My brain won't shut up when I am trying to sleep.

[Jayems]

I'd be fine if I could just put my laptop away and not be so OCD with refreshing my bookmarks.

Refresh CP
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Sooner or later, it's 1 a.m.

[zukes]

Also, it's not sleeping pills, but a lot of the time when I can't sleep it's a combo of the brain running like this and usually some sort of back or muscle pain aiding the non-sleep. Go to the States and buy some Alleve. It has a muscle relaxer in it, the bottle calls for one, but I find two relaxes me enough that I'm sawing logs in a few minutes.

[llama64]

Soon as this starts happening, GET OUT OF BED!

Go do something, anything. I recommend doing something tactile rather then TV. For me it's usually a game or two of Halo3. You'll begin to feel a lot more tired if you try to get something done while your brain is racing then if you try using medication.

By the time your done, you'll hit the bed near comatose.

The only time you should be using medication to handle insomnia is if it's chronic and your doctor has prescribed it.

[fatso]

Originally Posted by fredr123

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?).

this is a great tip and one I use a lot too. Get out of bed and write down your list. You'll instantly feel in control of what you have to do the next day and you'll feel ready to take a break.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by fotze

and the most difficult part of the whole thing is the part that you gloss over, if you could just let things fall by the wayside then you wouldn't need the breathing exercise.

heh, yeah, it is a chicken and the egg problem. "I wouldn't need the breathing exercise if I could forget that other stuff, but I can't forget that other stuff without the breathing exercise."

Sucks.

[Wolfwood]

I've also had a lot of trouble sleeping. Lately I've been doing really well by trying to exercise a few hours before going to sleep and then taking a hot shower after. The combination of wearing your body out and then allowing it to cool down before going to sleep seems to do wonders.

[burn_this_city]

If I can't sleep I just go for a walk outside or chill on the couch and watch tv.. You might end up in bed super late but it beats laying awake all night

[bradster57]

Yep those are some good suggestions, I've never tried writing things to do the next day but I bet that would help. If my brain is overly active, just hit the reset button, walk around, have some water, and try again. Has going to bed and getting up at the same time everyday been mentioned? Not too hard to do except on the weekends. I guess thats why I personally have the most trouble sleeping on Sunday nights.

[worth]

I can normally sleep without trouble every night. I believe diet and exercise effects this greatly. I can normally go to bed at 9:30 or 10pm and wake up at 5:30am no problem.

First time i've had trouble sleeping in a long time was last night because someone was lighting off fireworks outside last night and it was 40 degrees inside my house. that was a little tough.

I also believe in routine. You need to get up at the same time everyday for your body to get into a rythym. If you're all over the place, it doens't know when to sleep and when to be awake. I know this is probably harder for some than others, especially if some people don't work a day job or have weird hours, but if you can manage to go to sleep at the same time and wake up at the same time every day, this will probably help you out a lot.

[Reaper]

Three or four hoots and a warm shower can work wonders. Don't go full blaze where you'll be eating ###### sandwiches for breakfast. With the shower, try to let the water run down from the top of your head down your face and back of your neck. It aids in the relaxation process.

[Wookie]

Yeah I've had the same problem as of late. My mind has been racing out of control. I stress myself out over some little things. Then get worked up and shoot, suddenly I'm tired for a week. Last night was AWFUL! Granted the head didn't help.

I find writing helps. This started (the most recent bout) last week. two of the nights I got up and typed. It really helped get a lot of my thoughts out and then i slept well.. I think...

I also sometimes train a few hours before bed and I know that keeps me up a bit. There are some days that I need that cup of coffee before I can get to whatever training I'm doing... then I know that's screwed me over at night.

The worst is for sure sitting the watching the clock counting away your sleep remaining as someone mentioned above. . That practice seems to doom you.

I've never tried the reading method. I get involved in books pretty quickly and usually read them in a day or so. So I'm always hesitant to pick up a book for fear it'll make matters worse.

[HOOT]

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.

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.

Oilkiller is right, the most natural way would be Melatonin. It isn't addictive and you won't wake up all groggy(sp?) I would also suggest Calcium before bed as it has a "calming effect".

Just take both about an hour before bed, however don't take the Melatonin if you know you will have to be up within 5 hours or so.

I would recommend going to GNC and just picking up a bottle of each, I bet you could get two months worth of the stuff for about $30 for both.

[troutman]

Reading, then some Ipod after lights out, and I fall asleep right away. Except last night when our house was like a furnace. Had to go downstairs to sleep.

[icecube]

Read any book written by Eckhart Tolle. It will get your mind to stop racing, I PROMISE.

[chid]

Originally Posted by Jayems

I'd be fine if I could just put my laptop away and not be so OCD with refreshing my bookmarks.

Refresh CP
Refresh Reuters
Refresh CNN
Refresh Google NEws
Refresh CP
Refresh Fark
Refresh CP

Sooner or later, it's 1 a.m.

Ive stayed up until 5am with this very problem. I have a macbook and no desk so I usually am on the computer in my bed.. BAD idea. Beds should only be for sleeping. I try to put my macbook in the family room before bed so I dont even have a tempation to touch it when I'm trying to sleep.

[dissentowner]

I am gonna try the Melatonin for sure. Some good suggestions on here, thanks guys.

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Oilkiller is right

Just wanted to quote that because I never thought I would see the day when you said that...

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am gonna try the Melatonin for sure. Some good suggestions on here, thanks guys.

Good for you. The Melatonin works great for me. Like Hoot said, ensure you have at least 5 - 6 hours of time to sleep though. I take it a bit before bed and I start to get pretty tired and can sleep almost right away when I go to bed.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Just wanted to quote that because I never thought I would see the day when you said that...

I felt a little dirty typing it

[Phaneuf3]

I used to be like you but now i fall asleep way too easily and can sleep through anything. As soon as I lie down on anything, I'm asleep. A little spare time with nothing going on and I'll doze off at my desk and catch 15-20 minutes of shut eye. Its great as I'm always feeling refreshed but I do notice the amount of reading I've been doing has fallen off a lot.

As soon as I cut out TV, cut out caffine, cut my alcohol consumption to almost nothing except on weekends I completely cured my mild insomnia.

[J pold]

I was bad for this when I was younger…couldn’t sleep at all

It took me along time to get out of it, but now almost every night I can be out cold in less than half an hour

Part of this is diet (I try not to eat past 7) part of this is exercise (Workout almost everyday) but the thing that has helped me the most is turning on the radio (usually the Fan) it’s back round noise that distracts all the thoughts running through my head. After about 10 minutes I pretend like I’m on the show being interviewed. I hear the host on the radio ask a question and I respond as if it was directed at me, always puts me right out.