JTF.ORG Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: DownwithIslam on July 08, 2008, 09:19:46 PM
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For the last 4 years, I have has pretty bad insomnia. Their have been periods where it was better but their are also times when its unbearable. The annoying thing is that its not a physical problem with me, but a psychological one. It started when one night for whatever reason I had trouble falling asleep and ever since then, I get all tense and nervous that I will not be able to sleep. This tension about sleep is what actually creates a state of alertness when I try to sleep. Even though I know what the problem is, I still cannot control it, and my body automatically gets very tensed up as I try to go to sleep. The reason why I am writing about this now is because this problem has forced me to drop my summer classes. Ambien and Lunesta didnt really work for me. I just got restoril which works but its too late to salvage this semester. I dropped my class in time and I wont get a "W" on my transcript.
I was wondering if anyone here has any ideas for me on how to get rid of this insanely annoying problem. I dont want to have to rely on restoril. If someone here has any advice at all for me, I would appreciate it greatly.
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For the last 4 years, I have has pretty bad insomnia. Their have been periods where it was better but their are also times when its unbearable. The annoying thing is that its not a physical problem with me, but a psychological one. It started when one night for whatever reason I had trouble falling asleep and ever since then, I get all tense and nervous that I will not be able to sleep. This tension about sleep is what actually creates a state of alertness when I try to sleep. Even though I know what the problem is, I still cannot control it, and my body automatically gets very tensed up as I try to go to sleep. The reason why I am writing about this now is because this problem has forced me to drop my summer classes. Ambien and Lunesta didnt really work for me. I just got restoril which works but its too late to salvage this semester. I dropped my class in time and I wont get a "W" on my transcript.
I was wondering if anyone here has any ideas for me on how to get rid of this insanely annoying problem. I dont want to have to rely on restoril. If someone here has any advice at all for me, I would appreciate it greatly.
Did you get test done because you might have hyperthyroidism or Wilson's syndrome
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First off, do you get enough physical excercise? It's very good for helping you sleep at night.
Do you drink coffee or tea? If so, limit your intake to the morning.
Are you taking any other medications besides the sleeping pills? Also I would not rely on the sleeping pills for long. They're only for temporary use, as they interfere with your REM sleep cycle.
Do you watch TV in bed or do use your laptop in bed? If so, stop it at once. The bed should be only for sleeping (and intimacy if your married).
When you find you're unable to sleep, do you stay in bed tossing and turning? If so, don't do it. Get out of bed, and do something else. Again, your be should be associated only with sleeping (and intimacy if you're married).
And finally, you need to go to sleep and wake up every day at similar times. For example if one night you go to bed and 3:00 a.m. and wake up a 11:00 a.m., then another night you try and sleep at 11:00 p.m., then wake up at 7:00 a.m., you'll have problems.
Anyway, hope that helps.
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Yeah but if you take sleep aid for a while then stop then restart can produce rebound insomnia
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This also causes it Psychoactive drugs or stimulants, including certain medications, herbs, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, MDMA, methamphetamine and modafinil
And no i am not saying you do drugs
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Lisa, my Insomnia is pretty severe so its not just getting back on schedule or some minor fix for me. I do workout regularly so that isnt the problem. My issue is psychological. My body is afraid of sleep. I feel helpless now. And I dont use any stimulants and drink no coffee.
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Lisa, my Insomnia is pretty severe so its not just getting back on schedule or some minor fix for me. I do workout regularly so that isnt the problem. My issue is psychological. My body is afraid of sleep. I feel helpless now. And I dont use any stimulants and drink no coffee.
You have to go to a doctor and get test done
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Lisa, my Insomnia is pretty severe so its not just getting back on schedule or some minor fix for me. I do workout regularly so that isnt the problem. My issue is psychological. My body is afraid of sleep. I feel helpless now. And I dont use any stimulants and drink no coffee.
Are you having Anxiety attacks? like- oes your body suddenly 'JUMP' just when you are about to fall asleep?
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Lisa, my Insomnia is pretty severe so its not just getting back on schedule or some minor fix for me. I do workout regularly so that isnt the problem. My issue is psychological. My body is afraid of sleep. I feel helpless now. And I dont use any stimulants and drink no coffee.
Are you having Anxiety attacks? like- oes your body suddenly 'JUMP' just when you are about to fall asleep?
That happens to me once in a while
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Lisa, my Insomnia is pretty severe so its not just getting back on schedule or some minor fix for me. I do workout regularly so that isnt the problem. My issue is psychological. My body is afraid of sleep. I feel helpless now. And I dont use any stimulants and drink no coffee.
Are you having Anxiety attacks? like- oes your body suddenly 'JUMP' just when you are about to fall asleep?
I only have the anxiety when it comes to sleep. I have no anxiety about anything else. I went to a sleep psychologist but he wasnt able to help me. I may have to go to another one. I know for a fact that my problem is psychological. I dont need any medical tests.
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Lisa, my Insomnia is pretty severe so its not just getting back on schedule or some minor fix for me. I do workout regularly so that isnt the problem. My issue is psychological. My body is afraid of sleep. I feel helpless now. And I dont use any stimulants and drink no coffee.
Are you having Anxiety attacks? like- oes your body suddenly 'JUMP' just when you are about to fall asleep?
I only have the anxiety when it comes to sleep. I have no anxiety about anything else. I went to a sleep psychologist but he wasnt able to help me. I may have to go to another one. I know for a fact that my problem is psychological. I dont need any medical tests.
get test done because you might have hyperthyroidism or Wilson's syndrome
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Lisa, my Insomnia is pretty severe so its not just getting back on schedule or some minor fix for me. I do workout regularly so that isnt the problem. My issue is psychological. My body is afraid of sleep. I feel helpless now. And I dont use any stimulants and drink no coffee.
Are you having Anxiety attacks? like- oes your body suddenly 'JUMP' just when you are about to fall asleep?
I only have the anxiety when it comes to sleep. I have no anxiety about anything else. I went to a sleep psychologist but he wasnt able to help me. I may have to go to another one. I know for a fact that my problem is psychological. I dont need any medical tests.
get test done because you might have hyperthyroidism or Wilson's syndrome
I dont have those things thankfully. I have an isolated insomnia problem. It is purely psychological, I know that for a fact. I need a way to deal with it mentally.
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Lisa, my Insomnia is pretty severe so its not just getting back on schedule or some minor fix for me. I do workout regularly so that isnt the problem. My issue is psychological. My body is afraid of sleep. I feel helpless now. And I dont use any stimulants and drink no coffee.
Are you having Anxiety attacks? like- oes your body suddenly 'JUMP' just when you are about to fall asleep?
I only have the anxiety when it comes to sleep. I have no anxiety about anything else. I went to a sleep psychologist but he wasnt able to help me. I may have to go to another one. I know for a fact that my problem is psychological. I dont need any medical tests.
get test done because you might have hyperthyroidism or Wilson's syndrome
I dont have those things thankfully. I have an isolated insomnia problem. It is purely psychological, I know that for a fact. I need a way to deal with it mentally.
Then you might have to take a break and try to relax
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You didn't mention your age, but it's a fact that as you age, your body makes LESS melatonin, which is the chemical that helps you to sleep. Thats why the older you get, it seems you need less and less sleep.
I like to buy over the counter Melatonin and take it each night....it helps me to get some solid sleep. Ive always been a very light sleeper anyway.....anything happens outside and I wake up.
Also, you might try Celestial Seasonings sleepytime tea, it has a bear in PJs in front of a fireplace on the green box.....if you drink a cup of that (I only need a fourth of a cup) it will relax you and you will fall asleep. (Chamomile also helps with pain I think I was reading) Chamomile is a wild flower that grows and women also use it to lighten their hair with it but it is a natural and harmless sedative.
If I were you I would try either or both of these, although Im not if at the same time is a good idea.
I hope that this helps.
:)
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Drink a couple glasses of wine and that should knock you out
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DWI,
if you have the time you know where I can be found tomorrow,
just stop by no appointment necessary... ;D
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Get some laughing gas, knock yo self out with gas!
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DWI,
if you have the time you know where I can be found tomorrow,
just stop by no appointment necessary... ;D
I will be there Dan guaranteed. I am free tom so I will see you.
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Hanna, thank you for your response. I have taken melatonin and it does nothing for me. But then again, I am someone who can take an ambien and drive a car. Ambien does nothing for me either.
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But I think it would be helpful to study the Kriyat Shema Al Hamita (the prayers recited say it every night) and say it each night before you go to sleep.
It will calm you down.
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But I think it would be helpful to study the Kriyat Shema Al Hamita (the prayers recited say it every night) and say it each night before you go to sleep.
It will calm you down.
Lubab, I dont think that will help me unfortunately. I believe in the power of tefila but I need an immediate solution to this problem.
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DWI,
if you have the time you know where I can be found tomorrow,
just stop by no appointment necessary... ;D
I will be there Dan guaranteed. I am free tom so I will see you.
O0
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For the last 4 years, I have has pretty bad insomnia. Their have been periods where it was better but their are also times when its unbearable. The annoying thing is that its not a physical problem with me, but a psychological one. It started when one night for whatever reason I had trouble falling asleep and ever since then, I get all tense and nervous that I will not be able to sleep. This tension about sleep is what actually creates a state of alertness when I try to sleep. Even though I know what the problem is, I still cannot control it, and my body automatically gets very tensed up as I try to go to sleep. The reason why I am writing about this now is because this problem has forced me to drop my summer classes. Ambien and Lunesta didnt really work for me. I just got restoril which works but its too late to salvage this semester. I dropped my class in time and I wont get a "W" on my transcript.
I was wondering if anyone here has any ideas for me on how to get rid of this insanely annoying problem. I dont want to have to rely on restoril. If someone here has any advice at all for me, I would appreciate it greatly.
Yoga? (learning how to relax, possibly even into a sleep)
CBT? (cognitive behavioural therapy)
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Q_Q, I heard about cognitive behavioral therapy but I was hoping you could tell me a little more about that treatment.
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But I think it would be helpful to study the Kriyat Shema Al Hamita (the prayers recited say it every night) and say it each night before you go to sleep.
It will calm you down.
Lubab, I dont think that will help me unfortunately. I believe in the power of tefila but I need an immediate solution to this problem.
First, it doesn't hurt to try it. If it works it would be an "immediate solution".
Second, is there something specific about going to sleep that scares you? Is it the loss of control, the loss of awareness of your surroundings. Do any of these things scare you?
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Have you ever had a concussion?
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well, i've never seen a therapist for CBT, so don't quote me.
But I think it would involve you figuring out what you associate with sleeping, that is putting you off.
And then changing the association.
For example, if you have an addiction to TV. Then it is because of an association of TV with good.. Maybe, you feel satisfied watching a program you like.. Or you feel like you might miss something if you don't watch it, and so you watch it. Some feeling drives you to watch it, even though your logical self - when away from the tv - knows that it is a negative thing. So, what you would have to do, to remove that addiction, is change the association that TV has. That may involve meditating over the idea that TV is a negative thing.. a bad thing. Thinking of the programs you "like", or would like, and associating them with bad feelings. In this way it is easier to draw yourself away from the TV and recognise naturally that it is bad.
Your sleep is a bit different, but if there is some negative association, maybe you can change that to a positive association.. If there is some negative association that frightens you into tensing up and not going to sleep.. Maybe you can identify that and change that.
But a therapist might be best for CBT. And it prob isn't normally for sleep.. Though I guess it could be applied to that.
Other ideas are
- Hypnosis
- Sleep disorder clinic
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But I think it would be helpful to study the Kriyat Shema Al Hamita (the prayers recited say it every night) and say it each night before you go to sleep.
It will calm you down.
Lubab, I dont think that will help me unfortunately. I believe in the power of tefila but I need an immediate solution to this problem.
First, it doesn't hurt to try it. If it works it would be an "immediate solution".
Second, is there something specific about going to sleep that scares you? Is it the loss of control, the loss of awareness of your surroundings. Do any of these things scare you?
Lubab, the problem started about 4 years ago when one time I had trouble falling asleep. Ever since then, my body automatically fears not being able to fall asleep and tenses up when I am about to go to bed. My heart rate increases automatically and I have zero control over this. Its a major psychological problem and its super strange as I am generally a calm person and my only anxiety is about sleep. I went to a sleep psychologist at cornell and they couldnt help me. Part of the problem is that I know that if I dont sleep, I will be hurt in school etc... and this only ads to the problem.
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well, i've never seen a therapist for CBT, so don't quote me.
But I think it would involve you figuring out what you associate with sleeping, that is putting you off.
And then changing the association.
For example, if you have an addiction to TV. Then it is because of an association of TV with good.. Maybe, you feel satisfied watching a program you like.. Or you feel like you might miss something if you don't watch it, and so you watch it. Some feeling drives you to watch it, even though your logical self - when away from the tv - knows that it is a negative thing. So, what you would have to do, to remove that addiction, is change the association that TV has. That may involve meditating over the idea that TV is a negative thing.. a bad thing. Thinking of the programs you "like", or would like, and associating them with bad feelings. In this way it is easier to draw yourself away from the TV and recognise naturally that it is bad.
Your sleep is a bit different, but if there is some negative association, maybe you can change that to a positive association.. If there is some negative association that frightens you into tensing up and not going to sleep.. Maybe you can identify that and change that.
But a therapist might be best for CBT. And it prob isn't normally for sleep.. Though I guess it could be applied to that.
Other ideas are
- Hypnosis
- Sleep disorder clinic
QQ, I will be looking for a sleep therapist and I hope they give me this treatment.
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Does insomnia run in your family?
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<snip>
Lubab, the problem started about 4 years ago when one time I had trouble falling asleep. Ever since then, my body automatically fears not being able to fall asleep and tenses up when I am about to go to bed. My heart rate increases automatically and I have zero control over this. Its a major psychological problem and its super strange as I am generally a calm person and my only anxiety is about sleep. I went to a sleep psychologist at cornell and they couldnt help me. Part of the problem is that I know that if I dont sleep, I will be hurt in school etc... and this only ads to the problem.
If it is the thought or any thoughts that are the problem.. Maybe you need something to take your mind off te fact that you are sleeping. As far as you are concerned, you are relaxing.
So that's an association you could work on.. With CBT perhaps.
But another thing you could try is a Light Sound device. I haven't tried it, but it may give you something to focus on when sleeping.
I don't know if they are safe, or if one can even sleep with them. I can tell you that it's something I would try even without a problem sleeping!
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<snip>
Lubab, the problem started about 4 years ago when one time I had trouble falling asleep. Ever since then, my body automatically fears not being able to fall asleep and tenses up when I am about to go to bed. My heart rate increases automatically and I have zero control over this. Its a major psychological problem and its super strange as I am generally a calm person and my only anxiety is about sleep. I went to a sleep psychologist at cornell and they couldnt help me. Part of the problem is that I know that if I dont sleep, I will be hurt in school etc... and this only ads to the problem.
If it is the thought or any thoughts that are the problem.. Maybe you need something to take your mind off te fact that you are sleeping. As far as you are concerned, you are relaxing.
So that's an association you could work on.. With CBT perhaps.
But another thing you could try is a Light Sound device. I haven't tried it, but it may give you something to focus on when sleeping.
I don't know if they are safe, or if one can even sleep with them. I can tell you that it's something I would try even without a problem sleeping!
QQ, I have tried every mental trick you could think of. The problem is just too severe. My body has an automatic reaction. benzodiazepine class meds have worked for me. Valium and Restoril both help me but I need a med free solution. I dont want to have to take pills to sleep.
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<snip>
Lubab, the problem started about 4 years ago when one time I had trouble falling asleep. Ever since then, my body automatically fears not being able to fall asleep and tenses up when I am about to go to bed. My heart rate increases automatically and I have zero control over this. Its a major psychological problem and its super strange as I am generally a calm person and my only anxiety is about sleep. I went to a sleep psychologist at cornell and they couldnt help me. Part of the problem is that I know that if I dont sleep, I will be hurt in school etc... and this only ads to the problem.
If it is the thought or any thoughts that are the problem.. Maybe you need something to take your mind off te fact that you are sleeping. As far as you are concerned, you are relaxing.
So that's an association you could work on.. With CBT perhaps.
But another thing you could try is a Light Sound device. I haven't tried it, but it may give you something to focus on when sleeping.
I don't know if they are safe, or if one can even sleep with them. I can tell you that it's something I would try even without a problem sleeping!
You can listen to music
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<snip>
Lubab, the problem started about 4 years ago when one time I had trouble falling asleep. Ever since then, my body automatically fears not being able to fall asleep and tenses up when I am about to go to bed. My heart rate increases automatically and I have zero control over this. Its a major psychological problem and its super strange as I am generally a calm person and my only anxiety is about sleep. I went to a sleep psychologist at cornell and they couldnt help me. Part of the problem is that I know that if I dont sleep, I will be hurt in school etc... and this only ads to the problem.
If it is the thought or any thoughts that are the problem.. Maybe you need something to take your mind off te fact that you are sleeping. As far as you are concerned, you are relaxing.
So that's an association you could work on.. With CBT perhaps.
But another thing you could try is a Light Sound device. I haven't tried it, but it may give you something to focus on when sleeping.
I don't know if they are safe, or if one can even sleep with them. I can tell you that it's something I would try even without a problem sleeping!
You can listen to music
Unfortunately that wont work Americanhero. I have tried everything. Its not that simple. I guess I need to find a good sleep therapist.
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<snip>
Lubab, the problem started about 4 years ago when one time I had trouble falling asleep. Ever since then, my body automatically fears not being able to fall asleep and tenses up when I am about to go to bed. My heart rate increases automatically and I have zero control over this. Its a major psychological problem and its super strange as I am generally a calm person and my only anxiety is about sleep. I went to a sleep psychologist at cornell and they couldnt help me. Part of the problem is that I know that if I dont sleep, I will be hurt in school etc... and this only ads to the problem.
If it is the thought or any thoughts that are the problem.. Maybe you need something to take your mind off te fact that you are sleeping. As far as you are concerned, you are relaxing - including relaxing the mind.
So that's an association you could work on.. With CBT perhaps.
But another thing you could try is a Light Sound device. I haven't tried it, but it may give you something to focus on when sleeping.
I don't know if they are safe, or if one can even sleep with them. I can tell you that it's something I would try even without a problem sleeping!
QQ, I have tried every mental trick you could think of. The problem is just too severe. My body has an automatic reaction. benzodiazepine class meds have worked for me. Valium and Restoril both help me but I need a med free solution. I dont want to have to take pills to sleep.
With the yoga possibility, see if your body hits that reaction during yoga. If so, then that is an ideal place where it can be corrected, since you will be near somebody who is an expert at relaxing.
if you haven't slept in days, then you shoul be able to hit that point in front of somebody, and then they could perhaps talk you into relaxing.
An issue with sleeping is that the sleeping is usually a solitary thing (unless one is married). And it is not near a sleep expert or psychologist or psychiatrist.
If you can be talked into relaxing into a sleep, and hit that point in front of a CBT person, they might be able to help there.
Have you been in a situation where the person that knows about sleep has -caught- you when you run into the problem? is it easy to trigger the problem in front of them ?
If so, then there ar emany opportunities to deal with it.
If you really are very deprived of sleep, you could probably get to that point of almost going ot sleep, almost anywhere, and get that reaction. So there would be many opportunities for other people to talk you into some better association, until you can do it yourself.
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This is not a healthy way, but a unique one that might work. I don't have insomnia, but I do have trouble waking early in the morning, so sometimes when I have to be up real early for something particular, in fear that I might not get up, I pull an all-nighter (zero sleep at all, not even a 1-hour nap). Then I make sure that I don't take any naps the next day, using coffee or whatever I have to do to stay up that whole day, surviving until 9 or 10 at night. Then go to sleep at this point and I am so exhausted I can sleep in any condition really (lights on, clothes on, doesn't matter, if my head hits a pillow I am out cold). As long as you get through the entire next day without any nap, you will be so exhausted by 10pm that night, that you will likely pass out quite easily.
I find that the following day, (after the allnighter, after the 10pm lights out), I will wake up sometime in the morning, but when 10pm rolls around the next night, I am programmed to be tired and get to bed then just like the night before (even if I was habitually going to bed at 2 in the morning prior to the allnighter). It is like a shortcut way to force the body to tire earlier at night. shock it with the allnighter, then stretch it out til 10pm exhausted, then after a full night's sleep, the following day the body will be accustomed to go to sleep again about 24 hours later, so at 10pm you will be tired.
I feel like if you get tired enough the insomnia will be overpowered and become irrelevant, since there is a certain involuntary nature in the allnighter-recovery sleep, which I have experienced, but I don't know much about insomnia at all.
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בס''ד
1. Taking sleeping pills does not help. These unnatural medications are genuinely dangerous. The medications distort the body's chemistry, create dependence, and can suppress the immune system (which can lead to all types of deadly diseases).
2. Try to go to sleep at the same time every evening. Condition your body clock to go to sleep at a certain time. Because if you try to sleep at different times every night, your body has a more difficult time adjusting.
3. Do not eat or drink garbage. No more coffee, no caffeinated tea, no soda, no foods with sugar like cakes and candy. If you eat and drink only healthy natural food, your body will not be alternately stimulated and depressed, which can disrupt sleep.
4. No alcohol. Alcohol causes you to sleep for a short period, and then you wake up and are unable to fall back asleep. Alcohol disrupts sleep.
5. You must learn to relax. This is the most important thing of all. Just relax your mind before going to sleep. When you wake up in the morning, you can try your best to deal with all of the problems. But at night, there is nothing you can do about these problems. The only way you can effectively solve the problems is if you sleep properly. So relax and and don't even think about the problems. Think about something else that gives you peace of mind.
If you do all of these things, believe me, you will get to sleep naturally.
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בס''ד
Also, make sure that your bedroom is completely dark. Even if your eyes are closed, it is difficult to sleep if any light hits your eyes. Make sure that your blinds are shut tight so that no sunlight gets into your room in the early morning hours. This also affects the quality of your sleep.
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Chaim is correct.
You need to cease thinking when its time to go to bed.
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But I think it would be helpful to study the Kriyat Shema Al Hamita (the prayers recited say it every night) and say it each night before you go to sleep.
It will calm you down.
First, it doesn't hurt to try it. If it works it would be an "immediate solution".
Second, is there something specific about going to sleep that scares you? Is it the loss of control, the loss of awareness of your surroundings. Do any of these things scare you?
Lubab, the problem started about 4 years ago when one time I had trouble falling asleep. Ever since then, my body automatically fears not being able to fall asleep and tenses up when I am about to go to bed. My heart rate increases automatically and I have zero control over this. Its a major psychological problem and its super strange as I am generally a calm person and my only anxiety is about sleep. I went to a sleep psychologist at cornell and they couldnt help me. Part of the problem is that I know that if I dont sleep, I will be hurt in school etc... and this only ads to the problem.
Don't be tense about going to sleep. Be confident that eventually you are going to sleep because you are determined to relax.
And I agree with Lubab, that kriyat shma al hamita helps a great deal. If you believe that Hashem will help you fall asleep, that will help you relax.
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But I think it would be helpful to study the Kriyat Shema Al Hamita (the prayers recited say it every night) and say it each night before you go to sleep.
It will calm you down.
First, it doesn't hurt to try it. If it works it would be an "immediate solution".
Second, is there something specific about going to sleep that scares you? Is it the loss of control, the loss of awareness of your surroundings. Do any of these things scare you?
Lubab, the problem started about 4 years ago when one time I had trouble falling asleep. Ever since then, my body automatically fears not being able to fall asleep and tenses up when I am about to go to bed. My heart rate increases automatically and I have zero control over this. Its a major psychological problem and its super strange as I am generally a calm person and my only anxiety is about sleep. I went to a sleep psychologist at cornell and they couldnt help me. Part of the problem is that I know that if I dont sleep, I will be hurt in school etc... and this only ads to the problem.
Don't be tense about going to sleep. Be confident that eventually you are going to sleep because you are determined to relax.
And I agree with Lubab, that kriyat shma al hamita helps a great deal. If you believe that Hashem will help you fall asleep, that will help you relax.
Chaim thanks for the response. I wish I could just stop thinking when I go to sleep and relax but my body automatically gets tense and my heart starts racing at bedtime. The sleep psychologist couldn't help me. Their is no way for me to relax when my heart starts beating quicker. This is a crazy mental issue I have. I will take your advice though and I will try to just be calm. I hope it helps.
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I have a different sleep problem.
I have no difficulty falling asleep when I get into bed. But I do not sleep enough because I do not have enough time to sleep - which I know is crazy. I want to sleep but I always have something essential to do and so I end up staying up late.
Which reminds me of another part of healthy sleeping - the best way to get quality sleep is to go to bed early and to wake up early. Sleeping at night is much better than sleeping during daylight hours.
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If you do all of the things I have suggested, starting with the 5 things in reply number 36, you will eventually relax and learn to sleep. Maybe not right away, but if you keep working at it, you will overcome this problem eventually.
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If you do all of the things I have suggested, starting with the 5 things in reply number 36, you will eventually relax and learn to sleep. Maybe not right away, but if you keep working at it, you will overcome this problem eventually.
Chaim, of course I will try them and I thank you for taking the time to respond with your wisdom. I really hope you are right.
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the light sound device, hypnosis, CBT, all deal with the mental aspect.
the way a light sound device works, is it uses 2 different frequencies which causes your mind to fall into different states, alpha, beta, theta. I doubt many people are worrying in that state.
Hypnosis would also work on the subconscious level very directly.
CBT, would be more work. It would be done while conscious, to train you so that when less conscious, you think differently.
Don't forget these things in favour of just going to a sleep therapist..
It's a list of things to try. Not just one thing and giving up.
I notice you mentioned a sleep therapist. Maybe.. But I would consider a sleep disorder clinic
They can actually monitor you when you sleep.. I have seen such a clinic on a tv program
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qq, sleep clinics mainly deal with fat people who have sleep apnea. I have researched this and I know that is what they deal with. What I need is a good sleep psychologist to get this problem out of my head.
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Also try deep breathing once you lie down and meditation techniques like with your eyes closed imagining yourself in some kind of pastoral scene or a beachfront watching the water like in the corona commercial.
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Also try deep breathing once you lie down and meditation techniques like with your eyes closed imagining yourself in some kind of pastoral scene or a beachfront watching the water like in the corona commercial.
I have tried this and my body just doesn't respond. My body just remains tense and on the edge when its bedtime.
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Wow--Chaim himself stepped in to write you a really nice and detailed response. He really likes you! Anyhow, not sure how much I can add, but I agree with pretty much everything he said. I get insomnia too pretty often--not to the extent that you do, but I have had plenty of agonights (new word I just coined ;)). Usually, when I cannot sleep, it is because I am dreading getting up early the next day (as in for work), am really excited about something the next day or in that week, or am frustrated about something (like girls). Sometimes I can't get back to sleep in the middle of the night because I am thinking of some tragic world events (i.e. Israel). I never have insomnia if I have nothing going on the next day or do not have to get up particularly early. It has never been a severe enough problem that I have been forced to get help--besides, I certainly do not want to get on any sleeping meds (Chaim is absolutely right on this).
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) pills (just one, or two if you really need sleep) are quite benign and have no real harmful effects on the body at all normal doses. They can help in a pinch, but your body develops tolerance almost immediately, so you can't really use them more than twice in a week or three or four times in a month. The downside is that they make you feel really weird (like your head is filled with sand--it's hard to explain). It isn't that bad if you go right to sleep on them, but if you can't (like because you already built a tolerance), it is a pretty rotten experience to undergo for eight hours. BTW, if you go this route, be sure to find generic brand diphenhydramine tablets because they are cheaper than Benadryl.
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qq, sleep clinics mainly deal with fat people who have sleep apnea. I have researched this and I know that is what they deal with. What I need is a good sleep psychologist to get this problem out of my head.
ok. forget sleep clinic. What about hypnosis as a possibility?
Cleverly done. Not just putting you to sleep once. But reprogramming your subconscious for when you do want to sleep, so you don't worry. So you can clear your mind when trying to sleep.
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You can learn how to stop thinking.
You simply need to stop telling yourself that you can't.
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DWI- I FEEL for you- BIGTIME. I mean REALLY BIGTIME. I suffer from TERRIBLE Anxiety attacks (lots of people will think- 'well of course she does, shes a nut') fine, fine.. Mine started at 25. Some years go by, and no problem, and then I will have 2 yrs of this terrible problem. I dont do the caffeine, chocolate- and all that other JUNK- I tried everything, and it was AWFUL.
I sincrerely HOPE that you WILL get through this - I meditate on "For he gives His beloved sleep" I have to confess, I am in now way as strong as Chaim, or the others here- I have to do what I have to do, when this bad off- which is not really too much this past year- I know many will disagree- however- for myself, just to get through some bad weeks once in awhile- I do take clonezepam, on an "as needed' basis. Yes- it is a benzo, I know- And I hope I am not offensive to people here- but a nut crazy person like myself- I MUST GET SLEEP. It is a MUST.
I will say, however, that being with my 'soul-mate' (when I am there) I am in so much peace, that when he goes to tuck me into my bedroom, I am so at peace with life, I just seem to fall asleep. PLUS he works out EVERY single day- and THAT makes ME exhausted. I hope that you get rest from this situation, I PROMISE- you ARE in my prayers. I FEEL FOR YOU VERY MUCH.
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For the last 4 years, I have has pretty bad insomnia. Their have been periods where it was better but their are also times when its unbearable. The annoying thing is that its not a physical problem with me, but a psychological one. It started when one night for whatever reason I had trouble falling asleep and ever since then, I get all tense and nervous that I will not be able to sleep. This tension about sleep is what actually creates a state of alertness when I try to sleep. Even though I know what the problem is, I still cannot control it, and my body automatically gets very tensed up as I try to go to sleep. The reason why I am writing about this now is because this problem has forced me to drop my summer classes. Ambien and Lunesta didnt really work for me. I just got restoril which works but its too late to salvage this semester. I dropped my class in time and I wont get a "W" on my transcript.
I was wondering if anyone here has any ideas for me on how to get rid of this insanely annoying problem. I dont want to have to rely on restoril. If someone here has any advice at all for me, I would appreciate it greatly.
I have sometimes exactly the same problem. I have tried it with Valerian and hop-tea. I began to be sleepy, but then the state of alertness came back much more heavy.
I have bought spleeping-pills with diphenhydramine in the apothecary, but this was a real nightmare. The next day I was like a zombie, so I throw it in the garbage.
The best solution imo is dry, fruity and heavy red vine. The best are imo the Bordeaux denominations St. Emillion or Medoc. It has 12-13 vol alcohol and tastes excellent.
So after at least half of a bottle you will sleep like a chuck. No fear, no panic no nothing.
I can tell :)
But perhaps is this no solution for everybody ;)
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Oh I forgot. Another important point for me is to feel safe. I live alone in a greater building. So I check everyday before I go sleeping if all doors and windows are locked and in addition to that I block the door to my sleeping room.
If family or friends visiting me I forget to do this regulary. But if I am alone never. ;D
If I feel not safe I can't sleep.
And I drink never tea or coffee in the evening. Some black teas make you very wake.
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DWI you have to stop thinking about not falling asleep its just that simple. The hard part is to get your mind not to be concerned about it. I have no problem sleeping however the few times I did it was because I had something to do the next day and was worried I would not get to sleep enough and then be tired. You need to distract yourself from the thoughts of not getting to sleep. I find listening to something quiet on the stereo, looking through a picture book that does not require a lot of reading or even watching something on TV often puts me to sleep. Most electronics today have a sleep timer so you can set it to go off after 30 min.
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Try reading in bed. Make sure you turn your TV, computer, and cell phone, completely off. Cell phones make noises in the middle of the night especially if you have a device like a Blackberry. Get exercise early in the day and don't have caffeine at least 6 hours before you go to bed..maybe even more.
I have a hard time trying to sleep because of the possibility of an Obama presidency! Maybe that could be a reason for you too!
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Look DWI what I have found:
(http://www.jenniferoconnell.net/show-image/373107/Jennifer-O'Connell/Insomnia.jpg)
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Believe me the Chamomile tea will help considerably.... O0
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I think Pheasant was right when he talked about feeling safe when going to sleep. I think that has to be something of an issue here if the stress builds up right when you're trying to go to sleep. If your body is afraid of sleep, maybe you should try to make sure you control your sleep environment as much as possible beforehand so you know that it's a safe place to not be aware of your surroundings.
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I have tried everyones suggestions in the past and they dont work. I have tried not thinking about sleep and that doesnt work. I have tired ambien cr, lunesta, melatonin/valerian, unisom and others. They dont work. What does work are the more hardcore meds like valium/restoril but this is not a long term solution. I have tried everything already.
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I have tried everyones suggestions in the past and they dont work. I have tried not thinking about sleep and that doesnt work. I have tired ambien cr, lunesta, melatonin/valerian, unisom and others. They dont work. What does work are the more hardcore meds like valium/restoril but this is not a long term solution. I have tried everything already.
You need to learn how to reduce your thinking.
Ninety-percent of the thinking that we do on a daily basis is not only unnecessary but harmful.
You are simply in the habit of overthinking. Correcting this problem will require a conscious effort on your part.
You need to practice. Don't give up so easily.
Never tell yourself that you cannot do something. Thoughts become reality.
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Scriabin, their have been thousands(I am not exagerrating) of night in which I told myself to calm down and to stop thinking but it doesn't work. My body is simply afraid of sleep as I have had this problem so long. It is happening automatically. I think I will have to search for a sleep psychologist.
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Have you tried taking Epsom Salt baths yet?
The Magnesium in the Epsom Salts is a natural muscle relaxer....
Perhaps that might help, along with the tea.....?
If I did all that I would sleep for 12 hours I think.... :::D
I have tried everyones suggestions in the past and they dont work. I have tried not thinking about sleep and that doesnt work. I have tired ambien cr, lunesta, melatonin/valerian, unisom and others. They dont work. What does work are the more hardcore meds like valium/restoril but this is not a long term solution. I have tried everything already.
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Scriabin, their have been thousands(I am not exagerrating) of night in which I told myself to calm down and to stop thinking but it doesn't work. My body is simply afraid of sleep as I have had this problem so long. It is happening automatically. I think I will have to search for a sleep psychologist.
Telling yourself to calm down is thinking! Don't tell yourself anything.
You need to practice meditation.
I suggest that you study internal martial arts like Tai Chi, Ba Gua and Chi Gung.
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I have a pretty difficult time sleeping as well. I get maybe 2-3 hours of sleep a night and by the time I get up, i'm suffering anxiety attacks and pacing around the house 50 times until I finally decide to shower and get ready for work. I tend to wrestle with my pillows and literally start break dancing in my bed due to the insanity. My eyes burn and I get horrible headaches that last the whole night. Not sure of any suggestions for you downwithislam but your not alone but for whatever reason, I don't sleep very well at all. It definitely affects me though to the point i'm seeing double vision and hallucinating.
If you find answers, let me know.
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or perhaps wine...drinking a glass or two of wine....
but I bet you have tried that too....!!!!
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Do you have a strenuous job?
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I had the same problem a few years back. I got into chi-kung, which is a chinese martial art that develops a person's internal energy. Now if I can't fall asleep, I do a couple of chi-kung exercises (which only take a couple minutes) and I can fall asleep right away.
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Do you have a strenuous job?
People who do hard physical labor sleep well at night.
Doctors, lawyers and accountants do not.
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Do you have a strenuous job?
People who do hard physical labor sleep well at night.
Doctors, lawyers and accountants do not.
I ment is it strenuos on the mind because if it is that will put a lot of stress on him
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I had the same problem a few years back. I got into chi-kung, which is a chinese martial art that develops a person's internal energy. Now if I can't fall asleep, I do a couple of chi-kung exercises (which only take a couple minutes) and I can fall asleep right away.
Bravo!
Internal exercize is by far the most beneficial.
I am thrilled to hear that a fellow JTFer is working on internal energy exercizes.
Bravo indeed!
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Do you have a strenuous job?
People who do hard physical labor sleep well at night.
Doctors, lawyers and accountants do not.
I ment is it strenuos on the mind because if it is that will put a lot of stress on him
I see, you meant 'stressful'.
Yes, you are correct. Stress is the greatest enemy of healthy sleep.
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I would suggest you go to sleep with a sleepy cat. Let it lie on you or next to you. Cats have a calming effect on humans when they are placid.
And also like Scriabin said- you need to empty your mind, try to do/learn meditation.
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I would suggest you go to sleep with a sleepy cat. Let it lie on you or next to you. Cats have a calming effect on humans when they are placid.
And also like Scriabin said- you need to empty your mind, try to do/learn meditation.
The cat thing might work because I have a cat and calms me down
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One time my sisters cats were visting and I was tired so I laid down in the middle of the room where they were and one of them slept on my back and I went to sleep. We slept there for a long time too.
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I had insomnia once for about two weeks it went away after I had enough and I went Crazy on my punching bag with a bat until i was exausted slept very well that night
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Drink a couple glasses of wine and that should knock you out
I don't that will work, Americanhero. Alcohol may make you drowsy but it can also make sleeping ever worse.
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Well I am a student. The insomnia is affecting my schoolwork. It is impossible for me not to think when I go to sleep. My body automatically gets tense at bedtime. I am unable to prevent myself from thinking about sleep.
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Well I am a student. The insomnia is affecting my schoolwork. It is impossible for me not to think when I go to sleep. My body automatically gets tense at bedtime. I am unable to prevent myself from thinking about sleep.
Well have you tried running or jogging at night
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I would not take any medicine. You should actually go to vitamin shoppe and take pills with high iron. I have anxiety disorder and thalassemia and I as well have trouble sleeping. Go to the beach as well.
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The best sleep I ever experienced was when I could go for a swim at night time, about an hour before my usual time for bed, followed by a warm shower, and getting in bed with a boring book.
Of course, not everyone has access to an outdoor/indoor swimming pool or a beach, but I recommend it if possible.
Short of that, you sound like you "need a change of scenery"; to a less stressed out lifestyle/homelife.
As I'm sure you already know, lack of sleep is a serious health hazard, which can in the extreme lead to a sudden death syndrome.
If all else fails, maybe move to California and smoke medical marijuana...people say it makes them fall asleep.
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Is there any way you can go on a vacation to Hawaii or something?????
That might help you unwind and relax.
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You know what? Its 2:50 right now and I am not tired. I worked hard all day and I need to work tomorrow. I have been getting by with as little as 5 hours of sleep. Luckily I dont leave for work till 10... I have been told that the steroids I am taking will interrupt my normal sleep. I have been taking them for almost 3 years for a medical condition.
muman613
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Well, I'm sure you've already tried urinating on a Koran.
Being on a computer and typing shiite loads will make your nerves tense. That will screw up your sleep.
Have you tried a chiropractor or a physical therapist to loosen up your spinal nerves?
Or a heart specialist?
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Get some laughing gas, knock yo self out with gas!
Laughing gas?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO4SzPe8PnE
Isn't that med abuse?
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Drink a couple glasses of wine and that should knock you out
I don't that will work, Americanhero. Alcohol may make you drowsy but it can also make sleeping ever worse.
You have to take the right ammount.
If you drink too much you will wake up at four a clock in the morning.
But if you drink less than half of a bottle of good red wine it works quite well.
If you have drunk too much I have a secret tip: Take a big glass of mineral water, add one Magnesium-effervescent-tablet and add one asperin- effervescent-tablet.
I don't know why it is, but if you drink this mix you relax instantly and sleep very well again.
But the best way is not to drink too much. Best case not more than half a bottle and drink no bottom shelf wine. Only quality. :)
Israel has very good red wines. I have bought this week some bottles. I can tell. O0
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Drink a couple glasses of wine and that should knock you out
I don't that will work, Americanhero. Alcohol may make you drowsy but it can also make sleeping ever worse.
You have to take the right ammount.
If you drink too much you will wake up at four a clock in the morning.
But if you drink less than half of a bottle of good red wine it works quite well.
If you have drunk too much I have a secret tip: Take a big glass of mineral water, add one Magnesium-effervescent-tablet and add one asperin- effervescent-tablet.
I don't know why it is, but if you drink this mix you relax instantly and sleep very well again.
But the best way is not to drink too much. Best case not more than half a bottle and drink no bottom shelf wine. Only quality. :)
Israel has very good red wines. I have bought this week some bottles. I can tell. O0
Half a bottle (=500ml ?) isn't that excessive ?
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see if you have mold in your house. Mold can definitely be detrimental to your health. Find someone who looks for mold.
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Aside from the chi-gong, which I mentioned before, I find that transcendental meditation helps.
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Aside from the chi-gong, which I mentioned before, I find that transcendental meditation helps.
Absolutely.
DWI needs some good internal energy training.
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Drink a couple glasses of wine and that should knock you out
I don't that will work, Americanhero. Alcohol may make you drowsy but it can also make sleeping ever worse.
You have to take the right ammount.
If you drink too much you will wake up at four a clock in the morning.
But if you drink less than half of a bottle of good red wine it works quite well.
If you have drunk too much I have a secret tip: Take a big glass of mineral water, add one Magnesium-effervescent-tablet and add one asperin- effervescent-tablet.
I don't know why it is, but if you drink this mix you relax instantly and sleep very well again.
But the best way is not to drink too much. Best case not more than half a bottle and drink no bottom shelf wine. Only quality. :)
Israel has very good red wines. I have bought this week some bottles. I can tell. O0
Half a bottle (=500ml ?) isn't that excessive ?
No ;D
The normal bottle in Europe is always 750 ml
So actually it is the equivalent of the ammount of one big coke (ca. 375 ml) in a restaurant. ;)
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Drink a couple glasses of wine and that should knock you out
I don't that will work, Americanhero. Alcohol may make you drowsy but it can also make sleeping ever worse.
You have to take the right ammount.
If you drink too much you will wake up at four a clock in the morning.
But if you drink less than half of a bottle of good red wine it works quite well.
If you have drunk too much I have a secret tip: Take a big glass of mineral water, add one Magnesium-effervescent-tablet and add one asperin- effervescent-tablet.
I don't know why it is, but if you drink this mix you relax instantly and sleep very well again.
But the best way is not to drink too much. Best case not more than half a bottle and drink no bottom shelf wine. Only quality. :)
Israel has very good red wines. I have bought this week some bottles. I can tell. O0
Half a bottle (=500ml ?) isn't that excessive ?
No ;D
The normal bottle in Europe is always 750 ml
So actually it is the equivalent of the ammount of one big coke (ca. 375 ml) in a restaurant. ;)
oh right, I think it is also 750ml here in Israel, I am just a little ignorant about drinks.
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For the last 4 years, I have has pretty bad insomnia. Their have been periods where it was better but their are also times when its unbearable. The annoying thing is that its not a physical problem with me, but a psychological one. It started when one night for whatever reason I had trouble falling asleep and ever since then, I get all tense and nervous that I will not be able to sleep. This tension about sleep is what actually creates a state of alertness when I try to sleep. Even though I know what the problem is, I still cannot control it, and my body automatically gets very tensed up as I try to go to sleep. The reason why I am writing about this now is because this problem has forced me to drop my summer classes. Ambien and Lunesta didnt really work for me. I just got restoril which works but its too late to salvage this semester. I dropped my class in time and I wont get a "W" on my transcript.
I was wondering if anyone here has any ideas for me on how to get rid of this insanely annoying problem. I dont want to have to rely on restoril. If someone here has any advice at all for me, I would appreciate it greatly.
Hello, this might help...eat a nice sandwich and have a glass of milk before you lay down. A full stomach usually makes one sleepy...hot soup with the sandwich may help too and then there are breathing excercises...you breath in slowly...tense your muscles...relax...repeat this a few times and it relaxes your muscles. When you are relaxed your mind relaxes too..good luck and I wish you some good sleep at night. Shalom
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You should see a neurologist to have a sleep study test done. That will give detailed information on your problem. They will make you sleep overnight in their place with monitoring equipment taped to your body.
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A sleep study is for a different problem. Mine is simply a situation in which I am nervous about the sleep. I have a new plan now in which I will have a medication on hand so that if I cant fall asleep, I will take it and hopefully this will make me less nervous about not falling asleep. Restoril works hehe.
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Are you trying to sleep at this very moment but can't?
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Don't want to be TMI, but at all do you ever get frustrated with women or with being single?
That is a cause of insomnia for me, at times. Maan, it's hell. There are not a lot of Cali girls--even very religious ones--who want Kahanist men. Believe me, Cali women are only interested in making themselves look like Christmas hams down at Bolsa Chica. They couldn't care less about real life. So, I see attractive women, and am filled with nothing but envy and resentment about what I do not/cannot have, even if most of them are vapid, empty mutants anyway.
(Needless to say, you can reply to this over PM.)
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I think I actually had your exact problem. I would worry that I would fall asleep very late and kept thinking about that in bed. I couldn't sleep because of that worrying. The problem eventually disappeared.
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I think I actually had your exact problem. I would worry that I would fall asleep very late and kept thinking about that in bed. I couldn't sleep because of that worrying. The problem eventually disappeared.
I have this when I need to get up early the next morning--I dread having to wake up early, and it keeps me awake.
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A sleep study is for a different problem. Mine is simply a situation in which I am nervous about the sleep. I have a new plan now in which I will have a medication on hand so that if I cant fall asleep, I will take it and hopefully this will make me less nervous about not falling asleep. Restoril works hehe.
DWI,
I had this same problem. It will probably come and go. In addition to all of the recommendations that the others have said and if they don't work, try this:
Lay down on your stomach in bed. Put your pillow on your forehead so as to lift it up so your face isn't flat on the bed or you can also turn your head. The main thing here is to find a comfortable way to sleep on your stomach. Something about the blood rushing to the forehead makes people sleep. I know it helps me. In addition repeat this like a mantra: "I need rest. I need to sleep. I'm so tired." Repeat this over and over and over again. Whisper it softly or say it in your mind. I know it sounds kooky, but trust me, it works. Try this for a few days than get back to me. Try it for a week....this is more effective. But it could work after one night. Get back to me.
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Have you tried hypnosis? I hear you can hypnotize yourself with some training and that would be a sure way to get yourself to sleep.
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Read Obama's web site. If that doesn't put you to sleep you may have a serious medical problem... :-[
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Eat bananas. They have tryptophan in them...a seditive....... ooo ooo ah ah
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Try watching the old PBS show "The Joy Of Painting" with Bob Ross. Ross has such a soothing voice, plus he was very good painter. Worked for me. Just search the internet.
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Try watching the old PBS show "The Joy Of Painting" with Bob Ross. Ross has such a soothing voice, plus he was very good painter. Worked for me. Just search the internet.
That show is not that bad but you are right
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Do you still have insomnia?