No Sleep
 

It is 6am. I have a huge presentation in two hours. I tried going to bed at 11:30 so I'd be well rested. HAH! I think I got maybe five minutes of sleep at the most. My legs feel like rubber and I'll be really surprised if I can function during the presentation. :(
So, when you all suffering from insomnia like I am, what do you do that helps you fall asleep?

My general problem in this case is that my mind keeps running in all different directions so, no sleep.

What I do is read a novel I've already read. That makes my concentrate on the book, thus forgetting all the other stuff, and, I generally get back to sleep pretty quickly.

First things first, you need to slowly change your sleeping habits. Try not to eat or drink after 9...or at least 10. I've also read that when you get into bed, don't do anything like watch tv, read, do your nails...make the bed a "sleeping only zone". Recently, we bought a ticking clock for our new pup...and it's actully helped me fall asleep LOL! You can find a simple $10 ticking clock at Wallmart...it's one that winds in the back (FYI).
I've also read that it's best to give "falling asleep" a shot for about 20 minutes. If it doesn't work, get up, walk around, watch a little tv, and then try again a little later. It's just more frustrating to lay in bed "trying" to fall asleep. Most of these are tips I got off of a website...but they make sence.
Good Luck!
Hootie

I take a Tylenol PM or benadryl

Those are some good suggestions Hootie-I will try those next time (b/c of my schedule I have a huge problem with insomnia)

suffering insomniac!!!
 

OMG i am the biggest insomniac...it is 649am here in Miami Florida and i still havent been to bed...but this is nothing out of the norm...

it all started last semester when i would never go to bed...normal "to bed time" was like between 4-7am...

i went to the docter and aside from perscribing me sleeping pills (which i decided against)

i find that when i am going to try and get a normal nights sleep i take a shower get in comfy pajamas...make myself a cup of sleepy time tea (the one with the lil bears on it) with only a small spoon of sugar, breath deep the fumes from the tea, make sure you crank the AC and get comfy in bed.. a really cold room, hot tea, and the relaxing feeling of just coming out of the shower helps..and weird fact when you shower and wash your hair it sometimes helps even more..you feel slightly fresher...

dont turn on the TV unless its really low, or keep it on mute..sometimes the flashing patterns of light from the TV helps... weird i know...

anyways that is what i do at times... but im still an insomniac...its crazy..having finals doesnt help either...be careful with the amounts of benydrl you take...that stuff is even stronger than nyquil...it contains more sleeping aide and if you need to wake up on time in the morning it is not a good sleep choice..trust me ive woken up late many of times from benydrl...

GOOD LUCK GETTING SLEEP..

oh yah, I take Nyquil too. I know if I take anything I sleep for about 12-15 hrs so if I do take something it is usaully is on my weeks off. When I am working I get about 6-7 hrs of sleep per day and am able to sleep very well cause i work long shifts.

Eat Ice Cream in bed with the TV on cause you may miss what is going on or a good movie or sit com!

You sleep better if you are not laying awake thinking of food!

DO NOT FALL ASLEEP WITH COOKIES AND CREAM IN THE BED!
It gets messy when you wake up with it!:(

Do not drink a lot or will be up peeing all night! Cant cram for a test as you know or dont know!

Night be for a Law Exam, had to have a break!
Sat with my Law Prof. drinking beer at the local pub!

We discussed Law, and well a lot of other things!:)

Kicked out a bunch of Jocks but I got to stay!

Got a C and was tickled as hell!:D

Dont drink coffee so took no-doze before cramming!

Heck is better than any sleeping drug that I know!
15 Min. our like a burned out Bulb!:eek:

I don't have any trouble falling asleep unless I am REALLY stressed about something. The best thing to do is make yourself tired. My campus is on almost 400 acres and I walk everywhere. By the end of the day I have walked to just about every building on-campus.
Just try a little more exercise or maybe take a hot shower to relax.

Thanks Tom. I will definitely remember that. :)

I can't sleep at night. If I have to get up early (& it's my day off )I'll take a Tylenol PM. I also have "ocean waves, rainforest, rainshowers, etc" sounds on a massager that I bought. I always have to turn on either the rainshowers or ocean waves to finally fall asleep.

The best thing is to get onto a regular sleep schedule. If you have to get up at 7am during the week, don't sleep in too late on the weekends. That way, you'll consistently start feeling tired at the "right" time.

Don't cram, cram, cram, then immediately try to sleep. Instead, take a half hour or so, to put your worries out of your mind before going to sleep. Have some hot chocolate, read a book, take a shower, whatever. (but don't wash your hair unless you want to blow dry it, otherwise your pillow will get soaked :) )

If all else fails, morning coffee is your best friend :D

This is a problem I have too... :(
I get stressed and can't relax.
Everyone's suggestions are good, I hope they work for you.

I make sure I always read a good book (read: NOT a school book!:D) before going to bed. It takes my mind off all my stresses and most times I get so absorbed in the book I feel as though I'm actually there with the characters.....which relaxes me enough to go to sleep!

I find if I don't read at night I stay awake later trying to force myself asleep!:)

Hope your presentation went well, ZTAngel!:)

tylenol PM or nyquill. If you can't sleep because you are worried about not being able to sleep, then resolve to work on it in the morning and then conk out.

How did your presentation go?

I had the same problem when i was a freshman. In high school i was so used to going to bed around 10pm and waking up at 6am.

Even though i had 8am classes freshman year, going to bed early was impossible for two reasons. 1.) parties ;) and then 2.) once i got my priorities in line, our next door neighbors were so freaking loud that we had no choice but to go to sleep at 3am. Whether i have a 8am class or not, i always have to take a shower and have enough time to calmly find something to wear, fix my hair, brush my teeth, put on makeup and eat breakfast. Therefore, i would go to bed at 3am or later and then have to wake up at 6:30am.

Around the hours of 2-3pm to about 5-6pm, my roommate and i would catch up on our sleep!! And yes, i would nap for about 3 hours because i would only sleep 3hrs at night! It was awful!!

Taking nyquil does help, but i would suggest doing it only for those once in a while nights where it is imperative you go to sleep within 30 minutes. NEVER taking sleeping pills!!

Fortunately, now that I am living at home, i dont have that problem! I normally study best at night when everyone in the house is getting ready for bed, already in bed, or just watching television. I also dont have any problems going to bed, and i usually always wake up about 1-2minutes before my alarm goes off in the mornings. When the alarm wakes me up, its a good indication that i am tired!

I even wake up pretty early on weekends, so my sleeping schedule is not off track come monday morning!