Sleeping problems! :(

[femaleacid]

Recently I've been having problems trying to get myself to sleep, I just find myself lay in bed with my eyes shut for nearly 2 hours and nothing happens.
I've not become out of pattern or routine it's just come from nowhere in the past month and I have I be up for work the next morning!

Am I becoming a bat? Or maybe a bush baby?

Either way anybody know what a good way to 'help drift off' is?

[Bibio]

welcome to the insomniacs club, its a funny old club and you will notice the sufferers if you brows the forum at silly o'clock times (this excludes bananaman as he is states side).

you have to much going on in your brain. do what can be done and you will rest better. if it cant be done then focus your attention on new things.

if all else fails there is always sex, drugs and rock'n'roll.

[femaleacid]

welcome to the insomniacs club, its a funny old club and you will notice the sufferers if you brows the forum at silly o'clock times (this excludes bananaman as he is states side).

you have to much going on in your brain. do what can be done and you will rest better. if it cant be done then focus your attention on new things.

if all else fails there is always sex, drugs and rock'n'roll.
Hmmmm I could live with the sex and rock'n'roll but prehaps not the drugs - unless it was instantly-put-you-to-sleep-pills.

The strange thing is I haven't got stress or anything on my mind, if anything things are going great for me at the moment I've been really calm. I guess it's just one of these things but I know what step 1 is - stop being addicted to the forum! Especially because I've only been a member for 3 days. I need a life.

[Bibio]

hahahaaaa. welcome to the nuthouse. its worse than crack this place and the only way to kick the habit is loose all internet privileges.

you have been well and truly orged :-)



btw we really are a good bunch and if we take the pizz its all light hearted and no offence is meant.

[Paul the 6th]

I've been like this for atleast 5 years, takes me atleast 1-2 hours to get to sleep on a night, napping in the day is a 4-5 hours job for dropping off and then hopefully getting an hours kip at the end of it. Googled for it the other week and it turns out that if it takes you more than an hour to get to sleep on a regular basis it technically falls under insomnia.

Don't get into the meds, they will bong you big time - I had amitrptylene for migranes when I was 17-18, soon packed it in because I would wake up numb as helll (funny trying to get in the shower) and it's slippery slope.. Exercise and good sleep routine is the best bet. Failing that listening to music tends to get me ot sleep quicker.

Also try and avoid computers/bright screens/gaming atleast 1-2 hours before bed, along with caffeine or sugar. Piece all of that together and you may sleep well... or a few glasses of wine also works :smt030

[Spank86]

I was like this my whole life, oddly enough I've started sleeping better recently but I couldnt tell you why.

Mostly the only times it troubles me now is if I break my normal routines or have a day without any physical activity.

[keith_d]

I used to do the same. I've found a few things that work for me.

1) Exercise.

Not a mad rush round a squash court, but a long cycle or a mile in the pool.

2) No sleep between 4pm and bedtime

I used to get home from work knackered and grab an hours kip in front of the TV. Then I'd be wide awake until 2 or 3 in the morning. So I'd be tired the next day and do the same again..

3) Put the radio on, really quiet with a 1 hour timer

Music rather than chat, and so quiet that I have to lie still to listen to it. Listening to the radio stops me lying awake thinking about stuff.


Obviously, it's different strokes for different folks. But those are my favourites, along with 'adult activities'.

[dyzio]

Reading usually does the trick for me.

[EssexDave]

As said above, exercise does the trick (and makes you fitter).

Can also be diet affecting sleep patterns - eating late, or especially sugary stuff regularly can make it hard to sleep.

Get some running shoes and go for a run, or get out on a push bike and spend 30 minutes or something in the evening going for a cycle - as long as you put some effort in should help you sleep.

[EssexDave]

Oh and also they say no computer/internet 2 hours before bed and if you watch TV do it in a dark room before bed. Something to do with the light/concentration messing with your brain thinking it isn't time to sleep.

