How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pillow

[RyuReiatsu]

Link to original post: [drupal=2279]Pillow, oh my so good pillow...[/drupal]



...

School's started today...
No, no. Correction, yesterday. A day ago, exactly.
So here I am, up at 5:00 AM for some reasons, a habit of mine since these past 6 days. Going to bed early, hugging my pillow whenever I wake up in the middle of the morning/night. Hoping I'll fall asleep quickly again, eyes closed. Hoping I'll just end up in wonderland for a couple more hours.

...And it won't ever happen.
In total darkness, on my bed too big for one. Too big for a kid. I hear the clock ticking. Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
It's driving me insane, that stupid noise. I could simply take off the batteries, but I'm that stupid. I like that clock during the day, I really do... Because it looks cool, chinese style. Y'know?

See also: Alarm clock.

So I found myself being an idiot during my whole summer. Sleeping at 6 AM, waking up at 5 PM. I've been fixing my internal clock for the past 144 hours. Yeah, going to bed at 10 to 2 AM at most, waking up earlier in the morning. Good stuff. Due to money johns, I can't buy sleeping pills. Because I'm that awesome. And that my mom would categorically refuse such an investment because it'll kill me. That's what she believes.

I don't exactly know why I'm blogging this.
Guess it became a sort of habit to be sleeping 300 minutes only and waiting a good 3 to 4 hours until being able to doze off some more. It's that fun, woohoo. Yi-pee-yoo.

**** that, this is getting tiring.
It's not getting any better. In fact, it was the same for last years. I couldn't sleep more than 18,000 seconds in a row. So I ended up deciding that 1 AM was my curfew last year, to wake up at the perfect time to prepare for school and be in my **** train at 7...

Now... excuse me while I'll be sitting in a corner of my room. Like a psychopath, waiting to knock myself out.

 

[Eyada]

Engaging in extremely rigorous exercise during the day will help you force yourself to fall asleep at night.

I recommend Water Polo conditioning exercises. Things like treading water with your hips out of the water while someone hangs on your back and tries to drown you, in 30 second bursts with a steadily decreasing rest period (first 30 seconds, then 25 seconds, then 20, et al) for about 60 minutes. Warm up with some demanding lap swimming first though. Finish with a nice scrimmage. Also, you're not allowed to ever touch the bottom or hang on the sides of the pool; you must always tread water.

You'll sleep like a rock.

 

[El Nino]

my mom would categorically refuse such an investment because it'll kill me. That's what she believes.

That's an understandable parental concern.

Eyada's right. Exercise helps. Of course, you need to work up the motivation to do it, and you can't do it right before going to bed either. It also helps to get sunlight during the day and not think about anything that bothers you before trying to sleep.

I don't know. I was up all night myself tonight, and it's now the early morning. Ever try meditation?

 

[RyuReiatsu]

Well, about the sleeping pills... It is an understandable parental concern. Then again, I know that brand that's actually "relaxant" made out of herbs... Which helped me quite a lot when I tried it. My friend had given me 2 pills.

And also, I don't really like sports... But I guess I'll try finding one that I'd like and practice it regularly. I'm not gonna go Water Polo though, I always get sick when I get in swimming pools for some reasons.

About meditation... Frankly speaking, no.
I haven't tried, I don't know how to do it and stuff. I should look it up I guess.

As for now, it's 10:42 AM and I'm finally tired.
I'll go to bed. Thanks guys.

 

[Anthony523]

You're getting too much sleep.. 11 hours a day is not needed especially if your not doing anything extremely physical, Basically you could not sleep at all tonight and not even be tired in the morning.
Also try sleeping at night and not during the day.
If you don't get a lot of sleep one night just deal with it then you'll be tired the whole day and get great sleep at night.

 

[El Nino]

About meditation... Frankly speaking, no.
I haven't tried, I don't know how to do it and stuff. I should look it up I guess.

I was actually joking. But try it. It can't hurt.

Another thing I sometimes do if I've been up all night is sleep only 4-5 hours in the day rather than a full 8 hours. It gives me enough rest to be up and about in the afternoon before I get tired again in the evening. But at least I'll go to sleep when the sun is down. Only problem is I sometimes wake up again in the early morning around 2 or 3 AM. Your mileage may vary.

EDIT:

You're getting too much sleep.. 11 hours a day is not needed especially if your not doing anything extremely physical

I think it may be due to the sleep debt he's accruing from staying up and going without sleep for extended periods. For every hour of sleep you don't get, your body starts collecting a sleep debt that it eventually has to make up for later on. Either that or it's depression/mood related.

 

[Anthony523]

I think it may be due to the sleep debt he's accruing from staying up and going without sleep for extended periods. For every hour of sleep you don't get, your body starts collecting a sleep debt that it eventually has to make up for later on. Either that or it's depression/mood related.

