I can't sleep -- and it's killing me!?

Question

NIGHT after NIGHT. I lay awake for hours. my brain is running. constant insecure...depressed thoughts. I do not get enough sleep. I used to be able to sleep. Now I never have energy for anything. It's makng me into a sick, old hag. I don't have health insurance (and nyc doesn't care about the uninsured)... what can I do? I lay awake thinking about bad things -- about how I messed up my career, about my ex BF dumping me a year ago... about how I'm scared to meet that new guy because I'm a tired hag who doesn't get her rest ... what's can this girl do? besides a labotomy, how can I shut down my brain? Or, well, at least train it to say nicer things? thanks.

Answer 1

sex works for me...

Answer 2

Well that is your problem you lay there thinking about all the things that are going wrong in your life, and your are not giveing your mind the chance to take a break from it. You need to realize that things are going to happen in your life that will bother you, but you do not have to let them bother you to the point that your mind is racing all of the time. Your mind needs that down time, and to get some rest, and you need to learn to realize that things are going to be happening all of your life that you will not like, or may depress you, and you need to learn to deal with that, and move on, and not let things just keep coming at you, and nagging you. Otherwise you will not get any sleep, and you will find you are a gruch, and that you will be depressed. Everyone seems today to be on a worrying spree, and it is really the way you look at things, and take it. There are times when you are sick that they will bother you more, but beside that, you need to let your mind relax. and learn to let go of some of that old stuff, and move on, and i am not talking about the next problem, i am talking about moving on with life, and learning to enjoy it, the bad with the good. Otherwise you are always going to have a tired brain, that is racing. And you do know that there are other people out there in the world, that just may be a lot better for you then the one that dumped you, quit worrying about it, and go on with life, and you know when you meant that new guy, well you may start to get some better sleep, cause you will not be worrying about the other guy. The problem is everyone worries too much about why, or what happen, you need to just go ok, that did not work, you should of asked when breaking up what went wrong. You know, it might not of been anything you did, sometimes others do not like to feel that they could not make it work, or did not want to . Blaming is a bad thing, when people have fights, or argements, they should say i , instead of starting it with well you did this and you did that, it should being with i really would like to talk about the way I thought you reacted to what i said. that way you are not blaming anyone, and they will not feel that you are, people need to learn to quit blameing each other for everything that goes wrong in their lifes, and take what is your, and let the rest go.

Answer 3

Avoid any mental stimulation at least one hour before bed, includes phone calls and computers. Avoid caffeine at least 6 hours before bed. Have a nice shower, put on your most comfy pj's and enjoy a mug of milo or warm milk. All practical stuff I know but it does help. And avoid sleeping in the day, no matter how tired you feel. Make sure you are getting plenty of exercise and fresh air during the day. Most of all you need to learn how to relax and realise that at nightime there is really not much you can do about anything so you may as well sleep.
So what if you messed up your career, that's in the past, focus on a new one. Your ex left you a year ago, so what, plenty of fish in the ocean. Clear your head and life will start to get better. Focus on the positive, forget the negatives. Good luck, sleep well.

Answer 4

Learn How You Can Create Energizing Sleep And Cure Insomnia Naturally. Anyone Can Double Their Energy Levels And Naturally Transform Their Body Into A Restful Sleep Magnet Get Your FREE Shocking Sleep Report

Answer 5

You can try all those teas and herbs which are known to help your body relax, although in the end, the problem isn't solved because it resides in your mind, not your body.

It is important and - to the same extent - difficult to overcome certain problems that seem to take over our lives, and we all know that a problem never comes alone, sometimes it's difficult even to cope with them, nevermind "get over it".

It seems to me that it is very easy for you to concentrate on the negative aspects of your life. There's no need for me to tell you, that it does you no good. How about doing the opposite? We all have faults and qualities, start focusing on what you *have* not what you *don't have*. Take "NO" out of your mind and think in "yes" terms.

If that guy wants to go out with you, he already saw the terrible hag look you're talking about, and guess what? He likes you!

Getting back to your sleep problem, make sure you don't sleep at all during the day, even if your head is about to fall off. The human body is programmed to sleep 6-9 hours within a 24 hour cycle, so if you sleep during the day, you'll get less or no sleep during the night. Don't eat heavy foods after 6PM and make sure there's no smoke in your room (if you're a smoker). Keep yourself busy until you go to bed, and go to sleep as late as possible. Try exercising your mind into emptying every single thought or worry, be it negative or positive, and then start thinking of a place you would enjoy, the sea, mountains, a field with grass and flowers or a forest. Imagine what you would do in that setting and fill your mind with positive sorroundings.

As difficult as it might be at the beginning, after a few days of practice you should feel much more relaxed and find it easier to sleep. Insomnia is a pretty common issue and unfortunately some people live with it daily because they don't know how to help themselves. Good luck!

Answer 6

"Examine all things and all things will be your teachers."

Change something, anything, just avoid your current routine.
I have lived that life of solitude, you WILL GO CRAZY. I see it like this, other people exist to keep you sane. If you don't have third party perspective then you will not see the value in the little things. If your neighborhood is safe enough. Get out. You obviously have internet access, look up social groups and clubs, and make some friends. You sound like you don't work too often, so utilize your time to do something that you have always wanted to do. Take guitar lessons, or dance....do something that requires you to burn daylight hours practicing. I guarantee you will be awesome in no time, and you will find a social group that appreciates you for you.

Or you can sit infront of the PC night after night search for nothing until your eyes burn and you passout only to do it again.

The happiest I have ever been is when I could barely balance everything I was doing.

Answer 7

green tea...one cup at night an hour before you go to bed...with honey...then add some B complex...B pollen...and wash them down with some of that fabulous tea. As someone with schizoaffective disorder...restfull sleep is something that seems like a concept from another planet....and twice as rare.
This is the formula that has worked for me when all my breathing exercises fail me. Slows down the racing thoughts as well.
Peace.

Answer 8

Try a few glasses of wine and some tea with valerian root, chamomile and peppermint..some catnip tea infusion may also help, about two tablespoons of pure organic catnip mixed into green or herbal tea with honey. Take about three cups and you should relax, feel less pain, clear your mind, lose tension and aching and then fall into a soft slumber.

Answer 9

Sometimes mind over matter. Other times you need to set up a routiene before bedtime that is condusive to relaxation.

Try an over the counter med.

check with your county for inexpensive mental health places.
They aren't always easy to find.

Change doctors.

Answer 10

the thing you have to do at this very moment is to talk to yourself about your problems and try and keep searching for solutions by yourself by talking to yourself. this method of talking to yourself when you are in times of stress proves very effective and gets you out almost automatically and you've got to do a small meditation routine just before going to bed and think about your dreams and your happy memories so that you can have a pleasant state of mind and you're sure to get sleep try it yourself and you'll know what happens.

Answer 11

go for a run about an hour before bed. This will make you tired enough to sleep and if that dont work have a few drinks