Sleeping problems?

Question

I can't sleep at night or when im "supposed" to. I try to but I can't quit thinking or my mind wont stop wandering. What can I do to slove this?

I've tried almost everything.
When i want to sleep i lay in bed staring at the wall/ceiling but i just can't fall asleep.
Once I do (usually 2-3 in the morning) I wake up every other hour and it takes me forever to fall back asleep.

Answer 1

I found one of the most basic problems with most people is lack of sleep and usually they try everything but the obvious including myself. I know, though, that life can be very stressful and we usually don't know the right tools to deal with those problems so we wing it, usually with as little amount of work as possible. Unbelievably we are surprised that they didn't work or they have side effects that cause more problems.
Try this simple solution and tell yourself that it will not only help you sleep but also help you solve your daily problems.
Exercise daily, a good walk for 30 minutes (slow or fast) during the day and a 10 min walk at night (preferrably outside but even on a treadmill, if needed or climb some steps). Afterwards make a cup of hot HERBAL tea and light a candle, drink tea and read a book. I also close my eyes and breath slow breaths relaxing each part of my body one at a time.
The tea will natually relax you the book will take your mind off your problems and give you something else to think about and the day exercise will use the muscles that have been crying out to be used and the short night walk will also help relax you and help you to see that your problems are small compared to the whole world. But this has to become a habit so start slowly and give yourself a break and get up as early as you need to accomplish this. Don't say you don't have time because a good night sleep helps you to do everything else during the day a thousand times better.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have the exact same problem!!!! And it is driving my crazy! I have tried warm baths, meds, relaxing music and nothing really seems to help!!! When things get quiet and it is dark my mind starts going crazy and thinking of everything! My doctor suggest that I am not getting enough physical exercise during the day because I have an illness that keeps me immobile sometimes. But he still thinks if I would be more active and not sleep during the day to make up for not sleeping at night, I would do better. I have tried this but it has not worked for me. I just stay up until I am exhausted and then I stumble off to bed. But then I only sleep for maybe at the most 3 or 4 hrs. My Mom and My deceased Grandmother, and other family members have the same problem so I was wondering if this could be something that could be a heredity issue? I don't know. They say the best thing to do is to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time everyday. And never sleep during the day and that your body will regulate itself and you will get into a regular sleeping pattern. I have tried this for a few days, but then I just get so tired that I end up napping during the day. If you do find anything that really helps, please share with me!!
Good Luck and I hope Happy Dreams to come!!!

Answer 4

Boy can I relate to your problem. I lay in bed for about an hour before I fall asleep and once I get to sleep, I wake up every hour. I got some lunesta from the Dr. It helps, still takes about 20-25 min to fall asleep and I only wake maybe once or twice a night. I also got a matress topper for my bed, one of those memory foam things, that also helped(overtock.com had the best prices). Good luck.

Answer 5

Avoid eating too late. No caffeine!!!! That's the worst. Are you taking hormonal birth control? That can cause a hormonal imbalance causing too much estrogen and not enough progesterone in your system, causing sleep problems. Overeating and too much sugary foods will also cause hormonal imbalance, disrupting sleep. I do not eat after 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. I drink no caffeine past 12:00 p.m., even earlier. I avoid sugary foods. Sugary food has too many bad side effects that sometimes go unnoticed, and creates unhealthy habits.

There is something called Natural Calm. It's magnesium that dissolves into warm water. It naturally relaxes your muscles with this mineral and can also clean out your digestive tract. Its not a laxative.

Warm milk also helps.
When you have started to toss and turn for 20 minutes, you need to get out of bed. Avoid tv or computer screens as they will alert you and keep you awake. Read a book, do a puzzle, stretch. Good luck.

Answer 6

I feel your pain.
I am going through the same issue.
I've tried just about everything.....Then I remembered Anna Nicole and her Cocktail of medications.....
Have you seen that commercial, where Abe Lincoln, the Beaver and the Astronaut is following this guy around and the lady with the Blue Unicorn??? I forgot the medication starts with a "R"
You have to dream, you must dream.

I also have a injured back and torn cartilidge in my left knee.

Ambien is my latest. It worked for 2 days. Nyquil has alcohol in it, but it takes off the edge and works (cherry) benedryl, pamprin........these are the light weights.

Then you have your heavy hitters.. Trazadone, Klonipin, Neurontin.

But you don't want to take medication. Get at the root of your active mind. Something deep seeded is going on.

Answer 7

I suppose that you have tried the obvious:

No exercise/caffeine/food 2-3 hours before bed. No watching tv or reading in bed. Bed is only for sleeping. Black out curtains.

