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GAF, how do you sleep at night?

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Not in a moral metaphorical way but in an actual get to sleep way. I know some people my wife included that 3 minutes after their head hits the pillow they are out like a light. For me that has never been the case.

When I lay down to try and sleep it is like my senses and brain become hyper aware of everything. The slightest tingle of an itch, start obsessing over my breathing patterns, my brain replaying the interactions from the day and what I could have done better or worse. My mind races from subject to subject and I just lay there with my eyes pinched shut hoping to dose off.

Same for me. I think we're just stuck with that. Drinking helps me to stupid down.. So yeah, kinda sad. But i need to sleep.
 
read for a bit until i start getting tired, then turn on a movie. and my fan.

i sleep on my stomach with one arm under my pillow and the other holding my ballz or my neck which i find comforting for some reason.
 
With Melatonin.

This, plus Valerian root.


Put those two together, turn on the golf channel (preferably showing the European tour), and I dare even those with the worst insomnia to last more than 10 or 15 minutes before you are out like a light....
 
This, plus Valerian root.


Put those two together, turn on the golf channel (preferably showing the European tour), and I dare even those with the worst insomnia to last more than 10 or 15 minutes before you are out like a light....

Tell me more about this Valerian Root.

I'm very wary about continuing to take my cocktail of Melatonin and Xanax because I don't want to build a tolerance to Xanax where it doesn't help me the way it should for my anxiety issues.
 
My friend's parents got me a pillow that's called "always cool", not sure of the brand. But it's great because I'm used to buying $5 cheapo pillows, so to have one that's actually good is pretty awesome. I also use Unisom + Pain Relief, but this is mostly due to my job requiring me to sleep in the daytime, and I can/will never get used to it.
 
You must have a bad bed, you should buy one of those $100,000 beds

Nah dude. I have the best bed money can buy IMO.

Tempurpedic Cloud Luxe

My friend's parents got me a pillow that's called "always cool", not sure of the brand. But it's great because I'm used to buying $5 cheapo pillows, so to have one that's actually good is pretty awesome. I also use Unisom + Pain Relief, but this is mostly due to my job requiring me to sleep in the daytime, and I can/will never get used to it.

Maybe I should look into that. Currenlty I have a tempurpedic pillow that they threw in for free with the purchase of my bed last year. It does get a little warm and I'm constantly flipping it.

Got a link kind sir?
 
What helps me: one time I noticed that whenever I'm thinking about stuff when I lay in bed, my eyes aren't relaxed. What I mean is that my eyes are closed, but still in the 'looking dead ahead' position. When I relax my eyes, they shift to a more downward looking position. This in turn seems to relax my body, and my mind. When I notice I'm thinking about stuff again, my eyes are again in the 'looking ahead' position. So I relax them again.

Might sound a bit odd but like I said, it seems to help me.
 
sleepmateftonb.jpg


I don't know how anyone sleeps in silence. White noise cures all.
 
I have a dock for my GS3 but sadly it does not have speakers. My wife sleeps like a rock. I watch TV in bed after she sleeps and she doesn't wake up to that.

I must say I like the audio book idea, I've never been much into pod casts.
Oh I used to listen to Harry Potter audio books!
 
A doctor once told me that kids shouldn't be allowed to sleep on their sides, as gravity will over time deform their skeletal structure, particularly the shoulders, due to the elasticity of bone matter at that age. A couple of years is apparently all it takes for this to happen.

Related to the above, I believe a human being's bones only harden completely when you're around thirty years old.
 
I have nightmares almost every night and wake up in a panic multiple times. Sleeping pills don't help because I can't wake myself up out of the nightmares. Its hell.

So to answer the question, horribly. I sleep horribly. >.<
 
Not in a moral metaphorical way but in an actual get to sleep way. I know some people my wife included that 3 minutes after their head hits the pillow they are out like a light. For me that has never been the case.

Smoke a spliff 30 minutes before going to bed. You'll sleep well and the sex will be better
 
I have nightmares almost every night and wake up in a panic multiple times. Sleeping pills don't help because I can't wake myself up out of the nightmares. Its hell.

So to answer the question, horribly. I sleep horribly. >.<

Be happy that you even remember dreams. I don't remember any dreams anymore. I miss the feeling in the morning when I try to put the dream pieces together. :(

In the last year or so, I remember seeing one dream. Seriously, what the fuck. It sucks. I miss even the nightmares.

Though I guess one positive is that I fall asleep in like 2 minutes.
 
What helps me sometimes is writing. If my thoughts are racing about a million things I'll write a short poem or story or something. For some reason it calms me down and I can sleep. Same with reading.
 
Emergency service has fucked up my sleep. I don't sleep very tight, because I got used to concentrate on the emergency mobile we have in the hospital. I also can't sleep very long anymore. Maximum is seven to eight hours, when I could sleep for 10-12 hours back in the days. But I fall asleep pretty quickly. So, that must be a positive thing.
 
Sleeping is one of the few activities I am good at.

I have always been fortunate in that when my head hits the pillow, I am asleep within minutes and I donÂ’t wake up until I want (or need) to.

I can also sleep in just about any position. I have fallen asleep sitting in an armless chair before without falling off. My friends ask me how I do it, I just shrug and say “How do I know, I’m asleep.”
 
