Sleep - I wish I knew how...

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by humanedited, Feb 25, 2008.

  1. #1
    Any other insomniacs here?

    I've had sleeping problems since I was a teenager and have been to sleep disorder clinics on and off for the last 10 years without success. It's awful to have to go to work on little or no sleep. It's so hard to concentrate. When I do sleep, I usually wake up every couple of hours. Part of the problem is that my mind is always racing (thinking about work, relationships, money, etc).

    How do you shut off all those thoughts so you can relax and get a good nights sleep?
     
    humanedited, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  2. pipes

    pipes Prominent Member

    Messages:
    12,766
    Likes Received:
    958
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    360
    #2
    Never had sleep problems but i do have a hard time switching off at night, ive constantly got my online work going through my head and if i get up during the night for the toilet i have the next days ideas and jobs instantly in my head, like this morning i got up maybe at 4:00am to go to the toilet and instantly im thinking about how i would be upgrading my forum a few hours later. :)

    The only thing i can do is i watch an hour or two of tv and usually comedy but most of the time i still climb into bed with business thoughts going through my head, its hard to stop it, unfortunately i have no good recomendations.

    Once im asleep im ok, but dropping off isn't always quick.
     
    pipes, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  3. digitalduke

    digitalduke Notable Member

    Messages:
    2,539
    Likes Received:
    74
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    235
    #3
    try this:
    When you trying to sleep, Count the number from 100 to 1
    that is 99, 98, 97, 96.... all the way to 1.


    digital duke
     
    digitalduke, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  4. pipes

    pipes Prominent Member

    Messages:
    12,766
    Likes Received:
    958
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    360
    #4
    Ive just had an idea for you, read about and then try Astral Projection, you will take your body into such a relaxed state while trying it that you will most likely fall asleep.

    If you succeed in Astral Travel let me know. :)
     
    pipes, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  5. jagannath_4all

    jagannath_4all Peon

    Messages:
    395
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    I play a game of CS before sleeping or watch comedy shows on TV :D
    so that I can clear off any terrible thoughts of the day and have a peaceful sleep ;)


    yeah 'pipes' that problem is for many.. we cant cut off our work like a 9 to 5 job....

    on a lighter note,
    Q) what could be a worst nightmare for a webmaster ???
    A) {throw in your suggestions please I'm bad at humour :p}




    _
     
    jagannath_4all, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  6. w3bmaster

    w3bmaster Notable Member

    Messages:
    17,594
    Likes Received:
    416
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    240
    #6
    Weed is the answer my man try it :)
     
    w3bmaster, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  7. Nora

    Nora Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,105
    Likes Received:
    76
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #7
    Try meditation :)
    I think its much easier to sleep when you're completely relaxed.

    You could also try warm milk and avoiding caffeine or soda after 6pm but I think that learning to relax and empty your mind will be more effective :)
     
    Nora, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  8. MELLA

    MELLA Peon

    Messages:
    5,189
    Likes Received:
    268
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    Drink warm milk and take a bath before you goto bed, orrrr put some lavender drops on your pillow and you'll be sleeping like a baby.

    I wish I had a trouble sleeping. Unfortunately I am the other way round. How do I stop sleeping so much?!

    Answers on a postcard, kids.
     
    MELLA, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  9. usasportstraining

    usasportstraining Notable Member

    Messages:
    4,876
    Likes Received:
    363
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    280
    Articles:
    4
    #9
    I'm actually going in for a sleep study in a few days. I was surprised at how many people I know have done them. Sleeplessness is a really wide problem.
     
    usasportstraining, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  10. humanedited

    humanedited Peon

    Messages:
    747
    Likes Received:
    21
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    That used to be my answer too. Gave it up about 10 years ago though
     
    humanedited, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  11. humanedited

    humanedited Peon

    Messages:
    747
    Likes Received:
    21
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #11
    Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately, I've tried all of them without much luck. Watching the late night talk shows seems to be the only thing I can fall asleep to. I'm too much of a scatterbrain. If I'm doing one thing, I think about another thing so I go do the other thing, and instantly start thinking about the first thing. It's a vicious cycle :)
     
    humanedited, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  12. usasportstraining

    usasportstraining Notable Member

    Messages:
    4,876
    Likes Received:
    363
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    280
    Articles:
    4
    #12
    You may want to check into one of the anti-anxiety or sleep aid drugs, as this symptom you're describing falls under their treatment.