I recently heard that if you don't think that your bed is the most comfortable place in the world to be (for you) then you need to change it - that means new mattresses, pillows or bedding.

I would try (on a 3 day weekend) staying up all night Friday and all day Saturday. Go to bed Saturday at a "normal" time. Maybe that will jump start your system.

Answer 8

I suffer from insomnia, (inability to obtain sufficient sleep)
you have the classic symptoms of insomnia and if an over the counter doesnt work for you like melatonin or tylenolpm then you should visit a pyschiatrist and speak to them about your symptoms, I take lunesta now for my insomina and its the best. Im 15 and i hope i dont have to rely on meds forever, but for the time being i need my sleep and medication was the right choice.

Answer 9

Sweetheart, you sound like one of those people who actually need a sleep aid. Melatonin & Benedryl work sometimes, but I'd want a prescription.

There are a few foods that can make you sleepy:

What is the secret to getting a solid 7 to 8 hours of sleep? Head for the kitchen and enjoy one or two of these 10 foods. They relax tense muscles, quiet buzzing minds, and/or get calming, sleep-inducing hormones - serotonin and melatonin - flowing. Yawning yet?

Bananas. They're practically a sleeping pill in a peel. In addition to a bit of soothing melatonin and serotonin, bananas contain magnesium, a muscle relaxant.

Chamomile tea. The reason chamomile is such a staple of bedtime tea blends is its mild sedating effect - it's the perfect natural antidote for restless minds/bodies.

Warm milk. It's not a myth. Milk has some tryptophan - an amino acid that has a sedative - like effect - and calcium, which helps the brain use tryptophan. Plus there's the psychological throw-back to infancy, when a warm bottle meant "relax, everything's fine."

Honey. Drizzle a little in your warm milk or herb tea. Lots of sugar is stimulating, but a little glucose tells your brain to turn off orexin, a recently discovered neurotransmitter that's linked to alertness.

Potatoes. A small baked spud won't overwhelm your GI tract, and it clears away acids that can interfere with yawn-inducing tryptophan. To up the soothing effects, mash it with warm milk.

Oatmeal. Oats are a rich source of sleep - inviting melatonin, and a small bowl of warm cereal with a splash of maple syrup is cozy - plus if you've got the munchies, it's filling too.

Almonds. A handful of these heart-healthy nuts can be snooze-inducing, as they contain both tryptophan and a nice dose of muscle-relaxing magnesium.

Flaxseeds. When life goes awry and feeling down is keeping you up, try sprinkling 2 tablespoons of these healthy little seeds on your bedtime oatmeal. They're rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a natural mood lifter.

Whole-wheat bread. A slice of toast with your tea and honey will release insulin, which helps tryptophan get to your brain, where it's converted to serotonin and quietly murmurs "time to sleep."

Turkey. It's the most famous source of tryptophan, credited with all those Thanksgiving naps. But that's actually modern folklore. Tryptophan works when your stomach's basically empty, not overstuffed, and when there are some carbs around, not tons of protein. But put a lean slice or two on some whole-wheat bread mid-evening, and you've got one of the best sleep inducers in your kitchen.

What if none of these foods help you get your zzz's? Check out your sleep habits with this quick RealAge test to find out what?s keeping you up at night. http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AlsqTFW627k4WrUZzRv1qVdjY.Y5/SIG=11omkbe9h/**http://www.realage.com/health_guides/RLS/intro.aspx

For an extra treat, here's the ultimate sleep-inducing snack...

Lullaby Muffins
Makes 12 low-fat muffins
Between the bananas, the whole wheat, and the honeyed touch of sweetness, these muffins are practically an edible lullaby.
· 2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 1 tablespoon baking powder
· 2 large, very ripe bananas
· 1/3 cup applesauce
· 1/4 cup honey
· 1/2 cup milk or soymilk

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine the flour (make sure it's whole-wheat pastry flour or you'll produce golf balls, not muffins), salt, and baking powder. In a blender, puree the bananas; add the applesauce, honey, and milk. Blend well. Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just moistened. Line muffin tins with paper muffin cups, pour in batter, and bake 30 minutes or until tops are lightly brown and slightly springy.

Nutrition Facts
Per serving: 119 calories; 1g fat; 2.5g protein; 27g carbohydrates; 10g sugars; 133mg sodium; 3g fiber; 35mg magnesium

Okay, so try eating some of these foods and see if you can't find a "natural" way to fall asleep. Otherwise, see your dr.

Answer 10

It helps if you are really tired when you go to bed. If you make sure you exercise during the day that usually helps a little. I had to get on anxiety medicine and that pretty much just knocked me out if I took it 30 minutes before I wanted to sleep.