Desperate asks :
Hi Lucy,
I have trouble sleeping in my own bed, I toss and turn for ages and when I eventually sleep I have terrible nightmares. I end up sleeping in really late because of lack of sleep and I'm still exhausted every night. I can sleep just fine if I'm on the couch with my dog but once I go to bed I can't sleep at all. I got a perfect night’s sleep on my couch one night recently so I'm tempted to just sleep on the couch. I think it may be because I'm not alone if I sleep on the couch because my dog who I love to death is with me. His presence might be comforting or something. I keep making excuses to sleep on the couch but I should be sleeping in my own bed.
Hi Desperate,
Agony Aunts on Female First
If your dog brings you so much comfort when you are on the couch, could you not take it up to bed with you and have it sleep on your floor or on your bed with you so you feel safer?
It sounds like this lack of sleep is taking its toll on you, so perhaps it would help to try this for a while so you can catch up on some well needed rest.
It could be the bed itself. If you find the couch more comfortable then perhaps the firmness or softness of the bed is not suitable and that of the couch is. Perhaps you could invest in a new mattress that mimics the feeling of the couch? Ensure your room is dark and at a comfortable temperature too as this can keep you awake longer than you want.
If you don't exercise a lot, it might be time to start. Nothing that will take you to the point of exhaustion, but a decent workout can help tire your body into craving rest. If you want a workout to suit your needs then it's worth asking a professional to come up with a workout that suits your body and your needs.
If you watch a lot of TV or play on your phone right before bed, then it might be time to switch things up and read a book or lie and listen to music instead. The light from digital devices can affect sleep patterns if used right before turning out the light as well as leaving your brain in overdrive from taking in all the information you have just read, watched or seen.
Be mindful of what you are eating and drinking late at night too as this can affect your willingness to sleep. It might benefit you to cut out all caffeine and stimulants at lunchtime to prevent you being kept awake from artificial sources.
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