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The new insomniacs' thread

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Jem
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Joined: July 3rd, 2007, 10:37 pm

The new insomniacs' thread

#1 Post by Jem » October 15th, 2007, 2:37 am

We had a long thread for insomniacs in our previous life but I can't be bothered to go and look for it.

Here I am at 2.30 am, wide awake, mind racing and sleep seems further away than ever. I should get up in about six hours. I know I won't get a response tonight but if anyone would like to post their tips on what they do when they're in this situation, I'd be mightily obliged.

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jaywhat
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#2 Post by jaywhat » October 15th, 2007, 5:57 am

Don't have that prob Jem, but I am always awake early - I just get up. Today it was 5.20. It means I often need a snooze in the afternoon and go to bed about about 9pm. Being retired helps but I sometimes wish I had not got into this antisocial habit.
I feel very sorry for insomniacs - it must be bloody boring.

Nick
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Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

#3 Post by Nick » October 15th, 2007, 9:39 am

Any idea why your mind is racing, Jem? Is there anything you could do to address that?

Fia
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#4 Post by Fia » October 15th, 2007, 11:15 am

A few thoughts for you, Jem:

Create a relaxing bedtime routine - candlelit bath (a few drops of lavender oil in bath and on jammies are good), glass of wine, clean jammies. Have a warm bed and read something unchallenging. Hot chocolate can help too. Check your curtains/blinds are not letting in street light - although we now can be productive 24 hours a day our brains are designed to be awake in light, and you may be sensitive to this.

If you still can't sleep, don't lie there getting anxious, get up and do something, even if it's merely making another hot chocolate and choosing a different book - the anxiety increases insomnia. Sometimes I write lists so I'm not anxious about forgetting something. And as Nick says, try and address why your mind is racing.

Exercise during the day is also beneficial, so you are physically tired.

Relax and chill I guess! Do hope it improves for you.

Firebrand
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#5 Post by Firebrand » October 15th, 2007, 3:51 pm

Good advice from Desmond. I find burning lavender oil in the bedroom relaxes me. Occasionally I resort to Nytol - the herbal version which I believe is mostly valerian root.

Lord Caelvan
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Joined: October 6th, 2007, 12:36 pm

#6 Post by Lord Caelvan » October 15th, 2007, 8:08 pm

Desmond wrote:...and read something unchallenging.
May I recommend the Hardy Boys? Literary crack, as my mother calls them.

It's been said before, make sure you aren't doing anything before bed. I usually finish up my homework at seven, take a shower, then read for a while. I'm asleep by 9:00 most nights. I've also heard that it helps to wake up at the same time each morning. IE: Don't sleep in on the weekends. That was on a radio show, but the man talking about it claimed it helped your over all sleep habits, and that you would be able to fall asleep easier, as well as get more out of your sleep if you went to bed and woke up at the same time every day, including weekends.
Just call me Cael.
I love to get PMs ;)

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Alan H
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#7 Post by Alan H » October 16th, 2007, 2:58 am

It's my turn tonight! Now, where's the hot chocolate...

Still, got some useful work done.

Maria Mac
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#8 Post by Maria Mac » October 16th, 2007, 7:07 am

Any advice on how not to wake up too early? I've been awake for over an hour even though it was 1 am when I finally hit the sack and I was knackered. I have no need to be up this early and will suffer later on for it. :sad:

Jem
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#9 Post by Jem » October 16th, 2007, 4:19 pm

Thank you very much for your responses - I did manage to get a few hours in the end but I was just too tired to come on here yesterday.

I'm not a habitual insomniac but when it happens it's usually for the same reason: being on the pc until far too late, playing games on it, chatting or just getting worked up by what I've read.

There's a lesson in there somewhere.

Moonbeam
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Joined: July 3rd, 2007, 10:44 pm

#10 Post by Moonbeam » November 18th, 2007, 3:08 am

It's my turn tonight. I felt wide awake at bedtime, took a Nytol, dozed for about ten minutes then woke up and have been awake since. I've decided to come on-line and try to bore myself to sleep.

:sad:

kbell
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#11 Post by kbell » November 19th, 2007, 8:33 am

You tried to bore yourself to sleep reading this forum? :sad:


Did it work?

Phaedo
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Joined: July 5th, 2007, 3:54 pm

#12 Post by Phaedo » November 19th, 2007, 1:52 pm

I must be one of the lucky ones.
I hit the pillow, the light goes out, the lights go out . . .can't remember anything after that. Annoys the hell out of my wife who is a fully signed up, time served, chronic insomniac. Maybe it's living with me that does it :yawn: !!!
True lovers of knowledge are temperate and brave...
Socrates

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Alan C.
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#13 Post by Alan C. » November 22nd, 2007, 3:50 pm

Jem, maybe you should book yourself a room in Wakefield jail.
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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Heurismus
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#14 Post by Heurismus » November 23rd, 2007, 2:34 am

I can't help as I don't normally suffer unless I have lots of unanswered questions in my mind. Once ordered into, oh that can wait, is that one such a big deal, aha eureka type of category I'm gone. I know I'm not unique, but I find sleep actually helps me find answers. I suppose I'm lucky like that.

But if I'm really stumped I can usually doze off by starting some kind of fantasy in my mind (No not that sort) like meeting with a famous figure from history, or hosting my own TV show, or appearing on Any Questions. The last one generally does me in under fifteen minutes I jest ye not.

At the moment however, note time of post, I've found a site that, well...you know!

All the best, but as I think you'll find, some kind of mental excercise does help as it seems to avert you from concentrating on whatever it is that is keeping you awake. Having said that I'm starting to drop off as I type.
TTFN, G

PS I finished work at ten o' clock tonight and four and a bit hours is my normal wind down time. Now who shall I be tonight I wonder...Julius Caesar or...
The most cogent reason for restricting the interference of government is the great evil of adding unnecessarily to its power. - J.S. Mill

Noggin
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#15 Post by Noggin » December 7th, 2007, 12:06 am

I'm knackered but my mind is racing - I've started to have trouble dropping off so today I bought some nytol which I'm going to take with a mug of warm milk.

I'll report tomorrow.
It is the still and silent sea that drowns a man. -- Old Norse Proverb

fullerwiser
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Joined: November 29th, 2007, 3:47 pm

#16 Post by fullerwiser » December 7th, 2007, 8:55 pm

If your mind is racing, and you're having trouble sleeping (as I so often do), you can take the advice that one of my classmates gave me one day:

"Stop bein' so smawrt!!"

Noggin
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Joined: July 4th, 2007, 11:48 am

#17 Post by Noggin » December 7th, 2007, 11:12 pm

Well, smart as I am, I went out like a light with the warm milk and nytol. I'm going to do the same tonight.
It is the still and silent sea that drowns a man. -- Old Norse Proverb

kbell
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Re: The new insomniacs' thread

#18 Post by kbell » December 19th, 2007, 2:25 am

My turn tonight. I'm amusing myself on this forum while sipping a large glass of whisky. Hope it does the trick.
Kathryn

Maria Mac
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Re: The new insomniacs' thread

#19 Post by Maria Mac » December 19th, 2007, 3:48 am

It's nearly 4 am and I'm on my second glass. Don't expect to see me on here bright and early today.

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Ninny
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Joined: December 13th, 2007, 12:03 pm

Re: The new insomniacs' thread

#20 Post by Ninny » December 19th, 2007, 10:16 am

This really works! Turn on the World Service. (Turn it off if the programme is on a religious topic, and resign yourself to insomnia). Turn on the World Service. Listen out for a noun beginning with A. When you've got one, listen for a B - and so on. Sleep in no time!

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