Insomnia Sucks!

**Bournecrazy** · 09-10-2009, 02:35 AM

I am having serious sleeping problems lately i can't get my brain to shut off in the evening i know being on the pc last thing before bed doesnt help, maybe cutting down on the coffee would help too.

But still i have been wide awake up until about 3am most days then i have to force myself to go to bed and even when i am in bed i can't drop off. It is really starting to bother me, due to the lack of sleep and rest i can not get up in the mornings and the days that i do im wide awake so early its silly o'clock.

Does anyone have any tips on what i can do to relax myself in the evenings so i am able to sleep at a reasonable time?

**Palooka** · 09-10-2009, 02:51 AM

I understand and know how much it sucks. Have you heard of 5-HTP? You can get it at a health food store. I am out and need to get some more. It seems to work for a lot of people. Worth a try? Maybe calcium/magnesium vitamins. My mother swears by those vits.

Or a few shots of Brandy...

**larabelle** · 09-10-2009, 04:38 AM

I take calcium/magnesium capsules.
I do not watch television in the evening.
I ensure that the room is nice and cool.
I turn off the phone a couple of hours before bedtime.
If I really have trouble then I take a warm bath and take a 25mg benedryl tablet.

**Siebrie** · 09-10-2009, 09:18 AM

Did you know that the active ingredient in coffee doesn't kick in till about 7 hours after you've had your cuppa? So that cup you had at 3 pm, starts working at 10 pm.....

**shoiji** · 09-10-2009, 10:51 AM

I make sure to get exercise in during the day. Also will drink a cup on camomile tea or licorice tea before bedtime. One thing that has definately helped is doubling up on the multi-vitamins I have been taking. Which leads me to think I may of had some deficiency.

Definately know how you feel. It drives me crazy when I can not get enough sleep. Of course it doesn't help to have a screaming cat that wants to play around 3:00 am. lol

**Contrary Housewife** · 09-10-2009, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by Siebrie

Did you know that the active ingredient in coffee doesn't kick in till about 7 hours after you've had your cuppa? So that cup you had at 3 pm, starts working at 10 pm.....

That's not exactly true. Caffeine starts to take effect as soon as it hits your stomach and will peak 15-45 minutes after you begin drinking it.

It can, however, stay in your system anywhere from hours to days, depending on your personal metabolism and body chemistry. So you should avoid caffeine in the late afternoon or evening hours.

The standard literature on sleeplessness suggests having an evening routine where you start to relax 1 hour or so before bedtime, dim lights, think sleepy thoughts, shut the tv off, etc.

If you are laying awake, they suggest you get up and do something quiet for half an hour, like read, and then go back to bed.

Personally, I have found that an herbal tea containing valerian root does the trick for me. It does not make me drowsy, but it does enable me to fall asleep like a normal person. For some reason I have a problem "switching off" and just going to sleep.

There are a variety of traditional and natural sleep aids out there, one of them may work for you.

**klean163** · 09-10-2009, 02:21 PM

I know how you feel i suffer from insomia from my fibermylogia they gave me a pill trazadone 300 mgs but the next morning i feel like a ton of bricks besides i take care of my mom and if she needs me i need to be able to help her so now i just take tynenol p.m it seems to work o.k with warm milk might want to try it maybe it will work . I drink alot of coffee and mountain dew but try to stop by 10:00p.m:but the buzz is still there.good luck

**Bournecrazy** · 09-10-2009, 04:30 PM

ill try and get the pc and tv turned off before i go bed so i can sit and relax maybe do a puzzle?

i feel a little tired now but as soon as i start thinking of going to bed - im wide awake

i shall have a nice warm bath tonight and snuggle up with FDH maybe that will help.

if not i shal see you all at 2am! lol

**Rhiamon** · 09-10-2009, 05:05 PM

I have real bad insomnia as well. I also take medication for it. I know your not supposed but to help turn off my brian I put the most borning thing I can find on tv, and set the sleep timer on it. General if I focus on something else and less stressful then everything that runs through my head at night it can help.

**Bournecrazy** · 09-11-2009, 06:57 PM

well last night i had a good soak in the bath for about an hour and went to bed snuggled up with DFH i slept well last night but was still not enough felt good tho. going bed soon now.

I swear i wrote this before - had a nap earlier so it could of been a dream. Doesnt help that ive just finished watching Final Destination 2.

scary!

**Sassyclass** · 09-11-2009, 08:52 PM

Whatever you do, don't play any music because if you are like me the last song you hear before going to bed will be what runs through your head the rest of the night. Medication knocks me out pretty easy so I take Advil PM. Occasionally that doesn't even work and I have had to call off work. I run 4 machines and moving parts and falling asleep with your arm in a machine doesn't go well together. Maybe you should try drinking a glass of wine and have your FDH give you a rubdown. No, no sex(well maybe), but one of those rubdowns that make you so relaxed you start slobbering. It works for me.

Cat

**NewLeaf** · 09-12-2009, 12:51 AM

I have trouble sleeping too. Sleepy time extra w/valerian helps to calm me down. Reading helps too. Too much tv and computer get me wired. If I have too much trouble I can take a sleeping pill. But I try to aviod that. I have a ds7 who gets up around 6 am. Most of the time dh is already up and they let me sleep in.....

Stress doesn't help either . Right now our 14 yr old son is giving us major stress w/his attitude about grades, school and life in general. We are coming down hard w/tough love. Taking privileges until the attitude improves. Teen agers can really tear up family unity..... "But I love him so much and I have to keep looking at all of the wonderful potential inside him. So I have sleepless nights and pray alot.

**pollypurebred39** · 09-12-2009, 01:31 AM

Try melatonin, I take 3 pills sometimes to get to sleep. Rarely can I sleep with just one. I've been plauged by sleeping problems my whole life.

I also play a nature sounds cd on a repeat throughout the night. At present I am listening to a babbling brook. So real it's like I'm there. I often listen to thunderstorms, ocean waves, the rain forest. I have quite a few.

Believe it or not turkey and warm milk help. Maybe try some warm cocoa and a few slices of turkey before bed.

I hope you get rest soon.

**frugalfranny** · 09-12-2009, 02:56 AM

Originally Posted by klean163

I drink alot of coffee and mountain dew but try to stop by 10:00p.m:but the buzz is still there.good luck

If I drank coffee or MD that late at night I would be up too. I rarely drink much coffee after noon or 1.

If I have multiple nights of not being able to sleep I will take an OTC sleeping pill. Usually reading helps.....