last month or so preparing. Would so like to have some energy for the event! Not the end of the world, though. I guess I can greet the guests and then disappear for a nap. ;)</p>
<p>There is absolutely NO reason to take Tylenol PM or Advil PM unless you are also experiencing pain or fever. The sleeping ingredient in those medications is simply benedryl. Why would you add an unneeded component to your sleeping regimen?</p>
<p>Always remember that there is a price to pay for every medicine you put in your body. Aspirin, ibuprophen, and acetaminophen have theirs as well and should not be taken unless needed.</p>