How to beat insomnia?

[Pebb]

Guys of late I have not been able to get any sleep, at the moment I am 40 hours out of sleep, however what ways have you lot been able to find that work to beat insomnia and get restful sleep.

 

[Queen Bee]

Guys of late I have not been able to get any sleep, at the moment I am 40 hours out of sleep, however what ways have you lot been able to find that work to beat insomnia and get restful sleep.

I went to the doctors, and thy gave me medicine to make me sleep.
It worked so well, i was out within 10minutes of taking it!!

 

[daan]

Of late, I have not been able to get any sleep. At the moment I have went 40 hours without sleep. What ways have you found to beat insomnia and get a restful sleep.

I find reading your posts helps...

I went to the doctors, and thy gave me medicine to make me sleep.
It worked so well, i was out within 10minutes of taking it!!

And then you get so used to it, you need it to get to sleep.

 

[Queen Bee]

And then you get so used to it, you need it to get to sleep.

Nope i dont need it anymore. I used it for a few nights whilst i caught up on my sleep.
OH yeah! I remember what else i did, yeah i had to relax for about an hour before i wanted to go to sleep. I.E sit in bed reading a book/magazine with no sounds. or listen to whale sounds..

 

[Pako]

Staying away from meth helps..... Also good exercise, good nutrition and fresh air always helps.

 

[Danny]

1) Enjoy a warm milky drink. Possibly milk.
2) Ensure your room is pitch black. Light in your room may keep you awake without you realising it.
3) If you toss and turn, try sleeping on the end of the bed. You'll soon drop off.
4) Get into a set sleeping pattern- your body will thank you for it.
5) Try reading for 30 minutes or so before you plan to sleep.

 

[Dave A]

I wouldn't class 40 hours as insomnia yet, if the problem persists, go to the doctors. The main question is, are you actully feeling worn out, but just completely unable to sleep?

I find it harder to sleep when I have something bugging me, usually if there's something serious it plagues my mind when I'm lying in bed and I can't sleep until I come up with a solution to the problem/mistake or whatever it is that's bothering me. Fortunately that doesn't happen very often. Don't start being active when it's getting later, if it's late and your getting tired and you suddenly decide to start doing something for an hour before you go to bed, it can wake you up quite a lot if it's something active. reading relaxes the brain, try reading a book or somthing before you want to go to sleep.

 

[the Interceptor]

I find it harder to sleep when I have something bugging me, usually if there's something serious it plagues my mind when I'm lying in bed and I can't sleep until I come up with a solution to the problem/mistake or whatever it is that's bothering me. Fortunately that doesn't happen very often.

This is a very important issue. Try to find out if your insomnia is caused physical or psychical.

What usually works for me when I'm lying in bed and I can't sleep is breathing slowly. That way, I force my circulation to calm down, which makes getting to sleep much easier. And the good old TV always helps, especially documentaries. You learn something, and you'll fall asleep. 👍

Regards
the Interceptor

 

[MagpieRacer]

Try Butt milk!
















No really..put some butter in some milk then heat it up in the microwavre

 

[Pebb]

Staying away from meth helps..... Also good exercise, good nutrition and fresh air always helps.

I walk every where and my nutrition is ok, but I do not want to take drugs to try and sleep.

@ Ferrari F2007 I don't eat Butter at all anymore, so I do not want to use that stuff.

@ Ferrari F2007 When you mean the end of the bed, I take that is one of the edges of the bed like the far left edge, which is not close to a wall for me.

I wouldn't class 40 hours as insomnia yet, if the problem persists, go to the doctors. The main question is, are you actully feeling worn out, but just completely unable to sleep?

I find it harder to sleep when I have something bugging me, usually if there's something serious it plagues my mind when I'm lying in bed and I can't sleep until I come up with a solution to the problem/mistake or whatever it is that's bothering me. Fortunately that doesn't happen very often. Don't start being active when it's getting later, if it's late and your getting tired and you suddenly decide to start doing something for an hour before you go to bed, it can wake you up quite a lot if it's something active. reading relaxes the brain, try reading a book or somthing before you want to go to sleep.

I wake up at these hours for work, which may be effecting my sleep:

4am Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Even on Thursday I have to work until 9pm, so I do not get much sleep between then and Friday, but on Friday I have to get up for work at 4am and then only have 2 hours sleep, before I get ready for my Friday night shift starting from 6pm till 9pm.

