Insomnia?

Bedlam

Ok for the past couple weeks maybe even a month I have been having a terrible time getting to sleep. Last night I ment to go to bed around 6pm or so since I was tired but could not fall asleep until well after 9.

This becomes worse on weekdays when I have to be to work at 4am I find myself having a rediculouse time trying to get up and hitting snooze way to many times.

Ive been drinking more coffee during the day to help me get through work but I havent had much pop at all so I dont think caffine is having an ill effect on me. I do take antidepressents in the form of 30mg of Lexipro but that hasnt given me problems in the past either.

Id say this has been going on for about a month now where I just can't sleep when I am suposed to. I dont even take naps outside of wednesday when I have a commitment from 6:30 to 9pm which of course makes thursdays even worse for me (though I would rather find a new job then give that up)

So what are my options to get to sleep faster? Is there a routine I can try to calm myself? Should I maybe start a journal at night so Im not thinking as much when Im in bed? Any suggestions would help right now since I just can't seem to get to sleep when I need to, despite being tired.

TehSpectre

Don't just sit on the computer. If you want to go to bed, shut your lights off and lay down, don't watch TV or do anything else that will cause your mind to be entertained. This should help a bit.

Aside from that, eat a bunch of candy, or sugary things an hour before bed. Coming down from a sugar rush will knock you out pretty quick.

Tis what I do if I cannot sleep.

Bliss 101

Whenever I can't get to sleep, what seems to work for me is to get out of bed and do something relaxing for a few minutes, e.g. make a cup of green tea or take a ten-minute walk outside. Then back to bed. If I still can't sleep, I'll read something I've already read before, preferably something long-winded (anything by Tolkien works for me). I recommend not reading in bed though: at least my brain doesn't like to transition from reading mode to sleeping mode unless there's a physical change of position involved. Get out of bed and read somewhere else for 10 - 15 minutes, or at least read in a sitting position. If I just stay in bed trying to sleep, my mind starts racing and I can waste hours before actually falling asleep, so the goal is to avoid doing that.

I agree with TS that television and computer are your enemies close to bedtime. It's absolutely impossible for me to fall asleep within 1 - 2 hours after playing WoW, for example.

Trentus

Okay, I know this sounds a little crass, but hear me out.

Masturbation, or other sexual activity. I can't remember where it was I read this, but it was basically saying that after a male climaxes a little trigger is sent to his brain telling him to go to sleep. So, if you're a dude, give it a shot. It couldn't hurt to try (if it does, you're doing it wrong...). And if you're not a dude, still worth a shot.

As a side note, wow, I just went back in time... stupid daylight savings...

Sorcy

If I have trouble sleeping I just bore myself to sleep. Yeah, I know, it sounds stupid, but works like a charm (at least for me).

I've actually two ways for this:

1. I imagine a small black disk that very slowly grows larger and fills up my imaginary field of vision. Sooo boring.

If that doesn't work, I try the following which has never ever failed me:

2. I imagine a blackboard and a piece of chalk. The piece of chalks slowly (thats very important, it has all to happen slowly!) draws the number one, in a niece big way. I imagine every part of the drawing, the chalks that moves over the blackboard, the way the different side makes differently thick strokes etc. Then I imagine it drawing the number two, same way, then three (each time the blackboard is clear and its the only number I see). I never go beyond the nine. If I get to nine (which rarely happens), I restart with the one again. I never (!) had to count further than the second seven.

Give it a try.

Tube

Try ruining your shit at the gym a few hours before bed. Your body will need extra sleep.

oldsak

Sorcy wrote: »

If I have trouble sleeping I just bore myself to sleep.

Try reading Leviticus in bed. I'm told it's pretty reliable.

Bedlam

TehSpecter: I dont have anything going when I lie in bed except for a fan. Usually Im either too busy thinking about somthing to quiet my mind or I can't quite find that comfortable spot.

Bliss: I have been trying to read but that dosent seem to help much as it usally gives me more to think about. I suppose I will try quieting myself before bedtime with a cup of tea though. Ive also thought of switching my shower time to right before bed as Ive heard that helps.

Trentus: Dosent work for me. I think the orgasm wakes me up more. Plus Ive seen so much porn that its become terribly boring for me.

Sorcy: That sounds interesting, I could give it a shot.

Tube: I have been told to exercise more but I feel like I never have enough energy. And of course sleeping less lately hasnt helped either. I also have no car and a pretty physical job so I do get some exercise by proxy.

Thanks for all your suggestions guys. I did go out and buy a coffee maker today so while that wont help me get to sleep it should help getting up in the morning.

Tube

So do you sleep at any other time than your "big" sleep? Because if so, if you can force yourself to stay awake and not nap and never sleep outside of your evening to morning sleep it'll help.

Thanatos

What's your diet like? The two things that will most help you with sleeping are eating well and exercise (assuming the masturbation thing doesn't work). Since you're already shutting everything off, the next step is to talk to your doctor. It could be a side-effect of the anti-depressant, or you could just need something prescription to help you occasionally when you have trouble sleeping (the latest slate of sleep aids are way less habit-forming than previous generations).

Specularity

When do you have your last cup of coffee? I can't sleep if I have coffee even five or six hours before I try to go to sleep, and I'll be up all night (exhausted, laying in bed, but not able to fall asleep).

I definitely second the exercise motion: if you find you don't have the energy to exercise in the first place, I think the first step is just doing it the first time. You'll sleep better that night, have more energy the next day, etc.

If little changes don't work, then, yes, talking to your doctor would be a good idea.