I can't sleep I am an insomniac!!?

Question

It is 1:00 am and I can't get myself to sleep. Anything to help me? I stay up late all the time! Please help! Thanks.

Thank you to those who anwered positively to my question. :) I don't smoke pot and I don't drink either but I guess thanks for the suggestions.

Answer 1

I also have insomnia. My college Psychology professor recommended these tips and they really help:

1) drink warm milk before bed. milk has components in it that your body uses to make Serotonin, a neurotransmitter which helps you sleep.

2) LIGHT exercise 1-2 hours before bed, such as a 20 minute walk around your neighborhood.

3) Take a warm-hot bath. it helps relax your body.

4) Read in a comfortable chair or sofa before bed, but NOT in your bed. your bed is for sleep and sex.

5) Set a regular bed time and stick to it. This helps your body set a natural sleep cycle.

6) Make your room a haven. Get light and sound blocking curtains.

7) Try sleeping with ear plugs or with a white noise machine. I really like the ocean sounds ones.

8) Valerian root, available at ANY pharmacy, is a natural sleep aid that is similar to Lunesta (only it's natural)

9) If these don't work you can ask your doctor about sleeping pills. I prefer Lunesta.

Answer 2

"I stay up late all the time". This is problem no. 1 - you have an internal clock that has adjusted itself to your late hours.
Look up 'sleep hygeine', there is a lot of info on this and I don't want to write it all here. Basically, these are the things that doctors first try for insomnia, because they help the most common causes.

There are only 2 things you should do in bed, sleep and sex (i'm not kidding). If you eat, watch tv, do crossword, etc, then you are making it difficult to sleep behaviorally because you have multiple associations with the bed. Also, if you try to sleep and can't within 15 minutes, get up and read or do something else till you think you can try again. Again 15 minutes. Continue this cycle. Even if you get to bed only 3 hours before you need to wake up, wake up anyway. The next evening you will be much more sleepy. Do not make a routine of taking naps during the day. Keep to a regular sleep-wake routine. There is so much more, because insomnia is extremely complex. Realize that most of the time the problem is behavioral. So look up sleep hygeine and I hope it helps.

BTW: if you use a sleep aid temporarily, don't use tylenol pm if you do not need the tylenol component. Use diphenhydramine instead (benadryl). Natural alternatives are valerian root and melatonin.

Answer 3

I've had insomnia for 13 years I stay up all night unless I take specific action. The non medicine way is to try melatonin a dietary supplemant in which an increase promise a better sleep, valerian root tea, buy at th herb store in bulk, place in stainless stleel baal and steep for 20 minute, non addictive works great. But for bad cases you should see your doctor before the end of the year, the drug lunesta is giving away a weeks worth of medicine at www.lunesta.com and use the 3mg pills. Its non-narcotic and buy a pill splitter, you can cut pills in half and go to 1/2 dose when you want smaller dose later in the year. This is the real mccoy, not memory loss like ambien no weight gain like ambien good luck try valerien until monday.

Answer 4

I have the same problem - here's a couple of things that have helped me.

1) If you drink cola, coffee or such - don't have them after midday to allow the effects of caffeine to wear off.

2) Make sure that your bedroom is only for sleeping and sex - don't read, watch TV, etc there - do that in another room.

3) If you can't get to sleep, get up and go outside, sit down and read or watch awful late night tv for about twenty minutes then go back and try to sleep again.

4) Get a good routine going - get up at a reasonable hour in the morning and force yourself to stay awake throughout the day - avoid any naps or anything like that.

All of those have really helped me. Hope it gets better for you.

Answer 5

Its 1:59 am here and my daughter is singing in her room (3 years old) i can't sleep either. I made the mistake of putting her to bed early cause she is teething again. Getting molars and now i hear lots of songs about silly things. I never can sleep too much stress. I say maybe take sleeping pill. Good luck because this house is still not quiet!

Answer 6

Ive had the same problem for 2 weeks now. Not falling asleep till 4 or 5 am and i have to be up at 8 to get my 4yr old off to school and still no option of going back to bed since i have 2 other boys and the cycle repeats its self. It definitely sucks.

Answer 7

I haven't slept in two days. Just watch a movie, drink some tea, whatever you do to relax. The more you think about it, the worse it gets. I eventually sleep, but I've been this way forever. So either get help for it, or get a nocturnal hobby to keep you busy.

Answer 8

Read a book while you are laying in bed. Usually puts me to sleep in no time. If you have trouble with this all the time, avoiding caffeine in the evening may also help.

Answer 9

Don't take this the wrong way but... that is a symptom of bi-polar. I often found myself doing the same thing. Finally, after several years I found myself in counseling and was diagnosed with bi-polar. I take meds to help it but it still is a problem.

Answer 10

Please go to the Doctor and have a sleep study done and any other test...

I dated a guy that couldn't sleep and he found out he is bi-polar and then I have another friend that couldn't sleep, and it was from anxiety and stress (she's getting married soon) and her Dr. has had her to try different prescriptions... Don't wait, call the Dr. Monday!!!