Insomnia anyone?

[B2L]

Well, i have had an extremely long night and finally have some down time before work in an hour. So i just thought I would see how many insomniacs are here. On average I end up getting around 20-25 hours of sleep every week. Although, some of it is from working, and going to school full time. Does anyone have some tips for dealing with it? I think I'm slowly driving myself crazy.

 

[dan330]

learn to do power naps!.. a 10 min nap does me great! dont fight it.. just get that nap.. fighting it only waste more time!

the other thing... for me.. dont take LONG naps.. 1hr.. it only makes you feel more tired.

 

[9to5cynic]

I used to think I had insomnia, of course, that is just based on my own diagnosis...

but this is what I do (to get to sleep faster). Deep breathing. Take slow deep breaths. And I try to clear my mind. I visualize an empty space, and when a thought pops into my head, I'll breath slower and deeper, and try to get that classic big white blurry empty room into my head...

Not sure if that's what you were really after, but hope it helps. Have you ever looked into other sleep cycles? I once thought about doing (though, I never did) polyphastic sleep ... where you sleep for 40 minutes every three hours or something like that. I'm pretty sure eventually you go insane though.

 

[Adauth]

I'd tell you my solution, but I am not sure if it is against forum rules.

it's a green plant that the buds on can be smoked.

 

[olbriar]

^^^^^^ LoL

There is some hope but perhaps not on your near horizon. I, too, suffered insomnia when I was younger. I took on the thought that sleep was small slices of death. I avoided sleep at all costs. I even relished in the fact that I experienced at least a couple of waking days a week over the normal person. As years passed I slowly took on more sleep... not intentionally.. I just felt the need for more sleep. I'm now nearing sixty and I rarely skip a night's sleep and likely average over thirty hours a sleep a week. I think when your body demands sleep you are obligated to deliver but otherwise... why not enjoy more waking hours than the norm. You can sleep when you get older when there isn't anything exciting going on anyway lol.

 

[B2L]

I'd tell you my solution, but I am not sure if it is against forum rules.

it's a green plant that the buds on can be smoked.

Trust me, I would get literally no sleep at all if it weren't for that. It's the only thing that helps me get the amount of sleep that I do. But with all of the stress I deal with on a daily basis, and a busy work schedule it's gone down hill recently.

I'll have to look into different sleep cycles, and other things. I have tried a few of the suggestions on here, but it still doesn't do all that much for me.

 

[Shinji01]

I get manic sometimes and dont sleep, and get depressed other times and cant get out of bed.
Sleeping pills and alcohol used to be my solution, but it also made me lose my memory, so not recommended...

If your body doesnt need it, jut enjoy the ride because sooner or later you will sleep.

 

[Member243850]

Duuuuude!!

YES I used to have serious serious serious sleeping problems...

I think I have a solution to the pollution!!

It helped me in leaps and bounds like you can't believe,

I think this will work I really hope so at least, cause you are an awesome guy man.

THIS will save you from going bat shlit crazy:

Melatonin

Melatonin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am not that crazy over natural stuff BUT this stuff like worked LEGENDARY for me duuuude.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE

It will fix your Circadian Rythm for ya buddy...

It works ... well at least for me it was perfect worked just perfect

Here:

Circadian rhythm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I really hope this helps you brrrrruizer.

 

[B2L]

Melatonin works pretty well for me, but it tends to make me feel like complete crap, if i haven't been able to get a full 8 hours of sleep that night. Which tends to be a problem since my schedule is so busy, i don't exactly have enough time for that much sleep every night.

 

[TxGoat]

Some people take big doses of Melatonin thinking it'll induce more sleep. I've heard some people take smaller amounts and get a better night's sleep. I did night shift (very jacked up compressed shifts that sometimes had me working 84+ hours a week) for over 5 years and one thing I noticed is that I abandoned my healthy eating AND my exercise. I found my solution is being physically active as much as possible during the day (starting off with small walks even helps), near bedtime I dim my computer monitor's brightness, dim all lights, turn off my TV, and make sure my bedroom is dark enough (if you work nights). Oh and most importantly, slow down your mind via either reading or placing less focus on what projects you have at work or other things that are preoccupying your mind.

 

[2k2cse]

I have self-diagnosed (lol) insomnia. Some nights I can be up until 5 and 6 AM and have to be up at 8 for school. I usually feel like complete crap when it's time to wake up, so I just go back to sleep I find that having a beer an hour before bed helps me relax enough to fall asleep a little earlier. Does this make me an alcoholic? No. Doctors even say that alcohol, in moderation, is good for you. Red wine helps keep the heart strong. Anyways, I digress.

I also second some physical activity throughout the day. I short workout (a few push ups, etc.) and some stretching can also help you clear your mind and relax you.

 

[TJGoSurf]

I work nights, Adderall is your friend.

 

[Adauth]

I have severe insomina, so I take 300mg of trazadone at night. now the normal starting dosage is 50mgs, so 300mgs isnt the norm, but like I said I have it badddddd. I also take valium at night to help promote sleep and keep aniexty down.

 

[B2L]

I work nights, Adderall is your friend.

Adderall is part of the reason my Insomnia is so incredibly bad. I have extremely horrible ADHD; Adderall is the only thing that helps me focus, and do well at work and school. If I didn't have it I would get absolutely nothing accomplished. My daily schedule is work from 5:45 AM to 3:00 PM, then do school work from 4 PM to about 8 PM. Then if I'm lucky I get a couple hours to do what I want, until I have to try and sleep.

