Can't Sleep? Why Insomnia Shouldn't Be Ignored

How you may be able to fall asleep faster!

I'd love to share my technique to fall asleep fast!! This always works for me when I lay awake and can't stop thinking about one thing after another. I find it best for me lying comfortably on my side in a dark(er) room. No noise except for my fan which I find is kinda soothing and cuts out some background sounds. Like the birds at the time I hit the hay. I close my eyes (of course), and look dowwwn, as far down as yours eyes will go (like at cheek bones) and hold them there till you can feel them actually start to ache. I'm thinking now only about what I'm doing and nothing else. Just thinking "loook dowwwwn, into total darkness. When they eventually shift back to normal/straight by themselves, let them relax a second or two and then repeat. The streign makes you feel drowsy, somewhat similar to reading. On average I'd say it only takes me a few minutes before I can actually feel myself start to doze. A moment later.... _____________ (dead!) ;-) Next day (if I think about it) always find it amazing that indeed, it was how I fell asleep! Fortunately once I'm out, I'm out cold for at least 8 hours. Don't try it at this moment cuz you might not want to be nodding off! ;-) Seriously though, give it a shot! Hope it works as well for you! ~~~ Sweet Dreams!

P.S I'm a coffee drinker all day and night. No, not good, but has no effect on my inability to fall asleep, personally.

Good Sleep

I have found that Lemon balm, also known as Melissa, is very good for sleep. I have an adverse reaction to natural sleep aids, (antihistamines wire me and keep me awake and chamomile is a natural antihistamine) so through research of old remedies and herbs I discoverd Lemon balm. Works great for me when I am having trouble. Caveat...if you are on a blood thinner, it isn't a good idea to use it.

Sleep disorders/cobra /Joke

In 1988 I was given a study, they had no clue as to treat,given

Tryptophan,which a bad batch from Japan killed off some here!

So nothing else was suggested,1993 ,mild dose of Tricyclic anti depression med .works! but your sex drive will decrease!

Again in 1994 another at Rush,given old BP medication for "restless leg"CATAPRES"

a rather large dose daily spread out over waking hours.,maximum. it has been now been 15 years and I sleep like a baby. As to COBRA ,I sold Insurance for years and it was meant to discouarge you from taking it with you,high priced on purpose !but Congress had to do something{even if not good}

Probably accomplished by LOBBISTS!as all is controled in my oppinion by them. WE DO NOT COUNT! Take 2 asprin and call me in AM!

Here's the problem with Insurance

They only cover things that are pretty much mainline illnesses. Since most people have no clue what it's like to not actually be able to sleep to the point of becoming totally unfunctional,they tend to play it off as if it's just something that is psycological and can be corrected with biofeedback or relaxation or various environmental or lighting methods.

So, in most cases to even get a sleep study done is a $2,500 out of pocket expense for them to tell you what you basically already knew! Ha.

After 10 years of experimentation with various drugs we finally found a brew that knocks me out pretty well. I didn't think I was going to live very long in my former state of physical and mental deterioration, but the pills have put me back working like a superman in the real world.

I kinda got used to staying up all night though. I did manage to get a few computer and photography projects done that I would never have time for anymore.

Great Advice, If I Could Afford It

I'm ready and willing to consult a sleep specialist for my insomnia. But now that my family has lost health insurance (unfortunately COBRA costs MORE than our mortgage, and that's not counting deductibles and copays), it's not an option for me. Guess I'll keep counting sheep.

I don't sleep

I take drugs to sleep. Lots of 'em. It's the only solution that gets me to sleep. It costs me about $500 a month for a single perscription which insurance doesn't cover.

It would be nice if behavioral changes would work but they don't. It would be even nicer is exercise worked but it doesn't.

The sleep docs do their best but much of the science of sleep disorders is still a world unexplored and unexplained.

BLUE LIGHT THERAPY

my husband and I both woke up many times at night and had trouble falling back to sleep. A few months ago we bought a Verilux Blue Light. We were skeptical, of course; so many of these things don't really work.

Surprise! Our sleep problems are no more. We put on the blue light for a half hour about two to three hours before bedtime. At bedtime, we feel drowsy and don't wake up till morning.

BLUE LIGHT THERAPY

my husband and I both woke up many times at night and had trouble falling back to sleep. A few months ago we bought a Verilux Blue Light. We were skeptical, of course; so many of these things don't really work.

Surprise! Our sleep problems are no more. We put on the blue light for a half hour about two to three hours before bedtime. At bedtime, we feel drowsy and don't wake up till morning.

A connected world

It took me a few years to begin figuring it out, but after my wife had suffered so badly from insomnia and depression I do have a few recommendations. After a certain time in the evening turn off all the electronic devices and just relax. Get rid of all the noise and all the distractions, let your mind begin to unwind and be able to think conciously about the day.If you haven't exercised yet, do that too and ASAP. Just as you're not supposed to stop and just sit down right after sprinting, you shouldn't expect the same from yourself when going to sleep. Some can do it, but those people are usually already peaceful at mind.

There are two components about going to sleep, the physical state and the mental state.If both feel as they have been used in the day and are both ready for sleep, then going to sleep shouldn't be as much of a problem anymore. Not only that, after starting this I found that we began going to sleep much earlier and getting more sleep overall. We have a 7 month old little girl now that does wake us up at night, but we're not as badly worn down as some claim. Take 18 hours of classes a semester, work full time, and raise a family, sleep is important.

I'm no expert, but simplicity always seems the way to go.

Reg the first post

"Biology" doesn't care about you after you're unable to produce. I don't think there is an evolutionary adaptation for older people to sleep less so that they could fend off animal attacks. If they died it wouldn't matter because they would have already reproduced.

And what you said about people coming more alert as night comes on because of watching TV made no sense.

I agree with the second poster however, excercises can really help you fall asleep.