Well he said he's been doing it the whole summer, so he's been doing that for so long that he's broken out of the sleep debt cycle and now that's his "natural" sleeping pattern.
Also, I have no idea how anyone can even sleep during the day or even sleep that long...
Once I wake up in the morning, I'm up all day until it's time to go to bed the next night.

 

[PJGLZ]

I know someone who has problems sleeping like that...
Really. If you can't stay up all day from when you first wake up, eat sugar. Fix your sleeping cycle.

But he also did have large mood related problems...

 

[RyuReiatsu]

Well, actually, I've been oversleeping during the whole summer. I always felt very tired because of the amount of hours I'd be sleeping. I don't know if it makes any sense though. Correct me if oversleeping is actually good.

@Anthony: Well, guess you're just somebody who's pretty stable when it comes to such things. You won't know until you've got sleeping problems.

@PJGLZ: Sugar doesn't help for very long or so it seems. There was that day when I made a whole big breakfast for myself and drank 2 full glasses of orange juice. That was how I managed to 'fix" my internal clock. Problem is, I was surprised it helped me out. 'Cause I wasn't tired during the day at all. And I've got mood related problems too.

@El Nino: That's the problem. I can now go to bed earlier, but I always end up waking up in the middle of the night/morning. Which is horrible for me, considering I'm a kid who's VERY dependent on his sleep. (I often fall asleep in classes when I don't get at least 7 hours of sleep.)

 

[Anthony523]

I recommend you should just go to sleep like incredibly early, so that if you do lose some sleep in the middle of the night then it's made up by how early you went to sleep
What time do you usually go to bed now that school starts?

 

[RyuReiatsu]

I recommend you should just go to sleep like incredibly early, so that if you do lose some sleep in the middle of the night then it's made up by how early you went to sleep
What time do you usually go to bed now that school starts?

I go to bed at 10.

 

[Anthony523]

Well that's a pretty good time, I myself go to bed at 10 also.
Then again I also run 5+ miles a day at least.
Just find something to do that can tire you out really hard.
Also, have you tried a different mattress? That can make a HUGE difference

 

[RyuReiatsu]

Well that's a pretty good time, I myself go to bed at 10 also.
Then again I also run 5+ miles a day at least.
Just find something to do that can tire you out really hard.
Also, have you tried a different mattress? That can make a HUGE difference

I can't afford a mattress by myself, plus it's not even my bed in reality.
My mom or her boyfriend would never buy a new one for me. They'd rather buy new toys that his kid will break all the time.

I'll try sleeping just a tad bit more and eat something that gives energy or something, then I'll start running. Thanks a bunch guys.

 

[Anthony523]

Well good luck on your sleeping adventures

 

[RyuReiatsu]

Well good luck on your sleeping adventures

Thank you, good sir.

Well so, yesterday...
I stayed up with my family until 3 AM. Because my little sister was forcing us to do so, in order to reproduce ourselves on her new game: Sims 3. And so, she was finally done at the time I've specified a moment ago.

Guess why am I posting again?
...
3...
2.....
1.......

Bingo. I woke up at 5 again.
I've stayed on my bed 54 minutes. Thought I'd fall asleep, as I've only slept around 2 hours or so it seems. I haven't had the time to try out any sport yet...

Now this is tiring. Very, very, very tiring.

 

[Mardyke]

I propose this blog be renamed to How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pillow.

 

[RyuReiatsu]

I propose this blog be renamed to How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pillow.

You're awesome.
Who should I PM to change it?

 

[POKE40]

This title edit I can.

You're awesome.
Who should I PM to change it?

You don't need to pm anyone

Go to your orignal post then,
=>edit
=>title

the title edit will change what people see in the userblogs. But you can also edit your blog through smash news.

 

[RyuReiatsu]

You don't need to pm anyone

Go to your orignal post then,
=>edit
=>title

the title edit will change what people see in the userblogs. But you can also edit your blog through smash news.

*Facepalms at myself*
Thanks there!

 

[Hive Mind]

Lol I saw How I Learned to Stop on the forum hub and I was all like Dr. Strangelove haha.

 

[RyuReiatsu]

Lol I saw How I Learned to Stop on the forum hub and I was all like Dr. Strangelove haha.

Lol, unfortunately... I don't know what's that.
This thread's name came from Mardyke.

I'm so dying right now... Ate a lot to have energy. But 2 hours is seriously not enough.

 

[Hive Mind]

Political movie by Stanley Kubrick.
Dr. Strangelove.

But you're right Mardyke is awesome.
And I love the new Samus avatar.

 

[CRASHiC]

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pillow And You Can Too!

 

[godofrock72]

Link to original post: [drupal=2279]Pillow, oh my so good pillow...[/drupal]



...

