I Can't Sleep

[Documad]

I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep. I had no caffeine, I have no real worries, the room is comfortable.

I don't want to take pills. Any ideas?

Older female friends say it's because I'm getting old. I'm not accepting that answer.

[ToucanSpam]

you are creeping up there in age. you probably are staying up too late and screwing up your Old-People sleep schedule. Now, make sure you put your teeth in the glass before you go to bed. :D

[Freebasser]

Get your significant other to talk about cricket.

[Lindsey_1535]

I got issues sleepin too. It takes 2 hours most of the time. Just clear or try to clear your mind and black out your windows, if you can.

oh hey crickets help too.

[cosmo105]

i just plain can't shut my mind off. god help me if i've had iced tea within an hour of going to bed.

the magnesium in a glass of warm moo juice really does help relax you.

read something extremely tedious and straining.

when all else fails, masturbate. even if you don't fall asleep, at least you've accomplished something (y)

[ToucanSpam]

when all else fails, masturbate. even if you don't fall asleep, at least you've accomplished something (y)
words i live by.

The thing is, I get tuckered out.


PLus Tylenol for Kids puts me in a 6 hour coma. Im weak.

[sjp]

if it makes you feel any better, i go to bed at 9pm just to wake up at 1:30am.

[BGirl]

Just do something productive or enjoyable until you're ready to sleep. :) Reading is always good..


I'm a night owl and usually don't fight it, I get my best work done in the wee hours (no interruptions). But sometimes ya don't have that freedom.

I'm also a very heavy sleeper once I'm asleep so I'm not really one to give advice on insomnia... :o

I keep waiting for those days when I need less sleep. I'll get more done! :D

[Documad]

I'm a night owl and usually don't fight it, I get my best work done in the wee hours (no interruptions). But sometimes ya don't have that freedom.

I'm also a very heavy sleeper once I'm asleep so I'm not really one to give advice on insomnia... :o

I keep waiting for those days when I need less sleep. I'll get more done! :D
You're young yet, I bet. I used to be you. I used to be able to stay up late or get up super early and live off no sleep. I worked full time through law school and used to live on almost no sleep. But when I crashed I crashed.

Now, if I'm tired and know I need to be well rested the next morning, I don't know what to do. Last night, I went to bed at 10 to get up at 5 to finish some work that was due today. But I woke up at 2 and couldn't sleep and I was a mess today.

I can't read laying down.


How does the magnesium come? In a pill?

[like2_drink]

it always used to take me about 3 hours of laying in bed befor i would go to sleep. so now i just stay up late, it seems to work for me (y) my doctor wanted to give me sleeping pills, but i wouldn't take them

[enree erzweglle]

too much stress?
get your thyroid checked?
getting enough exercise?
eating too close to bedtime?

[enree erzweglle]

magnesium does come in tablets and helps with headaches too

valerian, if you can stand the intense stink, helps in relaxation and helped me when my thyroid was keeping me up for hours on end

[Documad]

too much stress?
get your thyroid checked?
getting enough exercise?
eating too close to bedtime?
I have always thrived on stress. Lately, I have had less than usual. I haven't been laying awake thinking about anything bad. This has been a really happy year.

My thyroid checked out about 6 months ago. I'm paranoid because of friends with problems.

I never get enough exercise! Are you kidding??? (I'd prefer the "you're getting old" answer!)

I haven't been eating late, and I never have stomach problems.

[Documad]

Say, since you're all being so helpful: Is there anything to look for in tea that won't keep me awake. Or do they all have some minimal amount of caffeine? Someone told me the herbal teas can affect sleep too. I really need a hot drink.

[enree erzweglle]

Say, since you're all being so helpful: Is there anything to look for in tea that won't keep me awake. Or do they all have some minimal amount of caffeine? Someone told me the herbal teas can affect sleep too. I really need a hot drink.
There are sleepy-time teas--I used to take them when my thyroid kept me up. They helped--or maybe it was just the valerian (or a combination of both). There are lots of tea recipes for insomnia--you have to get the ingredients together yourself, though, or buy that pre-made sleepytime stuff.

