Insomnia [Forum Archive]

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Insomnia

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Posted by: Raz

Can anybody tell me what they did to tackle insomnia? I've been suffering with it for 4-5months now since switching to shift work as a gym instructor. I spend ages to get to sleep and when I eventually do I wake back up and find it diffcult getting back to sleep, I wake up 3 or 4 times each night and am like death in the morning.

I tried Kalms, Nightol, Horlicks bunch of other shit that didnt work. I visited the Chinese Herbalist and paid a fortune for acupunture + massage and a week course of meds which resulted in relaxing me and making me feel less anxious but didnt do much to remedy my sleeping habbits.

The Chinese doctor said my tongue was red and pulse was high and the insomnia was a symptom of imbalance in the body. He reccommended relaxing. I tried yoga, stretching and breathing techniques. Nothing.

I've now stopped training which was going very well and my diet as gone tits up. I just dont have the energy and care too much about my sleep than those.

Should I see my GP, is there anything he can do? Because in the past he has been useless and refused to do bloodwork.

Posted by: KelJu

I have extreme cronic insomnia. I have had it since I was 12. I spent tons of money on every insomnia remedy known to man. Nothing worked.

My mother was worried and basically demanded I go see a neurologist. The neurologist performed a 2 and a half day sleep study where they monitored everything from blood pressure and heart rate to brain wave activity.

The results were obvious. There was something wrong with my brain when I tried to sleep and wake up, that no natural insomnia treatment was going to help.

After trying rounds on various high power sleeping medications, we stumbled upon one that works. That was over 3 years ago. That medication transformed my life. I can think faster, clearer, and improved cognitive abilities. It wasn't until I could sleep that I realized how much lack of sleep was makign me retarded.

Yeah so, that was a long story. The short of it is that you need to see a professional medical doctor, preferably a sleep doctor or neurologist. Stop wasting money on Chinese medicine or wholistic healing.

Posted by: RasPlasch

Smoke some weed before bed.

That always puts me to sleep.

Posted by: Built

You need more darkness. Light kills off melatonin. Ever tried supplementing with it?

I take 9mg melatonin and I'm ready to fall asleep standing up in twenty minutes.

Posted by: chobby192

Buy some very boring books and read them in bed or have your wife or girlfriend read it for you. If might help both of you. Good luck.

Posted by: Raz

Quote:

Originally Posted by KelJu

I have extreme cronic insomnia. I have had it since I was 12. I spent tons of money on every insomnia remedy known to man. Nothing worked.

My mother was worried and basically demanded I go see a neurologist. The neurologist performed a 2 and a half day sleep study where they monitored everything from blood pressure and heart rate to brain wave activity.

The results were obvious. There was something wrong with my brain when I tried to sleep and wake up, that no natural insomnia treatment was going to help.

After trying rounds on various high power sleeping medications, we stumbled upon one that works. That was over 3 years ago. That medication transformed my life. I can think faster, clearer, and improved cognitive abilities. It wasn't until I could sleep that I realized how much lack of sleep was makign me retarded.

Yeah so, that was a long story. The short of it is that you need to see a professional medical doctor, preferably a sleep doctor or neurologist. Stop wasting money on Chinese medicine or wholistic healing.

Damn, sorry to hear about that dude but I'm glad you got fixed up! Your right on you don't know how important sleep is until its actually skewed. That's why I've not trained very much at all in 6 weeks I'd rather save my energy for work and other important things at hand. Im trying to keep my diet tight, eating tonnes of fruit and veg. I am moody,less unsociable, slower thinking, although my reactions/alertness is good and I'm sharp! Most days my eyes sting so badly and I have massive circles and look worn out in the face this time last year I had it going on damn now girls dont even look my way. It's wierd though sounds similar to yourself I go to bed tired and wanting sleep but my mind is racing and does not calm down.

Posted by: Raz

Quote:

Originally Posted by RasPlasch

Smoke some weed before bed.

That always puts me to sleep.

