Insomnia

[Gonefishing]

Not only do I generally hate to go to bed at a reasonable hour, but tonight I'm on HBT, listening to old time country music internet radio and got a good case of insomnia going. It's already 1:26 am here... been up since 6 am, and isn't looking good for going to bed for a while yet. I guess it's a good thing it isn't a work night! Had one night last week when I couldn't sleep...finally managed about 45 minutes before the alarm went off.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Been there myself, many times. Too many. Never could take the over-the-counter sleep aides cause they'd cause my legs to go all jittery. Then I;d be drowsy, irritated, and still not asleep.

The best sleep aide I have found to date is children. But I'd not suggest having those as a means to sleep more, or better. It don't work that way.

 

[hungrymonkey]

I have not been able to fall asleep before 3am since august. I am up with the kids at 7:30 every morning.

I have tried it all.


Right now, I am at the point of accepting it, and being productive when everyone else is asleep.

 

[Gonefishing]

My kids are grown and gone, each having had children of their own. I've been a minimal sleeper all my life, but this major insomnia thing started in May of 07 when my youngest went to Iraq. He came home in late July 08, all healthy and well (physically anyway) but my ability to sleep much hasn't returned. Gotta admit my personal economy ain't doing much to help either!

 

[EvilTOJ]

I'll stay up whicha all night, I gotta work. Again. *sigh*

Have you tried melatonin? That stuff's the bee's knees when I can't sleep.

 

[Jaybird]

I am thinking a bowl load would do you well.




















Not that I condone that sort of thing

 

[Gonefishing]

Yeah, my wife bought me some melatonin last week. Problem is, by the time I realize I ain't going to sleep I don't think it's going to do me any good. Maybe I'll go take a tab now and see if it helps though.

 

[Jaybird]

warm brandy!!!!

 

[EvilTOJ]

Tab? You can't have a tab unless you order somethin'.

 

[billy_awesome]

booze, sleeping pills, warm baths......I've tried them all.

booze just gets me into trouble.....sleeping pills effect me for days.....and bath's are just gross.

Usually Insomnia is mental, like something important is keeping your mind active and your mind can't relax, it's simple.

I had Insomnia for weeks and it was ruining my performance at work, my sex life and my over attitude.

My cure? Started working out more, going for walks which eventually turned into running. Relieved my body of stress, and overall made my body tired so I slept like a champ!

Maybe try that......oh, and try not to drink 5 cups of coffee in a day LOL

 

[Gonefishing]

Actually, I had way less trouble with sleeping when I had massive quantities of cafeine in my system all the time, I don't do coffee and never did, but about 1.5 years ago I cold turkey quit a 9 20-ounce Coke a day habit. Slept better then though.

 

[GregR]

I hate it. I hate it! I HATE IT!!!

I've dealt with it for longer than I can remember. it's gotten to the point that I don't even associate my bed with sleep. but it usually comes and goes in waves.(that is either a moderately hard time getting to sleep or and extremely hard to getting to sleep) right now I'm at a peak and I don't plan on even attempting sleep until about 2AM.

I'm not sure what the root cause is either. relatively stress free lifestyle (ha, I don't even have a job), never drink caffeine, don't smoke so it can't be a nicotine thing, get decent exercise.

in short, I feel for ya. it sucks and sometimes there just isn't anything you can do about it. cept maybe start a fight club with an imaginary friend. . .

 

[Gonefishing]

Ah, well, it's 4:15 am here, so I guess I'll go lie down. At least tomorrow is Sunday, and I'll still get 4 or 5 hours of sleep before I have to get up. During the week the alarm goes off at 5, nights like this one really suck then.

 

[GNBrews]

Here's a fun insomnia game. Pop a few Benadryl, then jerk off and try to finish before you fall asleep. You always win. ;-)

 

[zac]

I'm sitting here in my recliner at almost 6am. No sleep for me tonight, time to get back at it & do something.

All this nonsense started a few years ago when I blew out my knee. I'm long since off the pain meds, but I've never regained my ability to get a good nights sleep.

wish I would have seen this thread 3 hours ago....!!

 

[Papinquack]

I hate it. I hate it! I HATE IT!!!

I've dealt with it for longer than I can remember. it's gotten to the point that I don't even associate my bed with sleep. but it usually comes and goes in waves.(that is either a moderately hard time getting to sleep or and extremely hard to getting to sleep) right now I'm at a peak and I don't plan on even attempting sleep until about 2AM.

I'm not sure what the root cause is either. relatively stress free lifestyle (ha, I don't even have a job), never drink caffeine, don't smoke so it can't be a nicotine thing, get decent exercise.

in short, I feel for ya. it sucks and sometimes there just isn't anything you can do about it. cept maybe start a fight club with an imaginary friend. . .

