Insomnia- What do you do for it? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Insomnia- What do you do for it?

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:23:49 AM EDT

I get these bouts of insomnia once or twice a year, and I'm really suffering right now. Last night I was able to doze lightly for a while, but essentially never slept. Over the last two weeks I've slept well twice and it's getting hard to be productive at work.

I've tried being completely caffeine free hoping to just suffer through and sleep well that night, normally I have one small coffee in the morning and nothing else for the rest of the day so I'm really not a big caffeine drinker anyway.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:28:13 AM EDT

[#1]

Diphenhydramine (Advil PM, Benadryl)

or

Ambien/Zolpidem from the Dr. when it gets really bad

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:29:10 AM EDT

[#2]

Exercise and melatonin.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:30:52 AM EDT

[#3]

Time release melatonin.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:31:16 AM EDT

[#4]

Chew valerian root and get some more exercise.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:31:44 AM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
Diphenhydramine (Advil PM, Benadryl)

or

Ambien/Zolpidem from the Dr. when it gets really bad

View Quote

I've done the Benadryl a couple of times but I'm not convinced the sleep I get on it is any good, I don't feel any better than when I don't take it. A close friend is our family doc, was thinking about asking for an Ambien script, never tried it before.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:33:04 AM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Chew valerian root and get some more exercise.

View Quote

I've still been trying to hit the gym several times a week, but it's tough when I get out of bed feeling so rotten. Never tried valerian root, but there's an herb shop in town that probably has it.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:34:56 AM EDT

[#7]

It's all about eating right for me.
Do as I say not as I do.....

No sugar or meals several hours before bedtime

If I go to bed at 10 nothing after 5 or no sleep

Even a little sugar through the day will mess my sleep up (caffeine isn't really a problem for me)

*Oh, and melatonin really helps if I do the above but it makes me dream weird stuff

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:35:06 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

I've still been trying to hit the gym several times a week, but it's tough when I get out of bed feeling so rotten. Never tried valerian root, but there's an herb shop in town that probably has it.

View Quote

use the time and start a Fight Club..

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:41:37 AM EDT

[#9]

Booze and masturbation

Repeat as needed

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:43:34 AM EDT

[#10]

I thought it was important to stay woke...

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:46:06 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

I've still been trying to hit the gym several times a week, but it's tough when I get out of bed feeling so rotten. Never tried valerian root, but there's an herb shop in town that probably has it.

View Quote

I've heard regular use of valerian root can lead to stomach issues.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:48:11 AM EDT

[#12]

Buzzr TV

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:49:09 AM EDT

[#13]

Habitual Ambien use can be very bad news. like "kill yourself" bad. so tread carefully.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:55:44 AM EDT

[#14]

Saint Johns Wort seems to help me, tried on the advice of a doctor.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:56:48 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I get these bouts of insomnia once or twice a year, and I'm really suffering right now. Last night I was able to doze lightly for a while, but essentially never slept. Over the last two weeks I've slept well twice and it's getting hard to be productive at work.

I've tried being completely caffeine free hoping to just suffer through and sleep well that night, normally I have one small coffee in the morning and nothing else for the rest of the day so I'm really not a big caffeine drinker anyway.

View Quote

I don't really have a problem with insomnia anymore. My solution was YOUTUBE.
maths trick was to find something that was an interesting topic for me, but a calm or almost boring delivery.

if I'm feeling like I can't sleep. I go watch old forgotten weapons videos I have already seen. No, Ian is not boring, but his delivery is more instructional and less flamboyant. One or two of those and I put the phone away and crash out. Same with Hickok videos. I'll turn one of those on and do the same thing. Again, I don't find him boring, but his calm, level, even tone turns my brain off; and in the end (at least for me) insomnia is not me not being tired, it's about my mind moving to fast. Focus and slow your mind, and your body will do the rest.

Posted: 5/25/2017 11:56:50 AM EDT

[#16]

Golden Tea

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:03:54 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
I thought it was important to stay woke...

View Quote

Best post of the day!

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:10:42 PM EDT

[#18]

Take a nap

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:12:42 PM EDT

[#19]

The reality is our minds effect the physical aspects of our body.

