Sleep Trouble...

[war ensemble]

I have what I consider a rather strange predicament that seemingly doesn't allow me to fall asleep...normally I'd google something to see if it's common, but it's not easily definable.

So, here's my situation: after a busy day of work or school, or knowing I have to wake up early the following morning, I can't get to sleep. I keep either hearing voices in my head, picturing the alarm clock, or picturing some work I would be doing that wakes me up in a fright (as if I forgot to do it). I know I'm trying to sleep but I can't control that impulse to sit up and see what's happening. Rinse and repeat for hours on end.

Any suggestions or anyone ever have trouble with something similar?

[Bruce Banner]

Your body has some sort of 90 minute cycle it goes through. Its easiest to fall asleep when that hits and if you miss it you have to wait 90 minutes for it to come around again.

When your in the dark your body converts serotonin into melatonin and this makes you sleepy. If you stay in the light it doesn't get converted.

OTC stuff like melatonin works but you get used to it.

Exercise helps. For some reason it helped me more when I was young. When I was 20 if I lifted weights that night I would sleep like I was dead.

Anyway, thats all I got.

[The Crusher]

I have what I consider a rather strange predicament that seemingly doesn't allow me to fall asleep...normally I'd google something to see if it's common, but it's not easily definable.

So, here's my situation: after a busy day of work or school, or knowing I have to wake up early the following morning, I can't get to sleep. I keep either hearing voices in my head, picturing the alarm clock, or picturing some work I would be doing that wakes me up in a fright (as if I forgot to do it). I know I'm trying to sleep but I can't control that impulse to sit up and see what's happening. Rinse and repeat for hours on end.

Any suggestions or anyone ever have trouble with something similar?

Bruce hit on some real good points. A good long walk, resistance training or some coitus might help convincing your body it's tired and needs sleep.

Might want to check how late your eating and what your eating as your last meal. Stuff like caffeine are obvious but you might want to google a list of foods that might keep you awake.

Serotonin, melatonin, Valerian root, and camomille might be supplements you could consider before bed. Read up on them, Valerian root and Serotonin work best for me.

As far as the anxiety issues, i suffer from that as well. I too occasionaly pop out of bed thinking i forgot to do something. Try making a list and go over it about 5 hours before sleep time and CONVINCE yourself your caught up. Just a mental exercise to allow yourself permission to rest. sorta like... I did all this I DESERVE to sleep.

Might wanna considerer changing your alarm clock if you developped some sort of anxiety reaction to it. I switched to using the light "buzz" of my cell phone alarm and it works way better. Maybe a clock radio if they still have them.

Lastly if your really starting to deterioate you could see a physician and pursue a sleep aid like Ambient, but I would try to avoid that because you could become dependent and theirs alot of things you could try to do before that.

[JerryK]

I second the exercise suggestion. Go to the gym. ...and for you I'd consider going after work (not early morning). It will 1-make you tired, and 2-help with stress that's keeping you up.

In the morning, an expensive b-vitamin may help too.

Don't drink alcohol to sleep. The quality of sleep is crap and it pulls the b-vitamins out of you.

[Lil Bit Special]

1. Jerk off. Works best when you create a fantasy in your head instead of watching porn or viewing sexy pictures of the mods.

2. Drink

Every time I have trouble sleeping its usually because my brain is bouncing around from issues at work to issues at home to issues with my sh!tty sports teams. I'll go ahead and make up wild scenarios for different things... winning the lottery, banging some hot chick, food places I want to eat at, businesses I want to own... anything to take my mind off of the real world. I need that day dream time to help me unwind... usually works in about 30 minutes... if it doesnt, jerk off again.

[ZachEY]

Melatonin.

You're welcome.

[The Crusher]

Bruce hit on some real good points. A good long walk, resistance training or some coitus might help convincing your body it's tired and needs sleep.

Might want to check how late your eating and what your eating as your last meal. Stuff like caffeine are obvious but you might want to google a list of foods that might keep you awake.

Serotonin, melatonin, Valerian root, and camomille might be supplements you could consider before bed. Read up on them, Valerian root and Serotonin work best for me.

As far as the anxiety issues, i suffer from that as well. I too occasionaly pop out of bed thinking i forgot to do something. Try making a list and go over it about 5 hours before sleep time and CONVINCE yourself your caught up. Just a mental exercise to allow yourself permission to rest. sorta like... I did all this I DESERVE to sleep.