    I think there's one called Lumina. You feel like you can't turn your mind off at night or you wake up in the middle of the night wide awake, thinking about things.

    I'd suggest talking to an Internist and maybe getting a sleep study done.
     
    usasportstraining, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  13. Jargenhunter

    Jargenhunter Guest

    Messages:
    455
    Likes Received:
    16
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    Post a print out of a colored dot. Post said dot somewhere you can see from your bed. Look at said dot and repeat the name of the color. (ex. Blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue) DO NOT stop or give your mind any time to wander, focus completely on the blue until you pass out.

    Also, (your probably know this) make sure your not doing anything on your bed that is not sleep or other bed-related activities. In other words don't read or work in bed.
     
    Jargenhunter, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  14. humanedited

    humanedited Peon

    Messages:
    747
    Likes Received:
    21
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #14
    I've never tried that but will. I've tried something similar that USED to work. I would picture some scenery that is familiar to me (as if I was looking out of a window) and when I felt focused and relaxed, I would pull the blind down so everything went black. It sounds strange but it work. I'm going to try the colored dot tonite. thanks!

    usasportstraining-
    I never tried the medication you're referring to but have been prescribed other meds for anxiety. There were some side effects that I wasn't crazy about. I've also been prescribed several sleeping pills but... they're very easy to build up a tolerance to and you have to keep going to a stronger dose. Pills scare me anyway and I'm hoping that I'll be able to help myself without them.


    I've never slept better than when I had a heavy labor job working outdoors for 12 hours/day.
     
    humanedited, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  15. Skurai

    Skurai Peon

    Messages:
    53
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #15
    i had this problem be4 but it is probably nt as bad as urs. Try stayin awake as long as u need to, over 24hrs at times but make sure u finally fall asleep at night only.
     
    Skurai, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  16. humanedited

    humanedited Peon

    Messages:
    747
    Likes Received:
    21
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #16
    That's the thing, I don't sleep in the day or early evening no matter how burned out I feel. I'll be super tired at 7 or 8pm but as soon as I try going to bed, I'm instantly wide awake. In college, I could be up for a couple days straight then sleep for 12+ hours. I almost got kicked out for missing so many days (on the third day when I would crash). I do sleep every night now. It's just not a good sleep (4-5 hours, waking up lots). I sleep long on weekends though. I probably should have been fired from my job a few times because I am late every single day. It's hard to get out of bed when you've only slept for a few hours. But, they're really understanding and know I make the missed time up anyway.

    One of the things I was told at the sleep disorder clinic is to write in a journal every night before going to my bedroom. The idea is to put everything on paper beforehand so I don't think about it when I'm trying to sleep. It probably sounds like a dream (no pun intended) for bloggers but it just made me think even more about work.
     
    humanedited, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  17. Pandora

    Pandora Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    128
    #17
    I hesitate to post this- but it may help, weird as it sounds.
    Strange but true...years ago a friend of mine had a really bad case of insomnia. He would also sleep walk when he did drop of too. His parents tried all sorts to help him, (he was 17 and had always had the problem) tried all the normal stuff-hot milk, hop pillows, nothing worked. They went to Sweeden on holiday one year and went to Swede sleep clinic (wholistic one) They were urged to try somthing weird- but it worked. He was given two pairs of oversized wolly socks! The first pair he had to soak in cold water and put them on,cold and wet, followed by putting on the dry pair over the top and going right to bed.

    I can't remeber the exact rationale, but it had to do with hypothermia studies and temperature drops at certain points of the body causing sleepyness. This totally worked for him. He kept it up every day for 7 months or so- then started to fall asleep without the socks. He is still fine and doesn't sufer anymore.

    I know it may sound a bit whacky, but could be worth a try. :)
     
    Pandora, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  18. amIT29

    amIT29 Banned

    Messages:
    229
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #18
    try yoga..it works.....
     
    amIT29, Feb 25, 2008 IP
  19. Emie.

    Emie. Banned

    Messages:
    1,263
    Likes Received:
    45
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #19
    Just take a couple Benadryl pills. :]
     
    Emie., Feb 25, 2008 IP
  20. DiscussNow

    DiscussNow Peon

    Messages:
    474
    Likes Received:
    6
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #20
    Why did you give up Weed?
     
    DiscussNow, Feb 25, 2008 IP