Sleeping Difficulties?

Question

I have trouble going to sleep and finding a comfortable postion to lay in which makes me take almost an hour to finally sleep.
Also when I do sleep it feels like I have no control in my dreams when a while ago I used to control them better and now, it seems like my dreams are controling me when I'm asleep.
Also I'm right handed if that afects how I should be sleeping.
Oh, please don't post stupid reasponses, this is an actual problem I've been dealing with since I was ten and now I'm in my late teens.

Also I know that there is limited space to post your response so mail me if there is not enough room

No I do not snore. Also by control I mean as in when one is asleep you can become aware of your self or you can dream in a that feels like watching a movie. Many people that I know can do the first, it is not like you can control your whole dream, just the role of the dream that one plays in it.

No I do not snore. Also by control I mean as in when one is asleep you can become aware of your self or you can dream in a way that feels like watching a movie. Many people that I know can do the first, it is not like you can control your whole dream, just the role of the dream that one plays in it.

I don't listen to hard rock right before I go to sleep infact, I actualy hate hard rock with a deep pasion so that is not a problem.
Also I have a Martial arts class that extends to 9'o clock at night wich makes it dificult to go to sleep those nights at a decent hour. Also my dogs ocasionaly start barking in the middle of the night for no good reason.

Also I have dificulty with gathering my thoughts for a long time, any suggestions on how to do so, so that I may be able to focus on relaxing more?

Answer 1

Okay, you can't 'control your dreams' but I can give you a few 'hints' on 'falling asleep easier' that should also make your dreams 'less out of control' ...
You may have 'insomnia' when you are trying to go to sleep, but I have the feeling that it's not 'clinical insomnia' but is simply because you have been 'obsessing about trouble falling asleep.' This can also affect the 'way' you dream.
First, don't drink anything with any 'caffeine' in it after 3 in the afternoon, if you want to go to bed at 10-11 at night. Don't drink 'too much' of anything after 8 p.m. No more than one or two eight ounce glasses/cups of drink, preferably plain water.
Try setting aside at least an hour BEFORE you get into bed ... and use that hour to 'wind down slowly' ... and the 'first thing' you should do for now is take an 'analgesic-sleep inducer' pill ... one with 'acetominophen' (the ingredient in Tylenol) and an 'antishistamine' (one like Benadryl) an hour before you get into bed. Make taking that pill (those pills if you take two) the 'start of your routine.' Next, change into something 'totally comfortable to wear' ... a tee shirt and lounge pants or boxers should work if they are COMFORTABLE. Then sit on something that is 'flat' and 'fairly soft' ... use a 'folded up blanket or two' and the floor beside your bed. Sit 'cross legged' with your back 'totally straight' and put your hands 'palms up' on your knees. Close your eyes and 'think about' something that is both 'totally beautiful' and 'serene' ... a meadow full of pretty flowers and butterflies, perhaps. If you prefer to think of 'water' it must be 'quiet water' like a 'pond' or 'slowly meandering stream' and not a 'fast river' with rocks. Sit 'quietly' and just 'visualize' this 'quiet place' for ten minutes at first ... building up to twenty minutes in two weeks. After you have 'meditated' you should stand up, stretch, and sit in a 'comfortable chair' in the bedroom and 'read' something that is 'quiet' and calming ... and you don't have to 'understand it' or even TRY ... and read it while sipping a cup of 'herbal tea' like Chamomile or any of the 'premade mixes' that have a 'sleepy' name, like 'Sleepytime tea' or 'Get your ZZZs'.
Read until the end of your 'hour' of 'wind down' time.
Get into bed and find a 'comfortable position' for you to fall asleep. Usually this is on one side or the other, or on your back. You can't 'fall asleep' if you aren't comfortable. It's that 'comfort' that is important, not 'the position' you put your body into.
Turn out the light, and make sure the room is as 'quiet as possible' ... close your eyes and DON'T MOVE and go back to that 'visualization' of the 'quiet place' and just 'do that' until you fall asleep.
That's the EASY PART. The HARD PART is getting your 'sleeping place' fixed up (or down) to a good 'sleeping place' ... and since you are a teenager, this may seem to be IMPOSSIBLE ... but I want you to do it, anyway. If you can 'block off' your bed, so that when you are 'in bed' all you can see is 'blank' ... no pictures, no posters, not anything on the walls, and NO LIGHTS, even a 'night light' are allowed. NEVER SIT OR LIE ON YOUR BED EXCEPT WHEN YOU ARE 'going to sleep.' If possible, do your homework and 'recreation' in another room ... if not, try 'rearranging furniture so that your bed is 'surrounded by high furniture' in it's own little corner. If you must, you may hang 'dark curtains' around your bed.
Also ... I'll bet that you listen to 'hard, fast music' right up until bedtime ... and I want you to stop doing that ... either have your room 'totally silent' or listen to 'soft, quiet music' at an 'extremely low volume.' If you share your bedroom with a brother, then you should ask your parents for a 'corner of your own' somewhere else where you can put JUST YOUR BED and can 'block out all pictures and music from it.' If you 'reduce the visual and audio 'clutter' and do this 'hour's wind down' you should 'fall asleep more easily' and 'sleep better' ... you may 'remember' a few dreams, but if you are doing everything 'right' you may only remember bits of the 'dream just before waking.'
Make sure that you have a 'good alarm' by the bed, and set it for the time you must 'get up' ... but if it is a clock with a 'lighted time' on it, you should turn that clock so that you can't 'see the numbers' when you are sleeping ... simply be sure that the alarm is 'set' to wake you when it's time to get up. That's another way to 'get things out of your head' so that you can fall asleep 'naturally' and know that you are not going to 'oversleep.'
My 'formula for sleep' may take up to two weeks to 'start working' but you need to do it EVERY NIGHT until it becomes 'habit' ... and after you start to 'fall asleep naturally' you'll be 'just fine' and I hope you can finally get 'a good night's sleep every night.'

