Sleeping, HELP!!!

[MoblinPiglet]

Well, lately it would tke me about 4 hours to finally fall asleep but now sometimes i just can't sleep at all.

If you have got any tips for a better sleep can you share, and don't post Counting Sheep cause that doesnt work.

[Sturgeon]

Try this, it helped one of my buddies :3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asg8XMzOvCE

EDIT: Personally I now remember falling asleep to the Minish Woods theme. That song is so relaxzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Elfen]

Hmm i got some, cuz ive had the same problems, one is uncomforte and heat
1.Heat, this is a biggy one cuz it makes you so uncomfortable to even think of sleeping, if you have a fan put it on medium, also opening you door helps tremendoudly.

2.uncomforte- Well try sleeping on a couch or switch sides of our bed or flip the matress, also if your bed is near a plug. Put your phone in it and have some soothing song, for me look up "Lilium" Or "Higurashi ost ai" Those helped me fall asleep fast, and try not to think keep those thoughts aat bay.

[OotLord1003]

Before I go to sleep, I stare at a light for about 30 seconds, then turn off the light, listen to some music, and think about stuff you like. I always walk myself through (in my mind) zelda oot, and how to beat it. The next second It's already morning.

[LozzyKate]

Many reasons that a lot of people don't or can't fall asleep is for many reasons.
Reason: Eating or drinking after 8 o'clock PM.
Consequence: Any consumption of food or drink after 8 PM will delay your abilities of getting any sleep, or prevent you from getting sleep.
Solution/Tip: Do not eat or drink and food after 8 PM obviously.

Reason: Watching television after a set bedtime or after 8PM
Consequence: Many people enjoy watching television these days, and that is a big negative factor to getting any sleep at all. It doesn't sound like that's the case, but it is. The mind works in a way that you will picture the show you were watching before you turned off the television, and that will run through your mind, taking you away from concentration of closing your eyes and going to sleep.
Solution/Tip: Turn off the television and go up to your bed and open a book and read. Reading will increase the speed of which you fall asleep. Your eyelids will get heavy and they will get a stinging feeling near the start of your eyelashes and you'll eventually fall asleep from there.

Reason: Using the computer after 9:30 PM.
Consequence: Using the computer after 9:30 PM will give you a bigger reason to stay up and continue doing stuff on the computer. Not only will you be killing brain cells in the process of this, but you'll be taking yourself away from sleep.
Solution/Tip: Get off the computer at roughly 8 PM. You can follow the above tip.

Extra Tip: Get in a position that you feel comfortable when you are getting ready to go to bed. Then, close your eyes. Next, just stop yourself from thinking about anything. Finally, just let yourself feel like your body is numbing and just let your mind numb too. You'll slowly fall into a peaceful sleep from there.

I hope this helps you get some rest!

[Kybyrian]

If going to sleep is a serious problem for you, I would suggest something a little more, like possibly exercising before you go to sleep, or something like that. The little things matter, but I don't think it will keep you up for 4 hours while attempting to go to sleep.

[LozzyKate]

If going to sleep is a serious problem for you, I would suggest something a little more, like possibly exercising before you go to sleep, or something like that. The little things matter, but I don't think it will keep you up for 4 hours while attempting to go to sleep.


No offense or anything, but all physical exercise before sleep is big prevention to sleep. Physical activity keeps your blood pumping through your veins and brain, which in fact will keep you up. It'll basically be an adrenaline rush and adrenaline is one thing that you do not want to deal with when you are trying to go to sleep.

[Kybyrian]

No offense or anything, but all physical exercise before sleep is big prevention to sleep. Physical activity keeps your blood pumping through your veins and brain, which in fact will keep you up. It'll basically be an adrenaline rush and adrenaline is one thing that you do not want to deal with when you are trying to go to sleep.

I've done running before sleep before, and it's worked for me. Some physical activity can get your adrenaline going, yes, but a long run will usually wear you out pretty much, and I find it much easier to relax and go to sleep after a run. I suppose instead of saying exercise I should have said a sprint, or something like that. General exercise won't really do it. Running usually does, though.

[Meego]

Ah. I see. The phsycology behind sleeping troubles varies. Is there something going on in your life that is having somewhat of an impact? My little sister had this problem for about 4 months but I solved it. This may not be the same in your case, but she was thinking about it too much and getting worked up and stressed. She was thinking that she wouldn't be able to sleep so she couldn't.

Meegos Do's and Don'ts for sleeping:

DO put on some soothing music and a low light whilst relaxing and either closing youe eyes or reading a book.

DON'T play video games, they only wake you up more.

DO think about life and upcoming/past events.

DON'T let excitement control you, it will keep you up longer.

DO keep warm with a blanket or hot water bottle in cold weather or in the summer with a single sheet to keep cool.

DON'T eat loads, a full stomach will only make it worse.

DO have a busy day and wear yourself out.

