how do you fall asleep?

[PlaceofDis]

Actually, one thing that is strange is that I can be reading a book, and can't keep my eyes open, and then I switch the light off, and my brain switches back on, and I'm wide awake. I switch the light back on again, and read another few pages, and nearly fall asleep, and switch the light off, and the same thing happens...

happens to me too. i think because you're passively reading, and then when done your brain goes full power to digest it? perhaps.

i don't have a problem so much with falling asleep as i do with staying asleep.

 

[Shadow]

I'm really violent in my sleep-I shake my head all over, talk in my sleep (really strangly too, I recently went to France/Belgium with school and my "dorm-mates" said I would talk jiberish, when a phrase which is "logical", whatever that means). I sometimes focus my eyes on my eyelids, that works. Sounds stupid too.

 

[paddy]

IGN Podcasts do the trick for me.

 

[caveman_uk]

If I'm not too much mistaken, melatonin is the hormone found in the body which causes 'sleepiness'. It is the hormone which causes you to sleep.

Indeed, melatonin is the body's own sleep hormone. Unfortunately taking melatonin tablets is of limited use as it has a low bioavailability (about 15% Ref) meaning that very little of what's in the pill gets into your body to do any good. It's either very poorly absorbed or it gets absorbed but, as everything that's absorbed through the GI tract goes through the liver, it gets metabolised before it has a chance of reaching the brain.

Intravenous melatonin would probably work but that's a bit drastic.

FWIW on the rare occasions I can't sleep I find that either sex or a double scotch seem to work (obviously the availability of an insomniac partner determines the availability of the former)

 

[spicyapple]

If you really want to fall asleep fast, you've got to prepare a day in advance.

First thing, wake up really early. Exercise as much as time will allow so you feel really tired by the end of the day. Follow my own advice, I'm happy to report I fall asleep within 10 minutes of my head hitting the pillow.

Oh yeah, and drink plenty of water so you don't go to bed feeling hungry.