[Geodude]

Yep same here and have had it for alot of years. For me sleep is a luxury and no amount of pills or exercise works for me as when my body wants to be awake all night then thats what it does grrr.
I have a very active mind and find it hard to switch off. I can go a good few days with no sleep at all but end up walking round like a zombie or in a bubble if that makes sense and cant nap during the day or sleep in (if i do sleep) as it knocks me out of synch for the day. My brothers missus could sleep on a pile of bricks in the middle of a party at any time grr lucky booger.

[femaleacid]

Yep same here and have had it for alot of years. For me sleep is a luxury and no amount of pills or exercise works for me as when my body wants to be awake all night then thats what it does grrr.
I have a very active mind and find it hard to switch off. I can go a good few days with no sleep at all but end up walking round like a zombie or in a bubble if that makes sense and cant nap during the day or sleep in (if i do sleep) as it knocks me out of synch for the day. My brothers missus could sleep on a pile of bricks in the middle of a party at any time grr lucky booger.
Wish I could do that!
During the day I feel like I could fall asleep on a washing line but when I'm home from work I'm wide awake and can't even nap.

I'm sure I'm secretly a bat - or batwoman?

[_Stretchie_]

Go to the pub and have a few pints, not loads, just 7 or 8 and that will send you off

:smt030

[Geodude]

I'm sure I'm secretly a bat - or batwoman?
We know your secret identity now d'oh. ;)

[femaleacid]

We know your secret identity now d'oh. ;)
Oh shiz, well - it had to come out sometime :)

[femaleacid]

Go to the pub and have a few pints, not loads, just 7 or 8 and that will send you off

:smt030
7-8 pints would land me on the floor (lightweight alert)

But I'm going pub tonight and having a few buds and shots so hopefully that would knock me out for a good few hours after a big greasy takeaway. mmmm!

[dizzyblonde]

Computer/internet addiction.

Go do something else with your time.

I have worked 12 hr night shifts for years, and in the last two, have dealt with odd wakey wake patterns, as my body is used to upsidedown sleeping.


Peg is terrible, he falls asleep mid sentence when folk are talking to him, at work, in front of the TV, bed by 10 at the latest, awake at the crack of dawn. He was awake last night a lot, apparently it was tipping it down, very windy, usually I'd be awake listening to it, he was instead.

I'd been busy in the garden, and doing bike things for MOTs. Running about and not stopping.................slept like a baby.(but not our baby!)

[Nobbylad]

Exercise routinely, nowt to eat after 9pm, try putting your feet in a bucket, basin, bath, sink, or washing up bowl of cold water for about 5 mins before going to bed. Lowers your body temperature and has a relaxing effect.

As has been said, no TV, PS3/Xbox, p.c or smartphone for at least an hour before you're heading off.

[Spank86]

Go to the pub and have a few pints, not loads, just 7 or 8 and that will send you off

:smt030
Thats a very good way to get me to sleep walk and talk.

My mates think I'm wierd because I sleep with a locked door, its not to stop people getting in its to stop me getting out.

[femaleacid]

Exercise routinely, nowt to eat after 9pm, try putting your feet in a bucket, basin, bath, sink, or washing up bowl of cold water for about 5 mins before going to bed. Lowers your body temperature and has a relaxing effect.

As has been said, no TV, PS3/Xbox, p.c or smartphone for at least an hour before you're heading off.
The hour of no xbox is a struggle... It's just too hard!

Does playing Zelda count :p

[femaleacid]

Thats a very good way to get me to sleep walk and talk.

My mates think I'm wierd because I sleep with a locked door, its not to stop people getting in its to stop me getting out.
I've slept walked before and woke up in a empty bathtub and I tried to pee in my wardrobe, so lucky I don't do that now.

Instead apparently I talk german in my sleep :l

[Spank86]

I just shout in english if I've had a couple of beers before bed.

The actual walking is usually only if I've missed a nights sleep or gotten really tired. When I lived at home my mum used to worry I'd fall down stairs, never did though.

[femaleacid]

I just shout in english if I've had a couple of beers before bed.

The actual walking is usually only if I've missed a nights sleep or gotten really tired. When I lived at home my mum used to worry I'd fall down stairs, never did though.
I find it so scary how we can walk down the stairs, without even knowing and without even falling!
Although, it'd be an eventful way of waking up.

