What do you do when you can't sleep?
 

I've read many times if you're laying in bed for more than X amount of minutes (don't remember if it was like 15 or 30 minutes) and haven't fallen to sleep yet, then you should get out of bed and do something until you're sleepy. This probably won't help you if you need to wake up early the next day, but you're out of bed trying to get tired until a couple hours before you need to wake up, and then when you do wake up you're tired as fuck, and are like omgwtfbbq.

Anyway, what do you guys do when you can't sleep? I can't sleep right now, and so I'm on here posting about what the fuck I'm doing. Damn sleep/wake cycles. I need an IV of melatonin or some shit. Maybe if someone asked me what super power I could have if I could only have one, I would pick the super power to fall asleep at will, because this is some bullshit. At least I don't have a big test tomorrow, but it has happened before. Man that was some bullshit.

Oh, and any tips on what you do to fall asleep? I've tried those OTC sleeping pills, they don't work, or they take way too fucking long to work. You have to take them pre-emptively and hope for the best. Bullshit!

Laying in bed for about 30-60 minutes before falling asleep is standard fare for me. However if I get frustrated and can't seem to come even slightly close to falling asleep, I'll usually bust out a book - preferably one that isn't intense and gripping so it'll lull me to sleep faster.

Also effective for me: going for a 15-20 minute drive, eating meat or something warm, drinking something warm (chamomile tea, anyone?) or drinking warm milk with a bit of Bailey's mixed in. Alcohol does indeed make me sleepy.

Either attempt to fall asleep or just surf online until I get tired.

I usually watch a TV show or something, or play certain videogames as they tire you out quickly.

I have had some terrible sleeps lately and end up surfing the internet till I think I can sleep.

How does benadryl affect you? It puts me out whether I like it or not about 30 minutes after I take it. Alcohol works for some people but keep in mind that it inhibits you from getting to REM sleep so use it sparingly. As Ayos mentioned chamomile tea is good and milk has tryptophan in it and we all know what that does.

I wank off until I pass out, or make thread after thread on forums until my fingers go numb. Oh wait...

Personally, I just turn on some jazz or some classical music... Eventually that knocks me out.

Either that or hit the punching bag until i'm good and tired.

I had tons of fun with this when I had cases of Insomnia. I haven't really had many cases of that for some time, but I did recently have problems falling asleep. I fixed that by laying in another place for a while, falling asleep, then coming back.

For the problem of thinking about tomorrow being tired, I just think to myself logically that 'It is only one day, I CAN get through it', 'I have had two or less hours a sleep at times before a major exam and did fine', and 'I have gone over forty hours at times iwthout sleep and been able to do what i needed to do'. After that, it helps push though thoughts away.

Some other tricks may include reading books, studying a language, playing a video game, surfing online, and watching T.V.

I often have trouble sleeping.

I found one way to help me go to sleep was to listen to a playlist of quiet music I made. However, it'd work some times but not others.

Nowadays, I usually lie on my side in bed and read an Ebook on my PDA. That way, the lights are already off, and then the moment I get drowsy I just throw the PDA on the table and doze off. Usually takes around 15-20mins before I get sleepy that way.

If anyone was wondering, I am in love with Midna.

This is hot

I do the exact opposite of what I should do, which is to say I hop online and read forums. I don't think I've ever fallen asleep within 30 minutes of hitting the pillow, I just can't do it.

I used to do that, but these days I can't really stand for there to be a lot of noise in the room. I end up listening to it instead of sleeping.

Nobody was wondering.

<3

If I can't sleep I'll usually just make myself a snack of some sort, because I tend to get sleepy after eating. Usually it's a turkey sandwich, because i've heard it has sleep inducing properties (can't attest to this though), but I switch it around a lot.

Reading tedious book such as medical text book,lol.
I hardly have this problem, since I've to wake up early and stay late almost every night. :)

I think it's pretty awesome that your offspring will never read this.

Oh wait, so you don't think I should be bookmarking my posts and having the kids read them before school each morning?

My bad.

Reading is definetly the best sleeping aid in my book, along with alcohol.

However, I find the most important thing for me as far as being able to sleep is that I quit working on whatever it is that I have to do, so as to get my head off of my work and to let it slow down before hitting the pillow.

Of course, durnig exam periods, when I have to study AND hand in large assignements at the same time, I can hardly do this, so in those times I just bite the bullet and lack sleep for a couple of weeks.

I'm hopeless with this since I just lie there like a numbskull, trying to fall asleep. Reading books doesn't do it for me, since turning the lights on and such keeps me awake.

I recently read a tip about how you should tense up every muscle in your body, one by one, until it hurts - and then let go of it all. Apparently, the relaxation somehow leads to mental relaxation. Gotta try it someday.

