cant sleep?

[mtnmask]

<span class="ev_code_GREEN">what do you do when you cant sleep? i often times play on the internet. i often read these forums late at night but do not post very often. i decided to post a bit tonight. i may be a lurker but i feel like i know many of you. im not trying to say you guys are boring and put me to sleep. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/laugh.gif reading a book is another good way to fall asleep or watch a movie and put on the sleep timer.</span>

[49er]

I always fall asleep reading a book. Easiest way...

[Coldwolf]

Because of my wierd work schedual I am often wide awake at odd hours, I work (usually) 2 graveyard, 2 swing and 1 day shift during a week. So I post at wierd hours too. If I try to go to sleep before exhaustion pushes me into it I just wake up after an hour or 2. If I want to make myself sleep i can. I lie flat on my back in the dark with my arms out from my body a little and my legs seperated a little . i close my eyes and envision a black dot. I force the dot to slowly enlarge in my mind. Usually before it reaches the outer edge of my "vision" I'm asleep.

[49er]

Interesting theory of using a black dot coldwolf. I too at one time worked a grave yard position for eight months. Not getting decent sleep at the regular sleep time turned me into a wreck. I had no problem dosing off at the wrong time such as in movie theaters, watching t.v. with friends, or during conversations with people on my off days. Kinda rude if you think about it from the other peoples point of view. Your tired... What are you going to do. Anyway, point is, graveyard screws us up. Had to do it becouse the job required me to at the time. cheers. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/cheers.gif

[Coldwolf]

If it was only graves or only swings I have no problem. But the constant changing. I have no mental equalibrium

[Yosemite_Wolf]

I post late at nite too cos I work graveyards (mmmm maybe its a wolf thing?) It gets lonely late at nite on the board too.. cos everyone is sleepin~

[LindaBo]

Me i just toss and turn All night, and fell like crap the next day..... http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/sad3.gif

[Summer]

Reading always does it for me. If you're into pharmaceuticals - melatonin has been known to work pretty good.

[beautiful_mess38]

lay down on the couch watchingTV or have a glass of wine while reading a book. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/messy.gif http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/book.gif

[oakhurstleaf]

There's Calm's Forte'...you can get that at Whole Foods or GNC or maybe even at Long's. It's an herbal sleep remedy. Maybe if nothin' else works.

[TriDevotee]

My mom has had really bad difficulty sleeping and then heard of Valerian Root. Valerian Root has been used as a sleep aid for over 1,000 years. It has the ability to help relax the central nervous system, promote feelings of calm, decrease levels of anxiety and stress, and enhance sleep.

You can find it at most grocery stores, but I would suggest purchasing it at either GNC or The Vitamin Shoppe. These two places a higher grade of supplements compared to what you will find at the local supermarket.

I hope this helps out some.

You can find some more info on this at www.1001herbs.com/valerian (http://www.1001herbs.com/valerian)

[CatdaBrat]

Usually when I begin an attempt to fall asleep, I start visualizing something akin to an electronic shut-down, like when you turn off your computer. I "see" myself sorta like a robot having its power supply removed, like in science fiction movies. You can also visualize your mind going "blue screen."

This works so well for me that I lose an awareness of my surroundings and all audio distractions blend into a sort of "white noise." I guess it is a form of disassociation, because I am mentally "removing myself" from my environment.

The only problem with that is, if I am somehow forced out of this mode, it is rather irritating and has a jarring effect. I can drift into the beginning stages of the sleep cycle in less than 1 minute, and the longer I practice this method, the easier it becomes.

[49er]

I think the worst feeling is when your body is completly zapped and you can't move a muscle laying there but your mind is wide awake and won't agree with sleep. That is the worst.

[candyappleisland]

I used to have problems falling asleep, now I have children.

[monkey]

I know it's bad, but when my mind won't shut off, I usually can fall asleep if the tv is on. During the summer when I'm super busy, I often have a hard time sleeping. I also use Von's sleeping aids (generic). Usually half of a dose will allow me to sleep well with no hangover in the morning.

[Dakota Blue]

Sleep--dear, sweet, elusive sleep--is the one luxury that money just can't buy. I used to use 30-decibel strength ear plugs to attempt to block out the sound of loud voices and muffler-less vehicles coming and going at all hours, but this recently resulted in a major painful ear infection and I still haven't regained total hearing in my right ear and have ringing in my ear after over a month. I have since bought ear muffs at Big 5 that are used by people who use guns--they block out sound up to 29 decibels. They are ever so attractive, and quite effective until you want to turn on your side. If I'm having one of those nights where I've been woken up yet again and just can't get back to sleep, I have a valerian, calcium, and chocolate milk cocktail, read a cookbook, and sometimes fall back asleep dreaming of eclairs and etouffe. If it's impossible, I just get up and drag through the day hour by hour, thanking my Creator at the end of the day for getting me through it. Such fun. I dream of the day I can afford to live somewhere where it is possible to sleep the whole night through. Or when people start being considerate of their neighbors. Okay, now I'm really dreaming. I must be sleeping. So never mind.

[Kahlua Kid]

I'm quite fortunate. When I'm ready to go to sleep, I sleep - out like a light in a couple seconds. That's because from the moment I wake up I'm off and running until that last minute in the evening when I finally feel an overwhelming sense, its time!

Occasionally I don't feel tired after a long day, and I just bring a book to bed. A page or two and I'm a goner... out...

I keep trying to get less than 8 hours - they say as we age we need less and less actual sleep -but if I don't get my full 8 hours, I'm cranky cranky cranky!