Insomnia

[Kurokawa41]

Who all here has it? I don't know if I specifically have insomnia or not, but I have trouble getting to sleep, and I can't sleep if I'm not tired. Does anyone have any tips to help me get to sleep?

[Romanesque]

On occasion. Usually happens the night before some event or another on the next day: tests, deadlines, travel, holidays, etc. Same deal whenever there's too much on my mind.

Not much you can do about spontaneous insomnia. Sometimes you should just turn on the lights and do something distracting for an hour or so to speed up the process of total exhaustion. Other times, mental techniques will work; contract your mind. Thy mileage may vary.

There are drugs for chronic sleeplessness, but if it's ever that bad, I'd sooner examine my life and make changes than resort to medication.

Last year, I had horrible insomnia for almost a week. I'd go to bed exhausted, fall asleep instantly, then wake up two hours later more awake than I've been in ages. I couldn't fall asleep until the end of the next day, when the process would repeat. Then I read the list of side effects for the allergy medicine I was taking. "Stop use . . . if sleeplessness occurs." So I stopped, and from then on, I slept fine.

--Romey

[Kurokawa41]

But it's weird, because there isn't really anything to provoke my insomnia.

Except for the fact that I'm constantly worried about things so there's always something on my mind. But even if I try to clear my mind, I still just can't get to sleep if I'm not tired.

[Vermunium]

I used to have Insomnia. I had to be exact on times that I went to bed, making myself get up at a certain time in the morning, and make sure that I properly exhaust myself during the day so I could actually get to sleep.

One thing that has been a specific help to me is listening to music while trying to sleep. I'm sure a lot of people do it, but it's been extremely effective for me especially.

[Kurokawa41]

Listening to music keeps me up more. Even if it's really soft or quiet music.

[Captain Highwind]

I finally got back on schedule after months of staying up late. I had two options:

1.) Force myself to lay down around 10:30-11:00 at night. I tried reading so that my eyes would get tired (this is how I got alot of required reading out of the way.) Usually I play handheld videogames or watch tv, but that seems to actually keep me up longer (I don't see how people can fall asleep watching tv). Even if I didn't sleep at all through the night, my body still rested long enough to make it through the next day so that I could go to sleep at a decent hour.

2.) Some days I tried to stay up like usual and just sleep for 2-3 hours (5:00-8:00 am), but this is the worst possible method. By 12:00 pm, I was dropping--and *****y as hell.

I couldn't even eat properly.

Now I try to go to bed at 10:30 and wake up around 7:30. Seems like a good schedule. *Nods*

But as long as you wake up before 10:00 am, you should be able to sleep again at a decent hour.

[Romanesque]

Except for the fact that I'm constantly worried about things so there's always something on my mind. But even if I try to clear my mind, I still just can't get to sleep if I'm not tired.See, there's your problem. There are probably things still lurking in your mind even when you think you've cleared out all such thoughts.

You need to deal with what's worrying you, or seek ways to release the stress. Choose whatever means suits what happens to be worrying you. Anything else is looking to treat the symptom and not the causes.

--Romey

[Kurokawa41]

I can't go to bed watching TV, either. Keeps me up as well. I usually try to go to bed around the same time as you, 10:30-11:00ish, but I'm just not tired at all by then. Lately, I don't even get tired until 5:00 in the morning, no matter what I'm doing.

EDIT: Well the stuff I happen to be worrying about is stuff that won't go away for a long while.

[Elven Moon]

I deal with insomnia a lot. Most of the time I'm lucky if I'm out by 2 or 3 am. Stress and all that. All I can tell you is try to do things that tire you out.

[purplehairedwonder]

I'm usually up from 2 to 4 every morning even during the year if you want to call that insomnia. But when I have something on my mind it takes me forever to fall asleep. I have a certain CD that I often listen to when I need to fall asleep but there are nights when I get through it. Those are the nights I force myself to keep my eyes closed and that'll usually get me to sleep eventually. Otherwise I'll turn the light back on and read or write or something menial until I feel tired enough to try to sleep again. It can be a real pain, though.

[Kurokawa41]

Kay folks, whoever can get me to sleep right now wins an internet.

[Captain Highwind]

You really don't want me to sing. :sweat:

[Kurokawa41]

I wouldn't be able to hear it, but hey, whatever works. People seem to get pissed off at me for not sleeping. It's starting to become a real nuisance, 'specially because I want to sleep, but I can't.

[Captain Highwind]

I wouldn't be able to hear it, but hey, whatever works.

Well, I was thinking streaming file...but the answer's still no. =D

[Kurokawa41]

xDDDD That's fine, I doubt it would work anyway, and you're probably right (that I wouldn't want you to xDDDD) But I really do need to do something to help get myself more tired. I'm going to try drawing some stuff since it's a rather... calm thing to do, plus I enjoy doing it and rarely get to.

[asphaltviking64]

When I'm trying to get to sleep, I sometimes think I have insomnia but I was only trying to get to sleep for twenty minutes. Usually it happens when I'm sick like when I was coughing bad at night and I thought it was going to go away. It blew up into almost pnemonia (thankfully not walking pnemonia).

I usually just play with my extensive lego collection in my room then turn off the lights and count sheep which really does work :eek: . The only thing that I think about in bed is how do I know that I'm sleeping and if I can feel that I'm asleep.

[purplehairedwonder]

Every try warm milk with a little brown sugar in it? That never fails to make me drowsy. My mom used to give it to me when I was younger so I'd sleep.

[Vermunium]

Every try warm milk with a little brown sugar in it? That never fails to make me drowsy. My mom used to give it to me when I was younger so I'd sleep.

That's actually an interesting remedy. What's the brown sugar for, just flavor?

[D Dubbs]

You can try white noise, too. I have a 'sound machine' (I don't know what else to call it :sweat:) and it works pretty well for me. Falling asleep listening to simulated rain (or ocean/rainforest/summer night noises) might seem kind of strange, but it works for me.

[Stu]

I used to have difficulties sleeping at night and getting up in the morning. I'm not sure what caused it, it's just something I've always had. I think calling it Insomnia would be a little extreme though, in my circumstances.

I joined the gym a few months ago and have found I sleep a hell of a lot better and don't have anywhere near the same amount of problems getting up. I'm not sure if it's because I practically stopped eating, am tired for the gym or just the weight I've lost in general, but if you're old enough and can afford it, I'd definatly get down there and try and work out a bit. It's a good stress reliever too, which will also probably help.

[D Dubbs]

I joined the gym a few months ago and have found I sleep a hell of a lot better and don't have anywhere near the same amount of problems getting up. I'm not sure if it's because I practically stopped eating, am tired for the gym or just the weight I've lost in general, but if you're old enough and can afford it, I'd definatly get down there and try and work out a bit. It's a good stress reliever too, which will also probably help.

Yeah, good suggestion. I usually sleep better if I've gone on a 5 mile run sometime during the day.

[Captain Highwind]

I need to find the article, but bodybuilding also reduces depression (it said something else...I think it said stress too).

[Kurokawa41]

I could use reduced depression/stress... I've been meaning to start working out for a while at least so I get more in shape but I never got around to it.

[Master Moron]

Masturbation lowers blood pressure and releases endorphins, so it does help to reduce insomnia.