Insomnia

aninnymouse

Cherished Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Posts
2,812
Media
0
Likes
349
Points
553
Location
In My Own World
Sexuality
60% Gay, 40% Straight
Gender
Male
I hope you are able to get some rest tonight, do you ever try having some classical music on in the background? If I have trouble going from almost asleep to there, I've found that if I can just barely hear the music it is actually soothing and can help coax it along. Turning your brain off is important too, if you are able to (I know there are times I can't). Good luck

Oh, yeah. Tried EVERY type of music under the sun. White noise, a fan, the furnace/air conditioner near me, etc. When it's bad, it's bad. What exacerbates it is the fact that my personal life is an icky bucket of suck right now, for a variety of reasons. I'd known that for awhile, could see the crash coming, but could do nothing about it. Soooo, I have another doctor's appt on Friday, to see what else he can do for me.

Thanks for the kind words, Here's to hoping that true sleep will come soon....
 

B_subgirrl

Sexy Member
Joined
May 15, 2010
Posts
5,547
Media
0
Likes
33
Points
73
Location
NSW, Australia
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Female
I've had insomnia for years. I've finally managed to fix it this summer. The key for me is remaining permanently mildly sleep deprived. If I get around 2 hours less sleep each night than my body actually wants, I can get through the day, and I end up falling asleep within 30-45 mins. Significantly better than the 2-4 hours it was taking before.

Yay to sleep!
 

Mercurygirl

Superior Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2012
Posts
3,528
Media
0
Likes
3,143
Points
148
Location
Island of Misfit Toys
Gender
Female
I'm a vampire. It's 2:00 a.m. and I'll probably be up for another hour or so. When I do go to sleep it will probably be for only for 4 hours or so as I have classes in the morning. What ends up happening is all my lack of sleep will accumulate and I end up binge sleeping for 12 straight hour on the weekend.
 

aninnymouse

Cherished Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Posts
2,812
Media
0
Likes
349
Points
553
Location
In My Own World
Sexuality
60% Gay, 40% Straight
Gender
Male
Have you tried something as simple as camomile tea?

Reading Aristotle is also very effective. So, settle down with a pot of camomile and the Nicomachean Ethics.

Oh, yeah. Celestial Seasonings makes a "Tension Tamer" tea, with all sorts of soothing herbs, like Chamomille, Eleuthero, Valerian, etc. Makes me drowsy, but doesn't put me out.

I asked for Trazadone, having heard good things about it, and having a love/hate relationship with Xanax and Ambien. Makes me feel like a zombie the next morning, and still doesn't resolve my issues, which are falling asleep, and then STAYING asleep. And yeah, it does dry my mouth out. I remember getting up the first morning after, stumbling into my kitchen, and chugging two or three bottles of water, and still felt thirsty.

I got a four cup pot of coffee in me, and felt better, then called my mother on the phone to see what we were doing that day (we're both caregivers for my grandmother) and she asked if I was ok, 'cause I was stuttering. She'd also noticed me much more tired throughout the day, yawning frequently, and just not right, as have others around m, but she's the one to say the most to me.

So, back to the drawing board.

Mine's is more slow sleep insomnia, where I can't turn my mind off for anything. Also, I know I'm nocturnal, that's just the way my body is wired. No matter what, I can never adjust to a daywalker schedule well. Sad part is; I can't get night jobs. I'd be in heaven if I could, but alas.....
 

Drifterwood

Superior Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Posts
18,677
Media
0
Likes
2,811
Points
333
Location
Greece
Mine's is more slow sleep insomnia, where I can't turn my mind off for anything. Also, I know I'm nocturnal, that's just the way my body is wired. No matter what, I can never adjust to a daywalker schedule well. Sad part is; I can't get night jobs. I'd be in heaven if I could, but alas.....


I have it.

Move to China. :smile:
 

aninnymouse

Cherished Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Posts
2,812
Media
0
Likes
349
Points
553
Location
In My Own World
Sexuality
60% Gay, 40% Straight
Gender
Male
So.....Back to the doc. Still had an issue with my pressure and my pulse. HIGH.

Issue with Trazadone. Was taking 50 mg at 10 or so @night, thinking it'd do me good.

Didin't. I'd be wide awake after four hours, and an occasional redose of Xanax, herbal remedies, etc Still wide awake. I'd finally crash after three or four in the morning.

Add to that, I'd still have a hard time waking in the morning, and then, even after getting an ungodly amount of coffee in me, I'd still be having trouble. Peope would be asking if I was ok, noting I was stuffering, etc.

To be less long winded, took me off the Trazodone, and put me back on theAmbien, which I have a love hate relationship with.

All I want is a nice, solid night of sleep?

With those, I've already done four Dyphenhydramine to set things for the evening.

I have one Blue Zanax left
 
6

693987

Guest
This is the tea I was looking at

Deep Sleep

Has chamomile, rosehips, lavender, pink peppercorn, valerian, honeybush and kava in it...
 

Fuzzy_

Legendary Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Posts
4,253
Media
0
Likes
1,105
Points
258
Location
Wuziland
Gender
Male
With those, I've already done four Dyphenhydramine to set things for the evening.

I have one Blue Zanax left

Did you tell you doctor that you're mixing these drugs? It seems like quit a cocktail.