I usually have a ton of energy. Some days less than others. But I can always tell when my off-days are from the gym because I am much more restless at night than on days where I have hard exercise.

When I had insomnia, I found some music that had very repetitive bass beats and that lulled me back to sleep after about an hour and after some valerian.

I hope you figure it out. Insomnia sucks.

[BGirl]

Say, since you're all being so helpful: Is there anything to look for in tea that won't keep me awake. Or do they all have some minimal amount of caffeine? Someone told me the herbal teas can affect sleep too. I really need a hot drink.

Oh, you know what, there is something in milk that helps trigger sleep, and especially so if it's warmed. Sometimes if I have trouble settling down or whatever I'll chug a little milk before going to bed (honestly I do it most nights out of habit anymore). And a couple times I have found the warm milk helpful.

*shrug*

I'm not a tea drinker so I can't help you there but I think chamomile is supposed to be soothing?

edit: cosmo already made the point about the milk. cosmo, I'd like to see a snapshot of your food/nutrition library :)

[TurdBerglar]

i have a real hard time falling asleep before 2 am. my mind is all like BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH all night. and it's usually talking about things that piss me off so i get all fired up. :mad:

[King of Rock II]

There is this one thing you have to take care of before you can fall asleep.

[zorra_chiflada]

my circadian rhythm is all fucked up. i can't get to sleep at night, but fall asleep very easily in the morning. i sleep better when it's daylight :confused:
i should be a night shift worker.

[JBernas]

I have had this problem off and on for over a year now. I fall asleep just fine, but I can't stay asleep. Sometimes I only get an hour or two, and I'm up until it's time to go to work...surprisingly the next night, I'm not tired. I've found that regular exercise, VITAMINS, and staying away from alcohol for several hours before I go to bed helps. When all else fails, see your doctor.

[adam_f]

^Hearing that almost makes me feel bad I got a good 11 hours in the past two nights. ;)

[BGirl]

Holy crap Mae! :( Feel better!

Do you think you'll be able to get some rest now?



I used to have a terrible problem with sleep debts when I worked in a regular office with those 9-5 (or later) hours. I would tend to stay up because of my circadian rhythms and of course I'd have to be up early for work... there wasn't enough time for everything and I was always pushing myself. I was often tired and wanting to catch up but not finding myself able to. I've read so many studies and articles about the dangers of sleep debts...

When I started working for myself and letting myself get the full night's rest my body wanted - it was 9 hours! I never got anywhere near that those years working in the offices. I have to wonder what kind of toll that might have taken on my body? And this is what I mean about looking forward to those days when I need less sleep - I mean 9 hours! It may not be quite 9 hours anymore, now my sleep schedule is kind of random honestly... I'll stay up and then go to be early the next couple nights.

I remember reading an autobiographical book by the comedian David Brenner back in high school, and he'd resolved early on to only get 4 or 5 (I forget exactly) hours of sleep/night so he'd have all that extra time. He said he was always a little tired but basically he was happy with his choice. It's not a choice I would make but I would be thrilled if I only needed 4-5 hours sleep/night.

Documad, in those wee hours this morning I wondered if any of the advice here helped you. :)

I'll be in bed early tonight!

[monkey]

i slept 2 hrs last night

yea,maybe rationality is not my stronghold today

[Documad]

A bath used to really help me get sleepy, so I tried that tonight and no luck at all. I'm really tired, but not sleepy. Tonight the problem is too much birthday dinner lasting too late.

I did well last night but that was only because I could stay up as late as my body wanted because I took the day off from work.

This clearly isn't going to just go away, so I'm going to have to take it more seriously. As much as I hate to admit it, I think exercise makes a lot of sense. When I used to take walks in the early evening, I slept better. I'm also in need of major grocery shopping so I haven't tried the milk or tea yet.

[enree erzweglle]

This clearly isn't going to just go away, so I'm going to have to take it more seriously. As much as I hate to admit it, I think exercise makes a lot of sense.

You'll see benefits from regular exercise you wouldn't have even dreamed of.
You'll be more tired and have less energy at first, but it's an adjustment. Give it time--at least a month. You'll be hooked and will soon talk about it more than I do.

