Sleep Problem

[DONNA1458]

My partner keeps waking up at 2 or 3am for a couple of hours unable to get back asleep, he doensnt drink coffee before bed and he has an active job so why could this be. TIA

[cazzz1975]

normally stress can cause all sorts of sleep probs, my partner used to keep waking up constantly all night when he was having a stressful time at work..

[DONNA1458]

cazzz1975 - did he take anything for it?

[cazzz1975]

he tried taking nytol which did help him sleep, his problem is once he starts thinking about work his mind gets active and bingo he cant sleep. since quitting that job he has relaxed a lot and sleeps almost normally unless he feels stressed about anything, he tends to wind down before bed and read before he goes to sleep which calms his brain down and stops him thinking of tasks

[Skreecheeboy]

Does your husband smoke or take narcotics? If your body isn't healthy sometimes that affects it's ability to switch off. i would suggest getting lots of exercise and a healthy diet. Even if it's just an hour at the gym before he goes home for his tea it should do the trick, he'll also look much better for it eventually too!

[barbrajay]

It's probably work related, it used to happen to me. I found that putting a really boring video or DVD on to watch in bed put me to sleep half way through!

A bit of exercise is a good idea, too. It's not the weather now for evening walks unfortunately. Definitely no tea or coffee after 6.00 or 7.00pm. A glass of red wine isn't a bad idea. There are also relaxation tapes, which I found excellent but they are much more a "woman" thing than a man's.

Talk and see if you find out if there are any underlying worries, not just normal work stress.

A good massage can also help a lot.

[FUZZYBEE]

Don't know how true this is but I read a long time ago that if you wake up for only 3 consecutive nights (at whatever time) you have then formed a habit. Apparently 3 nights is all it takes. If only he could break the routine then hopefully he would get back to normal.
Agree with the other answers about stress, I was stressed a while ago and it always manifested early hours of the morning. De-hydration can do funny things too does he drink plenty of water?

[evedawn]

There are 2 main "forms" of insomnia... one is being ubale to fall asleep in the first place...and that is generally caused by outisde factors...like caffeine, diet, room being to hot / cold etc.

The other (and the one harder ot control) is the one which is dictated by early hours wakening (like your BF)...that is usually caused by stress, and / or depression, (with depression it is the insomnia that usually manifests whilst still the depression is in its mildest form...before alot of people even realise they are depressed)

[DONNA1458]

Thank you ALL for your answers this has given me some good ideas to what i may be to work on. Thanks Again :)