[SoulKiss]

Star Wars :)

When I cant sleep I just put the 1st (as in the 1st one made) Star Wars film on.

I have seen it so many times that I don't care if I stay awake till the end, but it distracts me from not ebing asleep.

A bit like Keith_D's radio idea.

You could make up a 1 hour playlist of relaxing/chill music an put that on low, I sometimes do that with a load of favourite Pink Floyd tracks.

[Spank86]

no need to put on a mix, just play dark side of the moon.

[EssexDave]

I listen to music generally to help me fall asleep. Something chilled out, although I have on occasion had drum and bass on to go to sleep to. Go figure.

[femaleacid]

I listen to music generally to help me fall asleep. Something chilled out, although I have on occasion had drum and bass on to go to sleep to. Go figure.
Yeah, I find listening to music before I try and go to sleep relaxing. I think I ought to do that often but avoid my industrial/trance/dubstep playlist.

[dizzyblonde]

I've slept walked before and woke up in a empty bathtub and I tried to pee in my wardrobe, so lucky I don't do that now.


How glamorous. Men find it easy to pee in wardrobes, how a woman does it, I have no idea. :-s


My ex peed on my computer tower once, so I moved it to a different place in my bedroom, he did it again a few months later, so I made sure he felt my wrath, by poking him early the next morning and making him scrub the mess.
He was always waking up in the middle of the night when he was pi$$ed out of his tree, and could never find the toilet, trying to argue the toss with a pi$$ed up arguementative bloke and redirect him to where he should be going, was extremely difficult....especially when he wasn't too good on his feet in the first place, so even worse after 12 pints and a kebab.

The last time he tried finding the bathroom in my sons bedroom, ended with a great big fight on the landing and I almost threw him down the stairs. :smt062 That point after many years together, was the nail in the coffin of our relationship.

I'm not violent, I do shout a lot, but that man and his drinking problem drove me to some pretty nasty behaviour........and the worst of it is, he was always so w4nkered, that his memory was erased of it all in the morning, and he denied all knowledge of his behaviour and his foul nasty talking.

He was a terrible insomniac, but he had some serious health issues, and was in pain for many years, to which I was extremely supportive, my patience grew very thin when he carried on boozing for the sake of it, once he was put back together and didn't have the pain anymore.

Scarred for life mentally, I get extremely agitated around very drunk people, especially the types that pee in wardrobes. I give them a very wide berth. Theres being merry and then theres just undignified. I fell off my boots on Saturday night, dancing around got a bit dizzy, but I'd had my fill long before then, and know when the last pint is to be had.

[femaleacid]

How glamorous. Men find it easy to pee in wardrobes, how a woman does it, I have no idea. :-s


My ex peed on my computer tower once, so I moved it to a different place in my bedroom, he did it again a few months later, so I made sure he felt my wrath, by poking him early the next morning and making him scrub the mess.


I just started giggling away at my computer at the fact so,ebody pee'd on a computer tower LOL if my boyfriend even came close to doing that I'd instantly get him in a leg headlock!

And hmmm I'm not quite sure how I was going about trying to pee in the wardrobe.. worse thing is I have my shoes on the floor so if I did end up pee'ing in there, I'd have a nice surprise while trying to put my shoes on. EURGH.

[Paul the 6th]

I pee'd all over one of my ex's shoes and handbags in her wardrobe when I was sleepwalking once.

I remember my mum telling me the story about my dad getting up in the night, opening the bedroom window and taking a whizz out on to the street - she turned the light on to see what he was doing and he snapped "TURN THAT LIGHT OUT!"... Must be in my dna or something :)

[metalmonkey]

Learn something like Yoga or Tai Chi it will help you relax and calm down.

If you drink coke, eats loads of junk, drink quite a bit then stop it change your lifestyle then you will feel better and do exercise. Drink doesn't make you sleep better, you sleep worse as interfers with how you sleep.

[femaleacid]

Learn something like Yoga or Tai Chi it will help you relax and calm down.

