trouble sleeping at nights.

[S. Heisley]

how many guys have trouble sleeping at night? what do you do to go back to sleep when your up around 2 or 3 am in the moring night after night?

how many people early in the morings find themselfs suring the furum trying to entertain themselfs till they can go back to sleep?

slow

All of the above....That's me! (Except I'm not a guy.) I fix myself something warm to drink and sometimes I read a book or write a note instead of surfing the forum or the Internet.

[Shadow Catcher]

Mike
A difficulty sleeping either too much or too little is a red flag for depression, been there done that, and its not like you don't have a good reason. Best course if it is depression is to get professional help, no question, I take my own advice!
Short term, there are mild sleep aids available over the counter!
Periods of time when I have had difficulty I will spend a bit of time answering email then go back to bed with music on in the back ground, for me classical.

[JeremiahO]

Yeah Slow I dont sleep well either. Most of the time it because I cant turn off my brain-- and yeah maybe depression might play a small role. Most nights I find myself walking from room to room checking doors and peering out windows. Sometimes I just lay in bed for hours because no matter which way I lay one or the other or both arms go to sleep on me. Point is I too wish there was a cure all for insomnia. Best I can figure is to get as comfortable as possible, and try to forget about whatever or who ever is the problem...yeah right I'll be up again tonight.

[wagondude]

From time to time I find I have trouble. Usually around stressful events. I just try to keep still with my eyes closed and find something less stressful to think about. On a lighter note, Did you by any chance receive a package from me recently? Just wondering if it made it to you.

Edit: never mind. I just saw the PM. Glad it made it to you.

[DriverOne]

Maybe sleep apnea? I have a busted nose that makes it rough during allergy season. I use Breathe right strips and I can sleep better. Maybe one of those?

[rjd]

Slow, I take Tylenol PM must night. Or which ever stores brand. One for sure , sometime two. I'm sure some of mine is depression. But also have back and neck issues. My niece is a pharmacisc(sp) she says it isn"t habit forming. The other thing I have found that works for me is to walk a mile mileand half on our treadmill a couple of hours before bed.

Good Luck . You seem to have gotten some good advice already .

[Bogo]

Slow, the fact you are using computers tells me you have a good chance at being able to understand modern high tech tractors, combines and sprayers.

As for insomnia... I just get up and do something. Might as well make good use of the time. People have asked how I know so much. Well, lots of reading at 3am...

[djoyner]

I've found that drinking herbal tea (particularly Chamomile) approximately an hour before bedtime helps me to sleep.

[CAJUN LADY]

I take drugs! Legal drugs - 1/2 a generic Ambien every night to help me fall asleep. I've always had a problem sleeping (my entire life) and never been depressed a day of my life - just a very light sleeper. This 1/2 a pill helps relax me but doesn't keep me asleep. Usually around 2:15 I will wake up and eventually fall back asleep. I don't listen to music before I go to bed because I will keep a song playing in my head until I want to slap my self. It annoys me that my husband can lay his head down and snore in 10 seconds! My brain refuses to relax. Tried over the counter but I don't like the way they make me feel the next day (lethargic/foggy). I have none of those 'hangover' feelings with this medication. So I'm gonna take that 1/2 a pill for the rest of my life and wake up happy! Oh, and to those who are thinking, "that is very addictive", yep, probably so but so is alcohol, cigaretts, Mountain Dew, coffee (and I don't partake in any of them).

[Fenlason]

I almost never have a hard time falling asleep. I do have times I wake up.. and 3:00 or 4:00 am is the usual time. Depression or stress is not the reason for my insomnia. While I can see a stressed busy mind keeping one from sleep. I don't find an unstressed busy mind a hindrance. I will go to sleep excited about the next day, and will be running projects through my mind.. without a problem. I will often design or problem solve at these times.