Might wanna considerer changing your alarm clock if you developped some sort of anxiety reaction to it. I switched to using the light "buzz" of my cell phone alarm and it works way better. Maybe a clock radio if they still have them.

Lastly if your really starting to deterioate you could see a physician and pursue a sleep aid like Ambient, but I would try to avoid that because you could become dependent and theirs alot of things you could try to do before that.

Melatonin.

You're welcome.

Thank you... LOL

[slats]

You're not alone.

I work a rotating shift schedule and easily sleep the worst when I'm on the day shift. I toss around in bed all night concerned that my alarm clock won't go off. I'm sure a lot of it is anxiety about feeling the need to get a certain amount of sleep, which I inevitably never get. Going to bed early and lying there. Knowing the alarm is supposed to go off at 5:15 (blech!).

And I haven't used any supplements, because I'm concerned about sleeping thru the alarm in the morning. Hmmm... maybe I should give them a try.

[Jbro22]

My recommendation to you is to either start smoking marijauna, or stop smoking marijuana.

[CTM]

My recommendation to you is to either start smoking marijauna, or stop smoking marijuana.

[war ensemble]

My recommendation to you is to either start smoking marijauna, or stop smoking marijuana.

Well that's helpful...jk. lol

While exercise late at night usually works for me, I was physically exhausted last night from work and still couldn't get any sleep. At that point exercise was out of the question. I'm in a similar position to Slats in that I don't want to take any type of meds because I'm worried about waking up on time. (Which is a bigger issue during the school year, when I average ~5 hours sleep a night.)

In a few weeks I'll have a room to myself again for the school year, and I sleep much better in that bed. But I also sleep better on the couch than my regular bed--I think it could just be my snoring brother/the common environment that makes me unable to sleep there.

BTW, I'm more of a morning person with the J-O'ing, lets me wake up. I don't drink much caffeine/soda at dinnertime, but yesterday my dinner was a frozen pizza. That won't help.

I'll probably stick to a combination of exercise and reading (which is easier when I have my own room) to clear my head and make me tired. Those I can pull off with more regularity during the school year than the summer, because I'm more organized then. We'll see what happens...

[Jbro22]

Well that's helpful...jk. lol

While exercise late at night usually works for me, I was physically exhausted last night from work and still couldn't get any sleep. At that point exercise was out of the question. I'm in a similar position to Slats in that I don't want to take any type of meds because I'm worried about waking up on time. (Which is a bigger issue during the school year, when I average ~5 hours sleep a night.)

In a few weeks I'll have a room to myself again for the school year, and I sleep much better in that bed. But I also sleep better on the couch than my regular bed--I think it could just be my snoring brother/the common environment that makes me unable to sleep there.

BTW, I'm more of a morning person with the J-O'ing, lets me wake up. I don't drink much caffeine/soda at dinnertime, but yesterday my dinner was a frozen pizza. That won't help.

I'll probably stick to a combination of exercise and reading (which is easier when I have my own room) to clear my head and make me tired. Those I can pull off with more regularity during the school year than the summer, because I'm more organized then. We'll see what happens...

I thought late night exercise is the wrong thign to do because it takes a while for your heart rate to settle back down.

Just what I heard, could be wrong.

[JustInFudge]

My recommendation to you is to either start smoking marijauna, or stop smoking marijuana.

Weed helps 4sho.

Interestingly enough, when I excercise...I actually have a harder time falling asleep and typically stay up way past when I normally do. My problem isnt falling asleep, its staying asleep.

War - i suggest try something mild like some type of PM type over the counter, if that doesnt work, try some hardcore drugs that doesnt make you stay up for day.

[slats]

I thought late night exercise is the wrong thign to do because it takes a while for your heart rate to settle back down.

Just what I heard, could be wrong.

No, you're right.

Exercise is a great way to wake up in the morning, not such a great way to get to sleep.

[Vicious89x]

Masturbate.

Furiously.

[bitonti]

believe it or not I think your diet is the main culprit. if you eat junk (extra carbs, sugars, meats, cheese) within an hour or two of bed, you'll sleep like crap. It's like pouring fuel into a fire and wondering why the fire doesn't go out. Frozen pizza has nothing in it that will help your body sleep.

similarly, drinking makes people sleepy but it actually doesn't help you sleep. For similar reasons to the frozen pizza. chamomile tea is a better option.

if you were eating fruits, veggies, whole grains etc it would taste like cardboard but you'd probably sleep like a baby.

the light thing is a real phenomenon, if you staring at computer or tv the bright light will make your body think it's day time. Try to avoid that stuff before bed.

another thing to try is relaxation techniques. Wipe your brain clean. Imagine that your bed is a hole and you are falling into that hole. there is no bottom... you are just falling. there's nothing but a void. there's no alarm clock or work or anything... just the void. Focus on that for a couple mins. that usually works for me.

