Insomnia and Other Sleep Problems

Post by **Delvar** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:03 pm

I know I haven't really been around for months, maybe even a year or more, but I'm trying to visit Seikens more often, as you may have noticed.

Anyway, as the subject suggests, I'm having severe sleep problems. During the day, I'm fatigued and barely functional. As soon as my head hits the pillow at night, I'm wide awake, and awake until about 5am, when I sleep until about 8am. Sometimes I sleep a bit more, sometimes I don't sleep at all. I don't usually get more than 6 hours of sleep and a lot of my "sleep" is being half asleep or still fairly conscious.

I've learned that you not only need sleep for physical reasons, but mental ones too. Sleep is your brain's opportunity to process things, and lack of sleep leads you to being mentally overloaded. Which leads to stress. I'm at my wits end!

I know most of the looping infomercials off by heart, and my eyes look like I've been bawwing for days, red, puffy, bags :(

So, have you ever had sleeping problems like this? What did you do to try and get to sleep? I'll try pretty much anything! :(

Post by **Tekka** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:29 pm

My favourite way of staving off insomnia is to burn off a little energy before I go to sleep, and maybe have a glass or two of milk, which will fill my stomach decently. Then after ten minutes or so I'll start to get really groggy, and I'll head off to bed.

Post by **Kimiko** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:31 pm

Hey Delvar. It's good to see you back again

I'm afraid I can't really help you with sleep problems though. I'm one of those people who nearly always sleeps a solid night.

Have you tried the usual sleeping advice?

Post by **Kassidy** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:35 pm

Nytol is my friend. Considering I switch sleep patterns almost on a daily basis, it's about the only thing that keeps me sleeping and sane.

Post by **DeadWolf** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:51 pm

I end up taking a sleep aid to get me to sleep. That's the only solution I can give.

Post by **Delvar** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:59 pm

Kimiko: Yup, tried all the usuals. I've got a book on 50 ways to get better sleep and I've tried most of them.

I guess I'm just going to have to settle for medications. I only really use them if I have something important going on.

Nytol, huh? Wiki tells me it's a sedative antihistamine. Those things used to work like a charm, but they don't seem to affect me as much anymore. Same with strong pain killers. Sleeping pills like stillnox still work, but they usually turn me into a hallucinating zombie.

Oh, and, Kassidy, what has you switching sleeping patterns all the time? Work? Caring for infant wildlife?

And all the drinking milk type remedies used to work, now they do nothing :(

Thanks for your suggestions though!

Post by **Kassidy** » Tue May 26, 2009 6:11 pm

Work. My normal schedule is:
Day 1: 0730-1930
Day 2: 0730-1930
Day 3: 1930-0730
Day 4: 1930-0730
Day 5-8: Off

This week days 5 and 6 were 1930-0730 too though.

Post by **Dr. Sheexy** » Wed May 27, 2009 7:28 pm

I have bad insomnia and I take sleeping pills for it usually.

Back in highschool I would barely sleep 2-4 hours a night and still manage to run cross-country and do other stuff in athletics. Dunno how I was able to keep up with that but somehow I did.
That was back before I took sleeping medicine.

Even though I have the medicine I try to avoid taking it as much as possible, I only use it when I know I have to get up early.

I think the best way to take care of insomnia though is to force yourself to be active during the day. You've also got to force yourself to get up at normal times. College really helps me with this because I have to walk a couple of miles up and down stairs each day getting places. It wasn't until summer break started that my insomnia began giving me any problems again.

That's just how I look at it, even doing this and taking the pills though I still end up lying awake for 1-3 hours before I actually get any sleep. But I get enough sleep to not be tired during the day so it works out fine for me.

Post by **Anise** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:56 pm

I cant help you. I have the same problem,,,,,,,,,,,

Post by **NightshadeTea** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:45 pm

I used to have that problem (though not as severe) about a year ago... now I sleep too much. >_O

I would honestly suggest exercise during the day. It makes what little sleep you get more efficient. However, if you've tried as many techniques (and honestly tried, not just pretend you did) as you say, you should probably see a doctor. From the sounds of it, you need some medical assistance. Make sure the sleeping pills you take are really right for you.

Post by **Kefka** » Sun May 31, 2009 8:54 pm

sorry i cannot share any stories.
I haven't got any sleepingproblems and don't take pills.

(hurray!)

Post by **Aurora_Borealis** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:49 am

The only time I can't sleep is when I wake up in the middle of the night and I try to go back to sleep and my brother is snoring like an elephant giving birth to a whale in the next room... Other than that, I'm a deep sleeper. You should try some hot cocoa before going to bed, it eases your body and makes it more susceptible to calling it a day and getting some rest...

Post by **Delvar** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:24 am

I actually tried a memory foam pillow last night to see if my pillows were the problem, and I think it worked. I don't have a stiff neck this morning and I slept for 5 hours! problem... solvered?

Thanks for all your replies gaiz!