How do you get to sleep at night

jva111411

This may sound like a silly question, but I have sooo much trouble falling asleep. This has been ever since I can remember.

I've done prescriptions, otc meds, warm milk, no milk, no tv, meditation, blackout curtains. You name it I probably tried it.

I'm never really tired throughout the day, although I'm exhausted in the mornings.

I just need help getting to sleep! Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

AnnPT77

Is your symptom that your mind keeps running at awake-type speed, rather than settling into sleep?

If so, the professional counseling staff at my employer's employee assistance program told me that a short course of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could be very helpful for that.

I didn't try that, so I'm just repeating their advice. I would've taken their advice if that were the type of insomnia I have, but it wasn't/isn't. I go to sleep fine, but wake up repeatedly, going back to sleep easily (sleep interruption insomnia). For me, the thing that helped the most was also work with a psychologist, but one who was trained to use hypnotherapy. It didn't solve my problem fully, but improved things significantly.

lindaellman327

I use an app called Insight timer . I select library down at the bottom and then sleep. There are multiple options to choose from. I like bedtime tales . There are also soundscapes with recordings of sounds in nature like ocean waves or raindrops.

Katsember

After reading Stress Less, Accomplish More by Emily Fletcher, I was introduced to Ziva Meditation. The free guided meditations that come with that book are priceless! I have been doing her recommended 15-minute sessions twice per day every day for 2 years. And often when I drift off to sleep. Really helped me.

SlowCat1960

jva111411:

Hi! I am a 65 year old female and I have been a chronic insomniac all of my life since I was a child. Last month, at age 65, I learned that I was an autistic and that I had Autism Level I. After finding this out, I learned that a lot of people with autism struggle with sleep and anxiety and that one of the ways they calm themselves down at night to go to sleep is with a weighted blanket covering them.

A quality weighted blanket has little weights firmly sewn into and throughout the inside of the fabric of the blanket. If you weigh 150 lbs., you get a 150 weighted blanket. If you weigh 200 lbs., you get a 200 weighted blanket, and so on.

I personally am autistic and I hardly ever got much sleep until I found out I was autistic (last month), and bought myself a weighted blanket on Amazon. Now, I sleep like a baby almost every single night. Tip: You gotta make sure the blanket covers your whole body at night. From your shoulders on down.

To see if you might be autistic, google: autism assessment online free. Or

Autism questionnaire online free.

Unknown

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justgirl81

Have you tried tryptophan or GABA supplements?

ArtifactKeeper

These things can seriously mess with your sleep. Cutting them out — or introducing exercise — can be tough, but it’s all about baby steps. Aim for a little progress each day:

Alcohol

Smoking

Drugs (regardless of legal status)

Prescription drugs (depending on type and necessity — talk to your doctor)

News, especially political coverage and doom-scrolling — doesn’t matter if it’s TV, phone, or newspaper

Social media — all platforms, on any device. There’s no "safe" one

Using your phone for entertainment, especially YouTube Shorts or similar content

A soul-crushing job you hate and only do for money

Lack of physical activity

Small, consistent changes can make a huge difference. One habit at a time.

Weightgaine

saralp2516

I listen to sleep hypnosis podcasts on Spotify. My room is always around 65 degrees. I have no visible little glowing lights from like a clock or TV, I cover them up. I removed the clock all together, looking at the time was a stressor. I try to wake up to the sunlight. I eat a snack, brush my teeth and head up to bed.

SusanCore2025

I listen to an audiobook I have already read so that I don’t become engrossed in the story but have something to focus on until I drift off.

rhondaacollier

I hate sleeping. I wish we didn’t need to. I have found keeping a ritual of what I do each night before bed, so my body gets used to the idea it is time for sleep, helps. Then again in bed I adjust my pillows and blanket in the same position ( so my body knows this is time to sleep) and then focus on my breathing. For me, I close my eyes and I think about a color, say white. I mentally try to make that whole area behind my eyelids and in my mind look white. With this focused concentration I usually fall to sleep. Hope this helps.

csplatt

Try cutting all screens two hours before bed. No scrolling on phone, no computer.