Can't Fall Asleep Anymore

**aj2sheds** · 01-18-2011 03:00 AM

Hey all . . . for the past several weeks I've been finding it extremely difficult to fall asleep, both when I go to bed and if I wake up in the middle of the night. I will be there for over an hour (I have checked the clock) before I finally drift off, and then if I wake up to pee or something it happens again, and I end up sleeping later in the morning than I should because I'm tired. I can't think of any huge lifestyle changes I've made that would have caused this, and although I'm a grad student this hasn't been a particularly stressful couple of weeks. Has anyone else ever had a similar issue? Thanks

**stressed** · 01-18-2011 03:23 PM

Have you tried reading before sleep? Do you go to bed when you're tired or when you "have to" (i.e. so that you can go to class in the morning)? Do you sleep better during the weekends or is it always like that?

Sounds like you have trouble going back to bed if your sleep is disturbed during the night (pee/noise/other).

You have to try to avoid causing the things that wake you up in the middle of the night: Don't drink water before going to bed, spend the last hour before going to bed by doing something relaxing (i.e. reading/watching a movie) and always go to bed only if you're tired enough to sleep. Be more active during the day, take walks, exercise, don't take naps. Don't connect your bed with studying/eating, so don't 'work' in bed, just use it for sleep and... naughty stuff.

If there's nothing stressful going on in your life then it must have to do with your lifestyle/food/activities.

**aj2sheds** · 01-19-2011 05:15 AM

Generally I'm tired when I go to bed, even though I do sort of set myself a bedtime (I definitely work better as an "early to bed, early to rise" kind of person), but then once I'm actually in bed I just lay there . . . I really should try reading for a while beforehand and see if that helps. I've always been one to wake up multiple times during the night after vivid dreams and to pee so I don't know how much I can avoid that, but I'll try to drink less water in the couple hours before bedtime. Thanks for the tips

**WildChild** · 01-19-2011 08:35 AM

Try exersize earlier in the day. It changes the chemical balance in the body.
Do you meditate? Do yoga? Do you understand controlling your breathing? When you sleep you breathe differently than in waking time. If you can teach yourself to breathe as you do when you sleep, you will sleep.
When unwanted thoughts come into your mind don't get upset just say, "thank you for sharing" and let it go.

**TigersPrettyBunny** · 01-19-2011 02:31 PM

Insomnia since grade 7. I went the route of prescription drugs and antidepressants and finally got sick of the bill. I weened myself off and started Dreaminol and haven't looked back since. My parents use 5HTP and it works great for them. Maybe see if you can find either of those and try out.

**LanaBear** · 01-19-2011 02:34 PM

Have you tried melatonin? I take it every so often and it works WONDERS! Also, I do a lot of reading before bed and it helps too.

**ItsASecret** · 01-19-2011 03:15 PM

First thing that came to my mind was "eat turkey" because of the tryptophan lol. But really you can try things like Valerian tea, or melatonin.

**bloodsexandbooze** · 01-19-2011 07:23 PM

I've had this problem on/off for the past year, but especially lately. I'd not get to sleep until maybe 4 or 5am and then end up waking up really late. I think the best thing to do is discuss it with your doctor. At the moment I've been put on Stilnoct (zolpidem) and it works amazingly for me - the best sleeping pills I've had. I take two and then fall asleep within five minutes. I've only just started taking them again so hopefully soon my sleeping pattern will be sorted again. As I said, the doctor will most likely know what to suggest.

**aj2sheds** · 01-21-2011 03:41 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions

I'm gonna try avoiding the drugs route if possible; I have about a week and a half where I really have no schedule so hopefully I can work it out in that time. I did try reading/watching a relaxing movie before bed and I think that helped; I just would like to be able to get to bed a little earlier than I have been. So we shall see