When I wake and can't get back to sleep.. I will sometimes just go somewhere else to sleep.. the screen porch.. or the day bed in my gym. I am not sure why but sometimes that will work. Sometimes just turning on the tv.. I can go back to sleep. Sometimes I realized that none of those will work.. I will then either watch tv or read... before falling back asleep. Other times... I just get up and start my day.

[Mojave Bob]

I have been through the sleep apnea routines (rated severe enough that I was disallowed to drive for a time). I've done the CPAP thing. I have had the UPPP sleep apnea surgery (now, there is a fun time...). I have dealt with a good many sleep-deprivation health issues. While enrolled in the Cleveland Clinic Chronic Pain program (yep, tired hurts), we addressed the issues of sleep.

There are "rules" of what is known as Sleep Hygiene, such as: avoid alcohol, no caffeine after noon, go to bed at the same time every night, get up at the same time every morning, do not read or watch stimulating material within two hours of bedtime, do not exercise vigorously within two hours of bedtime, etc. Do not use the bedroom for anything other than sex and sleep. Do not routinely take sleep medications. If you do wake up and realize you cannot fall back to sleep within a brief time, get out of bed and go someplace else. Read something gentle (not TV!) until you get sleepy. If you go to bed and find yourself laying awake, get up and go someplace else.

The ideas behind this are to teach your body/brain that the bedroom, and especially the bed, are for sleep, and sleep only. When in bed, sleep. The two hours (one hour minimum) before bed are a critical time for the brain to pack up and get ready to sleep, and the brain thrives on routine, such as consistent sleep/no sleep times.

Obviously, it is not always practical or possible to implement all these rules, but the more of them you do, the better your odds of achieving a good night's sleep.

[Mojave Bob]

Slow --

I hate to say it, but surfing the internet and watching tv are two of the worst things you could do if you hope to get back to sleep. Light shining into your eyes stimulates your brain and tells it that the sun is up, and that it is time to wake up and get busy. What works for me is to go sit in a comfortable chair, and start to pray individually, in detail, for every person I can think of, except for myself. It is a great way to get my mind off my own problems, which is probably what was keeping me awake in the first place, and it gets my head into a better place. I believe that you are also a believer in Christ, so this is a great option for you, too.

Matt 11:28 -- "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

MB

[Bogo]

Light shining into your eyes stimulates your brain and tells it that the sun is up, and that it is time to wake up and get busy.

LCD computer monitors are particularly bad at this. The back lighting on them is strong in the blue spectrum which is known to effect the body clocks related to sleeping and waking. After reading a few articles on it I was wondering where I could get a high resolution amber monitor...

I still use the computer, but I turn the screen brightness down and work in low lighting. Lately I've been turning the lights down around 7 to 8pm, and it seams to have helped making it easier to get to sleep at night.

[Fenlason]

Light shining into your eyes stimulates your brain and tells it that the sun is up, and that it is time to wake up and get busy.

LCD computer monitors are particularly bad at this. The back lighting on them is strong in the blue spectrum which is known to effect the body clocks related to sleeping and waking. After reading a few articles on it I was wondering where I could get a high resolution amber monitor...

I still use the computer, but I turn the screen brightness down and work in low lighting. Lately I've been turning the lights down around 7 to 8pm, and it seams to have helped making it easier to get to sleep at night.

some recommend amber colored glasses to wear.. while watching tv or on the computor.

[Roly Nelson]

I guess that is the best thing about being retired, I just fade away, petting my dog next to me, thinking, "lets see, what is it that I want to do tomorrow?' The next thing I know, the dog rubs her cold nose against my cheek and says "Hey, buddy it's morning, open the door and let me go out to pee". And so starts another wonderful day of retirement, with no worries to boggle my mind. I gave up the alarm clock years ago, and haven't worn a watch for over 18 years, and I love it. Hey, when is the next teardrop gathering anyway?
Roly ~~ Oops, it's in the 70s today, better prepare the trailer for another over-nighter.