HAHA I wish

Posted by: Raz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

You need more darkness. Light kills off melatonin. Ever tried supplementing with it?

I take 9mg melatonin and I'm ready to fall asleep standing up in twenty minutes.

Interesting Built. I try to keep my room clear (no clutter) and as dark as possible, I know that helps produce melatonin. I cant wear one of those eye masks they bug me.

I'm in the process of changing doctors to one my uncle reccommended.

Is there any way he can test the melatonin levels in my body? If I am deficient does he perscribe it or is this stuff avaliable from health store?

Are there any other tests he could do that could help asses my condition?

Thanks sweet

Posted by: Raz

Quote:

Originally Posted by chobby192

Buy some very boring books and read them in bed or have your wife or girlfriend read it for you. If might help both of you. Good luck.

Ha just out of interest why a boring book? Is it so it doesnt stimulate my brain too much. I love reading I have tonnes of books and lots of people reccommend reading but I'd hate to read for 8-10 hours lol.

Posted by: Built

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raz

Interesting Built. I try to keep my room clear (no clutter) and as dark as possible, I know that helps produce melatonin. I cant wear one of those eye masks they bug me.

I'm in the process of changing doctors to one my uncle recommended.

Is there any way he can test the melatonin levels in my body? If I am deficient does he prescribe it or is this stuff available from health store?

Are there any other tests he could do that could help asses my condition?

Thanks sweet

Melatonin is OTC, at least in the USA and in Canada. I don't believe there's a way to test for it. The tablets I take are 3mg each; my doctor said I can take as much as 12mg. I find 9mg effective.

Posted by: danzik17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

Melatonin is OTC, at least in the USA and in Canada. I don't believe there's a way to test for it. The tablets I take are 3mg each; my doctor said I can take as much as 12mg. I find 9mg effective.

You aren't worried about dependency? Not so much addiction, but your body becoming less effective at producing it, similar to someone on roids with testosterone.

That said I love taking it to regulate my sleep schedule. Occasionally I'll start having problems going to sleep before like 2AM - 6-9mg of melatonin and I'm out like a rock at 12AM. Do that for a couple of days and it's back to normal.

Posted by: Built

I don't give a shit about dependency on something that's an antioxidant and has been implicated in being protective against breast cancer, nope.

I'm on testosterone, progesterone, thyroid and DHEA replacement anyway. I say bring ALL the hormones to the party LMAO!

Seriously, I sleep fine without it. I take it for the same reason you do, and also for the antioxidant and possible anti-cancer properties.

Posted by: chobby192

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raz

Have you ever seen people yawning and falling sleep while listening to very long and boring lecture. No, there isn't any study done on this. Just using my common sense.

Posted by: babyfazt09

Why not drink a glass of milk before going to bed? I only experience insomia whenever I'm not tired so before sleeping I always see to it that I am already that tired.

Posted by: Mudge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

You need more darkness. Light kills off melatonin. Ever tried supplementing with it?

I take 9mg melatonin and I'm ready to fall asleep standing up in twenty minutes.

Melatonin never helped me much (brand could be an issue as some supplement companies put out bogus product), but I will attest to things like:

Darkness
I like white background noise, fans specifically
Don't watch TV/listen to the radio an hour before bed
Try reading a book
Keep a regular sleep schedule, this is a big one and perhaps why it got messed up in the first place
Alcohol in my older years, hurts sleep (circadian rhythm) even though you swear in younger years that it works great

When I was young I started out needing about an hour to fall asleep, now its about 20-30 minutes on a good day. Sleeping alone helps a lot, so I almost wish it were like that all the time. I also seem to need more overall bed time than most in order to be absolutely 100%, I like 8 hours of bed time which allows for probably around 7.5 hours of real sleep.

I remember a Reader's Digest cover that said "The Miracle Of Sleep," I bought it wondering if it would tell me something I didn't already know... but it didn't, when you get your sleep you really are that much better in the gym, in school/work, and just about everywhere else. My mood and everything about me is that much better, lifts go up 5-10 pounds on everything.

Posted by: Robert D.