DON'T go to bed too late.

DO make sure your mind is at ease before sleeping, do all your homework and chores.

DON'T wake up too early if possible.

DO try and make up a story in your head, mine often involve me or zelda.

Hope this helps. ~Meego7

[February Eve]

Some good answers already here. Adding on some things I've read:

1) If exercising immediately before bed would get your adrenaline going, try exercising so that you finish up with at least three hours to go before bed. You would still get the physical activity but that gives you time to slow down as well. Btw, I read that number in an article once; I didn't pull it out of thin air. :)

2) Going to bed on a full stomach is supposed to affect your sleep because your body is working at digesting it when you're trying to sleep. However, it's also not good to go to bed hungry. Eat a light snack if you need to, just don't overdo it. Also, try to avoid spicy things.

3) Avoid any kind of caffeinated drink late in the day. I've heard it recommended to stop drinking them as early as noon.

4) This probably wouldn't work for everyone, but a neat relaxation trick I once read about is to picture yourself standing at a white board and writing down everything in your life that you are worried/stressed about. Then picture yourself picking up an eraser and wiping them off one by one (and don't let yourself go back to thinking about them after you've done that.) I've tried it before and it doesn't necessarily put you to sleep, but it did help to relax me, which is important for that.

5) Try to do something low-key before bed. As people have said, video games/computer usage/tv watching is not actually that useful. But books can actually be a problem as well if they're keeping your mind too alert and therefore preventing you from getting sleepy. Sometimes, I'm not entirely sure what that leaves. *sigh* But the point is to start relaxing.

6) Use your bed only for sleep - no watching movies on your laptop (guilty of that), doing homework on it throughout the day, etc. It'll take a little time to set the habit, but your body will come to associate it with sleep and it'll be easier to fall asleep. Bedtime routines are also supposed to help because of the same logic.

7) I did a brief google just now and one site recommended writing in your journal before bed if your mind tends to race when you lie down. It makes sense to me - similar to the white board mind exercise - as long as you decide that once you write it down, you won't think about it again that night.

8) Sleep in as dark a room as possible - covering up electronic lights as needed.

Finally, much easier said than done, but when you lie down to go to sleep, try not to worry too much about how hard it will be to get to sleep that night. It can make you anxious which will make it harder to get to sleep, and the vicious cycle will continue.

[Matt]

Reason: Using the computer after 9:30 PM.
Consequence: Using the computer after 9:30 PM will give you a bigger reason to stay up and continue doing stuff on the computer. Not only will you be killing brain cells in the process of this, but you'll be taking yourself away from sleep.
Solution/Tip: Get off the computer at roughly 8 PM. You can follow the above tip.

This one is not really true at all. Anything can give you reason to want to stay up. And that has more based on willpower, not what it is. And "killing brain cells", that's totally and completely false. All those "myths" about "do this and you'd kill brain cells" are totally unfounded claims with no medical basis. Even alcohol, widely believed to kill brain cells, does no such thing. The only thing that can actually kill brain cells is direct physical damage, such as from head trauma in an accident. And even if this reason was right, such an arbitrary time does not mean anything. Not everyone has the same time they go to bed. Some people stay up for four more hours after that every single day.


There are two things you should do for insomnia. The first is to see a doctor. He/she might be able to help you correct it. The other is to find out if there's anything that is behind it. Like what is keeping you up. If it is because you have something, or someone on your mind, then you would have to work that out and pursue it. If it is someone, then you just basically have to get used to that, because that one doesn't want to go away. I know when I started crushing on my girlfriend, it kept me up for hours and hours every night. What I had to do was pursue the subject and get feedback on it. Then just basically get used to the whole thing so I could get to sleep more easily.

[Poe]

I must be seriously messed up considering the number of things people are saying not to do which I actually do.

Regardless, if you're really having that much trouble sleeping then you might want to try the 'medicines' that you can get over the counter. If the problem persists then you should go and see a doctor, especially if it starts affecting your ability to function during the day.

Alternatively you just just try making sure that you tired yourself out, stay up late and then wake up really early on a free day. You'll eventually need to really catch up on sleep and it should help you get back into a routine.

[February Eve]

I must be seriously messed up considering the number of things people are saying not to do which I actually do.

Nah, I think there's an unwritten disclaimer that something that may work for one person doesn't necessarily work for someone else. For example, I can't lie down and think about things before going to bed. It's too easy for me to latch on to something and run with it and next thing I know I'm awake an hour. The "don'ts" are just things that may exacerbate the problem with someone who's already having trouble sleeping.

Though no disrespect intended, I would try some natural remedies before medicine. For example, peppermint or chamomile tea. Or at least consult a doctor first. Otherwise you might become reliant on the sleep aids, and it's a good idea to talk with a doctor about its long-term effects before you use it regularly. Even over-the-counter sleep aids tell you not to use them for more than a certain amount of time.