Alcohol seems to help contribute to sleep, but typically I'll have to drink and smoke a ton before I even get close to that point. Every sleeping medication I have tried, all make me feel groggy, or out of it in the morning.

I'll try exercising more in the day, and see how well that works.

 

[2k2cse]

Have you tried taking MidNite? They're dissolving tablets that help you get to sleep/get back to sleep, and apparently don't cause morning grogginess.. I took one last night around 1, fell asleep by 1:30 (which is very early for me), but I woke up at 4:30 and was in and out of sleep until around 10, when I had to get up for school. I think that might have been caused by my body not being used to going to sleep that early, but I'm gonna try taking one again tonight to see if it works any better.

 

[NightHawk877]

I take melatonin every day. It gives me weird dreams.

 

[B2L]

Have you tried taking MidNite? They're dissolving tablets that help you get to sleep/get back to sleep, and apparently don't cause morning grogginess.. I took one last night around 1, fell asleep by 1:30 (which is very early for me), but I woke up at 4:30 and was in and out of sleep until around 10, when I had to get up for school. I think that might have been caused by my body not being used to going to sleep that early, but I'm gonna try taking one again tonight to see if it works any better.

That sounds awesome! I'll definitely have to give those a try.

 

[2k2cse]

They taste like cherry too! LOL

Hope they help.

 

[Shinji01]

I take melatonin every day. It gives me weird dreams.

Me too!
I used melatonine but keep having weird dreams and don't feel rested so I quit.

Instead I was taking amoban which is probably some kind of beginners medication for sleep, and it works great for me.
Never had to go any stronger than amoban.
Once it kicks in, I can stay awake but do stuff and not remember the next day, so usually I just be good, and pop into bed right after I drink a tablet.

I stopped taking all medication aft a while though...
In the end, once your body feels ok with sleeping again, natural sleep is the best.

 

[IOWA]

Adderall is part of the reason my Insomnia is so incredibly bad. I have extremely horrible ADHD; Adderall is the only thing that helps me focus, and do well at work and school. If I didn't have it I would get absolutely nothing accomplished. My daily schedule is work from 5:45 AM to 3:00 PM, then do school work from 4 PM to about 8 PM. Then if I'm lucky I get a couple hours to do what I want, until I have to try and sleep.

Alcohol seems to help contribute to sleep, but typically I'll have to drink and smoke a ton before I even get close to that point. Every sleeping medication I have tried, all make me feel groggy, or out of it in the morning.

I'll try exercising more in the day, and see how well that works.

As far as ADD/ADHD, I don't take any meds for mine. Instead, I just keep my brain busy. That's why I post on here so much lol.

Luckily, my line of work allows me to hyperfocus (a symptom of ADD lol) and actually benefit from it.

But even while hyperfocused, I have to find diversions to keep everything coherent. Strange.

EDIT:

I also find I have an extreme obsession with consuming information. Lots.. of information, about many, many subjects. It's like a sponge that never gets full.

 

[TxGoat]

I take some supplements that are supposed to help promote "healthy" sleep. I don't find that they help me actually fall asleep any faster, but when I go to sleep I seem to hit REM sleep much faster. Below is the image and the ingredient list.

3Z Supplement Facts
Serving Size: Capsules
Servings per Container: 30


Amount Per Serving % Daily Value*
Magnesium (Magnesium Chelate) 400mg 100%
Copper (Copper Chelate) 0.15mg 8%
Zinc (Zinc Citrate) 30mg 200%
Proprietary 3Z's Blend

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) (Root) (10:1 Powdered extract) Magnolia Bark, Passion Flower (Passiflora Incranata) (4:1 Powdered extract). L-Theanine, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), Bacopa Monniera P.E. 20% Baccosides

1383mg **


* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
** Percent Daily Values not established.

OTHER INGREDIENTS: Gelatin, Magnesium Stearate, Cellulose.

 

[B2L]

I also find I have an extreme obsession with consuming information. Lots.. of information, about many, many subjects. It's like a sponge that never gets full.

We are the same in that way, I tend to absorb tons of information. I wish I could focus it the same way without medication though. I get distracted way too easily without my meds, especially with how boring and simple my jobs is.

 

[omnius]

Well, i have had an extremely long night and finally have some down time before work in an hour. So i just thought I would see how many insomniacs are here. On average I end up getting around 20-25 hours of sleep every week. Although, some of it is from working, and going to school full time. Does anyone have some tips for dealing with it? I think I'm slowly driving myself crazy.

Nothing healthy. I have a touch of PTSD so if I have a slightly stressful day at work I have a bit of a hard time winding down when I get home. I self medicate with about 4 beer, and make up for it by not drinking on my days off.
Semi-Healthy solution? Get all your crap ready for the next day, eat something so you feel fat and sleepy and then lie down and read. Knocks me out pretty good too.
Best Solution? Do either or both of the above, then shag the hell out of your g/f and immediately roll over.

 

[Member243850]

Ahhhhh!!

How could I be SO stupid!!??

I have the best solution to polution!!

Wack your cranium silly with one of these 89 times before you go to bed and you will be sleepin like a baby in NO time!

NOW if that doesn't work...

Then I take a serioooos / hectic concentration of the "Coca" plant... THEN I guarantee you will sleep like a stone!

Cocaine Extract

 

[generic username]

I have problems sleeping. It's more mental than physical. One of things that works better for me is the lightning bug sleep app. It has so much customization that the brain doesn't shut it out because the brain is too used to it. The high level of customization is so much better for me than other sleep apps that run loops. I use a different setting every night.

However, it has skipping issues on ICS so I use my old Droid X to run the app instead of using my GN.