What's Going On ...

The best thing we do when we aren't sleeping well is set up our tent in the backyard, spend most of the day outside and then sleep in the tent. Or you could just go camping, that works too. It's seems like sleeping outside in the cool night air after a day or being outside is a great recipe for a good night's sleep. Though it may not be as cool in Texas as has been here in Wisconsin!

Hello, Miss Donna

I'm sorry to hear about the insomnia thing---that's the worst! I hate laying there watching the clock tick away--especially when I know I have to get up in the morning.

One thought I had: you have been saying in recent weeks that you have been watching an awful lot of TV (where you weren't before, I assume?)You might want to try laying off the TV, or cutting down.

I had about a week of insomnia when we first got our new computer a couple weeks ago. At first it was because I was up way too late playing. After that, it seemed like if I spent a lot of time on the computer in the evening, I wasn't able to 'wind down' and get to sleep. Maybe staring at the screen does something to rev me up (or maybe looking at beads, LOL) but I get away from the computer for a little while every night before I go to bed now and I haven't had any more problems.

Just a thought!

Hope it gets better for you soon--
Talk to you later
Rachel

Hi Donna!

Sorry about the insomnia thing-it stinks looking at the clock and watching the minutes tick by. This happened to me a few months ago and I tried a couple of things - some medicinal and some not. Medicinal treatments were tylenol PM one night, which worked, but really left me groggy in the a.m. I also tried melatonin (herbal, I guess). I too don't prefer these methods because I am always worried about dependency. Anyway, the final thing that worked was a glass of warm milk before bed (I know, sounds awful) and reading something like a novel (nothing bead related because that used to rev me up instead of relaxing me).

Good luck - I hope this passes soon and you find some well needed rest!

Alisa T

I don't envy you...there's nothing worse than insomnia. I've tried everything, but the only thing that seems to ultimately work for me when I fall into periods of insomnia is Tylenol PM. If I take 1 or 2 tablets for a few nights, it seems to get me back on a normal schedule. Just don't take them too late at night or you do wake up feeling groggy.

I agree with Rachel on cutting back on the T.V. and I do find that if I get a lot of physical exercise that I'll sleep better...but exercise early in the day, it'll wind you up if you do it too late.

Good luck...and try not to dwell on the fact that you're not sleeping, that seems to make it worse!

Sorry about the not sleeping thing.

Ideas:
1) Get some actual sunshine. Can reset your body clock. Doesn't have to be noon day sun, just some sun.
2)Exercise in the morning - walk or something.
3)Do some yoga meditation- lay down, and do deep breathing, think only of your breath. Any thoughts that creep in, just put aside. Library may have some meditation audio cd's or tapes, and you can lay down with headphones on.
4) Get a massage girlfriend! Even w/out sleep, your body benefits from deep relaxation.

wow, everyone has GREAT ideas! I'm enjoying seeing what works for ya'll and I do take some comfort in knowing that this will pass....it better...!

There is a tea I've used that worked wonderfully (caffeine free) herbal.....I gotta see if I can find the name. Tylenol PM does work for me, but I can totally understand about not wanting to use medications.

Reading helps me when I can't sleep, something to slow the mind down and relax - also I have a friend who swears by those machines that make sounds that make you go to sleep. When we travel together she takes it and I admit I go out like a baby.

Happy resting!

You poor thing. In somnia is the worst! I don't drink caffiene either. I recommend exercise. I do it in the morning. I've read that if you exercise later in the day/evening it can keep you up at night. A good walk for at least 1/2 hour might help. Have you been eating any chocolate? I've noticed that if I have a few to many treats in the afternoon, I wake up in the middle of night wide awake. It contains some amount of caffiene too.

Take care.

I have a few suggestions from a well researched article on sleep debt. Here are two that applies to you, I think, since you don't take medications or caffiene containing drinks or sleeping aids. Here they are and I hope they help!

1. Avoid extreme mental or physical stimulation before bedtime. Tackling big problems or mental challenges just before bedtime can interfere with the relaxed mood often needed to drift to sleep.

