HELP! I am really struggling to get to sleep?

Question

I have been having problems getting to sleep for a few years but has got worse in the last 2 years.
It takes me between 1 - 4 hours to get to sleep ever night.
Unless I am completly exhasusted.
Please help

My day routine is go to bed at 2am
and get up about 11am but I can't sleep untill sometimes 5am! :(

I am a little stressed but not highly.
I can't clear my mind and stop thinking.

Answer 1

Some ways you can help during the daytime are to lead a moderately active lifestyle, not to drink too much before going to bed and to abstain from caffeine after 6.30pm.

You could also go to the doctor's for advice or tests, but I would advise against taking medication unless the situation is chronic, as it is very addictive. It is possible that there are underlying problems, either physical (sleep apnia) or, more likely, psychological (stress).

There are many psychological methods you could try. Some people like to think over the day and empty their minds of all the concerns and activity before trying to sleep. I usually try to imagine a peaceful place. Associating particular music with sleeping might help, or a certain smell (lavender oil is recommended). I am told that closing your eyes and rolling them from side to side can help, as this happens naturally as you are falling asleep.

If you go to bed thinking "oh no, I won't sleep again" it is likely that you will have difficulty. Try tricking your brain by sleeping at the other end of the bed. Think creatively, as only you know what will help! Generally TV before bed does not. Some people find reading helps them to nod off but others find it stimulates the mind too much.

Answer 2

I just bought some Melatonin, 5mg. It's supposed to be a natural supplement to help you sleep. The directions say to take it 20 min before going to bed. It took me 40 minutes last night, but it worked. My mother once had trouble sleeping and tried it, but it made her nervous. Different heads, different meds, I guess. You can get it at a health food store, or Wal Mart. I just got out of the hospital for depression, and was given Remeron to help me sleep. It was wonderful!

Answer 3

Get your doctor to prescribe you Ambien CR or Seroquel. It helps with sleep. But I think Ambien sort of has risky side effects, but I'm not sure.

Answer 4

My routine:

Go to sleep between 4 & 5 am
Wake up at 2pm (or as early as 10 when people wake me up)

... I found that when I had to wake myself up at 5:30am, I was sleepy at 5pm... I took a 3 hour nap then couldn't sleep 'til 5 or 6am... Perhaps if you made yourself wake up earlier, you'd have a day or two of groggy "lack of sleep"-ness then your body would get tired earlier to compensate??? I WOULD try that..... ... hehe, but my bff is up late too and there's nothing productive to do before 2pm except eat cereal! lol...

Answer 5

Try these steps

* Try to Go to bed 1hour before your usuall time
* Take bath (with luke-warm water if you can).
* Put on some light music (choose just music or your favourite song... but it must be soft music.. & with slow volume)
* Then turn off the lights or you may have the night light on & Then lay down on your bed, remove all thoughts which distract you
* Close your eyes & Then relax your body,, try to concentrate on your feets first... and relax them, then reach to your calf muscles .. relax them... buttox and then back , then arms, your shoulders, neck and then concentrate and feel that your whole body is relaxed
while this whole procedure... perform deep breathing
* Remove all thoughts which distrub you....
and I am sure you would be slowly able to decrease the time .... to get to sleep

Good Luck

Answer 6

can you try to change your routine? Say, get up at 8am so you are more tired by 10-11pm. There are herbal teas you can get to help you relax, and I believe Lavender helps calm you too. If you still have problems, talk to your doctor about it, they may provide you with some light sedatives to help you get to sleep or something :) good luck

Answer 7

take a deep breath hun..its okay..most of us went there..i did myself ! here are few important things to do it helped me and i hope it works out for you :
1- finish all of your chores or the things you have to do or the problems you have to deal with..i mean who can EVER sleep WELL if they have tons and tons of things they left undone ? ( clear your mind)
2- if you're going to sleep at 10:00 pm for example..do NOT and i repeat do NOT have dinner before you go to bed immediately because the stomach has to digest food first ! so you have to eat 2 hours or 3 before you get to bed...( be careful dont eat something that has too much sugar or energetic drinks like cola and others before you go to bed !! you can have tea or anything warm half an hour ago with a little amount of sugar ( watch the food you're eating )
3-sleep in a clean and comfortable room ! how the hell are you going to get a good clean if the room you're sleeping in is a total MESS ?! ( the environment )

hope i helped sweetie..after all getting a good sleep is off to a good day and a good life

x nat x

Answer 8

i had the same promble when i was younger and i have it now some times.
maybe you should try some "warm milk" , or "nytol" they are herbal tablets they taste bad but they have worked for me a few times.
hope it helps!!!!!!

Answer 9

I had trouble sleeping a while back to and my friend told me about a tea called Sleepy Time, I now have a cup before bed every night and sleep like a baby. It comes in a green box you can buy it at any good health food shop. Hope it helps!!

Answer 10

have you been under stress? Are you worried? Get your emotions out and see what might affect you.
Also is your diet good?
One thing that keeps me from sleeping is the temperture in the room, too hot too cold, so try to sort that out.
Also i listen to music and fall asleep try that.
Try to change your sheets about once, twice a week to retain freshness and comfort!

Hope i helped!

mq