Posted by unwind on November 16, 2009 at 10:08:16:

In Reply to: problem staying asleep posted by dan23 on November 14, 2009 at 23:10:23:

Sleep rhythms change in response to stress as well as just getting older. Waking up after 4-5 hrs (first sleep) is not unusual (nightly occurrence for me) but I need my second sleep (1.5-3hrs) if I want to be functional during the day. The sleep drive may peak every 1.5 hrs at the beginning of each sleep cycle so you may need to accept being quietly awake for at least 1.5 hrs before getting another chance at sleep.

What happens if you resist the urge to get up (wear an eye mask to prevent light from waking you prematurely) and give yourself the opportunity to get a little more sleep? A low-volume pillow speaker can help keep you in bed and relaxed (learn a language). Micro doses of sublingual melatonin (0.25 mg) give me something to take when I wake up (half-life of less than an hour) and breathing exercises can be incorporated into a quiet wakefulness routine. When all else fails, judicious use of caffeine or other stimulants in early afternoon may help.

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