Sleep problems (HELP)

Topic: Sleep problems (HELP) (Read 3838 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #15 – November 14, 2004, 12:55:35 AM

I've had problems getting to sleep for years, but once I get there I usually sleep OK.

How's your caffeine usage? I've had to quit using it because it has started staying in my system much longer than it used to. My doctor blames it on impending old age

& said quit. Now I have to go to Arkansas to get caffeine-free Mountain Dew.

The problem with the over-the-counter sleep aids (not including melatonin) is that they can interfere with normal sleep cycles, diminishing the quality of sleep. This can mess with your thinking processes the next day because the normal restorative effects of sleep have been compromised. Most of those pills are just Benadryl (generic name diphenhydramine), which is an anti-histamine that causes drowsiness. It makes me quite groggy the next morning, & I feel a little stupid for the rest of the day, so I don't use it. The same applies to some older prescription insomnia remedies, but some of the newer ones either don't affect that part of your brain as much, or don't hang around long enough to cause too much of a problem.

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #16 – November 14, 2004, 01:06:48 AM

Personally I cannot fall asleep unless my mind is mentally idelling not running at WOT. Thinking of work, cars, TV, women, whatever will keep me awake (unless I'm really tired) It isn't all bad, on a few occasion I have driven 1400 strait miles with out sleep with no problems.

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #17 – November 14, 2004, 08:10:48 AM

I had the exact same sleeping problem you do! I finally noticed that the slightest little sounds woke me up. So I bought some ear plugs! Helped me last week anyway.

Other things you might want to consider:
Don't watch television right before you go to bed. Watching TV makes your mind work and it's hard to relax.
Don't eat a full meal within an hour before you go to sleep. Eating makes your blood pressure rise and heart rate go up. Not only does it affect your sleep sometimes, it's hard on your body as well.
Take Tylenol arthritis. Works for me sometimes!
Exercise if the key! A daily routine of exercise helps your body maintain it's natural balance.
Reduce the intake of spicy foods. Example: pizza.
Mama's ol' remedy. Drink a glass of milk.
Don't try to go right to sleep just as soon as you get home. Kick back and relax for a while before lying down.

Things I found to work for me!

Derik

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #18 – November 14, 2004, 11:44:10 AM

Im surprised no one mentioned Kava! Thats what I used to take if I had trouble sleeping or anytime my mind needed to go numb. I cant buy it here anymore, they took it off the shelf because of people using it wrong! It enhances the affect of alcohol and other drugs. So now I take valarien. Melatonin never worked for me.

I cant sleep without the TV on so I turn on an old move that I know by heart so I dont have to watch it. Thats probly why I dont wake up to the alarm tho...

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #19 – November 14, 2004, 01:44:57 PM

You could always go back to school...

When I was in trade school going through ASEP training (GM Master tech training) our two teachers were nicknamed SLEEP-EZE and NYQUIL. Those two could put you to sleep even after a dozen cappuchino's!

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #20 – November 14, 2004, 07:17:43 PM

Quote from: jimfulco

Now I have to go to Arkansas to get caffeine-free Mountain Dew.

Awesome! I thought I was bad going to nearly every store in a three county radius to get a case!! I love it, it tastes just like the regular but no bad side effects! You rule!

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #21 – November 15, 2004, 12:57:33 AM

Quote from: nirvanagod

Awesome! I thought I was bad going to nearly every store in a three county radius to get a case!! I love it, it tastes just like the regular but no bad side effects! You rule!

Here you have to go further to not find it. You can find diet and non caff but no real dew. Well you can find the orange, "black" and red. But the orange isnt caffinated, grape bothers my stomach, and red makes me throw up. If it wasent for walmart, I would never have drank real dew.

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #22 – November 15, 2004, 10:13:33 AM

I am really apprecitating all the info. As far as alcohol I can't do that I used to have a pretty serious drinking problem. NO CONTROL. Anyway, these other ideas seem pretty valid.

To answer some questions.
1) I work 10-14 hour days at a fairly stressful job.
2) I avoid caffinee like the plague.
3) I exercise everyday for an hour after work.
4) I don't eat within 3 hours of bedtime.
5) I do have a pretty hard time turning my mind off at night.

I think I may give the melatonin a try. I have heard some pretty good stuff about that. If that doesn't help I am definitely going to the doctor.

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #23 – November 15, 2004, 10:17:44 AM

jimfulco: I am in Magnolia, Arkansas. You are only about an hour away from me. Good to know that their is board member that is that close to me.

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #24 – November 21, 2004, 11:45:33 PM

Wish I'd checked in here more recently. I just cleaned Magnolia out of CF Dew last night. :D

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #25 – November 22, 2004, 09:57:22 AM

And hear I am dying of thirst.

p.s. I am trying the melatonin and am getting pretty decent results so far.

Re: Sleep problems (HELP)

Reply #26 – November 22, 2004, 10:05:45 AM

good to hear, i had to go on sleeping pills a couple years ago due to severe tension headaches worse than migraines. It was pretty hard gettin any sleep at all after i quit taking them, but i was going full nights without sleeping before i started taking them. So don't start taking them if you don't have to.