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11011001 · Oct 28, 2003, 04:42 AM

So, here I am again, it's 1:33 AM, and I can't freaking fall asleep. I have been lying in bed for the last 2 hours, trying.. and I just can't.

There are too many thoughts going through my head, they are too organized, I can't get them to go random, which is needed for sleep.

It's not that I am not tired, because I am, it's that I can't freaking fall asleep.

I seem to go through periods like this. In this past I used to sleep on the floor to solve the problem, I don't know why it worked, but it did. But, that doesn't seem to work anymore.

It's driving me nuts!! I have to get a good sleep for tomorrow so I can study.

So is this what insomnia is?

Anyone else out there who have similar problems? Want to share your experiences, perhaps reasons you found for why you couldn't sleep? Any solutions you can suggest?

Sealobo · Oct 28, 2003, 04:58 AM

Sex usually helps.

Jens Peter · Oct 28, 2003, 05:03 AM

Originally posted by sealobo:
Sex usually helps.

Yep!

Misanthrope · Oct 28, 2003, 05:04 AM

Obligatory "try melatonin" option, of course.

Try a cup of warm milk? Perhaps a snack to have the blood go to your stomach, instead of your brain?

A warm shower is soothing.

Close your eyes and look at all the colors.

Listen to some soma.fm

Xeo · Oct 28, 2003, 05:50 AM

"I like/dislike peanuts."

Can't go wrong with that. It's true for everyone!

wataru · Oct 28, 2003, 06:01 AM

Originally posted by Xeo:
"I like/dislike peanuts."

Can't go wrong with that. It's true for everyone!

Mmmm... tautology.

asleep@thewheel · Oct 28, 2003, 06:08 AM

see a doctor, really..

Sherwin · Oct 28, 2003, 06:18 AM

If you can get "Horlicks" (hot drink) where you live, try that. Good stuff which will put you out in next to no time.

Cipher13 · Oct 28, 2003, 07:22 AM

Valerian root (tea)?

I stick with beer personally. Works quite nicely.

Macfreak7 · Oct 28, 2003, 08:52 AM

If you're not sleepy then why go to bed?
Which means that you must go to bed when you ARE sleepy; so it should be easy to fall asleep, no?

Mastrap · Oct 28, 2003, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by Macfreak7:
If you're not sleepy then why go to bed?
Which means that you must go to bed when you ARE sleepy; so it should be easy to fall asleep, no?

Read the original post.

Stuphalina · Oct 28, 2003, 08:58 AM

Personnaly, I usually have a hard time falling asleep when I'm PMS'ing but I seriously doubt that 98% of you here don'y have that problem.
I find that thinking of nothing and concentrating pn your breathing works like a charm. Not for everybody, but give it a try once.
I swear, just take big breaths and concentrate on only that.

Macfreak7 · Oct 28, 2003, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by Mastrap:
Read the original post.

err.... oh.
didn't know that was required.

(sorry just woke up)

benign · Oct 28, 2003, 09:24 AM

A lesser known reason for insomnia
could be that you are afraid of your
dreams. Even if not remembered they
can still be vivid and unconsciously you
are fearful of leaving yourself vulnerable
to them.

Steve · Oct 28, 2003, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by Macfreak7:
If you're not sleepy then why go to bed?
Which means that you must go to bed when you ARE sleepy; so it should be easy to fall asleep, no?

That's been my motto for about 2 years now, and is paying off in college

!

Patrick · Oct 28, 2003, 02:04 PM

Originally posted by 11011001:
There are too many thoughts going through my head, they are too organized, I can't get them to go random, which is needed for sleep.

This could be the problem. If your mind is busy at every moment during the day, there's no time left for those thoughts to get through your head. Consequently, your mind is active the minute it finally gets some time to itself, when you're trying to sleep. Take some time out of your day to just relax and do absolutely nothing. Some people would call this meditation, I guess.

Other suggestions: try to make your sleep schedule consistent, if you can help it, and make sure to get enough sleep. In any case, if you can't get to sleep, it never fails to masturbate like there's no tomorrow.

11011001 · Oct 30, 2003, 02:07 AM

Originally posted by Patrick:
This could be the problem. If your mind is busy at every moment during the day, there's no time left for those thoughts to get through your head. Consequently, your mind is active the minute it finally gets some time to itself, when you're trying to sleep. Take some time out of your day to just relax and do absolutely nothing. Some people would call this meditation, I guess.

Other suggestions: try to make your sleep schedule consistent, if you can help it, and make sure to get enough sleep. In any case, if you can't get to sleep, it never fails to masturbate like there's no tomorrow.

Well, there is a tomorrow, or at least I hope there is, so I will forgo that list bit

But, ya that sounds like a pretty good explanation. Things are and have been really busy this past few weeks with midterms and assignments... I really didn't have a lot of time to think about anything I wanted to, to just relax. Eat, sleep, study, school.. that's it.

Since I am so busy, I haven't been able to go to Kendo for a while. This is something I find really helps with the relaxation bit. I mean, what better way to get rid of stress and frustration than to beat someone else down with a stick!? (okay, it's more than that, but it does help, as does the meditation before and after practice).

