why can't i follow a normal sleep schedule?

Question

i remember as far back as 11 years old when my parents would yell at me to go to bed and i'd lay there for hours and not sleep. now i'm 21 and it still seems like no matter what i do i CAN'T GET TO SLEEP.

my usual pattern will start out on very little sleep (about 2-3 hours, sometimes less) and i'll be miserable all day but at night i'll still have a hard time getting to sleep. next night i'll get maybe 4 hours of sleep. then the next night i will CRASH and go to bed around 10 or 11 (which is INCREDIBLY early for me). then that night i absolutely can't get to sleep and the whole cycle starts over again.

i try not to take naps and i exercise at least 4 times a week. i also try to stay off the computer at night.

i'm a bit scared to take sleeping pills because i don't want to be dependant, but here it is almost 6am and I HAVE CLASS IN 3 HOURS and i haven't been to sleep even though i got up at 9:30am!

should i give sleep meds a try and if so which should i ask my doctor about?

btw, i've tried Tylenol PM and Benadryl but that doesn't usually work.

i was wanting suggestions of which ones work best from people who have used them.

Mordsith, tried it. all through high school. it never worked. i just lay there in bed for hours, no matter what the routine.

Answer 1

I have a few tips that may help with the sleeping problems

1. Try blacking out the room, it could be the light that keeps you awake.. You be amazed how much a little bit of light does

2. Take over the counter melatonin. It can help your body reset for sleep without the chemical dependance of a sleeping pill

3. Do a sleep study. Its a thing where they connect you to a few monitors to see how you sleep when you sleep.

4. Try the breathe right strips. Maybe breathing better will help your body to relax better, naturally tire you out.

It could also be as simple as getting a softer pillow, or more comfortable sheets. There is no miracle remedy that works with everyone, but I wish you well.

----you could move to where I live, ALASKA.. the winters nights here are 18+ hours long, so sleep is about the only thing to do when it stays dark.. :)


Things to be aware of when talking to the doctor about sleep. Document a couple weeks of the bad sleep pattern before you see them, so they won't have you do after you see them. Tell them about your caffiene intake, sugar intake or any other food related questions.. Changing your diet could be the fix.. Tell them what type of mattress you sleep on and what material is in your pillow of they ask. The more information a doctor has when you are talking to them, the better off you will be. Doctors can be more effective with more info.

Answer 2

Soon as you find out let me know. I've suffered from the same problem since i was a little kid. I'm 32 now. No matter what I've tried I just cant seem to have normal sleep habits. 4 hrs about the most I can sleep. Makes you miserable. Edit: Now that I think about it the only time I did sleep well was when I took antidepressants. But then again that's all I did. Then I got FAT from not doing anything else. So I quit taking them. Back to not sleeping again.

Answer 3

Oh, you need to learn how to "drop off" to sleep!

First, select a bed-time. Sleep is mostly habitual, as you have discovered and it is never easy to change a habit. Make this a time when you are usually at home. Maybe, say, 11.00 pm.

At 10.30 (or whenever) Have a shower, get into your bedclothes (or at least out of your wake-clothes!) make a warm, non-caffeine drink and stop rushing about. Sit and relax. Drink the drink slowly. Go to the lavatory.

About 10.55 wander to your bed and climb in. Look at your clock, switch off the light and close your eyes. Try to stop your thoughts spinning around. Don't get up.

Do not read in bed, or watch TV or listen to music or talk on the phone. You need to tell your mind that your bed is for sleeping ONLY.

Keep this up for a couple of weeks - even at weekends if you possibly can. Eventually, your body-clock will switch on the serotonin and you will start to yawn at 10.45 every night, go to bed and sleep the sleep of the innocent.!

Answer 4

You should adopt the teachings in Yoga for a good sound deep sleep which will give you a new zest for life. It is called Yoga Nidra. The word Nidra means sleeping.It has two important aspects, posture of sleeping and conscious breathing.First,when you wake up,do not move .Observe closely your posture i.e.whether you are lying to your right or your left,the position of your head,hands and legs.Remember the details of this posture minutely as this is going to be your sleeping posture from today onwards. After tossing this way or that for whole night,the body assumes the most comfortable posture in the morning hours. This is different for each of us.Now,when you go to sleep,go into this posture and notice your incoming and outgoing breath.You have to concentrate on counting from 100 to 1 backwards when you exhale.When you exhale,you shall mentally count the number 100. In the next breath that you exhale,you mentally count 99. Like this you have to count downwards till you sleep. Your mind has to count the numbers only and no other thoughts are to enter your mind. If they do come,get rid of them and restart counting from 100. With this you shall be amazed to experience true happiness of full ,sound deep sleep.There are many many persons deprived of good sleep and I request you teach them Yoga Nidra to eliminate their sufferings.

Answer 5

Gee you sound just like me...i know just how you feel!! wait until you fall pregnant it gets worse. I know how you feel about taking pills...i'm the same. I found that doing puzzles/reading until it made me drowsy helped me fall asleep sometimes. Otherwise putting something really boring on TV that you would never watch and make yourself watch it - I would get so bored I would go to sleep. The other thing I do is burn lavender inscense.

Answer 6

i find myslef being able to stay up till odd hours i hate when my wife wants to go to sleep and i'm wide awake you should ask you doctor about sleeping meds and talk to my wife about staying up

Answer 7

most all of the pills have serious side effects and are expensive. insurance may / may not cover. try the unisom sleep gel tablets

Answer 8

the answer is allready in your question..