However the last few days, I have had way too much on my mind, but I try to counter it, which then leads to me thinking about other stuff.

 

[NoQuarter]

Sex

 

[skip0110]

I usually take two Benadryl (30 mg each I think) and they knock me out within 20 minutes. Benadryl does not make everyone sleepy, though, sometimes the effect is the opposite. Your mileage may vary.

The sleep is usually not very pleasant and I wake up very groggy so I only do this when I am sick.

 

[Pako]

I walk every where and my nutrition is ok, but I do not want to take drugs to try and sleep. *snip*

I'm talking about heavy exercises. Weights, running...., digging holes. Anything to wear your body down to physical exhaustion. It works for me, just a thought.

 

[Omnis]

Bust a cap before you get to bed.

I just beat a bout of nocturnalness due to being up all night one night with bowels molto presto. Just stay up as late as you can during the day and then stay up as late as you can the following day. I'm ready for bed right now at 10pm which is now perfect for my schedule. It's a two day process.

 

[Loon]

I walk every where and my nutrition is ok, but I do not want to take drugs to try and sleep.

@ Ferrari F2007 I don't eat Butter at all anymore, so I do not want to use that stuff.

@ Ferrari F2007 When you mean the end of the bed, I take that is one of the edges of the bed like the far left edge, which is not close to a wall for me.

I wake up at these hours for work, which may be effecting my sleep:

4am Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Even on Thursday I have to work until 9pm, so I do not get much sleep between then and Friday, but on Friday I have to get up for work at 4am and then only have 2 hours sleep, before I get ready for my Friday night shift starting from 6pm till 9pm.

However the last few days, I have had way too much on my mind, but I try to counter it, which then leads to me thinking about other stuff.

Where do you work?

With hours like that its going to be hard for your body adjust routinely, maybe get a new job if its possible, with better hours so you can get a better nights sleep.

 

[Pupik]

1. Beer.

2. Pretend the internet is borked. Nobody ever fell asleep while reading endless drivel on internet message boards (except when reading my posts).

3. Think of the most boring thing you ever had to do, then write a story about it, but edit it for content.

4. Listen to yourself breathe.

5. Unplug your alarm clock.

6. Listen to classical music really quietly.

7. Go for a walk in the middle of the night.

8. Find a tougher job. You'll sleep easier, although you might not wake up easier.

 

[Philly]

I'm talking about heavy exercises. Weights, running...., digging holes. Anything to wear your body down to physical exhaustion. It works for me, just a thought.

Is that at all a reference to me from the "five thing you may not know about me" thread? I remember saying I like to dig hole in there.

Sleep certainly is easier sometimes than others. Before Christmas or a big trip, it always feels like I get no sleep for the whole night. When I am dead tired, sleeping usually doesn't come much easier. Soem nights, it takes half an hour for me to sleep. Others, hours. I toss and turn a lot too before I can sleep.

Lately, I have been sleeping better, I don't know why. I have been wondering how to get sleep too. It could be that I need to slow my brain down, which is hard to do.

 

[Kelvari]

You could always try a-speccing the Nurb 24-hour enduro

 

[Keef]

Sit down. Preferrably, in a classroom. Everyone knows how boring it can be just listening to someone talk. Or maybe you could listen to a book CD or something. Whatever it is, it shouldn't be visual. Just put some boring crap on in the background while you're sitting at the computer waiting for a movie to finish downloading. I work myself into situations where I have absolutely nothing to do like that all the time.

Do you wear glasses? I just noticed the other day that whenever I take my glasses off I'm soon hit by a wave of sleepiness. It's like my brain has learned that whenever my vision gets blurry it's time to sleep. In fact, it has learned that, without me teaching myself a damn thing.

 

[Pebb]

1. Beer.

2. Pretend the internet is borked. Nobody ever fell asleep while reading endless drivel on internet message boards (except when reading my posts).

3. Think of the most boring thing you ever had to do, then write a story about it, but edit it for content.

4. Listen to yourself breathe.

5. Unplug your alarm clock.

6. Listen to classical music really quietly.

7. Go for a walk in the middle of the night.

8. Find a tougher job. You'll sleep easier, although you might not wake up easier.

Beer is a bad idea, because it has way too much sugar in it. But I need an alarm clock to wake up for Work.

 

[G.T]

The odd hours you work probably isn't helping. I know an Uncle who worked similar hours and he had similar sleeping problems. He has recently changed his job, and he now gets much better sleep.


