Insomnia..Help?

[Sudai]

So, I've had a bout of insomnia for the past two nights or so and everything I've tried has failed.

-Deep Meditation
-Soothing Music
-Rain Noises
-Warm Milk

Nothing's worked so far. I don't like to rely on medication unless I really have to. Normally I wouldn't care and just stay up anyway, however classes start up again in about 30 minutes and I'd rather not have this issue at the beginning of my semester..

Anyone have any tips on helping me get to sleep?

 

[deepseadiva]

I also await this answer.

(But I avoid this problem by doing tiring work during the day. Gym, actual work, etc.)

 

[slave1]

sudai, your probably just stressed because you are starting school up. it will pass.

i find it always easier to fall asleep when your physically exhausted. so try something to work yourself till your tired.

 

[Dodongo]

Have you tried sleeping?

 

[KayLo!]

I've been having the exact same problem lately, and it's definitely related to stress for me. I'd bet that's what it is for you as well.

I think you should follow what everyone's been saying and try to do physically demanding work during the day to tire yourself out. Also, for the few hours before you try to sleep, don't watch TV and try to avoid the computer as well.... both will only stimulate your brain and make it harder to fall asleep. (It's hard, I know, but it really helps.)

No caffeine & such before bed, obviously. I find that picturing a blank or empty room in my head helps me fall asleep sometimes, because my mind tends to race & make me really anxious when I try to get into sleep mode.

Umm, that's all I can think of. I would suggest keeping up with the meditating, because meditation is like any other skill.... it takes time to learn, so chances are if it's not working for you yet, you just need to keep practicing. Trust me, it will benefit your life & wellbeing in general and may help with potential bouts of insomnia in the future.

Good luck! I hope we can both get some nice deep sleep soon.

 

[Crimson King]

Have you tried sleeping?

This advice is the best.

 

[teeman92]

what i do is turn off my TV and computer, turn on some soft music, lights out. then you two covers and a thich hard pillow. sometimes blinking rapidly helps (dont do it to much or evrthing you see move strangly like your drunk, believe you will)

 

[Hobobloke]

Kids may be reading

 

[Crimson King]

In all honesty, try Melatonin and Valerian Root. My insomnia is genetic, and I would NEVER recommend taking Ambien. It felt like I was dying when I took it.

 

[Xsyven]

If its only been for two nights, it's probably a temporary condition.

A lot of these theories would work. I'd recommend Melatonin, as CK just did. Take one 5mg pill-- if that doesn't work, take two. It's a simple dietary supplement, so as far as I know, it's not hazardous or anything.

If it turns out that the condition randomly turns out to be permanent, just embrace it, and find other insomniacs or Australians to talk to on AIM.

 

[Crimson King]

Do not embrace it. Insomnia can lead to A LOT of bad things such as a diminished immune system and growth issues.

Melatonin is a vitamin supplement. It eases you to sleep, but it will not keep you asleep, so only take it right before bed. Avoid actual drugs. For me, I built up a tolerance to NyQuil, Sudafed, and Benedryl. NyQuil will only put me to sleep for about 4 - 6 hours. You don't want that. Ever.

 

[GoldShadow]

NO exercise, meals, alcohol, cigarettes, or caffeine several hours before bed.

NO bright lights or loud noises or television.

YES hot shower 90 minutes before bedtime. The drop in body temperature after the shower (as opposed to the rise in temperature during the shower) helps put you to sleep.

YES milk and turkey before bedtime (tryptophan helps you sleep).

NO using your bed for anything but sleeping; mental cues are important in getting to sleep.

YES exercise earlier in the day.

YES to doing a boring activity or something that makes you sleepy before bedtime (read a boring book!).

NO horse tranquilizers (unless you are a horse).

 

[slave1]

NO horse tranquilizers (unless you are a horse).

dangit i was planning on trying some out tonight

 

[SuperBowser]

You could just go through the next day really tired, and sleep well the following night.

That's the only way I ever get my body clock to fix itself...

 

[DTP]

You could just go through the next day really tired, and sleep well the following night.

That's the only way I ever get my body clock to fix itself...

This hasn't been working for me this week....
I ended up getting to sleep at around 6:30am and woke up at 9:30.

