My brain won't shut up when I am trying to sleep. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

dissentowner · 07-22-2008, 02:05 AM

Anyone else have problems sleeping at night because your brain refuses to shut up and keeps thinking about stupid stuff? It is 4:00am and I went to bed hours ago and my brain won't stop thinking about stuff. Nothing in particular either, just random stupid crap!

I suppose I could take a sleeping pill but I hate those things.

ClubFlames · 07-22-2008, 02:12 AM

That's why you should drink yourself to sleep

Sainters7 · 07-22-2008, 02:15 AM

That's me almost every night my friend, and I'm not a coffee drinker either. In fact my whole family's got it, it sucks. I wish I could tell you a remedy(outside of sleeping pills) but unfortunately I dont have one. In fact, if you figure one out, let me know.

BlackArcher101 · 07-22-2008, 02:40 AM

Guilty here as well. In fact, it got so bad at one point that I didn't sleep for 4 days. I never want to repeat that fun time again. You can only count the numbers of bumps on the stipple ceiling so many times before you go crazy.

Other than sleeping pills (which I refuse to take because there's no way I'd be waking up in time then), would be to do whatever it takes to get what's on your mind off of it. Go for a walk, even if it's 1am. Go read a book until you pass out and wake up drooling all over the pages. If you're male, rub one out, it'll help you sleep. Watch a little tv and end up falling asleep on the couch. Or better yet, if there's something on your mind, take care of it (ie, girl trouble? approach the problem the next day, don't overthink it).

And of course there's Hookers and Blow.

flames_fan13 · 07-22-2008, 02:52 AM

I have the same problem if it's completly quiet when I'm about to sleep. That's why I use the sleep mode on my clock radio so that the music can drown out my thoughts and I eventually fall asleep.

If that doesn't work, just read a book and your eyes should start to close on you and you'll eventually fall asleep.

daaznfob · 07-22-2008, 02:53 AM

u can buy some herbal stuff that isnt as bad or good, however u like to see it, as the chemical stuff. melatonin, valerian root or this stuff called "relax and sleep"
problem is the effect wears of if u use them all the time

Weiser Wonder · 07-22-2008, 02:57 AM

I have the same problem. What do I do? After a night of insomnia, I try to be especially active the next time to make sure I sleep. I stop any caffeine after noon. I try not to worry when I can't sleep. Just makes the time you have to pass worse. I go and rest on the couch as sometimes it's good to get out of the negative atmosphere of your bedroom. Rubbing one out never helped me, makes me more energetic. Writing whatever's on your mind is also calming. Sometimes I take a couple shots of whatever's lying around. Sometimes if I have something to do in the morning, I tell myself if I don't get enough sleep I'll reschedule or cancel, that relaxes me.

fatso · 07-22-2008, 06:49 AM

I've really struggled with insomnia for the past 10 years. I had a couple years where it was really bad. I'm slowing getting it under control... I do the sleeping pill thing when I have lots on my plate work-wise, but try to avoid it when things aren't too stressful. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't need to take them, but sometimes you have to sleep... and, well... there's not much else you can do. I do cut them up though... I always found one pill was too much and I'm groggy the next morning. Half a pill is usually all I need to drift off and feel reasonably refreshed the next day.

Some things I've noticed, both physical and mental, that interfere with my sleep. These go right to your point of having a 'racing mind' and I think they're all related.

1. Stimulation: is your room too light or too noisy? I realized over time, that if my room isn't dark enough, or there's too much background noise, I have a tough time falling asleep. My mind goes directly to whatever external stimulation is going on. Make sure you find what works for you.

2. Relax your eyes: a lot of time my mind won't rest because I won't let my eyes rest. Even though they're closed, my eyes are still 'looking' around. Relax your eyes, and your mind will find it easier to relax. And vice-versa I suppose. This goes back to the 1st point, for me, of having a really dark room.

3. Is your head and/or neck properly supported? I'm a side sleeper and for a long time I was using unsupportive pillows. It strains your neck and prevents you from fully relaxing. The same can be said for however you sleep. Invest in a proper pillow and use it correctly. Pull it down into your shoulders so that your neck isn't working to support your head.

4. Temperature: I tend to not like too much clothes when I sleep, just because I don't like being restricted... but if you're not warm enough, your body can't relax. I suppose the same could be said in the summer for keeping cool. Really think about what temperature you're in when you feel most relaxed.

5. Cut out all caffeine after a certain time. For me it's 4pm. For you it might be earlier or later. Caffeine stays in your system, I think, and affects different people differently. Don't underestimate its effects at keeping you awake.

6. Relax your mind: this is the hardest one. Take deep breaths and try to exhale out the thoughts in your head. I'd also find a topic you care about, but that is relaxing to you, to think about if you have to think about something. Have a screenplay or novel you want to write? Rehearse the plot. Want to think of the Flames line-ups? Consider line combinations. It's sort of like counting sheep... if you find a relaxing topic and can associate it with sleep, it will help you relax.

7. Develop a set pattern for bedtime. It's hard to go to sleep at the same time every night, but if you can do that, great. One thing I do is try to make a point of watching TV for 30-60 minutes before I go to bed. I can't work, for example, and go to sleep. SO even though I obsess on work documents sometimes, even if I'm up 'til 2am, I have to watch some TV before going to bed or won't sleep. If you go the TV route, I'd encourage you to watch something plot-based, and that has a resolution. ANything with a cliff-hanger or that doesn't feel complete doesn't help. I also don't read before bed as it's too mentally engaging and stimulating, but to each their own. And don't surf the web before bed unless it relaxes you. I think your mind associates the computer with work and can put you in that headspace.

