Do I have insomnia? I can't sleep!?

Question

I've been sleeping badly for 2 days, (I am 12 with no really stresses). First falling asleep at 6:00am then 3:30am the next day. Is this insomnia, and even if it isn't can you give me cures on how to get to sleep and relax? Thanks for your time and help.

Answer 1

Insomnia is defined by a recurring (chronic) problem. Because the problem you described is a recent onset, then try and think of the things that may have been stressig you out lately. (Have you been throught a breakup or alot of pressure at work?)
If you cant think of what it is that would be stressing you out, then I would try the following things
1) Dont put your clock next to your bed (especially if its digital) When you look at the clock you get more stressed out about how late it is and how your still not asleep.
2) Dont drink any cafine before you go to bed. Infact, try and avoid cafinated beverages or foods for atleast three hours before you go to sleep.
3) Dont stay up late on Weekends because your biological clock will get thrown off. When you stay up until 2 in the morning and then wakeup and 3 in the afternoon your body will think that you have to be up for 12 hours before you go to sleep so you may be up until 2 in the morning the next night too.
4) Dont use your room for anything other than sleeping. If you watch T.V. or read alot in your room then your body will misinterpret your being there and not send the signals to the brain that it is time to sleep
5) Drink a glass of milk or eat some turkey before you go to sleep. Turkey and milk contain triptophan, a chemical that signals the brain that you are tired.

Answer 2

I imagine if you live in England you broke up from school last week.
My daughters sleep pattern is all over the place as well and she is 12. She isn't using up the same amount of energy physically or mentally with being at home.

Here are a few suggestions:
Try going for a walk during the day.
Go to bed and read and just try to relax, try not to worry about the sleep to much.
Sometimes having a hot milky drink before going to bed helps.
Get up at your normal time even if you have not had a lot of sleep and go to bed at your normal time.

(This will sound daft) Lie with your eyes shut and listen for any noise, the first time listen for 1 thing e.g the cars outside. Then try and hear 2 different things, and then 3 and see how far you can get. Just concentrating on noises you can hear around you can help relax you.

I think the heat wave will have an effect on your sleep I have not slept well since this heat wave started. I know of a lot of people who are not sleeping well due to it.

Answer 3

Hello Patchn
To put your mind at rest NO U ARE DEFINATELY NOT SUFFERING FROM INSOMNIA.
At your age your mind is full of everything and if u are from the U.K u will be on holiday at present. Alot of adolent sleeo patterns change slightly at your age. The first thing i would say to u is *STOP WORRYING* as this may just make things worse and its only been a few days.
You state that u have no real stresses but i wonder if your parents have begun to comment on this. If so psycologically this could be playing on ur mind.
If it bothers u to this extent try doing something different before bed. Listen to music (not the headbanging and not necessarily classical ~ unless u like it ). Try watching T.V. but nothing too heavy. Whatever u fancy doing thats fine (within reason of course!).
When u are awake try doing something that takes alot of your energy eg. sports etc, tire urself out during the day and do something u like to do and find relaxing at the end of the day.
But above all DONT WORRY for the more u worry about a couple of nights altered sleep patterns the longer it may last.
If u really are so worried u could try breathing excercises these are simple but may take a litte while to get used to and u can do them anywhere *Even in bed!*.
Firstly get in a comfortable position then follow the steps listed in prder.
1/ Firstly take a deep breath inwards so u can feel it coming from your diaphram.
2/ Try to hold this breath for the count of 10 (or for as long as u can)
3/ Exhale the breath slowly still feeling it in your diapham.
Dont expect to get the above breathing exercises right first time or to beable to hold your breath to the count of ten. With practise u should beable to . If not just hold for as long as u can. Remember, to feel the breaths u take coming from ur diapham.
Make sure when doing these excercises u are comfortable and somewhere where u wont be distured.
You can also use the exercises anytime u feel u need to relax in any situation.
But u certainly have nothing to worry about patch u are NOT an insomniac far from it. Just a perfectly normal adolecant from what u have said.
Wishing u all the best........

Answer 4

Stay away from all liquids (especially caffeine) after 9pm. Make sure that you are not exercising before you go to bed because this will keep you awake. I would also suggest getting a sound machine (Sharper Image, etc.) which will drown out any background noises and also soothe you to sleep. Be careful about taking any naps during the day and don't sleep in too late...this could keep you up too. Try reading something before bed since it has been proven to relax you, but the main thing is to just start unwinding around 9pm and that should help you get back to a normal sleeping pattern. I hope that this helps!

Answer 5

Umm I think you should give it a little longer to see if you have a problem. Insomnia is usually diagnosed after about 2 weeks, so if you can't sleep for that long then you may have a problem. Also you are 12, so your body is going through a lot of changes which could be the cause of your not sleeping. Don't fret yet, give it a little time!

Answer 6

Kaylin has a point that weed will put you to sleep. But it is illegal (unless its prescription). I would try melatonin. It works pretty well for some people. You can also try binaural beats, which if your one of the religious people you might freak out about binaural beats but no they aren't the power of satin or whatever there just simple science. They can work well depending on who you are. All of the meds that Kaylin suggested work too, but maybe try drinking a beer or two, because I knew this guy and even when he took heavy sleeping pills it did nothing but some alcohol worked for him. Don't even have that much. Just one worked for him. Hope this helps (sorry about the religion thing but ya never know)

Answer 7

Symptoms:



Primary insomnia is often characterized by both difficulty falling asleep and by repeated awakenings. People often feel fatigued the next day. People who suffer from this are generally preoccupied with getting enough sleep. The more they try to sleep, the greater the sense of frustration and distress and the more elusive sleep becomes.

Answer 8

Well, it's only been two days so see if it progresses over the next week or two. Try to control your sleep cycle. No napping until what your "normal" bedtime is. Tough it out even if you're sleepy during the day because of these past two days otherwise your sleep cycle wont be normal. If that doesn't help, go see your doctor and tell him/her about your lack of sleep.

Answer 9

how can everyone say it's not insomnia? Insomnia can be a Transient one with as few as one night of bad sleep. Of Course it's insomnia! Don't know what's causing it... not a doctor, so can only suggest things like put yourself in a dark room, no distractions like TV... don't smoke or drink coke/coffee before bed, etc.

Answer 10

No not insomnia. Your probably not eating right, excercizing and your staying up too late. Go to a park and run all day and play football and see how fast you fall asleep that day!