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Insomnia--Any advice?
Hey everyone,
I have been having a really hard time getting to sleep the past week or so. Usually I can sleep at the drop of a hat. I am starting classes next week, so that could potentially be something on my mind, but I dont really feel stressed out about anything.
Anyway, I have tried taking NyQuil and Benadryl a couple of times this week, both of which usually knock me out in about 30 minutes. To no avail. Once I get to sleep, I am hard at sleep, so no worries there.
Any advice or home remedies? I dont think I need a sleep doctor or anything, at least not yet.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Rescue Remedy. It's flower essences and a good bit of alcohol. Put 3-4 drops under your tongue and it has a great calming effect. I use it myself every so often if I can't sleep or I use it on my rats if they are having breathing problems and are panicky. Works great. It's around $20 for the 20ml bottle, but worth it.
You can get it online or at an organic food store sometimes.
http://www.bachflower.com/
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Maybe me and the rats....they are pretty noisy!
Anyway, thanks for the tip.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
First things first. Any rest is good rest, even if you have trouble staying asleep. If you stay up on your computer the whole night you'll be more useless tomorrow than if you lay in bed with your eyes closed. I know it's tough, and you get bored out of your mind, but I have insomnia often enough that I've figured that out, at least it works for me anyways.
I don't have any insta-cures for insomnia.. But I find that the biggest trigger for me to not sleep is stress. Find an outlet for stress, whether it is exercising or hobby-ing or whatever does it for you. I had the most horrible insomnia during winter months in school. It sucked. Being graduated, I sleep much more soundly. I could always tell that stress was what was keeping me up because my mind just races and thinks about topic after topic, almost like my brain was on meth or something.
There are all kinds of causes for insomnia, including less-than-comfy bed/pillows, temperatures being off, stress as I mentioned..
A couple of things that I tried that sometimes helped at least make me comfy, and sometimes I was able to get to sleep: open an window and knock the temps down so it's nice and chilly, and pile on heavy blankets. Then turn on an episode of some TV show or movie you like, preferably something you've seen hundreds of times so you don't actually have to pay attention to it(easier to fall asleep to if it doesn't grab your attention as much). Any simpsons episode always works for me, I just get all nice and relaxed.
I'm going to take my own advice now and get off the computer and try and get some rest :D
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
I'd suggest warm milk - it really does a pretty good job of getting you sleepy.
I've also heard if you get lavender oil and put a couple drops of that on your pillowcase that helps.
And like was mentioned above me - watching a tv show or movie that I've seen lots before helps me fall asleep.
Insomnia really sucks, hope you get over it!
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
I use melatonin when I can't sleep. They make it in a pill that you swallow or one that you dissolve under your tongue. Take that 30 minutes before you go to bed.
I also sometimes do a crossword puzzle or sudoku puzzle while laying in bed to help make me tired. I know that goes against what you are supposed to do--as in not stimulating your brain before bedtime or doing "work" in bed but it totally helps me. It's just something relaxing that helps me wind down and not think about the stressful things that were on my mind. Of course, if you don't enjoy that type of puzzle I wouldn't recommend it, because the goal is to relax and not to get frustrated or more stressed. :)
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
The thing is you're in Michigan. I have the same problem. I think it's just the weather changes really. Play about 5 hours of Call of Duty before you go to bed and that'll do the trick haha
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Quote:
Originally Posted by V1L3 DiaL3cT
The thing is you're in Michigan. I have the same problem. I think it's just the weather changes really. Play about 5 hours of Call of Duty before you go to bed and that'll do the trick haha
Funny you say that....I stop playing video games b/c I am getting ready to go back to school and low and behold....I cant sleep.
World at War is soo good...but so is Fallout 3....I have a giftcard for Gamespot and can't decide which one to buy, b/c if I buy COD I have to renew my XBL which just expired. :(
Anyway, I have tried lavender and warm milk already, and i am not sure I am insomniac enough to go messing with my brain chemistry with melatonin yet.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Melatonin is natural, unlike Benadryl, Nyquil or most sleeping medications you find in the drug store. It is a natural part of your brain chemistry. Your body is supposed to naturally produce more of it at night time to help you sleep, but sometimes just a little extra is all it takes. Most often it comes in a 3mg pill but you can get it in a 1mg pill too (you will probably have to look for this dose at a drug store as opposed to a grocery store or Walmart), which for most people is plenty.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThyTempest
Anyway, I have tried lavender and warm milk already, and i am not sure I am insomniac enough to go messing with my brain chemistry with melatonin yet.
Ya got me tapped out of ideas then. :confuzd:
Try to preemptively read some text books... that always used to put me out... :P
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Text book is a great idea, I know I slept through enough of orgo last semester....I have my task!
