Insomnia?

[fishmommy]

ack! drives me nuts!
I go to bed, try to sleep, get back up, pretty much all night long.

anyone else crazy from insomnia?

[WhiteRabbit]

I'm sorry I certainly know how it feels

[fishmommy]

It's not that big a deal but it sure is annoying

[WhiteRabbit]

aw - well you handle it better than I do, then. Someone once suggested to me to "watch" a movie you have seen several times, close your eyes and listen to it - since you have seen it a number of times, it's not interesting enough to keep you from falling asleep - sometimes works for me

[abigaillevans]

White Rabbit -- the movie thing works! I do it regularly.

If you can't sleep, melatonin really works. It's a supplement and it's non-addictive -- it's a hormone that naturally occurs in your body that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. I take it almost every night because I have a hard time sleeping, too. If you take it at the same time every night it's supposed to help your body establish a natural sleep pattern. It's awesome stuff!

[Jennyfleur]

Listening to something is good - I have lots of audiobooks on my ipod (everything from Terry Pratchett to Dan Brown to Matthew Reilly!). I've been using them for years. It gives you something to focus on other than the fact that your not sleeping and takes your mind off anything else which is cluttering up your mind!

[Vanda lover]

Watch what you eat in the evenings. Avoid sugar and anything with cafine. When I have those 2, and that includes high sugar fruit, it's about the only time I have insomia. I seriously believe that diet has a lot to do with it.

Nancy

[Junebug]

You might want to give these techniques a try. First, while lying in bed focus and imagine total relaxation. Start with your toes and gradually work your way up one body part at a time like toes, feet, ankles, calves, knees, etc. If you feel any tension refocus and start over. Do this until you feel completely relaxed from the tip of your toes to the top of your head. Once your relaxed try visualizing your favorite place. This place can be real or imaginary. Then mentally place yourself into your vision and peacefully interact with it. Focus, focus, focus and sleep will generally follow.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Junebug

You might want to give these techniques a try. First, while lying in bed focus and imagine total relaxation. Start with your toes and gradually work your way up one body part at a time like toes, feet, ankles, calves, knees, etc. If you feel any tension refocus and start over. Do this until you feel completely relaxed from the tip of your toes to the top of your head. Once your relaxed try visualizing your favorite place. This place can be real or imaginary. Then mentally place yourself into your vision and peacefully interact with it. Focus, focus, focus and sleep will generally follow.

I have tried this method and it really does help. Sometimes worry can be the cause of insomia, also.

[greenbean]

I've always had trouble sleeping, mostly from anxiety and depression, but it also just seems to take me a long time to fall asleep, regardless of my mood. Whenever my family stayed in a hotel room I either stayed up all night and bit everyone's heads off the next day, ruining the whole vacation, or when we were lucky I got a separate room. They all fall asleep in minutes, and then start snoring. It takes me at least an hour to fall asleep, on a good night.

I listen to music and that helps a lot, because I can pick the music according to my mood for maximum effectiveness. I also use melatonin and occasionally I'll have my laptop on my bed with music on and set it to visualizations. I just stare at the colors and patterns and I fall asleep without even realizing it until I wake up.