As for alcohol, taking a whiskey or something also helps me relax, that has done wonders for sleeping. Just one glass, it gives you that warm and relaxed feeling.

I usually have trouble sleeping from time to time. I'm always going between day shit and night shift work. A lot of times I like to put a fan fairly close to where my head is resting. I usually find the slight breeze of cool air relaxes me and helps me sleep.

I have a thunderstorm CD that really does wonders when I have a hard time going to sleep. I usually try to play video games that get me bored fairly easily. Usually that amount of boredom will help me get tired, such as maxing out recipes on Tales Of The Abyss.

I'll agree with Midna, and I don't care, if I can't go to sleep, I actually find when I masturbate it helps me go to sleep easier.

Dude, I use that stuff too. Sounds great on my surround sound too.

I usually don't have trouble falling asleep at all since I'm typically busy and physically active during the day. So by the time it's time for me to sleep, I'm pretty tired by then.

It is kinda weird that you mention that, because whenever I am physically active, even though I am really tired, I still have a hard time getting to sleep.

Hmmmm.... I will have to look into that. Maybe its my diet of sugar that is causing the problem?

I try to stay active, but it makes me tired, so I take a nap in the afternoon, and then I'm not tired when it's time to go to sleep, so my sleep/wake cycle is all screwed up, and it's a bitch trying to reset your circadian biorhythm or whatever the hell it is. Maybe I'll just make an excuse and say like my pineal gland is all fux0red.

My #1 sleeping aid is my diary. After writing a page or two I usually feel extremely sleepy. Yes, my life is so boring. :D

I find that I have trouble sleeping if I didn't have any physical activity that day. The ease of sleeping seems to increase with increased physical activity.

I imagine things; anything!. This always happens since I get insomnia since I was seven. Imagining anything helps me get to sleep and I get new ideas for writing and drawing.

But now since I have started my college, I have to get used to sleeping four hours a day, so I don't really have the time to do that again.

Sometimes I blindfold myself, forcing myself to sleep. Well, it doesn't really work ^^

Some days I drink way too much coffee and I'm still wired tighter than an industrial generator by 11 pm... The only way I put myself out of the misery of consciousness is simple: 1 glass of scotch and 1/2 Vicodin.

Sad but true.

I figured out that what keeps me from sleeping is my brain is still thinking about shit I have to do. Or inconsequential shit that doesn't really matter; so i try to think about something really boring, like I'm a sniper in a forest and I'm waiting for someone to come. After like ten minutes i get bored and fall asleep.

Yeah, sort of weird but it works for me.

Speaking of myself, I have insomnia few times a month, sometimes few times a week (depending on my activity and stress level). It usually lasts about 3hrs, when I'm lying in my bed trying to fall asleep. Despite I'm tired, I just can't. Sometimes even closing my eyes feels uncomfortable.
One year ago I found a solution.
I listen to "The Gateway Experience". It's something like a course of how to have out-of-body experience. It's divided into 45min parts. Here's the most amazing thing: 1.2 part of this course (veeery early begining, only relaxation) makes me fall asleep, usually after 15mins. It always works, no matter how stressed I am. If it works for me, there is a great chance it will work for somebody else. Exact name of that tract is "Wave I Dicscovery: Introduction to focus 10". TGE can be easily found on google, it sometimes appears on P2P's.
Anyone having the insomnia problem: try this and post your comment. It's important to listen to TGE in headphones (paying attention to where's left and right channel!), and to have an absolute silence to focus properly. I advice starting from 1.1, since it's an introduction.

Make sure you never become a sniper! :D

But that's funny and sounds cool, I'll have to give it a try. I'll let you know how it works for me, since mine is also a combination I would guess from an overactive brain and not being physically tired. Maybe I can imagine holding up the damn sniper rifle instead of having one of those gun tripods, and it's really heavy and making my arms tired as well.

I think lying around for 10-15min is standard for me before I get knocked out. I usually just think about nothing. Easier said than done, yes. But it works.

Honestly, I think Fred is the most interesting Republican candidate next to Guilliani. I mean, so far I haven't heard him do the politician run around the question without actually answering it much from him, not like the guy from Colorado.

As a kid I would imagine falling into deep space like the intro scene the old Buck Rogers tv show.

I've been big on meditation.
Close my eyes, slow down my heart rate, focus on ambient sensations.

Level 2 sleep is required when the environment is noisy.
Close my eyes, slow down my heart rate, envision a place of deep dark comfort, focus on ambient sensations.

Level 3 "delta" sleep is required when I have only a couple hours to sleep then wake up.
Set mental awareness of time, close my eyes, breath a set pace, imagine energy replenishment.