ZMA and Tribulus can help with sleep.

Posted by: shell37

I also have a chemical imbalance the makes it so I can't sleep. I tried everything natural, including no caffeine. As long as I can remember being alive, I would lay in bed, wide-eyed, with a racing brain/over-firing of the synapse. I finally went to a Dr. 3 years ago. I take 150 mg of Seroquel/night. Now I sleep 8 hours, and wake up ready to climb mountains. I never new what it was like to sleep until now. I use to sleep 4, maybe 6 hours, but tossing and turning all night. I would have to exercise for 4 or more hours just to be tired enough to get 4 hours. I feel younger and healthier now, more than I ever have in my life. I use to preach being natural and anti-modern medicine. Screw that! It's a blessing to educate yourself about brain chemistry. Sleep is too important to miss, and responsible for many illnesses that contribute to death.

Posted by: chronicelite

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

I don't give a shit about dependency on something that's an antioxidant and has been implicated in being protective against breast cancer, nope.

I'm on testosterone, progesterone, thyroid and DHEA replacement anyway. I say bring ALL the hormones to the party LMAO!

Seriously, I sleep fine without it. I take it for the same reason you do, and also for the antioxidant and possible anti-cancer properties.

Built, you are awesome

Posted by: nkira

I take ZMA & Melatonin, 3mg before bed works fine for me. Too much of it & next morning I am all groggy

Seriously I find Melatonin both effective & cheap....I paid like crazy for ZMA caps, $29 for 90 caps!! Give me a break!!

I get 30 tabs of 3mg mel at $2. Now thats some deal plus it's safe than those tranquilizer.

Posted by: chronicelite

yeah it's definitely user based on what works for you. 3mg of Melatonin doesnt work for me, but I tried Built's dosage of 9mg last night and it put me out within an hour. And I have life long chronic insomnia, so I was impressed to say the least.

Posted by: shell37

built, your abs are godly! whatever your doing, keep it up and please give some sexy ab training advice.

Posted by: kse101

same problem here .. i use to sleep only 5-6 hours daily..
n i got sleep around 5am or 6am and then i wake up around 10am for my university ..
just started gym, but i think its hard to build muscles in this situation. and my weight is just 57~58kg .. any tip for me to gain weight under insomnia situation?

Posted by: maniclion

An hour or 2 of Cardio if I feel like I'm not going to be tired by Snooze Time works wonders for me. I usually end up remembering many of my dreams too.....

Posted by: KelJu

I have been back in the gym, and living healthy again for the past two weeks. The downside is that my sleep has gone to hell because of it. I wake up every night like a raging bull ready to tear the walls down. It is the most powerful adrenaline I think I have ever had.

I sure wish I could use those natural chemicals in the gym, and not in my bed at 2:00am.

Posted by: juggernaut

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

You need more darkness. Light kills off melatonin. Ever tried supplementing with it?

I take 9mg melatonin and I'm ready to fall asleep standing up in twenty minutes.

I take up to 12mg. Works like a charm.

Anything bothering you mentally? Insomnia has been linked with mental disorders. See a psychiatrist.

I get really bad night terrors, and I need my wife to help me realize what is the dream and what is reality....that is some scarrrry shit!!!

Posted by: Moondogg

I just ordered some melatonin tabs, cant wait to see if they are as good as people say.

At the minute I would smoke a spliff in order to get to sleep(although I hate the fact that I need to). I never wake up during the night and only sleep for 8-9 hours, but I have a very difficult time getting to sleep at the correct time i.e. not 3:30am. This happens even after several weeks of getting up at the same time each day - which is something that you should try if you have trouble falling asleep.

Posted by: rajagiri

you can go with natural home remedies to treat insomnia

Posted by: quadluver

It sounds as though theer is something going on with your private life. Maybe stress?

Posted by: shell37

I wish I could sleep naturally. I wish 12 mg of melatonin would do the trick. I tried that, consistently, for 6 months, and it didn't do anything. I even bought liquid melatonin hoping it would absorb better. I am always opened minded and looking for nature to help.

