View Full Version : I have trouble falling asleep
survivorboi
Jan 4, 2009, 03:58 PM
I've been having trouble falling asleep, it's been happening for a while now. Every time I go to sleep, it takes me about an hour later to actually be asleep. I can't fall asleep like normal people, but that's a long time. Let say I go to bed at 9 p.m. I won't go to sleep until around 9:30, 10. Maybe even longer sometimes. Please help.
N0help4u
Jan 4, 2009, 04:13 PM
I read your other post on this the other day.
I really don't know what to tell you since I have no idea why you can't sleep. You might have a chemical imbalance of serotonin, melatonin or some other neurological problem. You should try either asking a dr or checking out going to a sleep clinic.
You need to retrain your brain to calm down at night.
Try drinking a cup of hot chocolate and reading something right before bed. Take your mind off things and just be calm.
andrewc24301
Jan 4, 2009, 05:44 PM
I've been following some of your questions, and I must say, they take me back.
Many of the problems you are having with how your body works, remind me of mine when I was about that age.
Regarding sleep: I to remember this problem. And everyone has periods where they will have trouble sleeping.
To this day, every once in a while, I will just have trouble falling as sleep. I will probably have trouble falling asleep tonight because I've grown accustomed to going to bed real late, but tonight I have to turn in early for work tomorrow.
When I have trouble falling asleep, I find that it helps to free your mind. Although not the thing to do for weight loss, but a bite to eat right before bed also seems to help me.
What do I mean by free your mind?
Just try not to focus on the next day, or what you have done on this day. Being overly excited or dreading the next day can both have the same effect the night before, regarding getting to sleep.
Over the years I've retained some "thoughts" that I think about to help me sleep. When I have trouble sleeping, I focus on these old reliable "thoughts" and they seem to put me down. As to what kind of thoughts, well, different strokes for different folks, you have to find calming notions that suit you.
survivorboi
Jan 5, 2009, 06:35 PM
THANK YOU
I miss the time when I was little, man, I sleep all the time! Anywhere and any occasion! Lay down and 2 minutes later I am fast asleep. Almost nothing could wake me up =)
lol. I missed those times.
Wondergirl
Jan 5, 2009, 06:59 PM
Start an unchanging bedtime routine -- have a snack and some warm milk or decaf tea (no caffeine), put on your jammies, brush your teeth, crawl into a clean bed (mine is preheated by my electric blanket, aaaaaaaaahhhhhh), read a boringish book for about ten minutes, turn off the light (bedside lamp?), lie on your back, empty your mind and concentrate completely on taking in ten slow deep breaths through your mouth, holding each for ten seconds, breathing each out slowly through your nose, then close your eyes, go to sleep.
andrewc24301
Jan 5, 2009, 08:44 PM
I forgot to mention that I always sleep with a fan on. No matter the season. For two reasons.
I like to sleep under a lot of covers, but I can't sleep if I start to sweat, so the fan helps.
It also helps to drown out minor noises that would otherwise keep me awake.
It also drowns out "dead silence" something seldom expirenced in this house, but when it happens, I find it very annoying.
Wondergirl
Jan 5, 2009, 09:07 PM
I forgot to mention that I always sleep with a fan on. No matter the season. For two reasons.
I like to sleep under a lot of covers, but I can't sleep if I start to sweat, so the fan helps.
It also helps to drown out minor noises that would otherwise keep me awake.
It also drowns out "dead silence" something seldom expirenced in this house, but when it happens, I find it very annoying.
Good! I forgot about that. I have a "white noise machine" in my bedroom and it's set for "waterfall." That's the only setting that is just simply a drone. I like it at a bass register too, not treble. My son sets his on "summer rain" that drives me nuts when I hear it. It's very tinkly and inspires trips to the bathroom. My noise machine drowns out odd house and outdoors noises too.
andrewc24301
Jan 5, 2009, 09:16 PM
Good! I forgot about that. I have a "white noise machine" in my bedroom and it's set for "waterfall." That's the only setting that is just simply a drone. I like it at a bass register too, not treble. My son sets his on "summer rain" that drives me nuts when I hear it. It's very tinkly and inspires trips to the bathroom. My noise machine drowns out odd house and outdoors noises too.
Never tried, those, but I've heard they are good for drowning out outside thumping cars.
Where do you get them?
Wondergirl
Jan 5, 2009, 10:16 PM
Never tried, those, but I've heard they are good for drowning out outside thumping cars.
Where do you get them?
I got mine at Sears about 100 years ago. My son bought his from drugstore.com. Amazon might have them too. YO!!
Amazon.com: white noise machines (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=white+noise+machines&x=0&y=0)
survivorboi
Jan 6, 2009, 05:53 PM
THANK YOU!
This is why I love this community... or forum. People are so caring.
Gothic-Joshy990
Jan 9, 2009, 03:43 PM
It happens to me too... is there anything that u changed every since u started not being able to sleep? Like a light or a t.v or nt having a teddy or Ur favorite blanket? If so then bring the thing or things back it might work
survivorboi
Jan 9, 2009, 06:03 PM
Yes actually, lately I just switched schools and very stressed about it. I'm a weak person, I cannot stand criticism and have lots of trouble being myself. I always feel so shameful about it. At night, before I sleep, I always go through what I did that day and get mad at myself for not being brave and be myself. I always feel that way, so you could say I have very low confidence. I feel very sad at school, but at home I am happy.
Wondergirl
Jan 9, 2009, 06:11 PM
Yes actually, lately I just switched schools and very stressed about it. I'm a weak person, I cannot stand criticism and have lots of trouble being myself. I always feel so shameful about it. At night, before I sleep, I always go through what I did that day and get mad at myself for not being brave and be myself. I always feel that way, so you could say I have very low confidence. I feel very sad at school, but at home i am happy.
Instead of beating yourself up every night, buy a 4x6 notebook and, before you fall asleep, write down the day's date and the time and then five things that went well that day, that made it positive. (Actually, you sound pretty cool to me, very thoughtful and sweet and basically quite courageous.)
survivorboi
Jan 9, 2009, 06:51 PM
Thanks
Gothic-Joshy990
Jan 10, 2009, 11:54 AM
OK get a book and write what happened that you want to change then do it get a night light ad listen to music quite that allways helps me and if you miss your old school meet up with some friends from that school and talk with them annnd try to fix every thing becomd yourself again and you will slleep like a baby...