Incorporating Getting Things Done by David Allen is the best longterm fix to get out of your head and give your conscious and sub-conscious a break.

There are lot's of free videos on his system. He also has a free podcast with some of his keynotes, no need to read the book.

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:13:43 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Saint Johns Wort seems to help me, tried on the advice of a doctor.

View Quote

Has some significant interactions with lots of compounds. It's not the most benign of herbs. I stopped taking it for that reason.

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:19:07 PM EDT

[#21]

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:21:34 PM EDT

[#22]

Everything!

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:36:03 PM EDT

[#23]

Usually just read/watch Netflix until I can't keep my eyes open.

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:37:03 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
Habitual Ambien use can be very bad news. like "kill yourself" bad. so tread carefully.

View Quote

This, I've had insomnia my whole life. I will never take ambien again. Studies have shown it does little to promote restful sleep anyway.

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:38:25 PM EDT

[#25]

Dr. would only prescribe 15 days of Z-drugs per visit, and I wasn't doing that racket. Meanwhile pill fiends get their narcotics. So booze works. Way to support that harm reduction Doc!

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:38:44 PM EDT

[#26]

Sleep discipline is complicated for someone who suffers from insomnia.

I have trained myself to go to sleep but not to stay asleep. On stressful mornings I'll typically wake up at 3:30 AM following five or so hours of sleep.

Posted: 5/25/2017 12:39:16 PM EDT

[#27]

I can only sleep in 4 hour increments, even with medicine. So I always try to get a 30 min nap during the day, as it's the only thing that helps... Usually when I lay down for the night, my mind is racing and reprocessing everything that happened during the day/week and keeps me up.

Posted: 5/25/2017 1:29:39 PM EDT

[#28]

Try incorporating some Magnesium supplements. It might help.

Posted: 5/25/2017 1:47:45 PM EDT

[#29]

Beer and Tylenol PM.

Posted: 5/25/2017 1:52:48 PM EDT

[#30]

Not worry about it.

Do something product with the extra time.

Sleep when I need to.

Posted: 5/25/2017 1:53:20 PM EDT

[#31]

A long soak in the hot tub or a hot shower an hour or so before bedtime helps me break the no-sleep cycle. Occasionally I will take a small amount of melatonin, about 150 mg. Recent studies have shown it to be more effective in smaller doses and the disruptive dreams are less likely.

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:21:37 PM EDT

[#32]

Sex

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:24:52 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Sex

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But then you have someone next you keep you up all night, breathing and other noises.

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:29:25 PM EDT

[#34]

Cocktail of Benadryl and melatonin

Good night

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:37:42 PM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
Cocktail of Benadryl and melatonin

Good night

View Quote

I've tried that, as well as some other combinations but it seems like if you're using a drug to put you to sleep the quality just isn't there. Sleep? Sure. Rested? Maybe not.

Still better than what I did last night, I just wanted to see what I would do without any 'help' and as a result I slept about an hour all night. Gah.

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:42:57 PM EDT

[#36]

Exercise and Masturbation, maybe throw an Advil PM in there for good measure.

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:44:56 PM EDT

[#37]

... don't fight it, and nap when I like (recently retired)

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:46:25 PM EDT

[#38]

Take some Z-quil and put on Dateline ID. You'll be out like a light.

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:47:34 PM EDT

[#39]

Xanax and weed

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:49:51 PM EDT

[#40]

lightly chew two 25mg Benadryl tablets, just enough to break it into small pieces, but not enough to chew it into fine powder. Then wash it down with big gulp of water. Then lay in bed ready to sleep. If you're up and moving, trying to do stuff, that will keep you awake.

I've heard about 10 to one BAD stories from Ambien. Consider Lunesta instead. Just be prepared that the next day you won't remember anything from 30mins before you pass out until you pass out.

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:51:39 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
Exercise and melatonin.

View Quote

SPNI

Posted: 5/25/2017 2:52:44 PM EDT

[#42]

Get some sort of exercise in during the day
No caffeine in the afternoon / evening.
Avoid sugar an hour or two before bed.
If all else fails melatonin works great but it's usually not necessary