[Mcmac]

my circadian rhythm is all fucked up. i can't get to sleep at night, but fall asleep very easily in the morning. i sleep better when it's daylight :confused:
i should be a night shift worker.

yer same with me! when i wake up is the easiest time to go to sleep.

and documad just drink a glass of spirits u will be right!

[enree erzweglle]

I kept waking up last night to see how the Spurs were doing.

And then I couldn't really get back to sleep because I was excited over the outcome and over the thoughts of all of those interviews I'd be able to see today.

I woke up at 4:45 as planned and really what motivated me to do that was the idea of watching the TV at the gym and seeing some of those interviews.

I'd really only gotten into deep sleep maybe 1:45 before I woke up for my day. I have eye circles again.

[Documad]

']Do you sleep for like 30 minutes and then wake up after having extremely strange dreampatterns?
No, I sleep for 3 hours and then wake up. At first, I am happy because I realize that I don't have to go to work yet and that I can go back to sleep. Then I lay there unable to get back to sleep. I feel completely rested and ready to get up. But 4 hours later, when I really do need to get up for work, I can barely move and then my whole work day sucks.


I stayed up so late last night that I was only going to be able to sleep for 4 hours. I woke up after 3 hours.

If I didn't have to work it would be okay, because I'm sure I would be able to take a nap in the middle of the day. But my boss would never permit that. :)


I rarely remember my dreams. But two nights ago, I woke up from the middle of the dream where the grass on part of my lawn was really long, but I had just mowed, and I couldn't believe that I had forgotten to mow to the right side of my house, FOR THE PAST MONTH! (the grass was about a foot tall) I was momentarily upset and then remembered that I had actually mowed the whole yard the day before. Then I thought to myself that (1) my life is not very interesting and (2) it must suck being Mae and having truly bad dreams.

[Mcmac]

I rarely remember my dreams. But two nights ago, I woke up from the middle of the dream where the grass on part of my lawn was really long, but I had just mowed, and I couldn't believe that I had forgotten to mow to the right side of my house, FOR THE PAST MONTH! (the grass was about a foot tall) I was momentarily upset and then remembered that I had actually mowed the whole yard the day before. Then I thought to myself that (1) my life is not very interesting and (2) it must suck being Mae and having truly bad dreams.

That must have been a nightmare! :eek: ;)

[BGirl]

I remembered an odd little sleep-related tip I read recently. I don't know that it'll help you, Documad, but maybe others.

When you go to bed, DON'T look at the clock. Because if you do you'll probably mentally count up how many hours you have until you have to wake up, and it probably won't be as much as you want/need, and you'll get stressed out about it to one degree or another and rob yourself of sleep. Better to just not think about it and get to sleep as quickly as possible.

So I have adopted this and I think there's something to it.

[enree erzweglle]

^^^That's what I do when I'm flying into a new time zone.

Don't look at the local time and as soon as I sit down on the plane, I set my watch into the new time zone.

Of course, it doesn't work for me but I feel like I'm doing everything I can.

I cannot sleep without these things:
. a fan, turned on & humming
. music (at first)
. blistex (I'm a junkie)
. Pillow

[Happyrunr]

^^^That's what I do when I'm flying into a new time zone.

Don't look at the local time and as soon as I sit down on the plane, I set my watch into the new time zone.

Of course, it doesn't work for me but I feel like I'm doing everything I can.

I cannot sleep without these things:
. a fan, turned on & humming
. music (at first)
. blistex (I'm a junkie)
. Pillow

I LOVE YOU! I am the same way! I turn on the overhead fan and the standing fan, lay down, fluff up my 2 favorite pillows, apply my Origins chapstick, and get to sleep.
Last night was no good- tornado sirens went off at 6am (no work today, it was my morning to sleep in). At first I poo-poo'd it, until my daughter ran in my room - "TORNADO!!!!!". I get downstairs, and about 30 seconds later, they turned them off. I was so tired, I just stayed downstairs on the couch and fell back asleep.

[beastieangel01]

all I could think of is Azure Ray for this thread title.

