How can I get rid of my insomnia?

Question

I've tried all sorts of things over the years. But my mind just will not click off at night, and I just keep thinking about stuff, good stuff, bad stuff, what I'll eat for breakfast, tommorow's commute, my last sexual encounter, that new movie I want to see etc.

I tried exercise, which made me physically tired but didn't help me sleep.

I tried turning off the TV and lights completely, but that just made my mind race more.

I've tried reading before bed, but I either get so into the book that I stay up to read it or I put it down and think about it to keep me up.

I've tried sex, but it just leaves me wanting more sex.

I've tried herbals teas, but they do nothing for me.

Over the last couple months, sleep has been hard to come by. I've resorted to sleeping pills, but they're habit forming and they leave me feeling so sluggish in the morning that I need coffee to function. Anybody got some fresh ideas on how to sleep better?

If you read all this, thanks.

My doctor is the person who prescribed the sleeping pills.

Answer 1

You must first Analise what is causing you sleeplessness.
1.Lack of adequate physical exercise
2.Mental tensions due to any serious problems.
*Good physical exercise first in the morning, never in the evening.
*No coffee or coke or other carbonated drinks after afternoon.
*Do some yoga or meditaion in the early evening (never yoga after evening as it activates the body).
*Eat moderately in the night and have moderate Drink, before dinner.
*Sleep in dim lit room and have soft music to relax.
I had earlier similar problem and I was able to overcome with above practice.
Initially it takes time,but you will be able to overcome it.
Good luck

Answer 2

I too have a great deal of difficulty sleeping. Falling asleep is almost impossible without aid and then I usually wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and then trying to fall asleep again. Very tough. My cure has been medication. Reading, TV, computer doesn't work. I take Ambien (it usually is not habit forming) and I take only half or 5 mg. If needed I take another 5 mg in the middle of the night, but I must admit that getting up in the morning is tough but doable without coffee.
If I am very agitated then I take 1/2 mg of Ativan which turns off my mind. People generally take at least 1 mg or more but I do fine with 1/2 mg. I have tried it all but only these two work really well for me.

Answer 3

At this point, you should consider seeing a doctor or sleep specialist.

The only thing I could recommend is that over the course of a few days, you let yourself stay up and then sleep as your body wants to. You will eventually get tired enough to sleep, even if it's after 36 or 48 hours.

If you haven't done so already, and you have a regular mattress, flip it. Wash your bed linens, and take a shower before bed. Try drinking a glass of milk too - it has tryptophan, which is a natural sleep aid. Last thing I'd say is stop fighting your mind. If it wants to wander and think of things, let it. By fighting this natural urge, you're just stressing yourself out and making sleep harder. Yes, a clear mind is a quick way to get to sleep, but eventually your mind will wander into it on its own.

Good luck to you... and again, SEE A DOCTOR!!!! :)

Answer 4

Try cutting down on alcohol and caffeine.
Exercise before bed is generally a bad idea because it tends to be stimulating.

Sleeping tablets aren't a good long term solution because they give you a different type of sleep to natural sleep and therefore aren't refreshing. (Though they can be helpful short term).

Have you thought about trying mindfulness meditations? These are really quite helpful for dealing with the thoughts that busy your mind.

One school of thought says that you should go to bed, having had a yawning exercise which is a sleep cue, at the same time no matter what and then getting up at the same time the next day no matter what.

Answer 5

Hey, tri Answers! The others gave you good advice, lay off the coffee from noon on, stop stressing about lack of sleep. Tell yourself you just like staying up at night, and that's ok! You can leave the TV on when you get to bed, CSpan maybe, or whatever does not give you any stimulation at all. Booring TV does it for me!

Answer 6

Try melatonin, its an over the counter supplement, very safe in all studies I have read about and for some people very effective. I take 3 mg 2 hours before bed.

Answer 7

How much coffee do you drink? Try cutting back to one or two cups a day, and only in the morning.
Read the most boring book you can find.
Instead of trying to sleep, try to stay awake! It works.

Answer 8

Go to a store that sells essential oils and buy lavender oil and a water spritzer. Mix water and lavender in the spritzer(only about 4-5 drops or until you can smell it when spraying) then spray your pillows and bed sheets, teddy bear?, and if you want, your chest area of your shirt.

Answer 9

try not kepp your min dwonder here and there, and aim it that you are laying to sleep.....hopefully that will work. Or ask some one to talk to you most boring talks, and record it, or whoever you know talks most boring, record that and play it for you at nights, and try keep yourself in that without thinking here and there, that may help.

Answer 10

Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

God created you, He loves you and he can as well give you sound sleep if you ask him