Sleep
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blankiefinder wrote: »Oh, and my daughter has a sleep hypnosis thing on her iPhone that she listens to when she is stressed out and can't sleep. She takes after me
I've only listened to part of it, but it did seem to have some helpful strategies. I can get the name from her tomorrow if you're interested. It's midnight here and she has morning practice, not waking her up 
Yes. Those help me too.
To OP, Google sleep hygiene and follow some of the things that work for people in this thread. You are getting good advice.
Also, check with your doctor for prescription sleep help.0 -
Oh, I just remembered the one thing that helped from the tiny portion I listened to. It plays hypnosis type music, with the typical hypnosis talk, but the tip that really helped me was to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, and really focus on the cool sensation of the air in your nostrils. I find that when I can remember to do that, it can help get me 'out of my head' temporarily.0
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blankiefinder wrote: »Oh, and my daughter has a sleep hypnosis thing on her iPhone that she listens to when she is stressed out and can't sleep. She takes after me I've only listened to part of it, but it did seem to have some helpful strategies. I can get the name from her tomorrow if you're interested. It's midnight here and she has morning practice, not waking her up
Yes. Those help me too.
To OP, Google sleep hygiene and follow some of the things that work for people in this thread. You are getting good advice.
Also, check with your doctor for prescription sleep help.
if you happened to read my post where I talked about my back trouble and that my doctor didn't really listen to me you're really going to tell me to get a new doctor now: I talked to her about my insomnia and she insisted that I just needed to go to bed earlier even though I told her there are literally nights that I don't get any sleep at all.0 -
blankiefinder wrote: »Oh, and my daughter has a sleep hypnosis thing on her iPhone that she listens to when she is stressed out and can't sleep. She takes after me I've only listened to part of it, but it did seem to have some helpful strategies. I can get the name from her tomorrow if you're interested. It's midnight here and she has morning practice, not waking her up
I'll have to look into these. My mom uses them too sometimes... unfortunately I have a "dumb phone" right now
It just occurred to me that I have it on iTunes on this computer, so I was able to find the name. It's called Sleep Solutions and it's by Roberta Shapiro. It has an intro one, a 5 minute one, and a 10 minute one. Not sure which one is best of the three, we have them all as a set. You can read the reviews on amazon here. Not a referral link, FYI.0 -
Melatonin. It's what your body naturally produces that makes you sleepy. I take a melatonin supplement every night and 20 minutes later am in la-la land. Unless I'm reading a super good book. Then it sometimes takes an hour.0
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I suffer from severe sleep disorder/insomnia also and the first thing you need to do is stop watching TV right before bed. You shouldn't even have a TV in your room. The latest reseach shows that electronic screen (phones, tv, tablets, computers) can mess up your circadian rhythms.
When you have insomnia, your bed should be used for sleep and sex only. If you lay down to sleep and you can't fall asleep, get up and do something.
I also take valerian root, but I take it mixed with other things in a valerian root complex. It potentiates the valerian so it is more effective. Don't take melatonin. That can actually keep your body from producing it's own melatonin. I agree with taking the 5-HTP. I take that and it helps.
I also listen to meditation music on my phone. In addition to the music, there is usually some kind of relaxation exercise on there that helps you get to sleep. Unfortunately for me, chronic pain is what frequently keeps me awake and none of these helps that. Some times I'm just awake because I hurt too much to sleep, like tonight.
I hope this helps. My last suggestions would be to see a sleep specialist. They can help a lot.0 -
I've been told that doing other things, like watching tv, doing work, etc. in your bedroom can also make it harder to sleep... I live in a studio, so I don't really have any other choice.
They say you should only use your bedroom for two things... but in your situation, I guess it's unavoidable, but you should try maybe somehow separating the sleep area from the rest. Curtains, perhaps.A lot of the problem (which has to do with anxiety) is that I can't turn my brain off at night. I think about ridiculous things, I end up getting myself worked up or frustrated. The reason having tv is somewhat helpful to me is because it makes me focus on what's happening there rather than things happening in my head that really don't need my attention.
