Quote Originally Posted by lph View Post
It sounds like you are waking up in the light-sleep phase of every sleep cycle. I've never had insomnia that bad, but when I'm stressed, whether it's positive or negative stress, I wake up very easily at the slightest sensory input. I keep my bedroom as dark as I can, but even then, sleeping with a soft sleeping mask and good ear plugs will help keep me "down" through those phases. They can make it slightly harder to fall asleep, but once I'm asleep they help keep me there.

(And of course, limiting coffee and tea. I try to stick to just one cup of coffee in the morning, and max 2 cups of tea, pref green or white, before 3 pm.)
That does make sense LPH, I do wake very easily at the best of times. I've cut back to no more than 2 cups of coffee before 11am, and if I have my beloved Dr Tim San (a 3-shot cappuccino with cacao and cream) I have it very early in the day and have no more coffee afterwards. I really do think it is my current stress levels more than anything. Of course now I am stressing about sleeping

With your ear plugs, can you still hear the alarm? My bedroom is DARK, I've black-out curtains and cover my alarm so there isn't any visible light from it. My upstairs neighbor is quiet, who knows what I am hearing that is just enough to wake me? If I can't get some relief soon I will discuss an Ambien prescription with my doctor, I've been told that it is designed to help us stay asleep. I am just concerned that a prescription solution might make me groggy in the morning and I've got to be hitting on all cylinders when I wake.