Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Insomnia

E

ErikCLDR

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 14, 2007
1,795
0
Anyone have insomnia?

This is basically my situation. I am 18 and in high school. I have never fallen asleep very easily as long as I can remember. It takes me at least an 1.5hrs to fall asleep maybe 75% of the time. I fall asleep within a half an hour maybe 5% of the time. I'm getting frustrated wasting so much time trying to fall asleep. I try to clear my mind but usually I can't stop thinking about things.

I've tried everything- Listening to relaxing music, meditation exercising, breathing exercises, and even a few Benadryl (which did nothing). I eat well, I get plenty of exercise (swim 4000-6000 yards 5-6 days a week), my bed is good, and there is no ambient noise.

I know there are OTC sleep medications but I doubt they work well and I question their safety and long term effects. If Benadryl doesn't work I doubt the OTC's will work since some of them are the same medication. I also take Zyrtec-D which is supposed to make you drowsy but it doesn't work.

I know there are prescription medications available but I am also worried about dependence and long term effects.

Has anyone used Rx sleep aids with success or does anyone have any other advice on ways of falling asleep.
 
One of my teachers (!) told me that Tylenol PM was a good medicine to help fall asleep. I don't know how well it works though. Just a suggestion.:apple:
 
i suggest going to ur doc about this. because while us MR ppl are good at everything mac, we're not doctors,as far as most of us are concerned.i suggest, doing something relaxing like yoga or deep breathing exercise to calm ur self.
 
It may be helpful to go to a sleep center and have them monitor your sleep activity. They could give you insight into your insomnia problem. Like the other poster said- most of us aren't doctor's so take our advice with a grain of salt.
 
I've had insomnia for years (I'm now 40).
Some people are just night owls...

Whatever you do, don't get into medication or drugs because you'll become addicted to it, then you'll have another problem on your hands.
Things Marijuana will just make you high and speed your heart up, cause long term psychosis and paranoia, which will then keep you awake even more.

Exercise can be good, you'll get knackered, and then you'll want to sleep...
The human body can survive on 5 hours sleep a night, so try not to worry about it...
 
I used to have terrible trouble getting to sleep, but then I went on an NLP course where we also learnt hypnosis. In one day I went into a trance state so much that in the evening I was so relaxed I just slept naturally as soon as I went to bed.

I've been unable to sleep about three times in the five years since (and all those times I was actually worried about something). I'm not suggesting that this would work for anyone else, or that you should rush out and try this, it just worked for me.

I'm not really sure what happened, just being more relaxed than I have ever been can't have been the only thing I'm sure, but the problem went after about 32 years of insomnia (even as a very young child I had problems sleeping).

Not sure how this helps, except to say sometimes the most unlikely things help. All the usual fluff - try not to worry about it, if you aren't sleeping don't just lay in bed, don't drink caffeine after mid-day. Go see a doctor, if there is a university nearby ask if the psychology dept is studying sleep, and if they want volunteers, I think there is a Paul McKenna book about sleeping, see if your library has it.

Good luck and best wishes!
 
I got diagnosed with insomnia back when i was about 16 in highschool. Man it was tough, it was all because of the prescribed Ritalin i had to take (ADD/ADHD). i had ADD bad, and it was hard for my parents a friends, got to the point where i could barely have a full conversation with the person infront of me with out getting distracted to the point where i couldnt even put together sentences. bahah man it was the ****. Anyways, this ritalin, hit me hard and worked everyday. But the downside, i got average 15 hours of sleep over a week. it was horrible, sleep meds didnt work, i was just railed on this stuff. Insomnia is weird, its like when your about to fall asleep and your kinda in that dream world not really asleep and not really awake. Kind of like your just really stoned but no energy for anything. It was bad... but thank god for Mary Jane (and a perscription sleep aid i found). Proud to say ive slept a full 9 hour night every night for the past year and a half now :)
 
I had big troubles sleeping a few years ago, i was in hospital and i guess it stemmed from that. I would go to bed and just lay there and think about random crap, people at work, what i am going to do the following day, whats for dinner.

Eventually i went to the doctor, i was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Now with the correct meds, i sleep alot better
 
OP,

The Zyrtec-D has pseudoephedrine in it, which probably make it more difficult for you to fall asleep because it's a stimulant. I suggest you only take it in the morning or afternoon.

I also suggest you try an OTC sleep aid that containsdoxylamine. Nyquil has this, but don't use it to sleep. I have found that it is more effective than Benedryl, which contains dephenhydramine, and it also doesn't leave you feeling as groggy the next day.
 
Medication aside - I always found very heavy exercise before bed made me tired. Everything I've read says otherwise since it wakes your body up. But I find a good quick workout on as many muscle groups as possible makes my body ache for bed. After that kind of session I normally feel fully refreshed after 7 hours (normally need 8).

Also just relaxing before bed helps, be it playing DS/PSP or reading a book. Even just phoning the girlfriend (different uni) puts my mind and body at rest.

Oh but the druggie route... I always found a cup of Kava was a good way to slowly shut the body off ;)
 
I have had insomnia for many years it like watching the night tick away.

1. remove the clock from the bedside table if it is one that lights up the numbers cover it.

2. Paint your walls black, I did this many years ago and sleep wonderful now,

3. Tempurpedic bed if you can afford one.
 
ya know what? TK B$K, that's exactly how i sleep, i am sort of stuck in dead center, where im not asleep or awake. like, my subconscious stuff is going on, but i can always wake up at any point i want.
 
MonksMac said:
It may be helpful to go to a sleep center and have them monitor your sleep activity. They could give you insight into your insomnia problem...
Click to expand...

I'm a neurologist, and Monks' advice is right. What you need is a professional to evaluate your particular situation and to advice you the best method for treating your insomnia (be that either drugs or non-pharmacological treatment).

Do not waste any more time and go to a sleep center or to a neurologist that specializes in sleep problems.

Best of luck.
 
wywern209 said:
ya know what? TK B$K, that's exactly how i sleep, i am sort of stuck in dead center, where im not asleep or awake. like, my subconscious stuff is going on, but i can always wake up at any point i want.
Click to expand...

Yeah its like that, except your not awake nor are you asleep. your kinda just stuck in dream land. Ha i remember the first week that i had insomnia, man i was seeing and hearing some crazy stuff.
 
I would disagree that medications are the way forward. All the ones that work are addictive, but other non-medical ways work much better. YOu may have tried these, but they'll work much better than drugs can.

1) Get your bedroom in order. Computer/ TV in there? Get 'em out. Do you study in there? Get a dedicated room where you can work without it being your bedroom. In fact the only things in there should be stuff that identifies it as a bedroom. Books, music player allowed - not visual stimulation in the form of video/ TV. You can try dark curtains or earplugs if noise or the light keeps you up.

2) Get into a habit. Go to bed at the same time every day wherever possible. Stop watching TV, listening to hard music 1hr before you go to bed. Do something like prepare your bag for the next day, do your teeth/ face etc. Try some Horlicks/malted milk drink if that helps. Essentially just wind down.

3) Don't panic! If you're worried about something and that keeps you up, talk to someone about it. If you worry about getting to sleep, try not too: those worries can also keep you up. Don't watch the clock. At all!

4) Stop the stimulants! No coffee/ tea/Coke/ Pepsi/ Red Bull etc after midday. Try turkey and hard cheese (high in trytophan) - they can help.

Hope these help. Good sleep hygiene (what I've just said!) is better than any drug tbh. Believe me - Zopiclone didn't work for me, but getting into a habit did, as did talking about my anxieties.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back