Sleeping problems

Stover

So I haven't slept for more than an hour or so in the past three days.

I lay down in bed at about the same time and then I don't go to sleep.

So here I am at 5:30 AM, having gotten angry, and also bored.

Has anyone had problems sleeping, and if so, what did you do to fix it?

Mykonos

i have lots of trouble sleeping due to stress and anxiety, which is exacerbated by being prescribed adderall (which would be great if I could stop but I got finals)

What helps me though, is eating some carbs, like a bag of chips, listening to soft music, closing your eyes and kinda meditating or something, take some over the counter sleeping pills (the kind that helps with jet lag, but theirs the risk of addiction so I'd use it as a last resort)

The best thing though is reevaluate your diet, your overall physical activity (walking 20 min a day helps a ton) and if worst comes to worst see your phisician. Are you taking or are prescribed amphetymines for ADHD or other disorders?

elijahtary

What I do is do homework, or something mundane like that, until I either I can't stand it, or start falling asleep on the computer. If that doesn't work, I'll start reading a book, but not a particularily interesting one, or maybe one I've read about 14352345267 times (like LOTR or Game of Thrones) with music on in the background.

If that doesn't work, I use NyQuil. Warm milk doesn't work worth shit. I was up 3 nights in a row, and it didn't help.

Stover

Doing mundane things or reading a book before going to bed hasn't really helped. In the time it takes to put the book down, the light out, and lay down in bed, I am already wide awake again. At least, that's what's been happening recently. Not too long ago that would work.

I haven't been eating too well recently, but then again I never really eat well. I'll try eating more balanced for a few days, I suppose, and see where that goes.

I am not taking any prescription medication.

I also hadn't thought of something like NyQuil. I even have a slightly plugged nose so I have an actual excuse to use it.

SNES

Hey I'm not sleeping right now either.

I tend to just stay up for a

--HAHA holy shit my alarm clock just went off

day then go to bed at a reasonable hour exhausted. Granted I have school so this will basically kill me but caffeine helps me in this endeavor to reset my internal clock.

mastman

exercise

eat healthier

relax

less caffeine

read a book before you want to go to bed instead of playing video games or watching dvds. Let's your eyes and neural activity calm down

Dakeyras

Rum works for me but I'm not sure if you'd want to go there.

Stover

Dakeyras wrote: »

Rum works for me but I'm not sure if you'd want to go there.

No not particularly. Not quite to that point yet.

In any case, I haven't been really exercising for a while, but I'm active enough to where I think I'm at least kind of healthy.

In any case, I'll try a serving or four of nyquil tonight.

If that doesn't work, is this the kind of thing I should think about going to a doctor for?

Solandra

Stover wrote: »

In any case, I haven't been really exercising for a while, but I'm active enough to where I think I'm at least kind of healthy.

The point of the exercise isn't to be "active enough to be healthy" it's to deliberately work you body and make it flush out toxins and stress and produce a lovely endorphin release afterwards. You have to do a little more than what you're doing in your regular routine (an extra 20 min of a brisk walk is good) in order to reap the benefit.

Cut caffeine after noon or all the way, drink more water, eat a bananna or celery (potassium deficiency has been a factor in my own bouts of insomnia), go for a walk or a run or do yoga/ lift weights - if it's stress related, any of that would help. If you're still desperate for sleep after a few days, seeing a doctor is never a bad idea. The doctor may tell you the same thing or prescribe expensive but effective drugs, or determine that it's something entirely different.

mastman

Yeah, wear yourself out. Go run or play basketball or ride a bike. But, don't like, quit after 5 minutes. When you get tired, take a small break, then do it again. Physically exhaust yourself.

Shogun

When you get angry and frustrated in bed because you cannot sleep you just make it worse. I have nights like these once or twice every two weeks. I lay in bed and calm down and tell myself, "I may not be sleeping, but I am still resting." You're not getting sleep but you're still getting rest which is better than nothing. I just keep focusing on this and often times I will drift off to sleep a while later. It may take time but just focus on the fact that you're still getting rest. Even if you don't sleep you will still feel better than if you had stayed up all night due to frustration.

wallabeeX

Antihystames knock me the fuck out.

So does sex.

One of the above.

taliosfalcon

as someone who usually only sleeps 2-3 hours a night I've found melatonin can help when I really need sleep

Mykonos

I heard Winston Churchil and Napolean would do what's called an Uberman's sleep schedule, where in a 24 hour period they would go for only a few hours of sleep throughout the day that is spread out between quick naps or such. Evidently, such a method is supposed to spark some major creativity...so if you plan on taking over the world you seem to be on the right track =/

Evil_Reaver

Something that helped me get sleep in college was only laying on my bed when I was going to sleep or have sex. You have to associate your bed with sleep, not homework or watching TV or anything else. YMMV of course, but it's worth a shot.