If you drink coke, eats loads of junk, drink quite a bit then stop it change your lifestyle then you will feel better and do exercise. Drink doesn't make you sleep better, you sleep worse as interfers with how you sleep.
A life without as much coke.. argh!
But I doubt I could do yoga I find it hard enough to balance on 2 feet!

[metalmonkey]

A life without as much coke.. argh!
But I doubt I could do yoga I find it hard enough to balance on 2 feet!

Well by doing it you learn how to do that and many other things, try it is very good for you.

[femaleacid]

Well by doing it you learn how to do that and many other things, try it is very good for you.
Although I would love to be able to balance on my hands and head with my legs up in the air.

[Spank86]

A life without as much coke.. argh!


you'd be surprised, I cut it out completely a couple of years ago and feel much better.

[shonadoll]

Have you tried nytol herbal tablets? They really worked for me, placebo effect or not, worth a go.

[femaleacid]

Have you tried nytol herbal tablets? They really worked for me, placebo effect or not, worth a go.
I tried them once a few years back and they made me have the best deep sleep ever!
I may try them again...

Any particular brand?

[metalmonkey]

I tried them once a few years back and they made me have the best deep sleep ever!
I may try them again...

Any particular brand?

Really I wouldn't bother, just learn about how to control your breathing it will help you relax and hopefully sleep better. If that doesn't work then you need to ID what is cauing problem, drugs don't fix problems they just mask them.

[Owenski]

If you're not sleeping until 1 and feel the need to sleep until 10am to compensate.
Here's what you do; set your alarm for 7am and when it goes off - get out of bed and go about your daily dues, when you get sleepy tired around 3-4pm dont be a div and go for a nap instead go find something to do which gets you off your ****. Dont drink Coffee, Coke, Tea or anything cafine based after 5pm. So you've ensured you stay awake from 7am until 10pm without napping or caffine aid so by 10pm you'll be plenty tired and ready to sleep, repeat daily for the rest of your life.

Congratulations you've just been cured.

FYI Bad diet, (High sugar/caffine) and poor exercise routine are the No.1 cause of poor sleep pattens.
Sort those out and I promise you'll sleep fine.

[femaleacid]

If you're not sleeping until 1 and feel the need to sleep until 10am to compensate.
Here's what you do; set your alarm for 7am and when it goes off - get out of bed and go about your daily dues, when you get sleepy tired around 3-4pm dont be a div and go for a nap instead go find something to do which gets you off your ****. Dont drink Coffee, Coke, Tea or anything cafine based after 5pm. So you've ensured you stay awake from 7am until 10pm without napping or caffine aid by 10pm you'll be plenty tired and ready to sleep, repeat daily for the rest of your life.

Congratulations you've just been cured.
You are my healer.

[SoulKiss]

other cure

MOAR SECKS!!!

[femaleacid]

other cure

moar secks!!!
impossibruuuuu

[metalangel]

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=172115

600+ 's advice helped me.

I now try and keep a fairly regular bedtime so I get into a rhythm as opposed to throwing my sleep pattern all over the placed based on my shifts.

It's not easy, though, when they do shizzle like this week:

Weds: 6am-2pm
Thurs: 6am-2pm
Fri: 2pm-10pm
Sat: 9am-7pm

Screws your head up!

[DJFridge]

Eat, drink, org, drink, do the kids packed lunches, go to bed midnightish. We have BBC News channel on very quietly in the bedroom which sends us both off very quickly. It also means that most odd middle of the night noises don't get noticed so don't wake us up. The only problem is if the power goes out (which it did in the very heavy rain) the room suddenly goes very quiet and THAT wakes us up!

[hardhat_harry]

Exercise works for me

[Mrs DJ Fridge]

Exercise, a light meal, no caffeine, a good book and something quiet in the background (News 24 at a very low level is best). Works every time for me no matter how much the events of the day are going round my head I can always drop off if I follow the above formula.

Exercise best left to you to decide what suits you best, nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean?

[Haircut]

Read this it is interesting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783

On a side note, back when I was studying for my finals at uni I decided to only finish studying (I only could study later in the day) and go to sleep when I was actually almost falling asleep, I would set the alarm 8 hours forward and go to sleep and wake up without a problem.