I'm still not tired, but I will be when I have to work this evening

Then once I get home I probably won't be able to fall asleep......

I might look into trying that Melatonin stuff

 

[Lore]

I might look into trying that Melatonin stuff

Best thing you can do. Been using it for a while to help me with my sleeping problems, and works great.

 

[GreenKirby]

I got the best solution of all.

*knocks the OP out with a hammer*

:D

 

[Azua]

If you use melatonin, for the love of god start out with half a pill.
That **** destroyed me.

 

[Lore]

If you use melatonin, for the love of god start out with half a pill.
That **** destroyed me.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that. XD

use only a half pill and you'll do fine. A full one will **** you royally.

 

[Azua]

Until you get used to it, at least.
Never ever start out with a full melatonin pill lol

 

[ExCeL 52]

Chalk one up for weed?

 

[saggy_brown]

This is straight out of My text book-
- Use dim lights before bedtime
-Avoid caffeine after late afternoon (but I'm sure I don't need to say that)
- Sleep on a regular schedule
-Exercise regularly, but not in the evening (late afternoon is best)
- Reassure yourself that temporary loss of sleep is no harm
- Hide the clock face
- If nothing else works, aim for less sleep (go to bed later or wake up earlier)

People often think they missed a lot of sleep during the night, because they only recalled being awake, when they were actually only awake one or two hours in bed.

 

[DTP]

If you use melatonin, for the love of god start out with half a pill.
That **** destroyed me.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that. XD

use only a half pill and you'll do fine. A full one will **** you royally.

Until you get used to it, at least.
Never ever start out with a full melatonin pill lol

lol Good to know, thanks guys =D

If my sleeping problem continues the I'll definitely go out and pick some up.
I assume it can be found at any drugstore or Pharmacy?

 

[Kinzer]

NO meals several hours before bed.

NO horse tranquilizers (unless you are a horse).

Good advice, but I must know, why the inability to eat? I don't know if it is me or something, but I always have to try to go to bed on a full stomach, or I might end up waking up in the middle of the night to get a post-midnight snack (or I might end up thirsty via lack of hydration)... either that, or I have to force myself not to eat... which I don't want to do because I already have a problem with being skinny, and I would rather gain a little bit of weight (so I don't have to constantly be harassed by my step-father...). I digress. Simply put, why do you suggest it is a bad idea to eat before sleep?

Last piece of advice was hilarious.

You could just go through the next day really tired, and sleep well the following night.

That's the only way I ever get my body clock to fix itself...

For me, that only temporarily helps... to get to that result is demanding to say the least, and it is only a matter of time before my internal clock goes whack again...

 

[PitMasta]

TAKE A BUNCH OF CAFFEINE!!

DRINK TONS OF DR.PEPPER!


makes me happy before bed...

 

[kigbariom]

Two words: Car Talk
I too have insomnia, not a bad case but Car Talk helps me go to sleep really really fast. I can put on my ipod headphones and suddenly hear the ending music in like a minute. It is certainly not a waste of a perfectly good hour.
Or Harry Potter on tape.

 

[PitMasta]

Harry Potter on tape.

i wouldn't be able to go to sleep to that

i'd be too busy thinking about turning it off

 

[GoldShadow]

Good advice, but I must know, why the inability to eat? I don't know if it is me or something, but I always have to try to go to bed on a full stomach, or I might end up waking up in the middle of the night to get a post-midnight snack (or I might end up thirsty via lack of hydration)... either that, or I have to force myself not to eat... which I don't want to do because I already have a problem with being skinny, and I would rather gain a little bit of weight (so I don't have to constantly be harassed by my step-father...). I digress. Simply put, why do you suggest it is a bad idea to eat before sleep?

I probably should've clarified. When I said no meals a few hours before bedtime, I meant no heavy meals; these get your digestion and metabolism going, which keeps you awake. A small meal or snack is probably a good idea, because going to bed on an empty stomach is also not good (a totally empty stomach can keep you just as awake as one that's too full!).

Here are a few links people can check out, though they mostly just reiterate what's already been said in this thread.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health_information_library/index.html?ArticleID=83950
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/primary-insomnia/treatment.html
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insomnia/Pages/Questionstoask.aspx?url=Pages/Questionstoasktab.aspx

 

[Crimson King]

Look, a lot of you do not have real insomnia. Last night I went to bed a 3 because I wasn't tired, despite needing to wake-up early. I woke up at 11 and felt no rest. If he is experiencing that kind of insomnia, very little will help.