Answer 2

Try to make sure he is full and tired when he goes to bed. Then don't expect miracles... if he can add 30 minutes a week to the time he is sleeping, that's terrific and he'll be sleeping through the night in no time. Also, try moving his bedtime later... if he's only sleeping six hours in a row, I'd rather have him sleeping 12-6 than 8-2, wouldn't you? I never had a problem with the co-bedding thing, so I can't speak to that. Does he nap in the crib during the day? Maybe try starting that and it won't be such an adjustment to put him there at night.

Answer 3

Do you snore loudly? If so, you might have sleep apnea, which requires treatment to avoid damaging your heart.

I think you really need to get your doctor to refer you to a sleep clinic. There are dozens of possible sleep disorders, and an overnight sleep study is the best way to determine which (if any) you have. Please call right now for a referral, as they may have long waiting lists at the sleep clinic, and the sooner you solve this problem, the sooner you'll feel good again.

Sleep is terribly important to both physical and mental health. Good luck!

Answer 4

Try not performing any physical or emotional activity before bed. Also try to clear your head of any thoughts that you may have. If you still can't sleep, try drinking some milk and/or jerking off. That usually helps me get to sleep. If you still feel like you have a problem, go see a doctor and get a prescription sleep-aid such as Lunesta.

Answer 5

I have same problem too, mainly due to rotating day / afternoon shifts at work. I use a sleeping tablet most nights before bed but even those dont always work- hence reason up now at 3:30am!!!
I normally also can only full asleep watching / listening to tv.

Answer 6

this sounds like a pretty serious problem. something i would suggest since it going on since you were 10 is that you could try a sleep study ask your doctor about it. they hook a bunch of monitors up to you and you sleep in this place over night and it take 4-8 weeks to get the test results. you could have sleep acmia
Good Luck

Answer 7

Why do you feel the need to "control" your dreams. You may want to check with a counselor at school to ask them for guidance on this.

Answer 8

hope this site helps regarding the question about dreams