When all my methods fail and my energy level is too high for what I consider normal for bed time, I know I need to pray and praise God.
After some time with Him I sleep like a baby.

Oddly enough after I finished using my ex's hiney, she too slept like a baby.



I myself usually take NyQuil if I know damn well that I'm not going to be able to go to sleep early enough to warrent an early morning wake up. Working a job that has you working till 11 at night, then coming in at 7 in the morning tends to make you appreciate that green liquid a lot more.

Go on Fanfiction.net and read the R rated sex fics, most of them are so bad that they are enough to make anyone fall asleep.

Seriously though I will take a sleep aid pill, they really knock me out. Before those I would drink a cup of herbal tea, or a glass of wine.

I've always had a hard time falling asleep ever since I was a little kid, but it's gotten better over the years. I usually just talk to friends, read, play a game, or surf the net when I really can't sleep. To get to sleep I either stay up a really long time and finally get worn out enough to sleep or just take a sleeping pill.

Usually when I can't fall asleep right away, I'll either try to watch TV, play a game, listen to music, or read a book. If I actually get up, I have a tendency to stay up longer than I should, which makes things worse. I've noticed that playing a video game or reading while lying down tends to induce sleep for me.

Simply put: Exercise before bed will energize you, only do it a few hours before bed; smoking, whilst a relaxant, is also a stimulant, don't do it before bed; lavender on the pillow or in a bag under your pillow will help immensely, as will music you know well and listen to often.

DO NOT bother with sleeping pills as trying to get to sleep without them later is a fucking nightmare.

Most importantly, it's all about routine. Go to bed at the same time every night, listen to the same music, do the same boring pre-bed ritual every night. ROUTINE, ROUTINE, ROUTINE! Get on it sunshine!

Usually I watch tv or read until I'm good and sleepy, and still lie awake for nearly an hour. Sleep just isn't my friend.

I've tried things like Tylenol PM, and I didn't fall asleep any faster, but I felt like utter crap the next morning, hung over and stuff. I never had a hangover in my drinking days, but frickin Tylenol PM flat did it for me.

Get something light to eat....after a while, I am usually gone to dream land,,,,works like a charm....

I usually just watch T.V. or go on the computer for a while. Depending on my weirdness factor for the day, I might even do homework, or a few brain teaser-type problems. Recently, because of the holiday season, I now drink a mug of hot egg-nog every night before I go to bed. It's worked better than any of my other methods so far.

I take sleeping pills and smoke a bowl.

Try staying awake after that.

I'm awful at falling asleep and just as bad at waking up. The worst thing I can do is go to bed when I'm not tired yet, because I'll just end up thinking about random crap and lying there for hours. The thing that usually ends up helping is watching TV with the lights off. I also like to do crossword puzzles, preferably with the lights down a bit. If I'm really having trouble, I'll eat some carbs, preferably starchy, like a banana.

Of course, there's always masturbation. =p

Healthy things I do: reading, drawing, listening to soft music, watching a film.

Unhealthy things I do: drinking an awful lot, smoking an awful lot.

In support of the former, I find I'm more creative and open minded late at night, and as such I welcome a lack of sleep to a certain extent. However, this is just individual preference. Maybe the best thing would be a warm drink (that doesn't involve bourbon) and maybe some relaxation techniques.

Ditto. I do all my art at night. It's just a pain in the ass when you know you need to get to sleep at some point and you can't do it.

I like to put myself through strenuous mental exercises. They're pretty challenging. My most common one is picturing a white field. When my 'vision' is nothing but white and I'm sure I've locked it in, I placed a perfect black square right in the middle of this white field and hold that flawless image as long as I can. It's very difficult and exhausting. The mind is awesome.

I do nearly the exact same thing Cellius. However, I envision all black and in the middle of this black lies an empty square. Every other thought gets blocked out as I concentrate my thoughts at this one point. I concentrate until both the black field and the square disappear. When they do, it usually means I am in a state of deep meditation.

I have to try those mental exercises tonight :O

I usually watch something boring, usually does the trick.

When I can't sleep, I'll either play my PSP or drink some alchool, not that that's a good idea, but it those work, lol.

Ooh that is very cool, I shall have to try this variant.

Usually I have a killer headache the very next day if I only got 5 and a half hours of sleep.
Coffee early in the day prevents that headache [for me].
The sleep issue for me to maintain the same sleep time every night usually around 10 or so. fruit juice[not fruit drink] seems to relax me and kinda put me in slow mode. The biggest thing is peeing and not going back to sleep.
Sleep is a problem for most adults it seems.

