Insomnia

[Jake]

Ya, that???s my problem. Its been recurring more and more frequently lately, in two to three week bouts, and then a week or two sleeping normally. It use to be just the occasional night that I would miss. Not any more. I go for three four days with zero sleep, but exhausted the entire time, and then one or two nights with broken sleep (wake up after around about half an hour to an hour, spend three getting back to sleep, repeat until alarm goes off and I start another day) and then I repeat the entire process two or three times.
Now, I???ve been to a doctor about this, several times in fact. Their cover-all answer seems to be an increase in dosage or potency of whatever pills they have me on. This seems to have little effect. The pills don???t work. If I take enough, I pass out into a pit of blackness and wake up feeling like crap the next day, but that???s just enough over the prescribed dosage to scare me, and make me feel like I am carrying around a wool sweater for a brain the next day. If I do this for two nights, I feel twice as groggy the second day. Not to mention the fact that these pills are highly addictive, which is no good.
Does anyone else get this? Any suggestions? Should I just get my roommates to beat me unconscious every night?

 

[supertech]

I have taken ambien and that helped me,but they only give you so much,cause it's addictive.
But now i take Doxepin.Its a mild anti depressent that also helps me sleep the whole night.And its not a controled substance or addictive.

 

[Arnold]

I think that ZMA helps me with sleep.

 

[LAM]

things that help me sleep:

ZMA
sex
melatonin
kava kava
weed

 

[Phred]

I have been taking 2-3mg of melatonin about 30 minutes before I go to bed for the past 4 months. It has helped me sleep thru the nite on a regular basis. I travel out of town about once every few months for my job and it helps me get to sleep when in hotels and when in different time zones as well. I read that normal doses are 1-5mgs. You may want to read up on it and see if will help you in your situation.

 

[Vieope]

Is there a possibility that you are overtraining in bodybuilding?

 

[DrChiro]

try 5-HTP...it takes about 150 mg for me but it makes you sleep great and supposedly helps with GH while you are sleeping...plus it puts you in a good mood.

melatonis is cheaper though...so give it a shot first and see if that works for you.

GNC's ZMA actually adds hops and valerian root to the formula to help even more with sleep....give it a shot too.

which one do you use Prince?

 

[bandaidwoman]

Other things to look into, alcohol and caffeine consumption (including coffee, tea, chocolate, and soft drinks) (the former can affect delta or deep restorative sleep and the latter if consumed after 10:00 am can affect sleep onset.)

You have alot of alternatives besides pharmacotherapy (such as using doxepin or ambien that was mentioned.)

There is also,1) behavioral modification 2) cognitive therapy 3) sleep hygiene education 4) medical treatment 5) psychiatric therapy (sometimes insomnia can be a very early sign of chronic anxiety disease etc.) 6) light box / bright light therapy and 7) environmental change.



Regarding sleep hygeine:

Have you develped maladapted behaviors and counterproductive self-help measures? These may include: extended bedtimes, daytime naps, alcohol consumption, use of OTC sedative agents, reading, eating, and watching TV in bed. In short, using the bed and bedroom for everything except sleeping. Subconsciously, you may be associating the bed with everything else but sleep. In time, you become conditioned to associate the bed and bedroom with the inability to initiate sleep.

I also like the Light Box / Bright Light Therapy:
Chronic insomnia can sometimes be associated with not getting enough outdoor light! Many times, due to demands of work or family, this is not possible and light box therapy to readjust your circadian rhythm is helpful. (Exposure to sunlight or bright light (approximately 2500 Lux for 30 minutes to 2 hours) 25 depending on the circadian disorder or sleep-wake cycle will help to readjust the body's circadian clock.)

Anyway, just a few more pointers.

 

[usntoothfairy]

I'm a 43 Y/O I have no problems falling asleep but I only get 3-4 hours then I'm good for the day. I lift for an hour in the early morning. I feel I should at least get 7-8 hours of sleep. I would like to research the natural healing methods for this symptom any ideas? Thanx in advance

 

[Dale Mabry]

Originally posted by usntoothfairy
I'm a 43 Y/O I have no problems falling asleep but I only get 3-4 hours then I'm good for the day. I lift for an hour in the early morning. I feel I should at least get 7-8 hours of sleep. I would like to research the natural healing methods for this symptom any ideas? Thanx in advance

If I could do this I would be happy. I believe bandaid said she does the same. If I could spend more hours awake and not be a zombie I would be so happy. As it is, 7 hours seems to be best for me, but I wake up at least once a night.

 

[Mudge]

Originally posted by bandaidwoman
In short, using the bed and bedroom for everything except sleeping.

I've seen some stuff on that also, not just for sleep but affecting other activities such as study/reading etc

I use 3mg of melatonin every weeknight.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Originally posted by bandaidwoman
In short, using the bed and bedroom for everything except sleeping.

I have heard about that too, so I avoid relaxing in the bedroom unless it's sleep time. Soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm out.

 

[Jake]

Is there a possibility that you are overtraining in bodybuilding?

No, I've had no strength loss. I've been making steady improvements for about seven months now.


For the coffee question I only drink it before noon. I never ever drink coke or pepsi or any kind of soft drink (its not really 'soft' they have transport the syrup in trucks labeled 'Hazardous Waste')

I get lots of light too, because I am outside at least an hour and a half every day in the summer, and probably an hour in the winter.

The reading in bed and using the room for things other then sleep I will work on, and get back to you. I do that a lot, read, work in here, have my computer in here etc.

And, well, I hope that I dont need psychiatric therapy, just because... well shit, come on, that would suck.

 

[Big Smoothy]

If Psychiatric therapy can help, it will not suck.

Jake, do you "think" a lot before bed? While you're in bed?