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Alright - coming form someone who's seen plenty of doctors about insomnia - melatonin and exercise. As far as messing with your brain chemistry... is a natural seratonin imitator really any worse than some form of caffeine? I'll spare the science and just say - it will not mess with your long term. If you're uncomfortable, go see a doctor about it. Like stated before, if you do try it, start with the smallest dose (1mg) and give that a couple days or more. Bump to two if you really need it.
Another thing is to watch what you are doing before bed. Stimulating activity will keep your brain in overdrive and wont let it calm for bed. If you use your bed to sit around on ect, your brain starts to associate it with things other than sleeping, thus feeling awake, restless, and the like. So, really, bed = sleep, not couch. I've heard a lot of people making that mistake. Myself included. I went to a dr for it, and thats one of the things he told me. It helps.
The number one though, exercise. It puts your body back in a good rhythm. It releases the chemicals your body needs - regulates everything, and you'll sleep waaaaay better - so long as you stay regular with it. But then again, thats messing with your brain chemistry! :P
I kid.
Last suggestion...um... :date: :colbert:
Just pllllllllease (!!!!!) don't start popping Tylenol PM unless you don't want a liver in two months.
Good luck!
-Should add - I'm not a Doctor- go see one!! Don't listen to me! :P
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
The only thing I am concerned about with the melatonin is that I will become dependent, whereas I am not worried about becoming dependent on Benadryl since I already take it daily for my allergies. NyQuil was a one shot deal and it failed.
I will read up on the melatonin and maybe give that a shot.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
I had some problems with that before I started classes, after the first week of classes I think I haven't had any problems going to sleep. I just started waking up early, over break I was waking up at like noon or whenever I rolled out of bed.
Waking up at 8:30 and actually doing stuff during the day helps me fall asleep earlier. I noticed I have more trouble with sleep if I can see my clock relatively easy.
Other things I've heard... don't eat before bed, don't drink a lot of caffeine, don't sit in bed when you're not planning on sleeping, don't try to go to sleep if you aren't tired, and some things people have mentioned such as don't use things you could come dependent on.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
i dunno what to tell you i get maybe 2-3 hours a night
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
I very much agree with mlededee...melatonin rocks
It's all natural and your body produces it anyway...you don't become dependant and it works wonders.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Try a piece of chocolate with a small glass of warm milk. Do it in bed and you'll be asleep in 20 minutes. Not a candy bar. Just plain chocolate and let it melt in your mouth slowly. And not skim milk. The fat is what makes you sleepy. It's not medicine so take your time. Enjoy the creamy milk, don't gulp. Feel the texture of chocolate melting on your tongue. Take in all in and let the feeling roll over you.
Try it tonight and let us know.
JohnNJ
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Turkey makes me pretty sleepy. Otherwise i have benadryl for those nights when i cant sleep! Not sure of anything natural, besides burning lots of energy during the day, exercise or long walks with the dog help put me in a nice relaxed mood in the evening!
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
I started running a few years ago because I was really stressed out & couldn't sleep. As long as I get my run every day after work, I sleep like a baby.
Chamomile tea helps a bit too.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
I have tried my girlfriends Chamomille tea and I just cant stomach any more of it.
I am going to try and find some melatonin tomorrow.
Tonight, I tried a double dose of benadryl and still no luck, though I at least feel a bit less aware....closer to drowsy I guess.
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
I took melatonin for over a year, 3 a night. Stopped cold and there was no withdrawl/dependency with it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin
cmon, you reduce your risk for cancer!! :P
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
I've never used Melatonin, but I have heard it works. Just check out any poss side effects.
Good luck!
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThyTempest
I have tried my girlfriends Chamomille tea and I just cant stomach any more of it.
I am going to try and find some melatonin tomorrow.
Tonight, I tried a double dose of benadryl and still no luck, though I at least feel a bit less aware....closer to drowsy I guess.
Tea is great. The thing about it, there are a lot of brands....and most of them are horriable!!
About the chocolate, since its a small piece it shouldn't be a big deal, but chocolate = caffeine.
+1 on the up and doing things eary, as well as not eating late and furthermore not drinking caffene after mid day, or earlier.
Hope you find something that helps!
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Re: Insomnia--Any advice?
Melatonin is great. It knocks me out cold, and no side effects. Although, my friends say that they tend to have more vivid dreams when they use melatonin to sleep, I haven't found this to be the case though.
Also... definitely exercise a lot during the day. NOT just before you sleep - this will only wake your body up. Rigorous exercise during the daytime will make you very sleepy at night!!
I think most of the other methods mentioned are psychological... which can help, but they aren't fool proof, especially when your insomnia gets really bad and interferes with your life.
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