Advice for falling asleep

[Metropocalypse]

Okay, for years now, I've had trouble sleeping. Like, very bad trouble. Slowly I've noticed myself begin to change, as I become worse, and I'm slowing down and becoming less good at performing...well, most tasks. Most nights, now, I generally spend a good...I suppose until about 5-8am actually trying to fall asleep. Even if I'm VERY tired, I will reach a certain point in the night and suddenly I lose the ability to fall asleep, same time everynight. Even though I've been anticipating it all day.

However, tomorrow I have to be up early, and I will be doing something that requires a lot of concentration. Are there any suggests for food or some activity I can do? I feel very groggy, but sleeping itself is out of the question. Before someone suggests sleeping pills or a doctor, or anything that requires routine or something that'll take longer than a day, it's currently 12:47am... I have to be asleep, now. It's not something I can put off until tomorrow. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[Giest4life]

I'm being absolutely serious when I say this: wank till you can wank no more. This will be the best sleep you can possibly have.

EDIT: Also, happy anniversary. Hope it's been a fulfilling year for you.

 

[crudus]

Masturbate before going to bed. The endorphins calm you and help you sleep.

 

[delet]

You should have taken action beforehand. You should've stayed up 24 hours yesterday so that you're ready to fall asleep at a 'normal' time tonight. That's what I do.

Other than that, I guess just run headfirst into a wall as hard and fast as you can. Repeat as necessary.

I'm being absolutely serious when I say this: wank till you can wank no more. This will be the best sleep you can possibly have.

Masturbate before going to bed. The endorphins calm you and help you sleep.

I call bullshit on that. Doesn't work at all...

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Alcohol?

Not much... just a bit to make you drowsier.

Then make sure you eat a good breakfast. I suggest a full english.

Then make sure you drink something like orange juice or milk with breakfasts, if you ave a possibility for a short nap, have one.

And take a bottle of Coke with you.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Drink a glass of warm milk. I also suggest listening to some nice instrumental music and have a fan going.

 

[Metropocalypse]

Masturbate before going to bed. The endorphins calm you and help you sleep.

Tried it. Plenty of times. Every single night, in fact.

 

[Giest4life]

You should have taken action beforehand. You should've stayed up 24 hours yesterday so that you're ready to fall asleep at a 'normal' time tonight. That's what I do.

Other than that, I guess just run headfirst into a wall as hard and fast as you can. Repeat as necessary.

I'm being absolutely serious when I say this: wank till you can wank no more. This will be the best sleep you can possibly have.

Masturbate before going to bed. The endorphins calm you and help you sleep.

I call bullshit on that. Doesn't work at all...

Odd. Works on me like a charm, especially on those hot summer nights.

 

[Enigmers]

I listen to audiobooks and stand-up comedy stuff and let my mind doze off. When I feel like I'm falling asleep, I turn off my MP3 player and proceed to fall asleep. If I don't do this, I end up thinking a lot and I have trouble falling asleep at a reasonable hour.

 

[Metropocalypse]

You should have taken action beforehand. You should've stayed up 24 hours yesterday so that you're ready to fall asleep at a 'normal' time tonight. That's what I do.

I've also tried that. All it does is....I either get to the daytime and just collapse, asleep in the middle of the day, or end up feeling sick all day. Not to mention that as soon as I get to about 11pm, suddenly I cannot fall asleep again. Even if I hadn't slept the night before.

 

[delet]

snip

Odd. Works on me like a charm, especially on those hot summer nights.

It's never worked for me. All that accomplishes is taking my mind off of that and onto a new subject.

 

[CaptainREBell]

Ask an online doctor how to treat your insomnia.
When I can't sleep, I lay back and think of black. Just loads of black surrounding me. Then my brain says, 'WTH this is stupid', but when I manage to ignore it and let myself be overwhelmed by blackness, I sleep ^_^

 

[crudus]

Masturbate before going to bed. The endorphins calm you and help you sleep.

Tried it. Plenty of times. Every single night, in fact.