Turn on the fan, either lay on my back or stomach tho usually back and relax. If that fails, I count up in my head until I dose off.
 
usually 10-15 minutes. Anybody that falls asleep in under 5 minutes has sleep deprivation.

Used to have to sleep on my left side, now i do both.
 
Tell me more about this Valerian Root.

I'm very wary about continuing to take my cocktail of Melatonin and Xanax because I don't want to build a tolerance to Xanax where it doesn't help me the way it should for my anxiety issues.

From the obvious....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian_(herb)

Preparation


Valeriana officinalis

The chief constituent of valerian is a yellowish-green to brownish-yellow oil which is present in the dried root, varying from 0.5 to 2.0 percent, though an average yield rarely exceeds 0.8 percent. This variation in quantity is partly explained by location; a dry, stony soil, yields a root richer in oil than one that is moist and fertile.[16] The volatile oils that form the active ingredient are extremely pungent, somewhat reminiscent of well-matured cheese. Though some people remain partial to the earthy scent, some may find it to be unpleasant, comparing the odor to that of unwashed feet.[17] Valerian tea should not be prepared with boiling water, as this may drive off the lighter oils.

Medicinal use

Insomnia

Valerian is used for insomnia and other disorders as an alternative to benzodiazepine drugs, and as a sedative for nervous tension, excitability, stress and intestinal colic or cramps.[18][19][20][21]

In the United States, valerian is sold as a nutritional supplement. Therapeutic use has increased as dietary supplements have gained in popularity, especially after the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was passed in 1994. This law allowed the distribution of many agents as over-the-counter supplements, and therefore allowed them to bypass the regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A 2006 systematic review of research and meta-analysis concluded that "The available evidence suggests that valerian might improve sleep quality without producing side effects."[22] Valerian is used for sleeping disorders, restlessness and anxiety, and as a muscle relaxant. Certain data suggests that valerian has an effect that is calming but doesn't cause sleepiness the following day.[citation needed] When used as a sleeping aid, valerian appears to be most effective on users who have difficulty falling asleep. Also noteworthy is that valerian has been shown to have positive results on users who wake up during the night.[23] Valerian often seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though some users find that it takes effect immediately. Some studies have demonstrated that valerian extracts interact with the GABA receptors. Valerian is also used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal pain and irritable bowel syndrome. However, long term safety studies are absent.[citation needed]

Valerian is sometimes recommended as a first-line treatment when risk-benefit analysis dictates. Valerian is often indicated as transition medication when discontinuing benzodiazepines.

It has been recommended for epilepsy,[citation needed] but that is not supported by research (although valproic acid—an analogue of one of valerian's constituents, valeric acid—is used as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug). Valerian root generally does not lose effectiveness over time.

One study found valerian tends to sedate the agitated person and stimulate the fatigued person, bringing about a balancing effect on the system.[24]


Here is another link worth reading.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/valerian-000279.htm


I started years ago with just Melatonin, but it seem to have less and less of an impact on me over time, so I started increasing the dosage. When I started pairing it with Valerian root, it helped me sleep longer through the night. I buy both in pill/capsule form, and will attest to the not pleasant smell of Valerian. I must say, that at least for me, most of the time I clearly am less alert, closer to a light buzz, but with out the buzz feel, just sleepy. I've been taking them together for several years now, and I probably would have a hard time sleeping more than a couple of hours at night without them.... I try to take it around 9-10pm at night, as if I take it late at night, I will feel a bit foggy in the morning. The effect for me is about 8 hours, which is just right...
 
I just don't go to be until I physically can't keep my eyes open any longer. Easy to sleep at this point. Also means I get more done during each day =0)
 
I guess I'm lucky in that I usually fall asleep in about 10 minutes and will sleep like a freaking rock 8-10 hours. I get plenty of sleep so I don't know why I sleep that long almost every night. It does have it's drawbacks when I go several days with less sleep than I'm used to.

My main caveat is that I prefer for it to be as dark as possible. I do whatever I can to avoid any light being visible or else it heavily distracts me. Luckily, that's pretty easy to accomplish in my bedroom.

I usually fall asleep on my side, though I tend to end up in a fetal position. Now that it's getting colder, I can crawl under my blankets and be out in a heartbeat. Summers are my bane, but turning on a fan for noise and to help combat the heat usually does the trick.
 
sleepmateftonb.jpg


I don't know how anyone sleeps in silence. White noise cures all.
Holy shit. Came here to post this exactly. Love that damn thing. My house is WAY too quiet at night and every little noise catches my attention. Until I got this little gadget. I've been falling asleep quicker and sleeping more soundly with it. I know I sound like an advertisement for the damn thing but it works!
 
Wife is passed out within 5 mins, tired or not.

I take at a minimum 30 mins to go to sleep, it's absolute hell. My mind never shuts off.
 
Getting aware of your breathing while trying to sleep is the worst. So thanks for the reminder. Best thing to think then is that even if you hold your breath and pass out you just would start breathing normally again.

I actually had this issue for over a year back when i was 17 or so, even when i was awake i was always concentrating on breathing for some reason and could not get it out of my mind. I think its partly the reason why im mildly insane right now.
 
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