[Krusty]

I'm having TERRIBLE insomnia lately (job worries girl worries etc., I won't bore you with details). Know of a good, mild, natural sleep aid that you'd recommend ? I've read about a couple of things (valerian root and others). Do these things really work ??

If I don't start getting more sleep soon, I'm gonna lose it. Nothing like going on 2 hrs sleep to make solving problems even more difficult. ANY good recommendation will bring you years of good kharma

[Cipher13]

Beer.

[BasketofPuppies]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[philzilla]

that's "karma" no 'h' in there, hippy wannabe

tried exercise? go for the open air approach, tire yourself out, in a different environment to the one you're sat in all day. certainly make sure you don't see your bed inbetween waking and sleeping, if at all possible

i don't know about any natural remedies, as i try to avoid things like that. i'd rather deal with things at a root level, and solve the problem. not mask it.

failing all that: drink a bottle of wine, before you hit the sack

[cms]

Originally posted by Krusty:
If I don't start getting more sleep soon, I'm gonna lose it. Nothing like going on 2 hrs sleep to make solving problems even more difficult. ANY good recommendation will bring you years of good kharma

I suffer from periodic bouts of insomnia and have found the best cure is Melatonin. You can buy it over the counter in any US drug store. Take one 3 mg capsule/pill about 20 minutes before you want to go to sleep. It will give you 4 hours guaranteed, and will help re-set your bodies natural sleeping patterns if you keep taking it each night for 7-10 days.

Also, if you are stressed, try some simple relaxation techniques. Sometimes, just replacing the stressful "pictures" in your head with a mental image you find particularly soothing and relaxing -- a sunny, deserted beach scene works for me every time -- may help you to calm down enough to drop off to sleep.

Good luck!

[OldManMac]

A cup of decaff green tea, with a shot of blackberry brandy.

[Hugi]

This method has never failed me:

Step 1: 15 minute walk.
Step 2: Hot bath, preferably accompanied by candles and a good book.
Step 3: A glass of milk.
Step 4: Sleep like a child.

[rjenkinson]

pick fights with people bigger than you.

-r.

[suprz]

SEX..........(i noticed you said "girl problems", so you may have to find a different girl to help you out )

[DeathToWindows]

read to the point of catatonia (dictionary... something that's so boring you'll be glad to fall asleep)

[MikeM33]

I've found that a combination of regular exercise and Melatonin works. Melatonin will make you drowsy just like the over the counter sleep aids, but without the chemical side effects or the groggy feeling the next morning.

The thoughts going through your head won't help though. Even taking the Melatonin won't solve that problem. I'm exactly the same way. If I try to sleep with all sorts of garbage on my mind, I can't. I've often gotten drunk just to make my mind STFU, but I know there are other methods.

The way you breathe while you're trying to sleep is important. They say it's best to inhale deeply through the nose and exhale deeply through the mouth. I believe it's some sort of ZEN breathing technique (or something like that). I've tried this and it works. Simply focusing on how you're breathing can often clear your head of all other thoughts until you just drift off to sleep.

Since I've been out of work recently I started falling into an odd sleep pattern where I was up from like 5 pm to 9 am and then I'd sleep most of the day. In order to get back to a normal schedule I had to literally force myself to stay awake for 30 hrs (5 pm one day to 11 pm the following day). I was so dead tired after 30 hrs I knocked right out.

MikeM

[screamingFit]

Valerian Root. Can find it at most health food stores and GNC, if you've got one local.

-s'fit

[malvolio]

Get some exercise earlier in the day (not around bedtime). Avoid sugar and caffeine in the evening. Have a snack of something containing a natural sleep aid - a glass of milk and a turkey sandwich, for example.

[Millennium]

Enya music.

Don't misunderstand me; I love Enya's music. However, I've also found that it makes a wonderful sleep aid, if that's what you're going for.

[maxelson]

VALERIAN ROOT.
Tea. screamingfit ain't kidding.
Stuff WORKS.

I usually make a tea of KavaKava, Valerian and peppermint. Why the peppermint? You ever taste kavakava?

Recommended. Nothing fancy. Nothing outlandish. Nothing dangerous. Nothing artificial. You got two testimonials right here and now.

Either that, or you could read a Jane Austin novel right before bed.

I make joke, but I am serious. Reading before bed cleans your head out a bit. Allows you to focus on something besides stressful things.

I do the kava/ valerian thing and I sleep WAY better- deeper- feel more rested in the AM. I read for a half hour every night- just til my eyes cross. Hit the light. Done.

[nvaughan3]

Originally posted by screamingFit:
Valerian Root. Can find it at most health food stores and GNC, if you've got one local.