Anyway, the harder you try to sleep, the less likely you'll succeed. It's easy to say, "don't worry about it," but sometimes the problem really is the worrying.

After you fall asleep, how the hell do you wake up with all those drugs in you? Fuzzy would sleep through the apocalypse with all of those drugs in him. Just one Benadryl makes it hard for Fuzzy to wake the next morning.

These are some rules that Fuzzy lives by. Maybe they'd help you:


  • Never go to bed unless you're tired.
  • If you're feeling anxious in the evening, take a sleeping pill or anxiolitic well before bedtime.
  • Realize that none of the problems you're worried about are going to be solved from your bed at 3:00 AM.
  • If you can't sleep, get out of bed and do something until you feel groggy enough to head back to bed.
  • Have a good movie ready to watch as a last resort.
  • Remind yourself that you can call in sick if you don't get any sleep. Insomnia is a sickness.
  • Remind yourself that you can sleep all you want on weekends and days off.
  • Exercise in the evening. It reduces stress in the mind and body. Heavy exercise can also make you feel tired (blood sugar dip).
  • Remind yourself that the worst possible thing that can happen is you don't sleep that night (not the end of the World!).
  • If you can't fall asleep after 2 hours, get up and do something.
Being up at 4 AM after tossing and turning for hours is a frustrating, lonely experience. All worries are amplified and your mind gets cluttered with "what if's". You need to stop that cycle or, even better, prevent it. Here is a link that may help you. It deals with self cognitive behavior therapy, and breathing and relaxation exercises: http://www.cognitivebehaviourtherapy.org.uk/guides/anxiety
 
Last edited:

aninnymouse

Cherished Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Posts
2,812
Media
0
Likes
349
Points
553
Location
In My Own World
Sexuality
60% Gay, 40% Straight
Gender
Male
This is the tea I was looking at

Deep Sleep

Has chamomile, rosehips, lavender, pink peppercorn, valerian, honeybush and kava in it...

Thanks for that, Fade I'll have to try that. I do drink this Celestial Seasonings "Tension Tamer" stuff, has Eluthero, Tilia, Lemongrass, Pepermint, ginger, and catnip in it.


Tension Tamer® Herbal Tea | Celestial Seasonings

Sometimes it helps, so.....one more gotta be just as good, right?
 

aninnymouse

Cherished Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Posts
2,812
Media
0
Likes
349
Points
553
Location
In My Own World
Sexuality
60% Gay, 40% Straight
Gender
Male
Did you tell you doctor that you're mixing these drugs? It seems like quit a cocktail.

Anyway, the harder you try to sleep, the less likely you'll succeed. It's easy to say, "don't worry about it," but sometimes the problem really is the worrying.

After you fall asleep, how the hell do you wake up with all those drugs in you? Fuzzy would sleep through the apocalypse with all of those drugs in him. Just one Benadryl makes it hard for Fuzzy to wake the next morning.

These are some rules that Fuzzy lives by. Maybe they'd help you:


  • Never go to bed unless you're tired.
  • If you're feeling anxious in the evening, take a sleeping pill or anxiolitic well before bedtime.
  • Realize that none of the problems you're worried about are going to be solved from your bed at 3:00 AM.
  • If you can't sleep, get out of bed and do something until you feel groggy enough to head back to bed.
  • Have a good movie ready to watch as a last resort.
  • Remind yourself that you can call in sick if you don't get any sleep. Insomnia is a sickness.
  • Remind yourself that you can sleep all you want on weekends and days off.
  • Exercise in the evening. It reduces stress in the mind and body. Heavy exercise can also make you feel tired (blood sugar dip).
  • Remind yourself that the worst possible thing that can happen is you don't sleep that night (not the end of the World!).
  • If you can't fall asleep after 2 hours, get up and do something.
Being up at 4 AM after tossing and turning for hours is a frustrating, lonely experience. All worries are amplified and your mind gets cluttered with "what if's". You need to stop that cycle or, even better, prevent it. Here is a link that may help you. It deals with self cognitive behavior therapy, and breathing and relaxation exercises: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy by Norfolk based Karen Pittman


I've tried that stuff, and the doctor knows what I take. Why I was so disappointed that the Trazadone wasn't good.

Part of my problem is that I don't stay asleep. I'll sleep for an hour or two, then pop up, and it's on like donkey kong. Couch to bed, bed to couch. A cup of Tension Tamer, Make sure all the lights are out, Take a hot bath/shower to relax myself, etc, etc.

And the worst is, it's cumulative. I've done the 3 hours sleep, if that thing, for several nights in a row before.

Last night was the first GOOD sleep I'd gotten in I don't know how long.

Trust, I don't like taking pills, not even antihistamines or blood pressure pills. But, if it's what I've got to do.....
 

MickeyLee

Mythical Member
Staff
Moderator
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Posts
33,740
Media
7
Likes
49,861
Points
618
Location
neverhood
Sexuality
90% Gay, 10% Straight
ya might wanna try a sleep mask/eye mask thingie.
has been a recent sleep saver for me.
the one i have i filled with that squeeze-y stress ball goo.
once the mask is on, sleep is on that way.
something about the pressure, the temperature of the mask and total darkness works me. is quite soothing.

another theory on why this works.. sleep doesn't recognize me :tongue1::frown: