Hello,
I wondered if anyone had any ideas for Insomnia? I cannot seem to get any sleep at all and I wondered if there was something that I could do to help this? I don't drink coffee or have caffeine any time near bed time and sometimes not all day.
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I was just listening to a sleep expert on this subject.
He said that the most important thing to do was to
1. GET UP at the SAME TIME EVERYDAY!
2. Give yourself a couple of hours of downtime before bed. Do not do work or even work on the computer.
3. Go to bed when tired, not necessarily the same time every night. If you go to bed wide awake, your mind will start thinking about things and stay in an alert state.
When I wake and can't get back to sleep, I go do something mindless, like watch a really boring TV show/movie. When I start to doze, I go straight back to bed.
I have also heard that warm milk actually does help to make you tired!
Hope it helps!
Read a book that has a topic you find boring.
I use Melatonin 3MG, 1 tab to 3 tabs 1 hr. before bedtime, I've used this for years now and family as well as friends are WOWED by the calm effect and your refreshed in the morning with a clear mind. You get it at walmart by the vitamins. Let me know how it works.PS you can never take too much- the only thing is you'll be relaxed and refreshed.
Here are some things that I do.
1. Establish a nightime routine (lock up, lights out, warm bath, read) that prepares you every night to know that its time to sleep and try to go to bed every night, even weekends, at the same time.
2. Get out of the habit of watching television in bed in order to fall asleep. It's usually too stimulating.
3. Use a sound machine (white noise) to tune outside noises out.
4. Keep your bedroom dark and cool.
5. Sprinkle lavender essential oil on your pillow. You can buy this at a health food store or order online if there isn't one nearby. You can also add a couple of drops to your bath.
6. Take valerian root. It has an awful smell, but it sure works for me!
7. Don't exercise before bedtime and be careful about what you eat later in the evening. Exercise too close to bedtime is too stimulating and your digestive system needs a rest too! If its working on digesting food, this activity could interfere with sleep.
8. Wear loose comfortable sleep clothes. Nothing too tight or restricting. I pretty much have to wear 100% cotton gowns these days to keep cool during the night.
That's about all I can think of now ... hope some of it helps!
Here's a website that might help you - www.sleepnet.com/ . My problem was falling asleep. It would take up to 2 hours every night. I now have a nightly routine which works very well. One hour before bedtime I get completely ready for bed - turn down bed covers, wash up, teeth brushed, in PJ's. I turn off the lights in the living room & watch TV (favorite program)-not the news!. Because the room is dark I start getting sleepy while watching TV. I often miss some parts of the program. When the program is done, I go DIRECTLY to bed. I fall asleep within 15 - 30 min. I do not suggest watching TV in the bedroom. Also, no phone calls or conversations during that last hour - this just stimulates the mind.
I take 50 mg of Trazodone at bedtime for sleep. You may want to try time-released melatonin first to see if that helps you as its over the counter hormone.
Dont forget good sleep hygiene. That means go to bed and awake at the same time each day. Also, no tv in the bedroom..
Best of luck.
I too suffer from insomnia. I read a remedy in a health magazine and have been using it ever since. I take 1 tbl. of honey in 1 cup of milk. I pop it into the microwave for about 40 seconds, warm but not boiling, and drink that. Within minutes you can then get to sleep. I had to use that remedy just last night as a matter of fact.
I can't use the honey, but a cup of warm milk usually does the trick, if not, I have a prescription for Ambien. I don't take a whole pill, as I don't get to sleep a full straight 8 hours, except on weekends.
Sitting in front of your computer screen for more than 2 hours without a break is supposed to cause insomnia. Hope this helps.
I count my blessing starting with the letter A
Also, I am a worrier so I imagine me placing the task in a big beautiful gift box. I hand to over to God and tell him I'll pick-it up in the morning if I need to! It REALLY works for me!
I also use Valerian, a homeopathic remedy called CALMS FORTE, another one called RESCUE REMEDY, melatonin and kava kave - alternating them off so I don't get too acustomed to any one. (sometimes I will take one & add Rescue Remedy.)Also have a sleep routine. Seems to help if I have soaked in a hot tub/taken a hot bath/exercised. No caffeine after dinner. I have a prescription for Ambien, but I use it rarely, only when I have a drastic change in sleep routine and have to get up much earlier than usual (I have a tendency to be a night owl left to my own devices unless my schedule dictates otherwise.)
I have a pile of easy-going mysteries by the bed to read before I go to sleep, nothing too disturbing. My husband like to sleep with the classical radio on and sometimes I just lie there and listen to the music. Also, I can mediate to calm my thought when I am agitated by reciting a "mantra" (you can choose any word meaningful to you) over and over and over. I suppose that's the point behind the classical ploy of counting sheep.
I've been using this technique for years, almost 10, and it works well. Listen to books on CD using a portable CD player or clock radio with CD player in it. I put the portable player on the lowest possible volume and use little earbuds in my ear. It takes about 3 tracks to put me to sleep. Then the next night I listen to the next 3 tracks. Check these out from the library but it does take forever to get through a 10 disk book. If I wake up in the middle of the night, in go the earplugs, now somewhere under me in bed, and a few tracks later I'm back to sleep. It works because it's now become a Pavlov's response - hear narration on CD, fall asleep. I've gone through hundreds of books this way (slowly), all checked out from the library. Right now I'm listening to the History of the Supreme Court. :)
Here are some things I do to combat insomnia:
This is an old fashioned remedy that really works: drink 1 TBS honey + 1 TBS apple cider vinegar in a coffee mug of hot water just before bedtime. It relaxes & promotes sleep & works great for me!
Also, try to remove or completely unplug all electronics from your sleeping area at night. If you need an alarm clock, move it as far from your bed as you can.
Take a warm bath before bedtime. Use lavender bath salts, potpurri, candles or some other relaxing aroma therapy that you enjoy.
Hope some of these ideas help you.
Hello! I just wanted to thank everyone very much for the sleeping ideas you all took the time to post! I went to Walmart and did buy the Melatonin and I only have to take one of them at night (I think they are 300 mcg). They started working the very first night! I couldn't believe it!!! Thank you! I am feeling great in the morning and feel refreshed because I am finally sleeping at night!
The other ideas work very well to relax me too! So, now that I am on a routine, things are working very well!
Thank you again for taking the time to post such wonderful ideas!!!!!
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