Can't sleep... help!

I just could not sleep last night... I had to be up at 5am so I went to bed about 8pm, woke up around 1:30am and doubt I got much more sleep after that until 4:30am when I just decided to hell with it and got up.

The result is that I'm now so knackered I'm going to leave the car at work today and take the train home as I just don't trust myself. Hell, I've only been here at work an hour and I can barely keep my eyes open.

Any suggestions or tips for getting to sleep? I find that knowing I have to get up and therefore I REALLY need to be asleep tends to mean I get anxious and can't drop off.

sleeping tablets....

Im not being silly they do work but fins a brand and dose that works for you.

Never had much luck with those, I bought some Sleep MD stuff and found that I could fight them off if I was determined of (as per the whole 'okay, in bed, pills taken, NEED TO SLEEP BUSY DAY TOMROROW' stupidity)

Originally Posted by metalangel

I find that knowing I have to get up and therefore I REALLY need to be asleep tends to mean I get anxious and can't drop off.

Thats what does it everytime for me, if I start thinking that then ive got no chance!
I was once told to lay there telling myself that it doesnt matter if I dont get to sleep, Ill be tired the next day but the body can cope 24 hrs without sleep. Try and trick your mind!

I have little rituals I follow now, I play the same games in the same order on my phone as im laying in bed. I think maybe the bright screen in the dark room makes my eyes tired, I dont know, but ive kind of trained myself and it works 9 out of ten nights.

[maviczap]

Go and see your GP, and talk to him or her

Sleeping tablets are ok in the short term but you need to look for the underlying cause, which could be stress related. If your worried about not sleeping, then you're stressed about it!

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by maviczap

Go and see your GP, and talk to him or her

Sleeping tablets are ok in the short term but you need to look for the underlying cause, which could be stress related. If your worried about not sleeping, then you're stressed about it!

+1

Sleeping pills are worthless for treating insomnia don't do it,

I was prescribed a 2 week dose of Zopiclone (7.5mg)and the course went in 3 phases;
Days 1 to 3 - was knocked out within 15 mins of taking them but woke up in the morning feeling more tired than a sleepless nights

Days 4 to 7 - Worked fine, little groggy in the morning but did feel rested

Days 8 to 10 - Insomnia crept back

Day 11 - Had next to no sleep what so ever and had a terrible time with hallucinations while awake which was a very upsetting experience

Dat 12+ - Threw the remaining tablets in the bin and had crap sleep for the next few nights as I had come off the tablets.

Also throughout the 2 weeks I had the most god awful taste in my mouth, tasted like sucking on an penny 24/7 and this put me off food.

So with sleeping pills (prescription ones) you will get a few good nights sleep at the cost of twice as many nights without sleep and horrible side effects also Im not alone with the above pattern just do a quick google on Zopiclone or sleeping pills in general.

Most sleep problems are related to lifestyle choices and stress/anxiety, I got some pills from Holland and Barrett called 5-HTP which is a natural relaxant which I take once or twice a week and they do seem to calm me down a little and help me relax. I have been using them for a month or so and have noticed no side effects or dependancy, I can take a tab one night and then not take one for another week.

[Messie]

Trying to get to sleep earlier than normal is nigh on impossible. You are trying to put your 24 hour circadian rhythm into phase advance, which all sorts of studies have shown, doesn't suit us at all. If you need to change your shift or getting up time it is always better to go for the phase advance system, where you have to stay up longer before you get some sleep. This works with our natural inclination to stretch to a 25 hour day.

Also worrying about it is a surefire way to prevent sleep. As KellyJo said keep reminding yourself that your body can cope with little or no sleep so you will be fine for a few days. Studies of sleep deprivation have shown that we can go for days without sleep and still be ok'ish.

In a way it's stress, because I work shifts I sometimes have to get up early like today, and other times I don't even start in work until 2pm, so I have to keep changing my sleep pattern around. Plus if I go to bed early the missus doesn't come to bed until much later and makes a real racket getting into bed.

@Messie: What would suggest I should have done last night in preparation for today, as an example?

[tigersaw]

I import melatonin tablets from USA. Cant buy them here, but they are marketed as a vitamin suppliment there. For occasional use, I find they help with no side effects.
Tried proper pescription pills, worked brilliant with no problems, but once again, only for occasional use.