Sleep problems (Help)

So I'm thinking that's your problem right there...

 

I feel ya dog
I sleep at most 3 to 4 hrs a day or night
I don't mind, it fits my lifestyle


diet. caffeine, stress
all these can be factors

 

Start by forcing yourself to go to sleep at the same time each night.

 

Sounds like a couple of issues.

First of all, you're exhausting yourself physically, but it doesn't sound like you're working your brain much. Cross word puzzles, sudoku, charting songs and reading are good ways to do that, as well as talking to friends.

Secondly (and I think most importantly) you don't seem to have any routines. The key element in sound sleep is to be regular. Go to bed at 10:30pm - 11pm, no matter if you feel tired or not. Read a while. If you don't fall asleep after 20 minutes, get up and do something. Take a walk, have a glass of milk, play some bass for about 30 minutes. Repeat until you actually fall asleep. Make sure you wake up no later than 8am.

Keep at it. You want to condition your brain to associate bed with sleeping, not with sleeping problems. One important element in that is to prevent yourself from thinking about trying to fall asleep. One trick for that is to focus hard on thinking about something else. Like counting sheep. As corny as it sounds, it can actually work.

I have used something which is arguably very geeky, but incredibly effective: I picture myself suddenly transported to Middle Earth and meeting Frodo. Together we work at destroying the one ring with superior modern science.

When I started doing this we would make it to Mordor. Now I only think "Frodo...zzzz".

Some people do that anyway, but that's another issue...

 

I could sleep after I quit smoking myself, dude... maybe it's that?

Also, I found it helped to pick a regular bed time every night. Up to two hours before bed, I'll do NOTHING. Just relax. Listen to some music... watch a movie... read a book... would playing music help you to fall asleep? Works for me sometimes...

 

The lack of routine screws with me all the time. When I went to russia a few years ago and only slept a couple of hours a night I was the same kind of mess when I got back - btwn jet lag and my body being totally confused anytime I tried to sleep I could only do it for an hour or two, 4 or 5 if I got really lucky.

My schedule still changes like crazy because I generally get up during the week at 6AM, and go to sleep at that time on weekends due to gigging. What I started doing is taking an over the counter sleeping pill when I need to knock myself back into the getting up at 6Am schedule. I take it even if I'm wiped out tired and it keeps me asleep for a good solid 6 or 7 hrs. Generic antihistamines are the same exact thing as sominex at about 1/10th the price. Noticed that while buying both and waiting in line reading labels while waiting to pay. Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg. There's another type of generic sleeping pill that actually wires me out... I don't take that one. If one don't work for you, I'd try the other.

I too don't drink for desire to keep all my teeth. countless other reasons also.

 

Maybe its the recent stoppage of all of the bad intake?

I know when I first joined the Army I had to stop smoking pot and all the pills I was on, and it didn't take effect until I was sitting there in my Army sweats with a shaved head. At the same time, I had a nicotine headache and I was also feeling some physical withdraw from the lack of caffeine (was a big caffeine junkie, not as much anymore). But yeah, a routine that you force yourself to stick to should get you goin in no time.

 

Wow this all sounds familiar.. I'm the same way.
The only thing that works for me is to get back into a routine. I think Rune already mentioned this, but you need to go to bed roughly around the same time every night. If you cant fall asleep, take an excedrin PM, whatever. Do it for a few days until you're back into a regular schedule, then try your best to keep it that way.

 

Maybe lay off of the meth?



Sorry. It was my first thought while reading your description of your 'schedule'.

You need a sleeptime ritual to program your body that it is time to crash.

A friend does yoga. Another one masturbates. Hey whatever works.

I check my email and webcomics and that's how I know it's time to crash.

 

What was the game in 40 year old virgin? Where takes three excedrin and tries to masturbate before he falls asleep?

 

I have sleep problems too.
I feel your pain.
I know you have gone through some very trying times recently, GE.
Perhaps talking about it with someone close will ease your subliminal tension. Going to bed at the same time is a good idea, but really you should consider making a regularly scheduled "bedtime routine". something like , shower, read 20 pages of a book turn off light, close eyes, count sheep. If you still cant get to sleep after 45 minutes, get up and start the routine again...

If that doesn't help, sign up for some samples of Lunesta... you'll sleep then...

Good luck...

 

You need to get laid. That'll knock you out.

 

never hurts..., unless you're doing it wrong...