Sleeplessness?? Need help brainstorming

[misty]

Shannon has always had sleep issues. At around age 10 we tried clonodine & then weaned her off of that & had good success with Melatonin. eventually Shannon stopped taking Melatonin , except occasional use as needed. I thought she was doing well...but I was wrong. A few weeks ago she took a Melatinin a couple of nights & then last week she asked if she could try a Nytol(I had gotten a free sample in the mail). Yesterday she told me that nothing works anymore. The Melatonin do not help her get to sleep any longer & the one Nytol she tried did nothing either. She told me even if shes very tired she lays in bed awake until at least midnight. As a result she's groggy, tired, & moody during the day. Plus I've noticed her concentration & inattentiveness are worse lately. I'm at a loss what to do to help her get to sleep. we've tried a warm shower before bed, limiting caffeine & sugar intake, & no computer or TV right before bed. She reads or listens to music inastead. She has a fan for white noise. She refuses to try warm milk or chamomile tea. Any other ideas?

[jj]

Does she say what she thinks about when she is laying there. Maybe she is worried about something but doesn't really realize it is keeping her awake. Just a thought.

I do know that when I get my sleep cycle messed up it is really hard to change it. If that would be the case maybe go in and rub her back to help her relax. Maybe having Mom there would help her get back into the correct sleeping cycle, if that seems to be the problem.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

[misty]

It could be. She said she's not worried about anything but I think maybe school is playing a part. We have no choice but to leave her in that school until the year ends but I know she hates it there & it occupies a lot of her thoughts. she's always talking about things the kids did or something a teacher said. well, you all know what that school is like from my cyber school thread...she's justified in being worried. it worries me too. I'm glad she'll be out of there soon.

[charliegirl]

My first thought was that she has anxiety. All the dangerous stuff going on at school plus finals coming up could be getting to her.

A few years ago I played classical music for my son at bedtime. It did help. Will she listen to light, calming music? It would distract her from thinking and reduce the racing thoughts, but not be stimulating in itself.

[misty]

I'll try that. Not sure if she'll go for it but I'll try.

[lcdc1]

sounds like racing thoughts to me! Has she tried journaling? Write is down, put it away, out of your mind thing.

I know she is not on meds! I had to add a night time low dose ritalin to stop my mind at night!

[katiekat]

If you and she are ok with her taking medication, the Atarax that Sean used to take really helped. It was basically an antihistimine-like a stronger Benadryl.

[misty]

Oh, KK, Thanks! I forgot all about Benedryl! Before she started taking the other sleep meds we tried that & it worked. She has seasonal allergies so giving her benedryl will work for both. I'll buy some & see if it still works for her all these years later.

[jill]

May 7, 2008 20:05:24 GMT -5 misty said:

Oh, KK, Thanks! I forgot all about Benedryl! Before she started taking the other sleep meds we tried that & it worked. She has seasonal allergies so giving her benedryl will work for both. I'll buy some & see if it still works for her all these years later.

*That was what I was going to say Benedryl that is what our pediatrician recommends and we use it only on occasion, I try not to use it but if she has bags under her eyes then I do. For Nette it runs in cycles. I would also call the doctor and see what he/she recommends.