Comments on: File under things that make me long for sweet death

By: Kori

Kori — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:20:12 +0000

i am a lifelong fellow insomniac. things that have worked for me – klonopin. and amitriptyline. amitriptyline is good because it’s non habituating. i would tell you to take hot baths and do yoga and all that ish, but honestly, none of that crap has ever worked for me.

By: slynnro

slynnro — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:56:33 +0000

I periodically go through WEEKS like that. It’s miserable. And nothing works for me. Sleeping pills do evenutally, but then I feel even worse all day. UGH!

By: BS Talks

BS Talks — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:39:00 +0000

You already have a ton of really good suggestions but I will add my two cents anyway!

Stop drinking caffeine after 2 or 3 in the afternoon at the latest!

Create a bedtime routine, and do the same exact thing every night before bed. You can begin the bedtime routine with a 4 oz. glass of red wine or caffeine free hot tea and then move onto things like brush teeth, wash face etc. followed by a bit of stretching and deep breathing and end with lathering up with lotion. Then get into bed in a COMPLETELY black room, I’m talking black-hole black, wear a mask if you have to and drop the temperature a few degrees so its cool, not cold. Your body will produce melatonin naturally in cool, dark places.

If a routine doesn’t work, definitely try melatonin supplements, they work the same as naturally produced melatonin and are not addictive or harm the natural production.

By: sanya

sanya — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:29:16 +0000

OH MY GOD, totally going through the same thing right now (or similar, at least). I don’t know how to fix it yet but sleeping pills aren’t the greatest idea. They are extremely addictive, and, in short, tend to mess with your brain chemistry. Keep with the Sleepytime Tea and maybe try a warm bath before bed, and going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning should help, too.

By: Danon Pascoa

Danon Pascoa — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:33:17 +0000

here is my advice (I am not soliciting medical secrets here and they are not listed in any specific order
1. have a hot shower – it’ll make you relax
2. take my kids; they are up at 4 daily and go until bedtime – 1 day with them you’ll be done
3. i know it’s not proper to offer but smoke em if you got em…you’ll pass out for sure!
4. i agree about the changing where you sleep
5. drink a lot of wine or whatever your poison is..after enough you will sleep like a baby

I went through it for a long time even after my kids started sleeping through the night but take a day off; dont do anything..just chill and you will get your groove back…

By: Emily Jane

Emily Jane — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:16:49 +0000

This happened to me for such a long time I Just gave up, blew up in an exhausted, sleep deprived hissy fit at work and went to the doctor’s – I got sleeping pills for a couple of weeks but when I went off them and had the exact same problem, he put me on something long term (not a sleeping pill, another kind that has drowsiness as a side effect) and it’s been amazing – it’s called amitriptyline and might be worth mentioning to your doctor? I also sleep with a mask and earplugs too – I hope you figure something out, not sleeping is THE suckiest thing ever. *Hugs*

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:30:14 +0000

So since you asked for suggestions…

1.) Ask Andrew to sleep on the couch for a few nights, just so you can get back on the horse.

2.) Use earplugs.

3.) Sounds crazy, but I shit you not–sleep with your head at the foot of the bed and your feet at the head of the bed.

4.) Quit caffeine. Switch to kukicha tea for a pickmeup as you get off of caffeine, but sorry–gotta stop with the coffee.

5.) Get honest: What hard truth are you not wanting to acknowledge in your waking hours?

[[ hugs ]]

I hate having insomnia. My M.O. used to be teaching dreams where I was teaching lessons (and moving and talking) in my sleep.

By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:13:26 +0000

I wish I could help, but I have almost he same exact issues getting to sleep and staying asleep as you do. If you find something that works, let me know! Best of luck my sleepy friend!

By: Katy

Katy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:09:36 +0000

Ear plugs… I know it’s scary because you think you might not hear your alarm… but for some reason, the high pitch breaks through mine. I hear nothing BUT my phone alarm, rousing me in the morning… and kitty and boyfriend do not interfere with my sweet sweet sleep. I know that this isn’t all the cause of your problem atm… but it might help a little. Maybe try when you don’t HAVE to wake up, just to give yourself a little test and see if it works?

Oh… and nose strips. Apparently I discovered that some people are born with smaller nasal passages, and right when you start to fall asleep, you stop getting enough air and you wake up again. Seriously Amy, this caused YEARS of sleepless nights for me. I cannot live without my nosestrips. And I’m not a snorer, I promise!

Hopefully my drug-free advice helps!

By: SoMi's Nilsa

SoMi's Nilsa — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:54:05 +0000

Working out? I always find that when I work out after work, I sleep soundly at night. Then again, that could just be that I’m a sound sleeper. I dunno, why not try getting the oxygen moving through the body to see if that helps.