2. Make sure that your bedroom is quiet, dark and, where possible, relatively cool. Regarding noise, consider one famous study of people living near an airport who claimed that they no longer heard the planes. When their sleep patterns were tested, their brain waves recorded each landing and takeoff! The researchers concluded tha the test subjects averaged about one hour less of quality sleep each night than those in a quieter zone. Earplugs or other methods of reducing noise would have greatly assisted them in getting restful sleep. Some find that white noise (defined as any low frequency. steady, and monotonous hum), such as made by an electrical fan, is especially helpful if there is a need to mask street sounds.

I can empathize Donna. I too have insomnia and have had it since I was a kid. I know if I've been watching a lot of TV or if I have been playing video games (the worst!) it's like my mind doesn't shut off at bedtime. I can stay up all night no problem but the days kill me, I can't stay awake.

One thing I've found that helps me when things are bad is working in the yard...weeding, planting, whatever. There's something about getting all sweaty and dirty and being in the sun all day that makes me so exhausted that I have no choice but to sleep that night. I always wake up feeling better too!

Another trick is an eye pillow filled with lavender. Lavender is known for relaxation and the scent is very soothing. Plus I seem to think about this little pillow and how it feels and smells while I'm drifting off. It takes my mind off of everything else and allows me to relax.

I hope this helps!!

Here a few of my thoughts. Take a long brisk walk during the day. Even throw in a few flight of stairs. Knock off lots of caffiene - not just in drinks but in food too. Be sure you are eating three good meals a day and at the appropriate times. Dont' be eating dinner too late. Slow down in your schedule - too much stress can keep things racing thru your mind and keep you up. We all love you and your beads, so don't worry about us going anywhere! And, finally, take a nice warm relaxing bubblebath with lavender in the evening. Hope some of these help.

Hi Donna,

It sounds like you already got some great advice. Here is what most doctors recommend:

1) Do reserve your bed for sleeping (avoid reading, watching TV, listening to music, talking with your husband or doing anything in your bed other than sleeping).

2) Try to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time each day. Avoid sleeping in or napping to make up for the lost sleep.

3) If you don't feel sleepy, get out of bed, go to another room and read in a chair or do some other nonstimulating activity until you do feel sleepy. Try to read something fairly boring. :)

4) Warm milk before bed actually does help you sleep because of the tryptophan in milk. Dairy containing snacks at bedtime (like yogurt or ice cream :D ) can have the same effect. Chocolate should be avoided as the theobromines in chocolate can act like caffiene.

5) Melatonin can work if your sleep/wake cycle is disrupted (like jet lag).

6) Exercise in the late afternoon or early evening. The timing of the exercise is crucial because it relates to circadian rhythms. People sleep better when the body's core temperature decreases as part of the circadian rhythm. Exercise causes the body's core temperature to rise, which is then followed by a temperature drop about 5-6 hours after exercise. The goal of the late afternoon-early evening exercise is to create an artificial temperature trough at bedtime to aid sleep. A warm bath before bed can also help mimic this normal temperature rise and fall.

6) If you are really desperate to get to sleep you can try some Benadryl or other over the counter sleep aide (usually contain benadryl). Be aware that this may cause you to awaken feeling tired or hung over.

Hope that you find something that will help you sleep. I tend to agree with the others that is is probably the cable that got your sleep cycle all wacky. Good luck!

Hi Donna

I have had this before too, but it it short lived. I agree with all of these suggestions, but most importantly about the TV. You said you are watching more. Also the warm milk, activities outside, exercise early or mid day and no big meals late at night also a warm bath or shower too... I have a noise machine to sleep, but some people CAN'T sleep with those. Example I have a terrible snoring man at home who can sleep through his snoring but not with that machine!!! Good Luck..
Sweet Dreams!!

Amy

DONNA,
I HAVE USED CHAMOMILE TEA TO RELAX BEFORE GOING TO BED.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE TO MANY ISSUES THAT AREN'T TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE BEDTIME.
WALKING ALSO WORKS.
I WALK IN THE EVENING BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE YOU SHOULD DO YOUR WALKING MUCH EARLIER IN THE DAY.
I REALLY NEVER SLEEP THRU THE NIGHT BUT IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH GOING THRU THE CHANGE OF LIFE WHICH HAS LASTED MORE THAN 16 YEARS.
JUDY