Insomnia

[Quackers]

Ever since I was a kid i've had major trouble sleeping, when I was 11/12 most nights i'd be up reading til 2am, and take another hour to get to sleep, i've not been able to sleep til 2am at earliest ever since then, often it's much later than that.

Even if I go to bed at 11pm, I know i'll still be awake til 3amish, I fidget and move around alot which I think also stops me from sleeping. It's quarter past 2 at the moment, and I know if I go to bed now, i'll be asleep by 4am, but will have to get up at 7am for college, and be majorly tired. So i'm staying up all night to avoid that, as its the last day before holidays and I don't wanna miss people etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_syndrome

That seems to fit in well with my sleep patterns.

It seems to have gotten much worse in the last few months. I've missed college so many times because i've not been able to sleep til early morning, my alarm goes off at 7am, and sometimes i'll get up and turn it off, and go back to sleep, and not even be able to remember waking up and turning it off, and if I am awake enough to realize i've got to go to school I often won't bother, I know i'll be like a zombie, and whats the point of being in college if I can barely keep my eyes open.

I've realized that smoking weed around 11pm really helps me sleep though, but it's not an option to do it every night lol.

Anyone else have Insomnia or trouble sleeping.

[cheese muffin]

Get some sleep aids like Nyquil or other non-prescription meds. Then take them at the same time every night. This will help you adjust your biological clock. Every once in awhile try to fall asleep without the meds. If all else fails, take the meds again and try again a couple days later.

Your body does run on a biological clock. If you begin to take a crap everyday at 3PM, you'll start to notice that after awhile, you'll start feeling bowel movements at 3PM. Same goes for sleep. I think that because you started out by telling your body that 3AM was a normal bedtime is one of the reasons why a 10PM bedtime doesn't function well. haha

If the above doesn't work, you might have a sleeping disorder? Might wanna get that checked out as a possibility.

[boo_cocky]

Don't listen to Cheese, he's full of shit...

Just drink a bottle of cyanide, trust me, you'll be fine. :xyxthumbs:

[yup]

Have you ever considered that you might be thinking about stuff too much? School, parents maybe a girlfriend or something?
I would stay away from medications to fall asleep. Try exercising around 8 or 9 PM don't drink or smoke two hours before bed. Don't keep the tele running in your room. I have had trouble falling asleep from time to time some of the above worked for me.
The best for falling asleep for me was when I was doing Karate, the regular workouts really helped.

[Satan's Uncle Ron]

If you're going to take sleep aids, don't take anything that can be addictive, like nyquil. Ask a doctor about those. Try to eliminate any caffeine containing products in your diet too(colas, energy drinks, etc.).

[Snuff.]

Deep breathing exercises. Follow them religiously and the problem should reduce. Cheese Muffin makes a good point, though - some of us are simply night owls, and in today`s world that form of activity doesn`t fit with every day life.

In which case, you`re biological clock`s set to 'night' mode - in which case, of course you won`t be able to sleep before the early hours.

Back in the day you used to be able to complain to the doc and get a hand-full of Valium, but our generation is nannied away from meds for silly reasons such as 'addiction'.

Pfft. Fuck the 21st century.

EDIT: Oh, and if you did get meds you`d get zopiclone (Ambien in the States) and that stuff is weird. I took it one night and when I woke up I`d eaten all of them and shaved my balls. I don`t remember anything, but my reasoning is any drug that can make you wake up with the testicles of an 8 year old and not remember a damn thing is a bad one.

That, and it leaves you with the most insane dry mouth and a weird, metallic taste. ...I`ve probably said too much, though. :eek7:

[boo_cocky]

Self hynosis/relaxation techniques are very helpful, being on the topic of breathing excercises...

Start at your feet...breathe in deep...slowly...tighten your foot muscles as you do this...then, hold the breath in...hold your muscles as tight as you possibly can...count to ten...slowly exhale and relax your foot muscles...

Calves, thighs, knees, butt, stomach, back, arms, shoulders, neck, ears, eyes, mouth, cheeks, forehead, scalp, everything...one section at a time...when you get to each section, try to focus on every muscle remotely associated and involve that in the tightening.

When you get to your arms, cross them over eachother and clench your fists...also, try to tighten your chest too, when you do this...slowly breathing in, tightening your muscles as hard as you can...when your lungs are full, count to ten...holding the muscles tight...slowly exhale, and relax the muscles...