[Atsuma]

Drink milk, but mostly, if you have trouble sleeping, be sure to excersize daily so that your body tires. You can also try reading, reading tires your eyes and you become sleepy. Anyway, try being active during the day, that's the best bet. ^^

[Bigelover88]

Maybe it's me but all of the reasons you shouldn't do before going to sleep is not affecting me in any way. I often drink or eat something late and I still fall asleep within a minute when I go to bed. I can play games till midnight and go to bed and yep I'm gone in a few seconds. It really depends on the person.
What might help is to go for a long walk in the evening. I often take a long walk at the beach and this makes me even more sleepy.
Don't try to worry too much. Just listen to some music you like. Or lay on your back and imagine your body will be filled with white light or whatever color you prefer. Feel it flowing in your body and breath slowly. This helped me a lot of times to fall asleep. Empty your head. And don't panic when you are still awake. Don't watch the clock because this will only stress you out more and more.
I had sleeping problems for a while as well and always got angry when I saw the clock was reaching 3 am. But my sleeping problems are gone. Right now it's the opposite. I have too much sleep. I can sleep all day even after I slept for 12 hours and wake up I can still easily fall asleep one hour later.

[Baysiderulez]

I find I cant sleep when I forget to do something. The best thing to do is establish a routine. Follow your routine every night, and do not deviate from it once you start your "sleep routine" It may include showering, brushing teeth, opening the window, setting your alarm, fluffing your pillow, and laying down.

For me often times I forget to lock my door or set the auto start on the coffee maker and thats enough to keep me up an hour later then normal.

Another thing, if your mind is feeling full... Journal it out in a notebook before you go to bed. Sometimes getting the worries out of your head and locking them in a book is enough to ease the mind and allow sleep to come.

Hope that helps :) Not just you, but anyone who may have sleep or insomnia issues.

[SuperSilly]

When I have trouble sleeping there are several things I do:

1. I sometimes read a book until I fall asleep. I usually read fiction, however reading textbooks can make you sleepy too.

2. Turn your alarm clock away from you. Not only will this get rid of the light from the alarm clock which can make it more difficult to sleep, it should also keep you from constantly checking the time.

3. Imagine extremely weird things are going on, as though you were already asleep and dreaming. Focus on trying to keep things as random/weird as you can.

Example: You're suddenly in the jungle looking for civilization of the little octopus people who live underground, when the trees begin turning blue and you find yourself conversing with the toaster that just dropped by to visit you...

I find this helps me to get my mind off of real life quite easily.

4. If you're having trouble getting to sleep for more than 30 minutes, you might want to get up and just walk around, or write about whatever is on your mind. Just don't do anything to active.

5. Try to relax your muscles, starting from your toes work your way up to your head and face. Some people say that imagining they are falling or sinking into their mattress helps.

6. Don't think about trying to fall asleep, as that causes stress and might actually keep you awake longer.

7. If you feel uncomfortable in any way (Hungry, thirsty, too cold, too warm, that light in the hallway is bugging me, ect.) get up and fix the problem. Not only will it make you feel more comfortable, but you won't be dwelling on the problem anymore.

8. Take a hot shower or bath before bed. Warm water relaxes the muscles, and that can often make it easier to fall asleep.

9. Stretching before bed can work to relax the muscles too.

10. Meditate or pray. I personally find both prayer and meditation very relaxing, however if you're not of the religious sort and don't want to pray you can still meditate.

Well, those are all the tips I can think of at the moment, I hope this was helpful and that you find less trouble falling asleep.

[BlackDragon88]

First, Try taking an advil it helps your muscles relax.
Second- DO NOT drink any soda!! Drink warm milk (unless you are LIT)
Third, of course listen to sootheing music! For me that is "As Long As Your Mine" From Wicked (Don't ask)
Fourth- If You have any four legged pets that roam free in the house; kick them out of your room!
Fifth- Try some of ^ their ideas to! Cause theirs actually works for me! =)
Night guys ^^

[MOTLEYlink]

Alot of people have a problem similar to you, heck even I did at one time :)! Here are a couple of tips:

1. You are right do not count sheep. I am pretty sure science debunked it, and that it actually hinders your efforts (trying to get to sleep.)
2. Read a book, hey I don't care that much for reading neither, but find a magazine or some type of periodical to read. It will help make your eyes tired so you can fall asleep easy-er.
3. Make your bed, keep it clean. I find it eaiser to fall asleep if my bed is neat.
4. Don't watch TV or play Video Games less then an hour before bed time, you don't want your mind fighting Nazis or Gannon while you are trying to get some shut-eye!
5. Try spending less time in your bedroom during the day, "Bedroom" it's called that for a reason.

The next tip is logical to say the least,

6. Don't go to sleep until you are tired, It's as simple as that you can't force your self to sleep, it won't work.

(Never never ever use sleeping pills, theres alwayse the risk of dependance.) Hope I helped!!! :)