-s'fit

I'll second that. Although it has an often unpleasant side effect of causing extremely vivid dreams and nightmares. Sunday night I took it and had a very realistic dream that terrorists had used planes and truck bombs to completely level all of downtown seattle. I mean, I even dreamed I was watching CNN showing footage of the plane crashes.

But normally it works rather well in putting me to sleep. However the smell of the stuff is worse than eating sh!t out of a cows ass. I'm not kidding, this stuff smells horrible. Make sure never to leave the bottle uncapped.

[chris.p]

lavender... sounds poncy, but it works. I often put some lavender oil on my pillow and sleep like a log...

[maxelson]

WHOA. I never got nightmares. In fact, it makes my sleep so deep I can't recall any dreams at all. Is that a usual side effect for you?
The smell... hm. Well, it takes some getting used to. You say it smells like cown sh!t. I say it is earthy. But yeah, it takes getting used to. It does not taste too bad. Not bad at all, actually. Kava. Now THAT stuff tastes like week old water buffalo manure... or how I suspect week old water buffalo manure tastes.

I'll second the lavendar, too. I have a big bowl of it by the bedside and I ain't afraid to admit it.

[cms]

Originally posted by maxelson:
WHOA. I never got nightmares. In fact, it makes my sleep so deep I can't recal any dreams at all.
The smell... hm. Well, it takes some getting used to. You say it smells like cown sh!t. I say it is earthy. But yeah, it takes getting used to. It does not taste too bad. Not bad at all, actually. Kava. Now THAT stuff tastes like week old water buffalo manure... or how I suspect week old water buffalo manure tastes.

Maxelson, never has your sig. been so appropriate!

[maxelson]

Man. YOu gotta spend more time in the Pol lounge. LOTS more poop in there!

[nvaughan3]

It's effect on dreams obviously vary from person to person but it's a well-known side effect. I don't get intense dreams every time I take it but fairly commonly.

[Sarc]

Originally posted by BasketofPuppies:


Sorry, couldn't resist.

HOLY SH** ! this movie knocked me out a few nights ago ... damn funny you posted it now !

[nredman]

exercise

[Skywalkers new Hand]

Melatonin seems to work well.

[mixin visuals]

Originally posted by Krusty:
I'm having TERRIBLE insomnia lately (job worries girl worries etc., I won't bore you with details). Know of a good, mild, natural sleep aid that you'd recommend ? I've read about a couple of things (valerian root and others). Do these things really work ??

If I don't start getting more sleep soon, I'm gonna lose it. Nothing like going on 2 hrs sleep to make solving problems even more difficult. ANY good recommendation will bring you years of good kharma

i had the same problem too and hated taking sleeping pills because i would sleep way too long then.

my doctor finally prescribed me clonidine 0.1mg and i started sleeping like a baby. i could even take it and just sleep for like 3-4 hours and still feel completely refreshed.

[nonhuman]

Vodka. Cures all ills.

[Logic]

I don't know if this has been said before but:

1. Walk or run for about 20-30 minutes depending on your condition. You should not get exhausted but just get your heartrate up a bit. 40-50% of your max.

2. Take a warm shower after but not too long. 10-15 min max.

3. Heat milk up to boil, and drink one cup.

4. Go to sleep.

Avoid watching TV or listening to radio during this time.

All this affects your sleep in a good way. It affects physical and phychological aspects. Try this and tell us how it worked.

[Mr6502]

12 beers usually puts me out.

[Logic]

Originally posted by Hugi:
This method has never failed me:

Step 1: 15 minute walk.
Step 2: Hot bath, preferably accompanied by candles and a good book.
Step 3: A glass of milk.
Step 4: Sleep like a child.

Hmmm, is this some sort of ancient Icelandic solution

[Hugi]

Originally posted by Logic:
I don't know if this has been said before but:

Actually, I recommended about exactly the same four steps further up. I think we can therefore safely label this "The Icelandic method" .

[edit: Darn, you beat me to it ]

[maxelson]

BOIL the milk? Jeez. You may become well rested, but then the constipation hits...

[Logic]

Originally posted by Hugi:
Actually, I recommended about exactly the same four steps further up. I think we can therefore safely label this "The Icelandic method" .

[edit: Darn, you beat me to it ]

Prehaps the bright summernights have helped us to bring this method to perfection

Northern Iceland 2am, looking north(remember that you aren't supposed to see the sun in that direction in the northern hemisphere)

[mixin visuals]

Originally posted by screamingFit:
Valerian Root. Can find it at most health food stores and GNC, if you've got one local.

-s'fit

thanks to google's adsense banners, just look at the banner at the top and you have google's sleep aid recommendation

[Hugi]

Originally posted by Logic:
Prehaps the bright summernights have helped us to bring this method to perfection

You've really lost it in the Icelandic marketing campaign.