Repeat this, moving all the way up your body, trying to get every single muscle in your body pinpointed and tightened...use the same breathing technique throughout...

Then...

Focus back down on your feet...focus more, to your toes...focus more, to your big toe...focus more, to your toenail....relax it...relax it...if you can't pinpoint, then relax the areas around it, then refocus on that spot again...relax it...

Move to your toe...relax it...etc...move to your other toe...then to the soles of your feet...etc.

Move along like this...literally attempting to pinpoint and relax every spot of your body...as you do this, you'll notice your breathing becomes irregular, don't freak out, it's normal...that's stress leaving your body...

Even your breathing...relax it...shallow breaths...don't THINK about breathing...let it happen automatically...

It's amazing how relaxed you can make yourself using this technique...focus on everything, one step at a time...you'll be amazed how much tension there is in even your knees...relax it...let the muscles drop, go limp...pretend you're floating...

Pretty soon, you'll enter a somewhat different consciousness...you're 'there', but you're not...

Quite a trip...great for sleep, great for meditation, prayer, whatever...

[Raidenator]

Well, I'm an insomniac. I really can't do anything about it though.

I can be stay awake the entire night one night and I still can't go to sleep before 12 the next.

There are 3 kinds of Insomnia that prevent me from sleeping.

1. Fidgeting. I can't help but move around or shake my leg or something on some nights. This keeps me from going to sleep, so generally I have to just move around for a little while.

2. Racing brain. Some nights I just can't turn my fucking brain off. I just have my mind racing and I can't get it to stop. Whenever this happens I usually come onto my computer and find soothing music or sounds or whatever to calm me down. Sounds of the rainforest, ocean, 'massage music'. etc.

3. Well, I really can only describe this. I can't go to sleep unless something gets done. I don't know why some things I have to do and some things I don't. So I often just get up, walk around the house, pace my bedroom and other stuff till the feeling goes away or I can figure out what it was that I needed to do. Sometimes I gotta do the dishes, gotta finish a paper, whatever.

I often find myself popping Nyquil or PM pain relievers to help put me to sleep.

[jaba]

EDIT: Oh, and if you did get meds you`d get zopiclone (Ambien in the States) and that stuff is weird. I took it one night and when I woke up I`d eaten all of them and shaved my balls. I don`t remember anything, but my reasoning is any drug that can make you wake up with the testicles of an 8 year old and not remember a damn thing is a bad one. Woods Navy Rum has the same properties. :omg:

[jaba]

Self hynosis/relaxation techniques are very helpful, being on the topic of breathing excercises...

Start at your feet...breathe in deep...slowly...tighten your foot muscles as you do this...then, hold the breath in...hold your muscles as tight as you possibly can...count to ten...slowly exhale and relax your foot muscles...

Calves, thighs, knees, butt, stomach, back, arms, shoulders, neck, ears, eyes, mouth, cheeks, forehead, scalp, everything...one section at a time...when you get to each section, try to focus on every muscle remotely associated and involve that in the tightening.

When you get to your arms, cross them over eachother and clench your fists...also, try to tighten your chest too, when you do this...slowly breathing in, tightening your muscles as hard as you can...when your lungs are full, count to ten...holding the muscles tight...slowly exhale, and relax the muscles...

Repeat this, moving all the way up your body, trying to get every single muscle in your body pinpointed and tightened...use the same breathing technique throughout...

Then...

Focus back down on your feet...focus more, to your toes...focus more, to your big toe...focus more, to your toenail....relax it...relax it...if you can't pinpoint, then relax the areas around it, then refocus on that spot again...relax it...

Move to your toe...relax it...etc...move to your other toe...then to the soles of your feet...etc.

Move along like this...literally attempting to pinpoint and relax every spot of your body...as you do this, you'll notice your breathing becomes irregular, don't freak out, it's normal...that's stress leaving your body...

Even your breathing...relax it...shallow breaths...don't THINK about breathing...let it happen automatically...

It's amazing how relaxed you can make yourself using this technique...focus on everything, one step at a time...you'll be amazed how much tension there is in even your knees...relax it...let the muscles drop, go limp...pretend you're floating...

Pretty soon, you'll enter a somewhat different consciousness...you're 'there', but you're not...

Quite a trip...great for sleep, great for meditation, prayer, whatever...:omg:
You've tried this technique?

