'The curse of insomnia.' blog discussion

Merlin_BikeCharity

Taoist technique:

Getting the energy down from your head is important.

Lie on the bed, dangle your feet over the end, rotate them 100 times clockwise, 100 times anti clockwise, normal speed, gentle stretch.

Cheers

Merlin

Rrrr_2

Forget counter productivity - just sleep! Sleep at weird times is definitely better than no sleep at all!
I had awful insomnia for years at the end of high school - barely 10 hours during the week. It got a bit better, but last year I discovered melatonin, and it has really worked for me! It doesn't as much put you to sleep as makes you feel drowsy enough that a busy brain can't keep you awake!

skygibb

When i suffered from insomnia Martin, a fellow Dr friend recommended that instead of Benzodiazepines (sleeping tabs) just eat a nice meal, glass of wine and spend a nice relaxing evening in the company of a sexy lady.... (you'll fall asleep eventually matey). So get your lady to Ann S. to buy sum kit, eat, rest well, movies, comfort food and hopefully all will be well. if not ask the GP about the temp sleeping tablets. Take care Martin

Warren, glos

skygibb

When i suffered from insomnia Martin, a fellow Dr friend recommended that instead of Benzodiazepines (sleeping tabs) just eat a nice meal, glass of wine and spend a nice relaxing evening in the company of a sexy lady.... (you'll fall asleep eventually matey). So get your lady to Ann S. to buy sum kit, eat, rest well, movies, comfort food and hopefully all will be well. if not ask the GP about the temp sleeping tablets. Take care Martin

Warren, glos:j

[Deleted User]

when your head hits the pillow, try, in as much lucid detail as possible, to recount the day's events - in reverse order...

beats sheep or spurious quantities of numbers any day...

good luck.

alysonteapot

The fact that I am in here at this time in the wee small hours is sufficient to say I sympathise! Why is it that when you are desperatly tired and eventually fall asleep something that is on your mind wakes you up!! I'm not thinking or worrying about it when I an asleep cos I'm asleep so heck what is it with my body that rouses me to do just that? Back to bed now with a good book to see if I can tire my eyes out enough to get a couple of hours in before I have to get up for work. XX

coliniles

Hi Martin.

Sounds like you've got too much stuff whizzing round in your head late at night. TRy to wind down as the evening progresses, easier said than done I know, use aromatherapy oils like lavender to relax, take regular exercise to keep your body biorhythms regular. More info on www.patient.co.uk insomnia. A great website for health
Regards Colin:T

hollydays

I once went to a "sleep clinic"-don't laugh.
They gave me advice,(common sense)but more importantly some non-prescription sleeping tablets-they really DID work.I think the cost was about £30, a few years ago,and i later tried to replicate the effect by buying a tablet ,i think it was called theanine or l theanine-but it did not work.
If I had been able to afford it,i would have gone back and ordered some more.If it happened again,i would go back.

on_a_money_mission

I know you've gone caffeine-free but decaf coffee can cause insomnia anyway (in my experience). There's another chemical in it that can keep you awake. I don't know what it is but it's worth trying to avoid it from mid-afternoon onwards. Fellow insomniacs I've given this tip to always notice the difference.
The other tips I would recommend: chamomile tea (let the teabag stew for at least 5 minutes), a teaspoon of honey before you go to bed, and eat plenty of bananas.
A short nap in the day can also help as it stops you being too tired to sleep at night, if you know what I mean.

margarete_2

Reducing salt intake helps with insomnia.

And here are tips from the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2008/07/07/hnutrition107.xml

HTH