School's started today...
No, no. Correction, yesterday. A day ago, exactly.
So here I am, up at 5:00 AM for some reasons, a habit of mine since these past 6 days. Going to bed early, hugging my pillow whenever I wake up in the middle of the morning/night. Hoping I'll fall asleep quickly again, eyes closed. Hoping I'll just end up in wonderland for a couple more hours.

...And it won't ever happen.
In total darkness, on my bed too big for one. Too big for a kid. I hear the clock ticking. Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
It's driving me insane, that stupid noise. I could simply take off the batteries, but I'm that stupid. I like that clock during the day, I really do... Because it looks cool, chinese style. Y'know?

See also: Alarm clock.

So I found myself being an idiot during my whole summer. Sleeping at 6 AM, waking up at 5 PM. I've been fixing my internal clock for the past 144 hours. Yeah, going to bed at 10 to 2 AM at most, waking up earlier in the morning. Good stuff. Due to money johns, I can't buy sleeping pills. Because I'm that awesome. And that my mom would categorically refuse such an investment because it'll kill me. That's what she believes.

I don't exactly know why I'm blogging this.
Guess it became a sort of habit to be sleeping 300 minutes only and waiting a good 3 to 4 hours until being able to doze off some more. It's that fun, woohoo. Yi-pee-yoo.

**** that, this is getting tiring.
It's not getting any better. In fact, it was the same for last years. I couldn't sleep more than 18,000 seconds in a row. So I ended up deciding that 1 AM was my curfew last year, to wake up at the perfect time to prepare for school and be in my **** train at 7...

Now... excuse me while I'll be sitting in a corner of my room. Like a psychopath, waiting to knock myself out.

You're going to need to experiment with your sleeping-cycle a little bit. That's what I use my summer vacation for. Instead of staying up until 2:00AM every night, I try going to bed at different times. If you're thirsty before you go to bed, drink milk instead of pop or water. If you're hungry, don't eat anything with sugar. Eat something bland like tortilla chips (no dips) or Wheat Thins (again, no dips).

 

[Slasherx]

*Cough* try coffee...
No really, take sleeping pill if you really want to sleep.
Ask your parent for those/direction, don't experiment with the pills >__>

 

[Teran]

*Cough* try coffee...
No really, take sleeping pill if you really want to sleep.
Ask your parent for those/direction, don't experiment with the pills >__>

He should seriously consult a medical professional before considering sleeping pills. Stuff like that isn't something you should be taking casually.

 

[El Nino]

I vote no on the sleeping pills.

My guess: serotonin deficiency. Serotonin regulates sleep, and it is usually found in lower levels in people with mood disorders such as depression.

Suggestions for non-medical treatment of insomnia:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/insomnia/page8_em.htm#Non-medical

Some sites suggest eating foods with more carbohydrates to help keep serotonin levels up:
http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/dieting.htm

Examples of high carb foods:
http://web.mit.edu/athletics/sportsmedicine/wcrhighcarbs.html

I can't say anything about the validity of the claim that high carbs will help, but it's worth a try. Though if you do go that route, you'll probably need to exercise to keep your weight in control.

 

[Teran]

Eating bananas helps you produce more serotonin. >.<

Also if he exercises more due to a high carb diet, the increased physical activity will probably send him to sleep better. Sitting in your room all day at the computer really doesn't do wonders for your sleep.

 

[El Nino]

Eating bananas helps you produce more serotonin. >.<

Personal experience, I take it?

 

[Teran]

Personal experience, I take it?

I read it in some NHS (National Health Service) guide.
Tried it out and it did have a small effect, so as a combination with other methods, it can be just as effective and more healthy than sleeping pills imo.

I always try and steer clear of meds, I had enough of them as a kid.

 

[kr3wman]

It's crazy because I went to bed at like 7am and got up at 6pm the whole summer, and I fixed my internal clock in one-day by going to sleep early thursday.

 

[RyuReiatsu]

It's 2:09 AM right now.
I went to bed at like 11 PM. Painn, pain pain...

Thanks Nino, I'll get right on it. You sure do have a lot of good ressources.
And thanks Teran, I'll start eating bananas regularly.

 

[#HBC | Mac]

wow, i really liked reading this for some odd reason.

 

[RyuReiatsu]

wow, i really liked reading this for some odd reason.

Really? I think it's pretty cheesy.
Go read El Nino's, he's extremely good.

Now excuse me while I finish reading the informative pages...
I'll go watch The Matrix. Yeah, just because I feel like it.

Oh and Hive Mind. Thanks for the compliment about the avatar, I found it randomly while browsing for a new one.

 

[Anthony523]

Drink milk/warm milk.
Wanna know why your parents gave it to you as a kid?
It creates Melatonin inside your body which makes you go to sleep :]
Unless your Lactose intolerant