Insomnia sucks... I really hope it works for you.

fatso · 07-22-2008, 06:50 AM

Oh, dissentower, I see you are in St. Thomas. I'm in London. The weather has been excruciating these last couple days, and I've found it hard to sleep too. Maybe the humidity has something to do with it?

TheCommodoreAfro · 07-22-2008, 06:54 AM

Sleeping pills. Sorry. They work like mad. I have one of those jobs you never really leave (and actually the time away from the office is more productive in terms of ideas) but I find them to help out in terms of regulating my sleep. I'm not addicted to them, but buy a package of six every three months and find simply having them around helps me - I try not to take them but can usually threaten my body to use them which tends to put me to sleep in a pinch. The other thing I do is count walking down stairs or down a mountain while hiking, and try to make trades in my head to get the Flames the lineup they would need to take the Cup.(← I wrote this at the same time Fatso did - playing Daryl Sutter works)!
It's a horrid problem to have, and I fully recommend having a couple of sleeping pills in reserve to get you back on track. If not, I recommend the sleeping on the couch with the TV on method, seems to work everytime for me. Also, being in Japan most people have long baths before they go to sleep. This seems to work, as well, and might be worth trying.

bradster57 · 07-22-2008, 06:58 AM

Lifetime insomniac here too. But with the exception of the night before my wedding, I've had it under control!

My advice is to take a warm shower (even in the summer) before bed. Use soap! It will relax your body. They say not to watch tv right before bed, but I do every night. I find it easier to fall asleep with the tv on, as soon as I start nodding off I turn it off. I've noticed that if it is a show I've never seen before I watch the entire program but if it is a show I've seen many times I doze off faster (ie. Simpsons & Seinfeld every night for me!)

Also, when I'm in the bed I turn all the alarm clocks around and make a note not to find out the time at all. It just leads to the usual math problem "well if I fall asleep now, I'll only get xx hours of sleep."

Hope that helps.

dissentowner · 07-22-2008, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatso

Oh, dissentower, I see you are in St. Thomas. I'm in London. The weather has been excruciating these last couple days, and I've found it hard to sleep too. Maybe the humidity has something to do with it?

Not the weather at all although I agree the weather has been a high pressure system of suck lately. It's this damn chattery brain! Glad to see I am not the only one...actually I am not glad cause nobody should have to deal with a yappy mind,lol. Oh, and BlackArcher I find blow is not exactly the best remedy for trying to sleep fella, if you are trying to use it as a sleep aid it may be why you can't sleep.

OilKiller · 07-22-2008, 07:34 AM

Same thing for me. Sucks. My wife's head hits the pillow and she is out. She could fall asleep standing up I bet.

Me...not so lucky.

I tried sleeping pills, but like you, I don't like taking them. Then I found something a lot more natural and it helps big time on those nights I cannot get to sleep, no matter what I do:

Vivitas Melatonin

The link is to the regular strength, I buy the extra strength now. Works great. You can pick it up at Shoppers, Zellers, Walmart...any of those places.

dissentowner · 07-22-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradster57

Also, when I'm in the bed I turn all the alarm clocks around and make a note not to find out the time at all. It just leads to the usual math problem "well if I fall asleep now, I'll only get xx hours of sleep."

Hope that helps.

hahahaha, I did that math equation all night! I will try the clock thing however that will not muzzle my brain. I can't do the music or tv thing because if I am dead tired I cannot sleep with those, I will listen to see what the next song is or I will remain glued on the tv and I won't drift off. Reading a book does help and I read a lot but once you put the book down it is like my brain dialed into a chatline with itself about every issue on the flippin planet. I think about the Flames a lot too, I saw somebody else mention that, possible line combo's, how they would match up against each team. Then it branches into other teams and what their chances are, where they will finish, what I would do as their GM, and after that is exhausted it can get as ridiculous as what do they drive, do they have a dog, ect... Anything for it to keep grinding away.

LeftWing · 07-22-2008, 07:44 AM

When everything else fails and I'm still staring at the clock, unable to shut my mind up I've found that there's one semi-quick way for me to get back to sleep. I put some low-key 'books on tape' on my iPod and I fire that up for a chapter or two. Right now I've got Treasure Island which I was able to get for free (legitimately of course) via Google. After about 15 minutes I'm nodding off again.

I've tried just about everything else, and this is infinitely better than staying up for the rest of the night.

Resolute 14 · 07-22-2008, 07:44 AM

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. When it gets bad, I focus on my breathing/meditation to get to sleep. Breathe in five seconds, hold it five seconds, breathe out five seconds, repeat. Focus on the breathing, and let everything else fall by the wayside.

GirlySports · 07-22-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Same thing for me. Sucks. My wife's head hits the pillow and she is out. She could fall asleep standing up I bet.

That's me

Don't really know what to suggest. Perhaps a little background noise? I listen to the radio or podcasts and drift to sleep. An fun podcast could take your mind off things. Perhaps I'm just not a 'worrier'.

jolinar of malkshor · 07-22-2008, 08:01 AM

Happens to me every now and then. Thank goodness not as much as some of you people. One thng that works for me sometime that aren't sleeping pills are meletonin pills (sp?). It is a chemical your body uses to to regulate sleep.

zukes · 07-22-2008, 08:09 AM

I just try to think of something repetitive. I usually try to think of playing goalie and the saves I made in my last game, or playing baseball and the hits or defensive plays I made.

I just find that if you are concentrating on one thing it doesn't aloow the myriad of thoughts that usually enter your head when you are having one of those nights.

fredr123 · 07-22-2008, 08:10 AM

I've found that writing out a list of crap to do the next day sometimes helps clear my mind so I can sleep. In my experience, it seems when my brain won't shut up I'm usually mulling over stuff that I have been putting off and am probably dreading. By writing it all out, planning next steps and getting it out of my immediate attention I can relax a little (<-- sounds like David Allen, eh?).