Try push-ups until you can't anymore then do it. I usually need to do both on occasion. I know the masturbating works for me. Sometimes I wake up and can't sleep for about an hour. I then masturbate and fall right to sleep. This is my immediate solution. I did a report in college about how to treat persistent insomnia.

 

[delet]

You should have taken action beforehand. You should've stayed up 24 hours yesterday so that you're ready to fall asleep at a 'normal' time tonight. That's what I do.

I've also tried that. All it does is....I either get to the daytime and just collapse, asleep in the middle of the day, or end up feeling sick all day.

You just need to train yourself, keep yourself occupied at all times, and eat lots of food.

I used to not be able to pay attention to movies, tv, or anime while going past 24 hours, but now I can accomplish that easily.

You just need to get some nice music and a lovely, preoccupying game. Play it until about 10pm the next day and you should be ready to collapse. Keep food by you at all times and be ready to eat it. Caffeine can help a lot too.

 

[Polaris19]

My suggestion is to seek medical attention.

It may not be something you want to do but if its interfering with your daily life its time to seek professional help. I have some sleep issues too but I take medication that helps me fall asleep.

Of course thats not for everyone. But I would at least see a doctor and see what he thinks.

Hope it gets better for you.

 

[AgentNein]

I've always had the same problem. Things that helped: Make sure you have as set a sleep schedule as you can give yourself. Try to lay down the same time every night. Don't watch tv when you're trying to sleep. If you can't sleep don't turn on the tv. Read a book instead (that ALWAYS helps me), if you've got problem with noise, buy some ear plugs. If you've got problem with light, buy a night mask. EXERCISE. I cannot stress enough how much that can help your sleep schedule. Just try not to exercise at night, would wake you up more.

Some teas have properties to help relax you. I highly recommend this. Keep away from the caffeine late in the day. Don't eat late at night. Don't drink alcohol, alcohol (despite being a depressant) can actually work to keep you awake. Try to de-stress, if you worry about things late at night, remind yourself that you don't have to deal with it now, you can deal with it tommarow. Focus on your breathing. Listening to yourself breath.

Seriously, I've been through this. I've helped myself a lot with some of these tips, but it usually still takes me at least an hour from laying down till falling asleep, and that's still a HUGE improvement over how I used to be. Good luck brother (or sister! Didn't check)!

PS: Ooh ooh, question: do you spend a lot of time in your room during the day? Your room should really only be used for two things, sex and sleeping. That way you'll train your brain to associate your room with sleeping. It's a Pavlov's Bell type thing. Is your bed comfy?

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Step one: Close your eyes
Step two: Relax
Step three: ?????
Step four: Profit!

 

[Jasper Jeffs]

This thread is sweaty..

OT: Have you tried music? I find ambient music works quite well, for me at least anyway.

 

[Metropocalypse]

My suggestion is to seek medical attention.

It may not be something you want to do but if its interfering with your daily life its time to seek professional help. I have some sleep issues too but I take medication that helps me fall asleep.

Of course thats not for everyone. But I would at least see a doctor and see what he thinks.

Hope it gets better for you.

Thank you! I'm definitely considering it. I just need to get to sleep tonight and book a doctor, tomorrow, maybe.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

There really aren't any short term things that work well to help you sleep. The most important part of getting a better sleep is simply having a well established sleep schedule. There are lots of resources out there that can help you with that though, so I'm not going to go into detail here... it won't help you get to sleep tonight anyways.

I realize you said don't suggest sleeping pills, but you may already have some. Most people keep benadryl in their homes. It's an analgesic, used to treat allergic reactions, its active ingredient is diphenhydramine. What you probably didn't realize is that diphenhydramine is also the chemical used in sleep aids like Unisom. The only difference between Benadryl and Unisom is the inactive ingredients. It's a really bad solution in the long run, but for one good night's sleep here and there it'll do you miracles.

A better solution for when you have a chance to visit a store though, is to pick up a bottle of Melatonin. You can find it hidden amongst the dietary supplements and vitamins. It's a natural chemical that your body produces on its own. I take it when I have sleep problems, and it always helps a lot.