First, go to the doctor. Second, look up this drug called "Alteril." It's takes Valerian, Melatonin, and Tryptophan into one pill that will knock you out, naturally.
http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/alteril_natural_sleep_aid_complaints

 

[KayLo!]

Look, a lot of you do not have real insomnia. Last night I went to bed a 3 because I wasn't tired, despite needing to wake-up early. I woke up at 11 and felt no rest. If he is experiencing that kind of insomnia, very little will help.

First, go to the doctor. Second, look up this drug called "Alteril." It's takes Valerian, Melatonin, and Tryptophan into one pill that will knock you out, naturally.
http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/alteril_natural_sleep_aid_complaints

If he is experiencing that kind of insomnia, you're right. But if it's just random, temporary insomnia that popped out of nowhere, the chances are high that it could be caused by stress, in which case a lot of these methods will work if done correctly.

However, I agree that going to the doctor is the best advice. No matter the cause, someone with a medical degree who can look at you in person > a bunch of random Smash players on the internet.

Well, in most cases. Some doctors are scrubs.

 

[DTP]

I finally had a decent sleep last night =D

I've just had a lot on my mind lately so I think thats why I couldn't sleep much....

 

[KayLo!]

Yay! Congratulations, hehe.

Strangely, I got my first full night of sleep last night too. Coincidence? Who knows...

Anyways, I'm happy for you. Sleep ftw.

 

[Cashed]

I haven't slept well for weeks. I have no problem going to bed, but I suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and then cannot fall back asleep.

 

[OmegaXXII]

(But I avoid this problem by doing tiring work during the day. Gym, actual work, etc.)

This is your answar, try to do some boring activities as well such as reading a really boring book before bedtime, if reading isn't your style, then watch a really boring TV lecture of some sort, (though they aren't really boring for me since I actually like to learn new things lol..)

 

[DTP]

Yay! Congratulations, hehe.

Strangely, I got my first full night of sleep last night too. Coincidence? Who knows...

Anyways, I'm happy for you. Sleep ftw.

Thank You =D
Hopefully I can sleep well again tonight.

I haven't slept well for weeks. I have no problem going to bed, but I suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and then cannot fall back asleep.

I think I hate this more than not being able to sleep at all.

 

[KayLo!]

This is your answar, try to do some boring activities as well such as reading a really boring book before bedtime, if reading isn't your style, then watch a really boring TV lecture of some sort, (though they aren't really boring for me since I actually like to learn new things lol..)

TV before bed is sososo bad if you can't sleep.

It works for some people (in which case you probably could have fallen asleep anyway), but talking pure science, TVs, computers, and similar electronics stimulate your brain and make it harder for your body to shut down.

My sister likes to fall asleep to Martha Stewart, though, lol.

 

[.Marik]

Try ADHD medication.

Knocks you out on your ***.

Trust me, I have experience with the matter.

 

[Sudai]

It's not stress. I'm very rarely stressed and I've never stressed over school (naturally good at school or something)

I tried a heavy workout around 5PM yesterday. Spent an hour jogging and then a half-hour doing weights, push-ups, and sit-ups. That's a lot for me..I never work out..at all. Still nothing.

I bought some melatonin today. I'm gonna try one more night without medication because I really don't like relying on medication for anything. Melatonin tomorrow night if I can't sleep tonight.

If that doesn't work, it's off to the doctor.

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll let you know how the next few days go.

PS: ADHD medicine won't knock me out. Or if it will, it'd take a lot. It's only ever made me concentrate really well, no drowsiness. Besides, isn't taking that without a prescription..illegal?

 

[Takumaru]

I just want to point out that melatonin (the pill) is a hormone in drug form so it'll effect some people differently. The stuff does absolutely nothing to me. If you're desperate you can try taking a few benadryl an hour or so before you go to sleep. It's not an addictive drug and it has no detrimental effects on you other than making you drowsy.

 

[Crimson King]

You can develop a tolerance to Benedryl. Experience talking there.