Insomnia

[Narz]

I'm on my longest run of insomnia of perhaps my whole life. It's been weeks since I've made it to bed before 2AM, often I'm up all night until past dawn and sleep past noon.

Any similar experiences? What has worked to get you out of it?

Also, I'm not working right now and don't foresee myself being able to hold something full time in the next month because I have a trip planned. Ideally I'd like to find some kind of internal discipline I could stick to.

Thanks.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Get someone to wake you up at, say, nine o'clock in the morning no matter what, and prevent you from going back to bed. Sooner or later sheer exhaustion will make you start falling asleep at a more sensible hour.

 

[King Flevance]

Thats usually my tactic. Or simply stay awake all day and make sure you do not sleep until at least 8pm. By 6, your counting the minutes. Beware: you may sleep for 10-14 hours.

 

[Narz]

Get someone to wake you up at, say, nine o'clock in the morning no matter what, and prevent you from going back to bed. Sooner or later sheer exhaustion will make you start falling asleep at a more sensible hour.

Well, there's only one person who lives with me and she just got laid off (and is due to collect unemployment 'till October ). She is much more disciplined than me but also loves sleep. Generally in the process of trying to wake me up she is defeated and I end up making her sleep in too.

Thats usually my tactic. Or simply stay awake all day and make sure you do not sleep until at least 8pm. By 6, your counting the minutes. Beware: you may sleep for 10-14 hours.

That definitely works but usually only for a day or two.

 

[ComradeDavo]

My sleeping pattens are eratic at current, due to often staying up till till 3/4am on thurs/fri/sat and usually not having work till 4/5/6pm.

 

[soul_warrior]

you can force yourself to wake up early by planning to do something you WANT to do.

or just wake up, go through the motions (teeth > coffee > toast > 20 minutes of early mornig talkshows > shower) and then go out for a walk.

third option is get a baby you will BEG for ANY hour of sleep.

a cheaper option is a manic cat! they will jump on your head @ 5.30AM.
its just a step away to full wakefullness

 

[steviejay]

I didn't have imsomnia persay but I did go through a period of a few months where I just couldn't be bothered going to bed, so I kept going to bed later and later, before I got this job I was going to bed at about 4-5 and getting up at 10-11 (depending on the day) now that I'm working I'm sleeping 1-6

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

When I was a student I'd often work nights in the holidays. When I went back to uni I'd get insommia for a couple of weeks or so.

It wasn't that I couldn't get to sleep, but I was constantly tired but when I laid in bed I'd be awake for hours before falling asleep for only a few minutes. I'd get roughly 3 hours sleep per night.

Ideas for combatting insommia are:

1. Eat at the right times
   Don't eat during the night if you wake up. Eventually you'll wake up hungry each night
2. Get plenty of exercise during the day
   I did sit ups or went for a run. Anything that burns the energy makes me sleep better.
3. Try something calming before going to bed
   Long bath, reading, anything like that. I tried to stay away from the TV though.

If you are actually sleeping, albeit at the wrong time, then Last Conformist's advice is sound.

third option is get a baby you will BEG for ANY hour of sleep.

I agree with you generally but I've noticed that when 'The Boy' is staying at his Grandparents I often wake up about the time he would usually do anyway

 

[IglooDame]

a cheaper option is a manic cat! they will jump on your head @ 5.30AM.
its just a step away to full wakefullness

Seconded - my two cats wake us up between 4:30 and 5:30AM every day (ordinarily I get up for work at 5:15AM, my wife a few minutes earlier).

 

[Shaihulud]

I can't sleep unless im dead exhausted. That means work and exercise, im right now at my desk, doing squats and typing at the same time.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I'm on my longest run of insomnia of perhaps my whole life. It's been weeks since I've made it to bed before 2AM, often I'm up all night until past dawn and sleep past noon.

Any similar experiences? What has worked to get you out of it?

Also, I'm not working right now and don't foresee myself being able to hold something full time in the next month because I have a trip planned. Ideally I'd like to find some kind of internal discipline I could stick to.

Thanks.

If youre sleeping past noon then I think technically you dont have insomnia. You seem to be getting your sleep in, youre just doing it later than usual. No doubt this is being caused becaue your sleep rhythm is disturbed because youre not working.

My prescription: act like you have a job. Even if you start getting sleepy at 5am, set your alarm for 7am. At 7am, get yourself out of bed, make some coffee, go for stroll outside for the morning paper and in every other way, start your day. Stick to this for three or four days, and you'll be back to a regular sleep schedule at night.

 

[The Last Conformist]

On the subject of insomnia, I had a first Saturday night - I couldn't fall asleep despite having gotten quite drunk. After having sobered up, I got up and, of all things, read a Lovecraft short story before eventually collapsing around eight o'clock and sleeping for a few hours. I suspect this a bad sign ...

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Excessive drinking? Falling asleep reading Lovecraft? I see a tense internationally televised hostage standoff with police in your near future.

 

[Blazer6]

I thought of several ways since insomnia is a problem for me. If my mind is racing I imagine the Heavy Barrel (NES) last level music which always clears my mind for some reason. I take many deep breaths on my back which slows my heartbeat and makes me sleepy. Use an alarm that goes off every number of minutes and it will keep your mind distracted from events.

 

[IglooDame]

Excessive drinking? Falling asleep reading Lovecraft? I see a tense internationally televised hostage standoff with police in your near future.

Reading a Lovecraft story sober, I'm guessing.

I've never met a bout of insomnia that couldn't be cured by a sociopolitical or economic manifesto, of any flavor.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Excessive drinking? Falling asleep reading Lovecraft? I see a tense internationally televised hostage standoff with police in your near future.

No, I actually finished the Lovecraft story and read some wikipedia articles about automatic weapons before finally falling asleep.

 

[Kozmos]

Lately these past few weeks I'm staying up til 5:00 AM as well and then going to sleep waking up at around 1:00 PM. I find that its the best time to study.

 

[drkodos]

Insomnia means you are not sleeping AT ALL, or are getting very little sleep (close to none).


OP: Sounds more like a bout mild depression than insomnia. Check with a licensed therapist. Could be mild bi-polar type B or many other afflictions. get some real treatment, not just message board opinions.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

No, I actually finished the Lovecraft story and read some wikipedia articles about automatic weapons before finally falling asleep.

We'd better start unpacking the giant speakers we'll need to blast rock music at you 24 hours a day in your 'compound'.

 

[MobBoss]

Do something strenuous during the day...yard work or similiar exercise. Get the hell off OT CFC by 9 pm. Take a sleep aid like tylenol PM or Excedrin PM to help you rest.