Well no proble apart from the fact that I was going to sleep nearly 2 hours later every night meaning I ended up having to " do an all nighter" to reset.

I do believe that some people just need to be awake longer before they are tired and that this does not fit so well with the 9 to 5.

[keith_d]

Some good reminders in there of things I'd forgotten.

Playing high adrenaline games before bed stuffs my sleeping pattern up completely. So if I'm home it's easy stuff like reading the .org before bed.

I don't usually drink coffee, and don't drink much Coke. But avoiding caffeine rich drinks after 9pm makes a lot of sense.

[muzikill]

A walk during your lunch at work every day or in the evening if you may be prone to the 40 winks on the couch scenario when you get in as mentioned earlier.

You dont work shifts do you?

[shonadoll]

I tried them once a few years back and they made me have the best deep sleep ever!
I may try them again...

Any particular brand?

Nytol was the brand, got them in boots, tasted foul but really helped me. The herbal type was the ones I got.

[shonadoll]

I tried them once a few years back and they made me have the best deep sleep ever!
I may try them again...

Any particular brand?

Really I wouldn't bother, just learn about how to control your breathing it will help you relax and hopefully sleep better. If that doesn't work then you need to ID what is cauing problem, drugs don't fix problems they just mask them.

They're not addictive, and just a herbal supplement. I only used them for a week and they helped me get to sleep for weeks after I stopped them. Never used them since.

Now temazepam, thats a drug!

[Teejayexc]

Although I would love to be able to balance on my hands and head with my legs up in the air.

Wheelbarrow position?

[DJ123]

you need to knacker yourself out, do what you will to achieve this. I know i am going to get a good night sleep after 2 things-drinking, a lot or being out on the bike for 6+ hours.
Day to day i tend to stick to a rhythm of being in bed as close to 11 as possible and asleep by Midnight. Most nights as soon as i feel tired, i set a sleep timer on the TV for half hour, most times i fall asleep before it turns off, or just after.
For years i couldn't sleep unless it was completely dark and silent. Now i can sleep anywhere under any condition. I aim to get 8 hours of sleep a night and it works well.

[BanannaMan]

welcome to the insomniacs club, its a funny old club and you will notice the sufferers if you brows the forum at silly o'clock times (this excludes bananaman as he is states side).



I wish. Check the time (I'm 5 hours behind) I'm up at stupid AM as well.
I work 12 hours a day and sleep 4 to 5 hours a night.
Ok on as little as 3 hours sometimes.
1 day a week (Sunday) I sleep 6 to 7 hours.
Tried diet, etc. and taking anthing to knock me out just makes me feel worse the next day.

In the end what works best for me is too sleep when my body wants to sleep and not worry about it.
If I'm not sleepy I just relax on the computer, TV or reading.





step 1 is - stop being addicted to the forum! Especially because I've only been a member for 3 days.


Too late I'm afraid. You'll be here for life like the rest of us now.

[Milky Bar Kid]

I work shifts and as a result, my sleep pattern is shocking. I work 2 dayshifts, 2 backshifts and 2 nights before 4 days off and startin all again. I end up doing my dayshifts with about 2 maybe 3 hours sleep under my belt because my body hates sleeping until the wee small hours due to the amount of nights I work. It's horrible.

I've found that I just sleep when I need to sleep now. If I can't I just read a book or whatever. Worrying about sleeping in for my dayshifts is my biggest problem, especially now I have to be up at half 5 for them!

[Sally]

Yeah, I find listening to music before I try and go to sleep relaxing. I think I ought to do that often but avoid my industrial/trance/dubstep playlist.

Good playlist, I fall asleep nearly nightly to trance, I find it severely relaxing!

Apart from when am at a festival or in a club after a few beers! :smt030

Although I would love to be able to balance on my hands and head with my legs up in the air.

Wheelbarrow position?

Thank god someone picked up on that! :smt029

[femaleacid]

Thank god someone picked up on that! :smt029

Oh lord, help me! :(