[dbatesman]

You might try a fan or a radio set to static. I'm a terrible sleeper, and white noise always helps me.

[rillo]

My recommendation to you is to either start smoking marijauna, or stop smoking marijuana.

Funny I stopped about 5 months ago, and now I have the strangest/vivid dreams that cause me to wake up during the night....this sh!t never use to happen when I was smoking.

[DHJF]

You might try a fan or a radio set to static. I'm a terrible sleeper, and white noise always helps me.

Word. this works for me:

SleepMate 980A White Noise Machine

http://www.naturestapestry.com/

[JustInFudge]

Funny I stopped about 5 months ago, and now I have the strangest/vivid dreams that cause me to wake up during the night....this sh!t never use to happen when I was smoking.

Never a good decision...thats your problem right there.

[rillo]

Never a good decision...thats your problem right there.

I know, but job>weed.

[victorjets]

sr1aDyHmWhk

[Panzer Division Marduk]

Y6S7-Mj1ENs

Just get some of your Irish relations to send you over a few tapes of Oireachtas Report. Have you asleep in no time...

[Irish Jet]

I knew a guy with the same problem...God rest his soul.

[Larz]

more exercise

less sugar

no caffeine after noon

[war ensemble]

believe it or not I think your diet is the main culprit. if you eat junk (extra carbs, sugars, meats, cheese) within an hour or two of bed, you'll sleep like crap. It's like pouring fuel into a fire and wondering why the fire doesn't go out. Frozen pizza has nothing in it that will help your body sleep.

similarly, drinking makes people sleepy but it actually doesn't help you sleep. For similar reasons to the frozen pizza. chamomile tea is a better option.

if you were eating fruits, veggies, whole grains etc it would taste like cardboard but you'd probably sleep like a baby.

I usually eat better--the frozen pizza was just that night. I drink like 4 or 5 bottles of water a day, have some fruit or fruit salad, turkey club stuff like that. I get all that free at work so why not? The night of my post I worked 12 hours and didn't have caffeine after 3 PM or so. That's not the culprit, IMO.

Crusher, I'd try your "make a list" idea, but my anxiety comes from stupid stuff. I work a rather menial job (running a snack bar) and everything that wakes me up during the summer is small stuff that I wouldn't really care about while awake. Oftentimes it's stupid or nothing at all. I just can't help waking up with a start and looking for something, only to realize where I am. It's a pain in the ass.

I might try self-studying APs at night...that should hopefully put me to sleep. Only problem is not having my own room. I might move to the basement.

[bitonti]

I usually eat better--the frozen pizza was just that night. I drink like 4 or 5 bottles of water a day, have some fruit or fruit salad, turkey club stuff like that. I get all that free at work so why not? The night of my post I worked 12 hours and didn't have caffeine after 3 PM or so. That's not the culprit, IMO.

timing is important. are you eating too close to bed time? Turkey club... ok the mayo, white bread and bacon aren't good for sleep. the turkey is tho.

[Lil Bit Special]

I usually eat better--the frozen pizza was just that night. I drink like 4 or 5 bottles of water a day, have some fruit or fruit salad, turkey club stuff like that. I get all that free at work so why not? The night of my post I worked 12 hours and didn't have caffeine after 3 PM or so. That's not the culprit, IMO.

Crusher, I'd try your "make a list" idea, but my anxiety comes from stupid stuff. I work a rather menial job (running a snack bar) and everything that wakes me up during the summer is small stuff that I wouldn't really care about while awake. Oftentimes it's stupid or nothing at all. I just can't help waking up with a start and looking for something, only to realize where I am. It's a pain in the ass.

I might try self-studying APs at night...that should hopefully put me to sleep. Only problem is not having my own room. I might move to the basement.

Its been a few days now... any updates for us?

[war ensemble]

Its been a few days now... any updates for us?

I slept REALLY good two nights ago. Like REALLY REALLY good. My brother's alarm clock went off twice at 5 AM and again at 5 30 and I turned it off both times in my sleep. I was dreaming the whole time...a really long dream. Pretty sick.

[haggis]

I'm a fan of melatonin. Putting on some Steven Halpern wouldn't also hurt.