Help needed for Insomnia?

Question

I want sleep! I have my hours all messed up... can't get to sleep until close to morning. What have you tried that works? Thanks everyone:)

Answer 1

From someone who has had trouble sleeping since kindergarten I will also suggest that even if you go to bed near morning time, get up after like 5 hours of sleep and make yourself stay awake until two hours before you usually go to sleep. The next day do the same until you get to a more normal sleep time and then you can get your eight hours in.

I have also used Ambien before and it helped every once in awhile. It says to take it when you are literally in bed but I would take it and then start doing something else (get on the internet, watch TV, whatever) and forget I had taken it. About 15-30 minutes later I would be all f'd up on the darn pill that I'd wouldn't realize why I was f'd up. Eventually I would figure it out and go pass out. You will also forget pretty much anything you do between the time it kicks in and the time you get your butt into bed.

Answer 2

I agree with the first answer. Most of the stuff you see and here on tv is BS. Stress is almost always the underlying cause of sleeplessness. Be it acute stress, chronic stress, or whatever other kind of stress you want to make up. Its best to attempt to work on decreasing the stress.

Oh and I used to do what Amy said about getting up early and putting yourself in a better schedule for sleep, but it is only temporary if the stress is still there.

One thing that I have found that helps me is audio books. I lay in bed turn off the lights and close my eyes and keep the volume low. While I listen I put myself in the story, and it can be very relaxing. For me the more descriptive the book the more relaxing. Only thing is it can have the opposite affect, often I find myself getting even less sleep because I had to continue and find out what happens next. Probably a boring yet descriptive book would be best, but who wants to listen to that.

Answer 3

I ended up having to take Ativan to sleep. But now that I'm off of it, I can usually sleep with using relaxation exercises. My therapist recommended warm milk (it worked for me). Keep your room cool and don't do anything on your bed except sleep and sex (no reading or other things) You need to train your mind that the bed is for sleeping. Doing relaxation yoga and stretching before sleep helps or reading something that is kind of boring (like the bible). Good luck. Ask your doctor for help if this has been going on for more than a couple of weeks. My insomnia was linked to my depression and it went away when I treated the depression.

Answer 4

Ambien works very well for me, also marijuana works even better. I've tried lunesta (I'm not sure of the spelling on that one) I got five hours of sleep on that and woke up at 4am, that wasn't too great, Ambien is kind of fun, if you fight sleep after you take it you get some odd hallucinations. But Pot worked best, also swimming, lots of swimming until you can barely get out of the pool - anyway good luck to you

Answer 5

I ahve stayed up for 24 hours just to try and get my hours worked out. Now I set all my alarms for a certain time, like the first one goes off at 6:55 then the next at 7:00 then the next at 7:05 and none of them are near my bed so I have to get up with them to turn them off. After I do that for a week or two, they go off I am up no matter what! I sometimes wake before they go off. LOL! I go to bed every night at a different time but I get up at the same time every morning. GIve it a shot, If it doesn't work after two weeks, talkk to your Dr and see what he/she says.

Answer 6

Ignore those trying to lure you to using sleep-aiding drugs.
Do this:

1. Do a heavy exercise for 15 minutes e.g. climbing & descending the staircase several times, sit-ups, push-ups, etc.

2. Take a shower.

3. Drink a full cup of cold milk or fruit juice.

4. Lie on your bed, take 5 deep breaths, & mentally count from 10 down to 1 (do this slowly & effortlessly). Keep repeating the count down.

Goodnight baby, Sweet dreams!

Answer 7

Hey Chicky.. i totally know how you feel so i asked my doctor and she said for insomniacs I recommend taking 3-5 mgs of the natural "Melatonin" before sleep. It can be quite good at assisting sleep.. its nothing that can hurt you its a natural thing that your brain needs to rest and you can get it over the counter ( meaning don't need to see a doctor for it ).... go to walmart and ask the pharmacist and they can help you too ....

umm if you don't want to go that way try having a bath, relax your mind, light candles... then lay in bed and listen to soft music ...

Give it a try, best of luck

Answer 8

10 Tips to Sleep Well
http://www.askaquery.com/question/10-Tips-to-Sleep-Well.html


Insomnia – Beat it with Sleep
http://www.askaquery.com/question/Insomnia-%96-Beat-it-with-Sleep.html

Insomnia - Treatment
http://www.askaquery.com/question/Insomnia--%28dash%29--Treatment.html

Answer 9

Definately do not have any caffeine or sugar after 6pm. Try relaxing by listening to soft music or stretching/yoga before bed. And a classic sleepy-eyed starter is reading a book before bed!

Hope this helps!

Answer 10

Usually it's because the mind is so active. When the stress that is bothering you is over with, then you might start getting back to your old rhythm of sleep. When I was under a lot of stress, I would take benadryl, xanax, ativan, you name it. Nothing worked.