[elizabeth_om (OP)]

Hi Guys ...

My girlfriend has a lot of trouble with sleep, and I just wondered if anybody might be able to recommend anything.

Although she gets quite hyperactive, or at least gets a 2nd wind before we go to bed (normally around 11:30pm) she never has any problems nodding off, and will usually sleep fine for the first few hours. But she seems to have incredibly vivid dreams that relate to things that have happened during the day, or that she has seen on TV that evening. These almost always wake her up. She then goes off to sleep again, but feels like she is woken 9 or 10 times in the night by vivid dreams. She never feels she has a good nights sleep. And regularly wakes around 5am and can't get back to sleep. She will then feel very drained all day long.

Is there anything people can recommend to stop these vivid dreams?

Thanks in Advance!

[paul.fr]

Hello and welcome, Elizabeth.

One problem with your question is that a lot of us here, also have various sleep problems. I for one can't really get enough sleep myself, for what it's worth i would give the following advice:

If the things keeping her awake are Events from TV Shows, and the occurances that day. Then try to not watch whatever programme is playing on her mind, do some boring stuff like reading, or listening to some good music before bedtime.

Anything to break the night up, and have a good "wind down". If things get too bad, she could always make herself a member here and stay up all night with others who can't sleep.

[Karen W.]

HI Elizabeth,

You might also have her start reading this link
 
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=1974.700

and feel free to pick and appropriate thread and pose some questions and await some answers. Have her punch in dreams or vivid dreams in the site search and see what she finds . I think she will enjoy some of the results.Perhaps finding some good advice also!

Welcome both of you to the forum!

[Karen W.]

Welcome Breanna.. enjoy the site.

[TonyCap]

Valerian root is very good at calming and relaxing a person, it acts in a similar way as Valium does, some claim it works and feels just like the Valium. Valerian smells horrible, so be prepared, but it does work, and be sure to take it at bed time at first until you know what effect it will have on you as it really can be quite potent.

[Gurugirl]

I take a benadryl before bed which helps nicely.  Is she eating chocolate or nuts - that can do the "dream thing" as can many medications.  She may want to look into having a sleep study done which could be very helpful.

[pirunner]

I can also cite to credibility of Valerian root. Seems to work pretty well.

[Andrew K Fletcher]

Ever thought there might be something wrong with sleeping flat? Check out "inclined bed therapy" on google