I feel your pain, that is my problem, the rambling mind.Melatonin. It's what your body naturally produces that makes you sleepy. I take a melatonin supplement every night and 20 minutes later am in la-la land. Unless I'm reading a super good book. Then it sometimes takes an hour.
Be careful with melatonin. It doesn't work for everyone, and can in fact do some harm..
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-940-melatonin.aspx?activeingredientid=940&activeingredientname=melatonin
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/melatonin-side-effects/faq-20057874
As well, those supplements you take are supposedly not the same melatonin as the brain produces:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/201102/melatonin-not-magic-bullet-sleep
Another concern, which I can not find any study to support but have heard from doctors is that using a hormone supplement when you really don't need to (i.e. not deficient) can lead to the body producing less as it no longer finds the need to.0 -
Do hypnosis. Look up liberationinmind insomnia. It works for me.0
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Also Jody Whitney is also good. Both r free on YouTube.0
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If you use the computer at a lot in the evening/night, look for a program called f.lux. You set your location and it changes the colour hue of your screen as the sun sets. Blue ranges of light are supposed to keep you awake and more orange/reds are supposed to be more soothing/help you sleep. It's weird when you first start using it, but you soon get used to the colour change. It really helped me get to sleep a lot quicker as I'm terrible for being on the computer until the last minute before bedtime
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That is so cool. Thanks for that.If you use the computer at a lot in the evening/night, look for a program called f.lux. You set your location and it changes the colour hue of your screen as the sun sets. Blue ranges of light are supposed to keep you awake and more orange/reds are supposed to be more soothing/help you sleep. It's weird when you first start using it, but you soon get used to the colour change. It really helped me get to sleep a lot quicker as I'm terrible for being on the computer until the last minute before bedtime
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Right. And people forget that Melatonin is a hormone . . . kind of weird to messing around with that when you do not have to.I've been told that doing other things, like watching tv, doing work, etc. in your bedroom can also make it harder to sleep... I live in a studio, so I don't really have any other choice.
They say you should only use your bedroom for two things... but in your situation, I guess it's unavoidable, but you should try maybe somehow separating the sleep area from the rest. Curtains, perhaps.A lot of the problem (which has to do with anxiety) is that I can't turn my brain off at night. I think about ridiculous things, I end up getting myself worked up or frustrated. The reason having tv is somewhat helpful to me is because it makes me focus on what's happening there rather than things happening in my head that really don't need my attention.
I feel your pain, that is my problem, the rambling mind.Melatonin. It's what your body naturally produces that makes you sleepy. I take a melatonin supplement every night and 20 minutes later am in la-la land. Unless I'm reading a super good book. Then it sometimes takes an hour.
Be careful with melatonin. It doesn't work for everyone, and can in fact do some harm..
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-940-melatonin.aspx?activeingredientid=940&activeingredientname=melatonin
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/melatonin-side-effects/faq-20057874
As well, those supplements you take are supposedly not the same melatonin as the brain produces:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/201102/melatonin-not-magic-bullet-sleep
Another concern, which I can not find any study to support but have heard from doctors is that using a hormone supplement when you really don't need to (i.e. not deficient) can lead to the body producing less as it no longer finds the need to.0 -
routine is what helps me most, though i will take a motrin PM on occasion.
my routine
go to my room, bath, listen to tv (i dont really WATCH much, its just background noise to me) while reading or coloring or playing solitaire. lay down, turn tv way down, turn it off once i start to doze off.
i typically am in my room by 8pm (sometimes much earlier just because i like being in my room LOL) and go to sleep anywhere from 10-11.0 -
poppymom23 wrote: »I suffer from severe sleep disorder/insomnia also and the first thing you need to do is stop watching TV right before bed. You shouldn't even have a TV in your room. The latest reseach shows that electronic screen (phones, tv, tablets, computers) can mess up your circadian rhythms.
When you have insomnia, your bed should be used for sleep and sex only. If you lay down to sleep and you can't fall asleep, get up and do something.
