What I've tried for my insomnia: -black out curtains -removing alarm clocks and all sources of light -melatonin -magnesium supplement -turning off all electronics one hour before bed -relaxation/breathing techniques -strict bedtime routine
But it's still taking me 2-3 hours before I can fall asleep and sometimes I just have to down some Benadryl to fall asleep.
Any ideas? What do you have for me? I would prefer not to take pharmaceuticals.
Have you had a sleep study done? I would get a recommendation from your PCP to a sleep specialist.
No sleep study. My PCP wanted to prescribe Ambien which I don't want to do. I did not ask for a referral to a sleep specialist so maybe that's what I need to do.
I know you're not into medicine and this is going to sound really sketchy BUT...the dollar store has really great sleeping pills. There are 2 different kinds - one is a liquigel (1/dose) and the other is a little pill (2/dose). I like the little pills because I can take a half dose, which is just enough to help me fall asleep and stay asleep all night but not feel groggy in the AM. Also they're insanely cheap
Writing or doing a crossword, sudoku, etc. also helps me to quiet down in the evenings if I can't sleep.
'Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather, to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, screaming 'Woohoo! What a ride!' So every day is a holiday and every meal a feast."
I was put on trazadone, 1/2 of the lowest dose available, for insomnia. It has helped a TON. It's better than ambien b/c I'm not groggy when I wake up. It's an antidepressant, but I just take it at night before bed.
Post by lifetaketwo on May 23, 2013 10:28:12 GMT -5
Are you psyching yourself out? I do this. Like are you thinking to yourself how you will get sleep/ how you did all the things right to sleep/ worried about the next day if you don't sleep? I find my insomnia is 100% anxiety related and sometimes the anxiety is over the ability to sleep. Vicious cycle.
Are you psyching yourself out? I do this. Like are you thinking to yourself how you will get sleep/ how you did all the things right to sleep/ worried about the next day if you don't sleep? I find my insomnia is 100% anxiety related and sometimes the anxiety is over the ability to sleep. Vicious cycle.
Yes! This is very descriptive of what I feel/think when I'm in bed.
Post by lifetaketwo on May 23, 2013 10:43:28 GMT -5
I was hoping it wasn't for your sake. I haven't found a really great way to combat this except to accept that there are nights I won't sleep. Night before my half, night before job interview, night before I know I have to get up really early. I had thought about ambien for important nights but never followed through. The night before my first half I totally had a meltdown at 4:30am because I hast slept yet and had to get up at 6..
Post by lifetaketwo on May 23, 2013 10:48:43 GMT -5
Oh and alcohol!!! Even like a glass or two in the evening messes up my sleep. It has to be totally out of my system before getting into bed to not affect me. So wine with dinner is okay, but wine while chilling before bed isn't. And if I'm drunk or tipsy when I go to bed, as soon as its out of my system in the middle of the night, I wake up and stay up.
Post by mrs.jacinthe on May 23, 2013 12:39:11 GMT -5
Every once in a while when I have difficulty sleeping, I'll ask R if he minds me taking a brain dump. And then I'll talk pretty much nonstop for like half an hour, getting everything in my head out. The second I stop talking, it's like a switch flips and I'm pretty much unconscious all night. Maybe if you're having trouble getting your brain to quit, try writing or talking out what's in there so that your brain can be done with it.
Every once in a while when I have difficulty sleeping, I'll ask R if he minds me taking a brain dump. And then I'll talk pretty much nonstop for like half an hour, getting everything in my head out. The second I stop talking, it's like a switch flips and I'm pretty much unconscious all night. Maybe if you're having trouble getting your brain to quit, try writing or talking out what's in there so that your brain can be done with it.
This is really good advice. I will have to try this.
Another bizarre strategy someone recommended that really helped me is to start at my toes, make myself "feel" them and then tell them goodnight (in your head of course - my H would think I was CRAZY) and then slowly work your way up your body, feeling your ankles, calves, etc. until you've turned off everything, doing a couple cycles if you need to. It sounds absolutely absurd but it has worked for me before.
'Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather, to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, screaming 'Woohoo! What a ride!' So every day is a holiday and every meal a feast."
Another bizarre strategy someone recommended that really helped me is to start at my toes, make myself "feel" them and then tell them goodnight (in your head of course - my H would think I was CRAZY) and then slowly work your way up your body, feeling your ankles, calves, etc. until you've turned off everything, doing a couple cycles if you need to. It sounds absolutely absurd but it has worked for me before.
I have tried this and it makes me super anxious for some reason.
Another bizarre strategy someone recommended that really helped me is to start at my toes, make myself "feel" them and then tell them goodnight (in your head of course - my H would think I was CRAZY) and then slowly work your way up your body, feeling your ankles, calves, etc. until you've turned off everything, doing a couple cycles if you need to. It sounds absolutely absurd but it has worked for me before.
I have tried this and it makes me super anxious for some reason.
This makes me anxious too! I swear it's because it's an attempt to try to sleep.
Do you wake up at the same time every morning? Sleeping in on some days can really throw off your sleep schedule. With that being said, I would probably ask for a referral to a specialist if its really negatively affecting your life, and it sounds like it is.
Do you wake up at the same time every morning? Sleeping in on some days can really throw off your sleep schedule. With that being said, I would probably ask for a referral to a specialist if its really negatively affecting your life, and it sounds like it is.
I wake up at 6:30 Mon-Fri. I naturally wake up at 7:30 on weekends.
Are you having any sugar/lots of carbs before bed? Do you drink caffeine? If so, when is your last glass?
I eat paleo, so almost zero sugar. Some carbs (sweet potatoes, bananas, etc) in the post-workout period, around 6:30-7pm. Caffeine is moderate - one, sometimes two, cups of coffee. Never after 12:00pm.