Sleeping problems, tried MANY things, any other ideas?

Question

I have been dealing with sleeping problems ever since I was a child. I have taken out all tv, radios, clocks out of the room. I bought a new mattress. I have tried journaling. I have tried herbal candles and such. I have stopped reading in bed. I've tried hot showers, no caffine after 3pm. I don't know what to do. I even had surgery because i had snoring problems, it helped me get deeper sleep, but not fall asleep any faster. It takes me hours to fall asleep and anything wakes me. I take a sleeping pill when i really HAVE to get to sleep but they are so $$$. What else can i try?

Answer 1

Some really important steps to take when you are fighting insomnia are this - if you are not getting enough sleep each night, set up a routine. Get up at the same time every day. Make sure that you get enough physical activity during your day and then set up a nightly ritual - such as taking your shower, getting ready for bed. You can try a number of herbal teas (such as sleepy time by Celestial Seasons) and then tuck yourself into bed. I would suggest you have some white noise going on, such as a relaxation tape, the sound of rain, waves or even just a fan going. White noise helps you to block out other disturbing sounds that could wake you up. If you sleep in complete quiet - any sound can wake you. Then I would try simple relaxation techniques. Some say tensing all the muscles in their body then relaxing them helps. Some work from the toes up, relaxing every part of the body as they work their way up. Some try deep breathing exercises. Some count backwards from 100 with each breath. Any of those can help. Sometimes stretching before bed can help the muscles relax and prepare for bed. But the important thing is to stick to the same schedule. Other sites recommend that if you are not asleep within half an hour to get up and do some normal activity - to not lay in bed if you can't sleep. I would also suggest you talking to your doctor about the problem. Perhaps they can help you with further suggestions that you have not thought of yet. And taking sleeping pill on any kind of regular basis can actually hurt rather then help you get to sleep. Good luck and sweet dreams.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have had similar problems. I have one of those really good dense foam mattress toppers, I made sure my room is really dark and I run a HEP filter nearby, to remove dust/pollen and for white noise. About 1 hour before bedtime, I take 2 Benadryl (this was recommended by a doctor who is against sleeping pills)

BTW - It works like a dream, helps me to fall asleep, and stay asleep and is NON ADDICTIVE (Benadryl is an antihistamine, and is purchased over the counter, and is inexpensive.) I buy a generic band from Costco (Kirkland brand) just called Allergy Medicine (they are small pink tablet)
It also has a very low chance of any side effect. The side effect could be to get hyper if you take too many. 2 works, but more would have the opposite reaction. so you don't want to take more than 2 an become hyper.

Try one at first! In 20 years it is the only thing that has helped and I do not feel groggy or slow when I wake up.

Answer 4

If you REALLY have trouble, it might be insomnia, in which you'd have to check with your doctor. Eating habits regularly harm/help your sleeping. Try not to drink any soda after about 5:00 PM, and refrain from eating before bed. Don't move a lot right before you go to sleep; sit or lie down. There is an evolutionary rule that if you're in a brightly lit room, you will NOT feel tired, because our body believes the sun is still up. Therefore, I'd recommend lying in a dark room, with maybe just a reading light or watching TV or something.

Answer 5

This sounds so familiar it is uncanny. I either fall asleep right off, sleep about an hour, wake up, and am up the rest of the nite. Or it's time to get up before I finally fall asleep. I finally found a doctor that diagnosed me with restless leg syndrome. No kidding, it really is a condition that seriously affests your sleep. He put me on .10 mg of Klonipin about 1 hr. before I go to bed and for the past 2 years I hadn't realized how bad my sleeping problem was. They are very inexpensive. I get 60 .05mg, I take 2 to make .10 mg and 60 a month cost me $12.90. Ain't bad for a good nite sleep. Also you might get your family doc to set you up for a nites' stay at a sleep-disorder clinic. Most insurance will pay for this. My friend did it and it's just like spending the nite in a motel room with a two-way mirror so they can monitor you while you sleep (or try to, sorry, couldn't resist that). Anyway, she found out she had sleep apnea and they fixed her right up. You really need to do something seriously because going so long without good rest will seriously affect your health in other ways! Good luck.

Answer 6

Do you think you maybe too stress out on something so even though you want to sleep physically, you mind is somewhere else? If this is not the case, that's OK.. There are few ways you can try to help you get a good night sleep.

1) Drink a small glass of red win will help. If you don't drink at all, try
2) warm milk if you don't like milk or allergy to it, try
3) take a warm bath before you go to bed
4) put your feet in warm to hot water for 20 mins before bed (the best, personal opinion)

Try it and let me know the result, would you? ^_^

Answer 7

Sounds like you've tried many things... I too have periods of insomnia (like right now). I do other things around the house until I get tired enough to go to sleep. Some say herbal teas, warm milk help. I definitely believe that you should not stay in bed if you can't sleep, try a recliner or the couch.. If sleeplessness affects your daytime functioning, then the hypnotic may have to be the way to go, even though it is expensive.
Good luck....

Answer 8

I remember waking up most of the night and thinking for all the problems and occurring happened during my day time as well as long-term events. My experience and remedial measures taken are similar to what you have narrated.

First of all, my sincere advice would be like: please never ever again try with this or that types of 'medicines' to get to bed early or to have a "good sleep at night".

Because, these medicines ultimately and slowly gets you addicted no matter how competent the physician who prescribed it to you. I consulted almost the best Professors of Medicines, Psychiatrist, Psychologist and even Neurologist but the remedy were temporary and the moment I would stop taking the prescribed 'pills' my condition would worsen.

Back in 1975/76 when I was introduced to my first sleeping-pill by a colleague, I thought OMG this is the panacea of my sleep disturbances and what a beautiful morning after a peaceful night's sleep! But over the years the amount started from 2.5mg to 5mg to 7.5mg to 10mg and also sometimes added with the concoction of herbal, homeopathy etc prescribed by so many others.

Net result, after reaching the lowest point of my getting enough sleep (about 2 hours per night), I abandoned all the prescribed medicines and as a result suffered for a few weeks from withdrawal syndromes. Those were terrible times and I could understand how much the drug-addicts suffer from their withdrawal from drugs.

I am now without medicine for about two months now but could go to bed and get to sleep with the help of bedside reading materials which tires me out. So, after suffering many years of sleepless nights (or moderately good-sleep with high doses of medicines) I am now medicine-free person and trying to get back to normalcy in respect of sleep habit.

Therefore, please have second opinion even if any doctor (psychiatrist or neurologist etc.) prescribes you medicines for whatsoever the reason/cause. Daily simple exercises like brisk-walking for 30-minutes in the morning and going to swimming pool, playing football, basketball, volleyball etc would definitely complement immensely towards your getting really goodnight’s sleep.

Have a nice sleep!

Answer 9

well seeing how it's 3am and I'm on-line, I really shouldn't answer this. However, when I really need a good night sleep I take Tylenol night time liquid cough and flu. I like it much better then sleeping pills. BUT...UNLESS YOU HAVE CHECKED WITH YOUR DR., THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING TO DO. Just to be safe I made sure with my DR. that it wouldn't interact with any other prescriptions that I take. Good luck with this.

Answer 10

Insomnia (sleeplessness) is due to stress, dietary and medical
problems. By making small lifestyle changes like having a fixed
daily routine, relaxing and eating properly, insomnia can be
cured. I found the information at http://tinyurl.com/jfzpz useful
for getting sleep.