But seriously, the method works. Alcohol doesn't work for me, it just makes it harder for me to sleep unless I drink an entire bottle. Of Absinthe. Or Ether.

[Logic]

Originally posted by Hugi:
You've really lost it in the Icelandic marketing campaign.

Who, me??

I'm just chilling

[Phanguye]

Originally posted by Krusty:
If I don't start getting more sleep soon, I'm gonna lose it. Nothing like going on 2 hrs sleep to make solving problems even more difficult. ANY good recommendation will bring you years of good kharma

speed... you can sleep when you are dead

[Kitschy]

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:6-7

"Be silent, and know that I am God!"
-Psalm 46:10

Being assured of what I believe helps me live a peaceful life.

[AKcrab]

He wants a natural sleep aid, not supernatural.

[simonjames]

Hugi and Logic have some good advice. Mine is to stay clear of the natural sleep remedies - I tried them and found they stayed in my body for up to a day - making me feel like a zombie the whole of the next day.

Also - I'd cut out any caffeine or sugar hits from around 2pm - that includes chocolate.

I gave up on the sleepless nights and now take doctor prescribed sleeping medicine when needed (maybe twice a month) - it acts for about 3 hours and then its over. No after effects - no addictions. Msg me if you'd like more info.

[turboSPE]

Originally posted by cms:
I suffer from periodic bouts of insomnia and have found the best cure is Melatonin. You can buy it over the counter in any US drug store. Take one 3 mg capsule/pill about 20 minutes before you want to go to sleep. It will give you 4 hours guaranteed, and will help re-set your bodies natural sleeping patterns if you keep taking it each night for 7-10 days.

Also, if you are stressed, try some simple relaxation techniques. Sometimes, just replacing the stressful "pictures" in your head with a mental image you find particularly soothing and relaxing -- a sunny, deserted beach scene works for me every time -- may help you to calm down enough to drop off to sleep.

Good luck!

I totally agree. Melatonin worked wonders for me in my more stressful days.

turboSPE

[wdlove]

Originally posted by nredman:
exercise

Just not close to bedtime!

[Fyre4ce]

The following advice comes from having a family member who is a sleep doctor and pulmonologist (MD).

Exercise for at least 30 minutes in the afternoon or early evening. Work up a good sweat, by whatever means you prefer. Once you warm up, run 400m sprints around a local track, get your bicycle and do a route with lots of elevation change, have a hard tennis practice session, etc. Then eat a good healthy balanced dinner (ie. pasta primavera, not McDonalds) with a glass or two of wine if you like. Try to have a relaxing evening.

Try to go to sleep the same time every night, both weekdays and weekends. A consistant sleep schedule is cricically important. Most people (including myself) prefer a cool, dry, dark, quiet sleep environment. In order for you to fall asleep your core body temperature must drop a few tenths of a degree, and it might help you fall asleep faster if you facilitate this by lowering the thermostat.

If psychological/emotional issues are affecting your sleep, you might try keeping a journal in which you write down all your thoughts and concerns before you go to bed. Some people find addressing their concerns in such a direct manner allows them to lay the issues to rest over night. Perhaps it's worth a try.

I would stay away from "natural sleep aids" or whatever. If exercise and behavioral changes do not help you I would suggest seeing a doctor who has the professional expertise to help you.

[The Placid Casual]

I too get bad insomnia...

Everything I have tried to make me sleep usually works for a few months, but then becomes ineffective... my search for the ultimate cure still continues

What I often do now though, is meditate for a while before I get into bed. It chills me out and calms my mind... it has definitely improved things.

Oh, and reading a few posts on the 'Battlefront' at ARS Techica usually does the trick too!

[Queen of the Universe]

there are several potential things that will help you...certainly the exercise/warm milk/shower/bedtime is the most healthy (and poses the least risk to your body)

valerian works well, but it can be strong and if too much is taken, can leave you feeling "overslept" in the morning...groggy.

one thing not mentioned is catnip - drink it, don't smoke it (and i'd advise you to get some from a store that stocks bulk herbs, not grocery store "for your cat" variety, which is muddled up with god knows what). it is a mild calming agent, but what it works best at is calming your mind - the endless brain chatter that keeps a person awake.

another good tea is "sleepytime tea" by lipton (or is it celestial seasonings...either way, it's in the grocery store) it is mostly chamomile, which is a great calmer, and the flavor is light - not flowery or bitter.

if you find that you are in your bed not sleeping, just tossing and turning, get up and use that time...you should condition your body that the bed is for sleep (or sex )

hope it helps,
qotu