What are some ways to self-treat insomnia?

Question

What helped you overcome insomnia or get more sleep? I don't have medical insurance so seeing a doctor is out of the question.

Answer 1

Go to bed and get up at the same time everyday.

Try taking melatonin to regulate your sleep cycle. It's what your body already produces and helps make you sleepy when it gets dark outside. It is not a sleeping pill and will not make you drowsy the next day. You should be able to take them for a week or so and then be regulated.

Also, if your problem is that you are a thinker....one of the people who can't shut off your mind, try keeping a pen and paper beside your bed. When your mind starts rolling with all of things you have to do the next day, right them down and tell yourself you know you won't forget them because you made a list and you should be able to relax and catch some zzzz's.

Lay off caffeine, don't smoke, marijuana causes insomnia, no more crack, cut down on the meth. Don't exercise before bed, turn your lights down an hour or so before bed, develop a bedtime routine and follow it!

Important: Only use your bed for sleep and sex!!! You want your mind to associate this place with rest!

Answer 2

I have had to work on it and this is what I have found to help... 1) No caffeine - that is coffee, chocolate, cola drinks after lunch. 2) Drink camomile tea or this neat Indian tea I found -Organic India Tulsi Gotu Kola tea before bedtime. Warm milk is also good. 3) No really exciting activities after dinner that is action movies, going out and socializing. 4) Work out sometime in some way during the day. Night time workout may be OK but it could come into the exciting activity category. I find swimming really good for sleep enhancement. 5) Keep the bedroom just for sleep and make it a relaxing place. 6) Minimize noise in the bedroom as much as possible. White noise to drown out other noises that is a fan or white noise machine (sound of surf etc) could be helpful. 7) No alcohol before bed either. That can make you pass out but does not make for a really good natural long sleep. 8) No food after dinner, as this upsets the digestion and therefor sleep patterns. 9) Stay cool in the bedroom - if you are too hot it does not help. 10) Reading a boring kind of book before sleep is good - don't get into a page turner. 11) Reduce stress in your life through yoga or learn relaxation techniques and practice those all the time until you get really good at them. 12) Use every suggestion from all the other helpful people. They all look worth a try.

Answer 3

Insomnia treated the ayurvedic way
it can be caused by stress, overtired, depression, or constipation.
Try eat 10 to 20 cherries a day
Try drink 1 cup of tomato juice + 2 teaspoons of sugar + 2 pinches of nutmeg. Drink it between 4 and 5 in the afternoon
Have dinner between 6 and 7 In the evening you should be sound asleep. Camomile tea before you go to bed is known throughout the world. Massage your head with warm sesame oil before you go to bed. Rub some sesame oil on the scalp and on the soles of your feet. Take a hot bath. If none of the above is working for you. Go see a acupuncturist. They're cheaper then doctors....

Answer 4

I've had insomnia for a while too. The best ways I think to deal with it are getting plenty of excercise and staying away from caffeine or other stimulants. Also try not to hang out in your bed unless you are trying to sleep, that way your body will associate your bed with sleep. I find reading before bed helps too. If you are unable to sleep at night, try getting up and doing some kind of activity. If I just lie in my bed and toss and turn I just get frustrated. Your body will always sleep eventually when it needs too.

Answer 5

There are many things you can do to change lifestyle habits that may be contributing to your insomnia.

Here is a website with good information on what you can do to help you sleep (without using medication).

http://www.umm.edu/sleep/sleep_hyg.html

Answer 6

dont go anywhere near ur bed until ur good and sleepy.... if ur not sleep after like 30min of lying in bed u should get up and do something... turn off the tv like an hour before because it will keep ur brain active and keep u awake longer.. i dont have insurance either and i suffer from insomnia.. to date none of the above things helped me but they might help u.

Answer 7

Melatonin I know thats not how you spell it but its an all natural remedy found in the herbal section. Also dont have any caffine after 6pm and reading an hour before bed helps to.

Answer 8

work out.....vigorously. by doing this you'll keep a healthy body and the stress you put on your muscles will force you to sleep in order to heal them. keep doing this and eventually you will fall into a routine that will train you to sleep for X amount of hours per day

Answer 9

take a bath 2 hour before u sleep after that dont do anything strenous or stressful. read a book, watch tv or anything relaxing..

Answer 10

Marijuana will greatly help you on your quest for sleep. Just stop being a wussy and smoke it.