I also take valerian root, but I take it mixed with other things in a valerian root complex. It potentiates the valerian so it is more effective. Don't take melatonin. That can actually keep your body from producing it's own melatonin. I agree with taking the 5-HTP. I take that and it helps.
I also listen to meditation music on my phone. In addition to the music, there is usually some kind of relaxation exercise on there that helps you get to sleep. Unfortunately for me, chronic pain is what frequently keeps me awake and none of these helps that. Some times I'm just awake because I hurt too much to sleep, like tonight.
I hope this helps. My last suggestions would be to see a sleep specialist. They can help a lot.
You'll notice that I stated earlier that I live in a studio apartment. I don't have any other option than to do anything and everything in my bedroom as it is also my livingroom/dining room/kitchen. This is probably the most common advice, so I just want to explain that it's not possible for me.0 -
I've been told that doing other things, like watching tv, doing work, etc. in your bedroom can also make it harder to sleep... I live in a studio, so I don't really have any other choice.
They say you should only use your bedroom for two things... but in your situation, I guess it's unavoidable, but you should try maybe somehow separating the sleep area from the rest. Curtains, perhaps.A lot of the problem (which has to do with anxiety) is that I can't turn my brain off at night. I think about ridiculous things, I end up getting myself worked up or frustrated. The reason having tv is somewhat helpful to me is because it makes me focus on what's happening there rather than things happening in my head that really don't need my attention.
I feel your pain, that is my problem, the rambling mind.Melatonin. It's what your body naturally produces that makes you sleepy. I take a melatonin supplement every night and 20 minutes later am in la-la land. Unless I'm reading a super good book. Then it sometimes takes an hour.
Be careful with melatonin. It doesn't work for everyone, and can in fact do some harm..
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-940-melatonin.aspx?activeingredientid=940&activeingredientname=melatonin
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/melatonin-side-effects/faq-20057874
As well, those supplements you take are supposedly not the same melatonin as the brain produces:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/201102/melatonin-not-magic-bullet-sleep
Another concern, which I can not find any study to support but have heard from doctors is that using a hormone supplement when you really don't need to (i.e. not deficient) can lead to the body producing less as it no longer finds the need to.
when I say my apartment is small... it's REALLY small... there's not two separate areas at all... I have a futon, I use it as my couch during the day and my bed at night. There's not really any other options because it's so tiny.0 -
If you use the computer at a lot in the evening/night, look for a program called f.lux. You set your location and it changes the colour hue of your screen as the sun sets. Blue ranges of light are supposed to keep you awake and more orange/reds are supposed to be more soothing/help you sleep. It's weird when you first start using it, but you soon get used to the colour change. It really helped me get to sleep a lot quicker as I'm terrible for being on the computer until the last minute before bedtime
Interesting! I know a lot of people have told me I just shouldn't use my computer close to bed, but that's not really an option for me, so this is a good compromise!0 -
blankiefinder wrote: »blankiefinder wrote: »Oh, and my daughter has a sleep hypnosis thing on her iPhone that she listens to when she is stressed out and can't sleep. She takes after me I've only listened to part of it, but it did seem to have some helpful strategies. I can get the name from her tomorrow if you're interested. It's midnight here and she has morning practice, not waking her up
I'll have to look into these. My mom uses them too sometimes... unfortunately I have a "dumb phone" right now
It just occurred to me that I have it on iTunes on this computer, so I was able to find the name. It's called Sleep Solutions and it's by Roberta Shapiro. It has an intro one, a 5 minute one, and a 10 minute one. Not sure which one is best of the three, we have them all as a set. You can read the reviews on amazon here. Not a referral link, FYI.
This is something I'd like to try, thank you!0 -
When I had this problem a friend went out and walked the Dorset coast recording the sea at various locations we had walked together and presented me with a really long sound track on cd and sd. It sends me off beautifully. I know sea sounds cds can be bought.0
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Apologies for excessive bolding.
Excessive - or, indeed, any - bolding now removed. Thanks to blankie finder for the tutorial.0 -
You can still edit for an hour 0
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