Trouble sleeping?

Question

I have a lot of troubles getting to sleep at night. I always feel feel restless, have a hard time getting comfortable, and I can't get my brain to shut up. :-) Anyone know what causes this or what to do about it?

Answer 1

It has been stated at many places that depression can cause insomnia. Sleep disturbances and depression are anything but strange bed fellows. Nearly all depressed individuals experience sleep problems. Indeed, early-morning awakening is a hallmark of the mood disorder.

Yet exactly how disturbed sleep and depression fit together is one of the continuing puzzles of neuroscience. Many mental health experts believe that sleep is a primary window into the brain and holds some key secrets of mood disorders.

The amount of sleep a person gets also strongly influences the symptoms of mental disorders. Sleep deprivation is an effective therapy for people with certain types of depression, while it can actually cause depression in other people. Extreme sleep deprivation can lead to a seemingly psychotic state of paranoia and hallucinations in otherwise healthy people, and disrupted sleep can trigger episodes of mania (agitation and hyperactivity) in people with manic depression.

There is no other better option than to naturally get good nights sleep.Some of the good habits for sound and good night sleep are as follows:

1. Make your sleeping place comfortable. Be sure that it is dark, quiet, and not too warm or too cold.
2. Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.
3. Get regular exercise. Try not to exercise close to bedtime. Experts suggest not exercising for 3 hours before the time you go to sleep.
4. Don't eat a heavy meal late in the day. A light snack before bedtime, however, may help you sleep.
5. Avoid using your bed for anything other than sleep or sex.
6. If you can't fall asleep and don't feel drowsy, get up and read or do something that is not overly stimulating until you feel sleepy.
7. If you have trouble lying awake worrying about things, try making a to-do list before you go to bed. This may help you to relieve of those worries for whole night.
8. Keep the lights low before bedtime.
9. Follow a routine to help relax and wind down before sleep, such as reading a book, listening to music, or taking a bath.
10. Try not to take naps during the day because naps may make you less sleepy at night.
11. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and can keep you from falling asleep. Alcohol can cause waking in the night and interferes with sleep quality.

So, good night and sleep tight. No matter how and when you sleep, do sleep.

Answer 2

I use Lunesta 3mg. 2mg. work well too. They aren't chemically addictive, but can be psychologically addictive, so keep that in mind. Lay off caffiene, and don't exercise more than 3 or 4 hours before bedtime. Try to stick with a regular bedtime hour and "wind down" beginnng an hour before. Drinking a tall glass of milk or hot chocolate helps too. Also... never go to bed with a full stomach. Digestion interferes with good sleep.

You can also by over the counter sleep aids, but go "easy" on them. Try not to use them every night. You can buy Melotonin in the vitamin/herbal section at the store... that helps your body to relax, as well.

Your best bet is to try to "ride it out". Insomnia usually doesn't last long. Sooner or later your body will sleep. Pleasant Dreams!

Answer 3

Sometimes, it isn't our brains that are the cause, but the result of our bodies not being able to sleep.
Caffeine, caffeine, caffeine.
Look at the labels of everything you drink (chocolate is one of these) and quit consuming caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

Cut back on social stimulation close to bedtime.

And solve your problems during the day... don't try to sort things out at night. When you start doing that, tell yourself, "I'm not going to solve anything right now."

And just relax. Tell yourself made-up stories to get your mind off of reality long enough to relax.

Answer 4

Are you exercising too late? Do you drink a lot of caffeine during the day? Try relaxing about a half hour before going to bed. Read a book, or watch t.v. in a quiet dark room.

Answer 5

You need to get a routine for your day.Try to find the cause of your sleeplessness,if a problem is keeping you awake then solve it.If you can't,then accept it,you've done your best.Start your days early,no one is ready for sleep if they have done nothing all day.I used to have sleep problems,then I had children.There's something about having to bale out of bed at 6am every day that makes you ready for sleep.I'm not suggesting having kids as a solution to sleep problems,the point is,if you do enough in a day,trust me,sleep isn't a problem!

Answer 6

I had the same problem ~~~ couldn't shut my brain off ~~~ so I put it to good use.

I would build a cabin in my mind ~~~ brick by brick, stone by stone, log by log ~~~ I would build all different kinds. Sometimes in the woods, on a mountain top, by the sea.

I would build each room and furnish it ~~~ bookcase, stereo, et al.

It sounds silly but it works ~~~ I'm a sleep in no time at all.

Answer 7

ur probly stressed out . did you have a test these past 2 days. if so yyour so wporked up about it you cant go 2 sleep.

Answer 8

You have things on your mind. try reading, T.V. If its everynite you cant get to sleep, see your Dr.