Posted by: gfellows

get a sound machine. soothing ocean sounds

Posted by: jordybb

Its basically a problem related to brain whee brain does not respond accordingly and thats where it creates problem
i think you should try meditation for at least 1 hour ...
it will surely be effective and you will feel good ....

Posted by: bodyforum

to get rid of insomnia here are few ways
Establish a circadian rhythm.
Limit your time spent in bed to time spent sleeping
Exercise regularly.
Make your sleeping environment conducive to sleep
Watch what you eat and drink before bed.
and also try medications.

Posted by: sara

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

I forgot to ask you this before, are you able to have "energy drinks" sugar free for example while you are on thyroid meds or does it effect the meds?

Posted by: dg806

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara

I forgot to ask you this before, are you able to have "energy drinks" sugar free for example while you are on thyroid meds or does it effect the meds?

It should not interfere.....but I'm not an expert in this area.

Posted by: sara

Quote:

Originally Posted by dg806

It should not interfere.....but I'm not an expert in this area.

Some lady told me this about 5 years ago .. I'm just double checkin

Posted by: Built

No, you're fine. Thyroid meds are simply to replace the hormone your body produces insufficiently.

I'm on thyroid meds and I take Dexedrine for ADHD. If speed is fine with thyroid meds, I can't see why energy drinks wouldn't be.

What reason did this person give you?

Posted by: GreenLit

I've had trouble sleeping for years, usually takes me an hour and half to fall asleep.

This thread is old though, did Raz ever make it to a doctor?

Posted by: RexStunnahH

I know alot of folks might disagree,But I blaze a bowl an hour before bed and I get the best sleep ever.
I have insomnia,had it for years and was taking 20mg of ambien a night,It was funky,I would sleep walk and I had no idea I would just walk around and talk to my family,I dont recall any of it.

Posted by: sara

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

No, you're fine. Thyroid meds are simply to replace the hormone your body produces insufficiently.

I'm on thyroid meds and I take Dexedrine for ADHD. If speed is fine with thyroid meds, I can't see why energy drinks wouldn't be.

What reason did this person give you?

She just told me that her doctor told her not to have any energy drinks , since that interfers with the thyroid meds..

Posted by: Built

Okay, well, not at the same time - caffeine for instance interferes with T4 absorption.

That's why I take my T4 buccally, at bedtime. Helps me get the most out of it.

Posted by: sara

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

Okay, well, not at the same time - caffeine for instance interferes with T4 absorption.

That's why I take my T4 buccally, at bedtime. Helps me get the most out of it.

Cool

I do the same with the t4 thanks to you

and its helping alot

Posted by: Doublebase

I have been taking Ambien for a little over a week now. Stuff actually works really well. Only problem is I cannot sleep without it now. So if you don't mind having to take a pill every night then I would say try Ambien. Who knows what else it is doing to my brain in the mean time.

Posted by: maniclion

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doublebase

I have been taking Ambien for a little over a week now. Stuff actually works really well. Only problem is I cannot sleep without it now. So if you don't mind having to take a pill every night then I would say try Ambien. Who knows what else it is doing to my brain in the mean time.

Hope you have fun when you log on the next day and realize you just typed a love letter to Prince while you were an Ambien Alien.....

Posted by: sara

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built

No reason, she said her doctor would not allow her have energy drinks, like redbull back then while she is on thyroid meds..

btw, my meds working, I am avoding anything with soy and it seems its working

thanks built

Posted by: Doublebase

Quote:

Originally Posted by maniclion

Hope you have fun when you log on the next day and realize you just typed a love letter to Prince while you were an Ambien Alien.....

I do that anyway.

Posted by: bonnykaul

try to drink milk and put socks on your feet they said it is effective

Posted by: njc

Kava and Valerian help for some

Kava can be slightly hepato-toxic however

Cut caffeine completely...if you are using it. Blows my mind that people never consider this to be part of the issue. Caffeine has a long half-life and can disrupt sleep patterns significantly.

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