Good suggestions guys, I tried the warm milk and cookies thing. That seemed to help.

Hmm, this leads me to wonder, did any of you have trouble sleeping when you were in University/College..?

malvolio · Oct 30, 2003, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by 11011001:
Hmm, this leads me to wonder, did any of you have trouble sleeping when you were in University/College..?

Oh, definitely. But a healthy dose of hashish always helped.

nobitacu · Oct 30, 2003, 02:46 AM

I don't have a lot of time to sleep with the work/class load I have.

as well as being here in this forum all the time.

Ming

SSharon · Oct 30, 2003, 02:52 AM

No comment on the Chashish.

I'm at the University of Maryland and I usually go to sleep at 3,4,5am and have never missed a class so far. I just can't sleep, ever since I got here (and got this MDD) I have been able to spend hours on my mac. It generally takes me about 3 weeks before I start losing my mind and really need sleep. So I compensate and sleep 15-20 hours Friday night and then again Saturday, and then I'm good to go.

Anyone else as wierd as that? And did I mention coffee and coke put me to sleep?

Axo1ot1 · 10:49 AM

Weed usually keeps me awake. It makes me tired, but I can't sleep

Try just lying there with a book and read until you're tired. I also like to do some deep breathing before I doze off. Try to visualize the universe breathing you. So the air is going in and out according to something else. I find that very relaxing. NyQuil is good too.

petehammer · Oct 30, 2003, 10:54 AM

Originally posted by 11011001:
So, here I am again, it's 1:33 AM, and I can't freaking fall asleep. I have been lying in bed for the last 2 hours, trying.. and I just can't.

There are too many thoughts going through my head, they are too organized, I can't get them to go random, which is needed for sleep.

It's not that I am not tired, because I am, it's that I can't freaking fall asleep.

I seem to go through periods like this. In this past I used to sleep on the floor to solve the problem, I don't know why it worked, but it did. But, that doesn't seem to work anymore.

It's driving me nuts!! I have to get a good sleep for tomorrow so I can study.

So is this what insomnia is?

Anyone else out there who have similar problems? Want to share your experiences, perhaps reasons you found for why you couldn't sleep? Any solutions you can suggest?

Try earplugs. Worked for me as I had same problem (took upwards of 1.5 hours to fall asleep). Blocking out sound allowed me to relax enough to fall asleep.

iWrite · Oct 30, 2003, 10:59 AM

Sorry, but drugs help -- harmless drugs...try 1/2 tablet (not the capsule) of Benadryl (antihistamine) and you'll get to sleep RIGHT AWAY. It's what I use and it really works with no sleepiness the next morning and harmless.

Brien · Oct 30, 2003, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by Xeo:
"I like/dislike peanuts."

Can't go wrong with that. It's true for everyone!

[img]www.offthemark.com/Images/ mrpeanut/mrpeanut01.gif[/img]

Peanuts:

wdlove · Oct 30, 2003, 12:38 PM

I don't have any problem with sleeping. Sometimes I don't fall asleep right away though.

Kilbey · Oct 30, 2003, 01:10 PM

I had undiagnosed sleep apnea for the last 8-10 years. Sleep apnea is usually when you stop breathing due to your throat collapsing and you basically snore yourself awake. A lot of people have it and do not know. I used to sleep 10-11 hours a night, feel like crap when i woke up, could take a nap at a moments notice, and caught EVERYSINGLE cold out there.

http://www.healthandage.org/PHome/gid6=6504

When it was time for bed, I had a very difficult time falling asleep because I was actually too tired to sleep.

A doctor prescribed a device called a CPAP [Continuos PosItive Airway Pressure].

http://health_info.nmh.org/HealthNew...y012320035.htm

Now I have regular sleep patterns, sleep 8 hours a night, and wake up rested. I am rarely sick now. Un diagnosed sleep apnea can lead to an enlarged heart, strokes, blood clots, and cuts about 10 years off your life span.

Basically, a CPAP machine has changed my life. My wife tells me we probably would have been divorced in a few years if I hadn't solved my sleep problem. Now, our marriage is the best I have ever seen anywhere, we have a newborn child, and can't stand to be apart.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, contact your doctor and have a sleep study done. I beg you.

Kilbey · Oct 30, 2003, 01:11 PM

oops, double post.

Phanguye · Oct 30, 2003, 01:37 PM

voyageur · Oct 30, 2003, 09:26 PM

Try exercise. A good hour or two of basketball, biking, running, swimming and you'll sleep like a baby. And be healthy and buff.

iJed · Oct 30, 2003, 09:29 PM

Drinking a few beers is always a good way to stop yourself thinking and become sleepy...

Jim Paradise · Oct 30, 2003, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by Misanthrope:
Obligatory "try melatonin" option, of course.

Try a cup of warm milk? Perhaps a snack to have the blood go to your stomach, instead of your brain?

A warm shower is soothing.

Close your eyes and look at all the colors.

Listen to some soma.fm

soma.fm=