[Happyrunr]

A bath used to really help me get sleepy, so I tried that tonight and no luck at all. I'm really tired, but not sleepy. Tonight the problem is too much birthday dinner lasting too late.

I did well last night but that was only because I could stay up as late as my body wanted because I took the day off from work.

This clearly isn't going to just go away, so I'm going to have to take it more seriously. As much as I hate to admit it, I think exercise makes a lot of sense. When I used to take walks in the early evening, I slept better. I'm also in need of major grocery shopping so I haven't tried the milk or tea yet.
WHat about a noise maker? The noise has repetitive beats in there that lull you to sleep- it works great on my son.
Exercise does make sense- it does it for me, just dont do it RIGHT before bedtime, and dont overdo it. I usually eat dinner at 5 run on the treadmill around 7 or 8, get to bed between 10-11, and sleep through the night (and feel great in the morning, too).
Hot chocolate has caffeine in it, but I love it before bed.

[enree erzweglle]

I LOVE YOU! I am the same way! I turn on the overhead fan and the standing fan, lay down, fluff up my 2 favorite pillows, apply my Origins chapstick, and get to sleep.
Last night was no good- tornado sirens went off at 6am (no work today, it was my morning to sleep in). At first I poo-poo'd it, until my daughter ran in my room - "TORNADO!!!!!". I get downstairs, and about 30 seconds later, they turned them off. I was so tired, I just stayed downstairs on the couch and fell back asleep.

Hey, Happyrunr, I thought of you last week and told myself to PM you and then I totally forgot. How are you?! I'm glad you & your kid didn't get tornado'd!

My little list of things for getting to sleep? That's for my bedroom...I can't get to sleep without those things. On a plane, nothing works and I'm always wide awake. Not even Pillow can help me...

[enree erzweglle]

WHat about a noise maker? The noise has repetitive beats in there that lull you to sleep- it works great on my son.
Exercise does make sense- it does it for me, just dont do it RIGHT before bedtime, and dont overdo it. I usually eat dinner at 5 run on the treadmill around 7 or 8, get to bed between 10-11, and sleep through the night (and feel great in the morning, too).
Hot chocolate has caffeine in it, but I love it before bed.
Yeah, I can't exercise or eat >8 or 8:30pm or else I'll won't be able to get to sleep.

When my kid was 3-5, if he ate anything after 7pm, he'd get night terrors. If you don't know what they are, I hear you should be grateful. I never saw them first-hand but my son's dad did because he'd feed our kid crazy assed heavy duty food at, like, 8 or 9pm and then put him right to bed. When he stopped doing that, the night terrors went away.

Food definitely affects sleep patterns.

[GetYourWarOn]

i can't sleep.

[zorra_chiflada]

i have to wear earplugs to sleep. it's really annoying

[GetYourWarOn]

i have to wear earplugs to sleep. it's really annoying

lol. does someone snore?

[zorra_chiflada]

lol. does someone snore?

yes, my boyfriend snores
and we live on a busy street
and there's a lot of noise coming from downstairs.

[TurdBerglar]

i sleep through fuckn' everything

[GetYourWarOn]

yes, my boyfriend snores
and we live on a busy street
and there's a lot of noise coming from downstairs.


hahaha. when i was dating my exgf she would have to go to bed an hour before i did, so she'd be sound asleep before i rolled into bed and started snoring like a gorilla. (y) :o

[avignon]

I have to have white noise to sleep by. I go to sleep in the morning when the rest of the world is at it's noisiest. I just turn on an air cleaner.

[Documad]

By the way, I can sleep now. I think it was mostly the odd weather we were having. And some pent up stress at work that was more about an office issue than the actual work I was doing.

Now that it cooled down, I could sleep all the time.

[paul jones]

I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep. I had no caffeine, I have no real worries, the room is comfortable.

I don't want to take pills. Any ideas?

Older female friends say it's because I'm getting old. I'm not accepting that answer.


i couldnae sleep laz neet hen!


that was in scottish,did u like?
:)

[wanton wench]

i go through spells of not sleeping. i wont be able to sleep for a few weeks and then the next few weeks i sleep real good. strange.

this week has been a non-sleeping week :(