Stay up a little bit longer

When I can't sleep, I don't try to force my body to go to sleep. I just begin reading a book, or chat online to pass the time. It usually helps me.
If I really really need to rest up because I have something big the following day, I just pop 2 sleeping pills - it's guaranteed el-oh-ell.

Terry Goodkind is awful. Just awful.

I watch porn.

And fap.

Works most of the time.

On the weekdays, I have no choice but to try as hard as I can to get some sleep!

The weekends are a different story. After about an hour and a half I give up and go on the computer and do computer things. Like browsing the internet and listening to music. But usually when I have nothing to do the next day, I'm up long enough to fall asleep within 10-20 minutes.

Reading helps a ton unless I got too much sleep the night before.

I tend to stay online till my eyes hurt then collapse lmao
Benefits of laptops are I can just collapse right into bed ^^

In the end of high school and first year out of high school, I had a lot of trouble sleeping. Problem was, I couldn't get up to do anything because my stepdad was a huge hardass, and many times demanded that I go to sleep way before I ever intended to.

Since going to school, I've had little sleeping problems, but if I DO have trouble sleeping, it's usually the result of some sort of...psychological issue bothering me, or numerous ones that sort of build up and bother me. Then I can't stop thinking about them.

So usually, when I can't sleep NOW, as a free adult, I just browse the internet or watch a movie or something. Sometimes I write, which is when I'm glad I can't sleep. I actually get some work done, feel a sense of accomplishment and rest well. When something is intently bothering me, I've been known to write hours-long blog/rants or six pages or more, post them and then delete them not long after, due to being rational in the morning, or after I've vented.

Workout an hour before you plan on going to sleep, it helps.

i read an post on forums(like now, its 3:17 am right now)

Fixed.

Actually this was an interesting thread, so let's jump back into it. I read or have sex or masturbate, then I can sleep like a baby.

Who's next?

I have extraordinary difficulty sleeping. The slightest noises catch my attention and I can't but focus on them, especially if the noise doesn't have a steady rhythm. I find myself trying to predict when it will next occur, which makes it impossible to sleep. If it is too hot or too cold, I have trouble sleeping.

Ever since I have started to work the night shift, it has become worse, because I can't resynchronize my body's internal clock to work with my schedule. I'm fairly certain I have non-24 hour circadian rhythm syndrome, because when left to my own devices, my sleep time naturally moves up further and further into the day until I'm sleeping on a normal schedule... but only for a few nights, until my sleep time moves into the night again.

As for what I do when I can't sleep, well... I've tried taking Lunesta. At first it helped a little, but it lost its effectiveness very quickly. It also left me feeling extremely groggy, like my head was filled with warm cotton balls. Melatonin makes me feel extremely relaxed, but I still can't get to sleep. If I do manage to fall asleep, I have strange dreams.

So usually, I just toss and turn until it's time to get up and go to work, because nothing helps me sleep.

I either read or drink tea. I find chai works especially well.

Reading a book, sleeping elsewhere or listening to nature sounds CDs tend to help me out.
If you like to try out the nature sounds method you can try this site out..

WWW.SOUNDSLEEPING.COM

They have a section there where you can play free sounds non stop.

when i cant sleep? ...
i go out for a run, read, play video games... especially running is cool, ever tried it at 2 in the morning?

I've been having more and more difficulty sleeping as of late. It's like I can't get my mind to slow down, to stop the constant flow of thoughts. It's aggravating, yes, but also a little troubling. I thought it would just happen for a short time, but it's been a few months now, and I still can't fall asleep easily. Honestly, the only way I can now is with a good deal of marijuana. I know that's just the bait a vicious circle bites on, but it's the only way I've found that helps.

Hmm.

I Listen to T.Newmans The Horse Whisperer Score and than i can sleep like a baby.^^

either go online or just watch a few episodes of friends, will & grace, how i met ur mother, etc =P ... sometimes, there's nothing better than falling asleep in front of the tv ^_^

Additional Spam:
doesn't running keep you awake?

If you can't get your mind of something, search for some guided sleep meditation. The sounds really help, but it's even better because you HAVE to focus on who's speaking to you. You won't have time to think about other stuff. I use these regularly. The one's on iTunes suck. Don't waste your money. I've been using stuff I got off of LimeWire years and years ago.

It's taught me not to look at the clock any more and to just focus on the feeling of sleep instead of why I'm not sleeping.

Call of Insomnia

POWE POWE POWE

Apparently I view GFF with Frank. :(

fix'd

More like.

As for the topic, I listen to music, that usually helps.

Yeah, I'm in the music listening crowd. I try to listen to music that is hard to focus on or something that is abstract. It can't be music that is boring, cause that pisses me off and I get further from being tired.

I'm just g onna go with browsing GFF.