Other than that, what usually what gets me going to sleep after a restless day is just to stay up a few hours longer than you usually do, so you do feel tired. If I still can't sleep, I get up for about half an hour and try again. I always fall asleep after that. Though, your issue seems to be a little more serious than that.

I also suggest listening to something you like to calm your brain subconsciously before going to sleep, if you don't already.

If not, go to the doctor and see what he suggests. He/she can't make you take anything you don't want to.

 

[Slicks]

Two suggestions:

1. Soft/classical music. Always helps me, I used it for years. Any white noise will help, really.

2. Heat. I'm sure it happens with other people that if you get warm or even a little overheated, you'll get drowsy.

Have some hot chocolate, hot milk or something of the like. Get a heated gel pack (The sort that you heat in the microwave, with the fuzzy fabric cover over it), and turn on some soft music, very quietly. Lights out, and you'll be out as well.

(Speaking of sleep... it's about that time for me.)

 

[Blake]

Sex

Yes.

Beer.

Also yes.

Heat. I'm sure it happens with other people that if you get warm or even a little overheated, you'll get drowsy.

Yeah, come to Australia in summer when it’s 35°C at night. I absolutely cannot sleep. You’re in bed, sweating, completely unable to sleep. Or I am.

 

[tait]

I find the best cure is to simply browse the internet all night.

 

[Boundary Layer]

I wouldn't class 40 hours as insomnia yet,

I sure would. I thought it was the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night and wake feeling refreshed.

I know exactly what you're talking about TVR&Ferrari_Fan. Completely sleepless nights like what you've described are rare for me, but I've woken up several times feeling like I've had no sleep. Usually I feel this way when I've had one of my math dreams...where I'm just thinking in numbers and doing calculations in my head all night - it sounds very odd, but it happens to me quite a lot.
Other times my mind will race for 2 hours or more after I get into bed before I finally fall asleep

I was to the doctors about it about 6 months ago and he told me I have intermittent insomnia. He made several suggestions to me about changes I could try making to my lifestyle. Points that I think particularly helped me are:

• that I not drink anything caffeinated within 4 hours of the time I'd like to go to sleep
• that I not to eat anything within 2-3 hours of the time I'd like to go to sleep
• that I give myself at least 30 t0 45 mins to unwind from the day with something enjoyable/not stressing before going to bed (I told him that during exams I'd study until I'm exhausted and then climb straight into bed)
• to only use my bed for sleep and sex. Don't use a bed as a couch while watching tv, or a table, or a desk, etc, as your mind may come to associate it with that activity while you're on it
• to keep my room well ventilated at night

That has seemed to help. I do still have the occasional bad night, about 2 or 3 a month, but I used to be much worse.

Also, note how your head/jaw feels after waking up. I sometimes grit my teeth at night, particularly during exam season or a few days before a large presentation when I'm really stressed. Then I wake up early with a really bad headache/migraine, and generally feeling pretty lousy.




oh, and NoQuarter's suggestion of sex does work.

 

[MistaX]

How to beat insomnia?

Sleep




[/thread]

 

[Delirious]

Get a copy of this

The Cure for Insomnia, directed by John Henry Timmis IV, is officially the world's longest movie, according to Guinness World Records, as of its release in 1987. Running 5220 minutes (87 hours) in length, the movie has no plot, instead consisting of artist L. D. Groban reading his lengthy poem "A Cure for Insomnia" over the course of three and a half days, spliced with occasional clips from heavy metal and pornographic videos.

It was first played in its entirety at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois from January 31 to February 3, 1987 in one continuous showing. It is not clear whether or not the movie has been shown since then. Considering that a DVD can only hold up to five hours of video at mild quality, The Cure for Insomnia would fill around 18 discs.

The movie is shot entirely on video, and its intended purpose actually was to help cure insomnia. It is therefore disputed as to whether or not The Cure for Insomnia should even be considered as a candidate for the world's longest film.

 

[TheCracker]

oh, and NoQuarter's suggestion of sex does work.

Failing that, just knock one out.

 

[Danny]

Failing that, just knock one out.

TMI.

 

[Famine]

Beer is a bad idea, because it has way too much sugar in it. But I need an alarm clock to wake up for Work.

In terms of getting to sleep, beer is a really good idea. Alcohol smoothes the passage into slumberland (if you don't believe me, just look at all the drunks and clubbers passed out in the street). Problem is that it wakes you up quicker too - so though you end up sleeping, it's not good, restful sleep.