Not getting weird on you but have you ever tried americanized meditation? AKA "The Relaxation Response"? Most of my family are severe insomniacs and I feel for you. When I have trouble falling asleep this breath focused thing knocks me out. Just dont let the mental movies your mind produces grab your emotions. Stay unattached just observe.. let it go.. another movie will start let go.. Eventially you will drift away. In order to get back to normal sleeping patterns you must build up your seritonin or meletonin (Cant remember which) but you can only do that by sleeping so you may have to use suppliments till you build enough of your own. I wouldnt buy the garbage at target either. I hope this helps.

 

[Brandon O]

I am thinking a bowl load would do you well.



Not that I condone that sort of thing

That may just keep you awake. The whole idea it makes you lazy or tired is just completely foreign to me. In fact I will say this, sleep medicine makes me cracked out. I often cannot sleep and experience fast heart rate and restless legs for OTC sleep aides. Smoking does the same.

 

[nghtmre4u]

I feel for you I had one of those nights last night so i worked a 12 1/2 hr day on about 45 min sleep.It used to be bad i kept a bottle of nyquil by the bed when i couldnt fall asleep but then i found my self using it to much.Now it seems to bother me when i have something on my mind i just hope it happens on the days i have off but the last 2 were when i had work.I have severe anxiety so if i feel it is gonna be one of those nights i try to take one of my meds a hr before bed as long as i didnt have any brews wont take meds if i had a few

 

[slym2none]

Not a lot of insomniacs here, it seems.

I rarely get to sleep before 5AM, and if I get 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep, I feel lucky. I actually get more sleep in a day if I get a few hours at night (early morning) and then catch a nap after dinner, but even then, I am looking at 5-6 hours sleep total in a day.

It's my understanding that a body needs 6 hours uninterrupted sleep at a minimum to replenish & heal itself. If that's the case, I'll be dead before I hit 50 (I'm 43 now.)

I will admit, being up late is kind of awesome, as there is no one else around to bother me. I have been doing all my brewing late at night, so that's kind of nice, not having to work around others in the kitchen.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I had a bout of insomnia in '98 or '99. couldn't sleep for days. had daytime hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and violent outbursts. my boss sent me home and I woke up the next evening. I think it was stress induced.

 

[JonM]

I struggled with insomnia for a long, long time. Still do and it sucks, sucks, sucks.

There was a great article in the Times when it was at the worst for me. Here's a highlight:

In one of his stand-up routines, British comedian David Baddiel asks why, when people hear he’s an insomniac, they say, “Really? ‘Cos I fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow.” He adds, “When I see someone in a wheelchair, I don’t say, “Really? ‘Cos I can do this…” and he hops around the stage on one leg. …

Anyway, I know enough to know that what helped me isn't the answer for everyone, but a hard, vigorous workout after work seemed to really help a lot (most of the time, anyway.)

Here's a link to that article.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/the-wretched-life-of-the-insomniac/?_r=0

 

[slym2none]

Good morning!

*sigh*

 

[Natdavis777]

Ive had insomnia since I was a teenager. Maybe its related to my back issues. I slept on a couch for years, as it was the best way for me to sleep. I typically go to bed around 0300, but could easily put all nighters. Not sure why. Took nyquil for about a year which helped me get drousy and eventually fall asleep, but I was so groggy the next day. Typical sleeping pills were a joke. They are benadryl. I can easily take 150mg with no effect. I eventually went to my doctor about it and was prescribed Ambien. After one bottle, wont do again. I dont remember sh*t, but one night, my wife came into the living room to the sound of me trying to re-assemble my Sig 226 (Apparently I disassembled it down to the firing pin)... I will say that Ambien did help though. I dont know if something changed or what, but I started on doxyaline succanate, and I can take 1/2 a pill and can sleep (usually) within an hour. Still hit or miss, but most of the time it works.

I used to work 1000-2000 and would go to the gym after, so that could have contributed too, but still doesnt explain the insomnia before I worked that shift. I changed to 0700-1900 and things have gotten better for the most part.

If it were kosher with my wife and state, Im sure some of the devil's lettuce would for sure make me fall asleep, but I still cant but beer on Sunday so...

 

[podz]

I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I sleep for 4-5 hours, wake up for a few hours, then go back to sleep for a few more.

I don't consider it as insomnia, nor do I consider it as a problem. It's my rhythm and I like it.

 

[slym2none]

I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I sleep for 4-5 hours, wake up for a few hours, then go back to sleep for a few more.

I don't consider it as insomnia, nor do I consider it as a problem. It's my rhythm and I like it.

Get out.

 

[myelo]

If you haven't already, I would see a doctor. Beyond that, ask for a referral to a sleep center.