New Drapes

I suppose drapes would help . However, ask your doctor about ativan. Take it before bed . You will be out like a light. If your not familiar with ativan. It is a benzo type anti- anxiety that treats it by settling the central nervous system there- by calming you down during anxiety attacks. If taken before bed, not only will it put you to sleep , but, it will also help you stay a bit calmer the next day. ( but, I warn , this stuff can habit forming and you can sometimes feel a little groggy the next day.

Concernedgal said:

I suppose drapes would help . However, ask your doctor about ativan. Take it before bed . You will be out like a light. If your not familiar with ativan. It is a benzo type anti- anxiety that treats it by settling the central nervous system there- by calming you down during anxiety attacks. If taken before bed, not only will it put you to sleep , but, it will also help you stay a bit calmer the next day. ( but, I warn , this stuff can habit forming and you can sometimes feel a little groggy the next day.

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Ativan made me just a little "too" happy and relaxed when I took it. I suppose that's why my doctor only kept me on it for 10 nights. I remember watching movies all night and laughing so hard that I thought I'd wake my Dad up. To me, it was the closest thing to alcohol I had ever experienced. And YES, it will help you sleep. Oh boy will it help you sleep.

As for the drapes (for the OP) - anything that isolates you from the rest of the world when it comes to sleeping, is a GREAT thing. You could also buy something called "LectroFan"...it's this little white sound machine that makes a constant, steady noise...it's smaller than your hand. Many sounds to choose from, and no, they're not the sounds of crickets or rain forests or any of that nonsense....just a constant "white noise." Mine is set at "Box Fan #2." I don't hear anything when I sleep, except for my LectroFan. You can control the volume too. Probably one of the best investments I've ever made in my life. Wait, lemme see if I can find a pic of it for you...

Here's my baby!

DDNatureLover said:

I've mentioned before that I have insomnia and that the neighbors' (both sides) dogs often keep me awake, or wake me up mid-sleep and early morning. I invested in a set of insulated drapes for the bedroom, and hung them the other day. They were purchased primarily to cut down on the cold and heat coming in from the outside, since this house isn't well insulated and only has single pane windows. But, what I've noticed is that they're also somewhat darkening, so that the lights/traffic and morning light don't wake me as early, and they also decrease the exterior sounds, so the barking doesn't wake me quite as much.

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That may have been all you needed to tell you the truth, because sometimes if your room is lit up to much whether it's from street lights or your neighbors porch light for example, your mind is tricked into thinking it's daytime. I also have insulated curtains and they do make a difference.

Lavender is brilliant for helping you get to sleep and to stay asleep. A few drops on your pillow before you get into bed and you will be falling asleep in no time at all. If you are feeling anxious as well, lavender is fantastic for calming the nerves. There are many other herbal teas that you could drink half an hour before bedtime that will help to send you off. Chamomile is good and so is valerian. St. Johns Wort is a herbal tablet that you can take to lighten your mood if you are feeling a bit depressed. I don't know very much about chemical anti-depressants as I am a bit scared of becoming addicted to them. Or saving them all up to take all at once.

Always make sure that your bed is really comfortable. It's best to invest in a great bed and duvet as it will also help you to sleep well. Also, think about the colours of your bedroom. Blues and purples will always aid a restful sleep, while blacks and reds would make you feel low or angry respectively.