[Afronaught]

About 45 minutes to 1 hour before going to bed. you could try Meditation... there are varying meditation techniques available to clear your mind. for sleep it would help also to designate 2 hours before you go to bed as a quiet time... no loud music ot television. Reading a good book is recommended during this time... Also no bright light during this time... keep the lighting dim... a bedside lamp wil do... no candles... the flickkering of the flame causes distraction.

No Caffiene, alcohol or snack foods 2 hours before bed time.

If you want some info on Meditation techniques drop me a PM... not all involve sitting legs crossed and chanting mantras... there sould be one or two that will work for you.

[verticalkiller]

I've got sleeping problems though they have seemed to normalize themselves out. I know exactly what you mean though, I went to the doctor after a 36 hour stint a few months ago, it didn't help, she just told me to relax. That I was probably thinking too much. Alot of times I would be dead tired but my body wouldn't let me sleep, my mind would be racing and my muscles would tense up REALLY badly. It's a pretty awful feeling.

[Mukphly]

Please have a seat & let Dr. Muk give you a fresh perspective on your troubles. Sure you could meditate,exercise, or even take some sleeping aids OR you could go the other direction & forgo sleep altogether by paying a visit to your local Mexican meth dealer & scoring yourself a ball of some killer gack. While the stuff does have some negative side affects (shortened life span, no appetite, social retardation, picking at your body, & just a general non-caring attitude about things that you at one time enjoyed) what in life doesn't? You do a little four day run on this shit & all your worries about your current sleeping habits will be transformed into you thinking of them as the good ol' days when you got a now unheard of 3 hours of sleep almost every day.

You may leave your co-pay payment with Large Marge at the front desk & if any other health concerns should arise please fell free to come in & see me again..... Next patient please.:omg: :eek: :omg: :eek:

[HeyBuddy]

If you're really having a hard time getting to sleep, just read the first page of this thread. If you are still unable to sleep, read it again. I dozed off twice with a cup of coffee in my hand.

[boo_cocky]

:omg:
You've tried this technique?



I use it all the time...my mother cared for an older gentleman in a nursing home who we kind of 'adopted' as our 'Uncle Ed'...

He wrote a short book on hypnosis, rather basic, but very helpful to me...

I've been using this technique for the past 25 years...mostly for meditation and prayer now, but originally for sleep because I went through a difficult stage during puberty where I couldn't sleep well. (He actually gave me the book when he heard I was having difficulty sleeping as a kid, but I got so much out of it, I've continued using the technique my whole life.)

[yup]

If you're really having a hard time getting to sleep, just read the first page of this thread. If you are still unable to sleep, read it again. I dozed off twice with a cup of coffee in my hand.

HA HA, maybe I'll try it next time;0

Seriously, take a look at everyone who has posted about having a problem almost every one say they can't turn off the mind. Too much to stress about in this day and age.IMHO

[boo_cocky]

HA HA, maybe I'll try it next time;0

Seriously, take a look at everyone who has posted about having a problem almost every one say they can't turn off the mind. Too much to stress about in this day and age.IMHO

Bigtime...that's why we're at an all time high in health related problems...

Hypertension, stress, alcoholism, over eating, drug addiction, etc...everyone's trying to escape reality and stress...but we're just compounding it.

[jaba]

I use it all the time...my mother cared for an older gentleman in a nursing home who we kind of 'adopted' as our 'Uncle Ed'...

He wrote a short book on hypnosis, rather basic, but very helpful to me...

I've been using this technique for the past 25 years...mostly for meditation and prayer now, but originally for sleep because I went through a difficult stage during puberty where I couldn't sleep well. (He actually gave me the book when he heard I was having difficulty sleeping as a kid, but I got so much out of it, I've continued using the technique my whole life.)I just thought you were trying to kill him lol.
You know - by teaching him not to breathe. :D

[boo_cocky]

I just thought you were trying to kill him lol.
You know - by teaching him not to breathe. :D

lol...no, he didn't fall for the cyanide suggestion, so I figured I'd be serious for a moment.

There is a stage in the excercise where you become conscious of your breathing, and feel like you're not breathing enough...it's just your body giving in to the meditation/relaxation. Perfectly normal, actually, part of the process.

Sometimes anxiety will briefly occur, also...again, normal...just the stress being released from your body...it means the excercise is working.

[Haseknumber39]

i sometimes get that...its so annoying if its a school night aswell

however on other topics...i love the song