Insomnia--do any of you have it? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Big Shot Rob · 01-02-2007, 05:37 AM

I have suffered from insomnia for years. Alot of my posts occur in the wee hours because I can't sleep.

I notice alot of other people write here at odd hours, too. DO any of you suffer from insomnia?

Anyone have any sugestions on how to cure it?

SaltwaterChaffy · 01-02-2007, 06:13 AM

Yes, I do.

No, no suggestions.

dude1394 · 01-02-2007, 07:13 AM

I have bouts when something is going on the next day or stress is laying me out.

We've just moved into a place with a hot tub which seems to relax me quite a bit, possibly a hot bath?

Sitting on this thing isn't a big help to me to be honest.

Murphy3 · 01-02-2007, 08:24 AM

yep...I slept 2 hours last night and 3 the night before.. sleep the previous few weeks before that was very sporadic

Male30Dan · 01-02-2007, 08:25 AM

Oh yeah... I have to force myself to go to bed. I am awake until 2am almost every night. I have to get up at 5:30ish to get ready for work and feed my little girl - obviously not much sleep. I tend to catch up on the weekends as I drag pretty well all day Friday, but I would just stare at the ceiling if I went to bed any earlier. It has become increasingly frustrating lately, but I have no real tips to make it better.

Murphy3 · 01-02-2007, 08:37 AM

Alcohol..lots of it. You'll be out, but it might not constitute quality sleep.

Flacolaco · 01-02-2007, 09:35 AM

nyquil and jack daniels cocktail.

take 2 of these and call me in the morning.

-Dr. Flaco

Drbio · 01-02-2007, 09:54 AM

Flaco's license is hereby revoked.

mary · 01-02-2007, 09:57 AM

If I really need to go to sleep, I find 1/2 of a Tylenol PM usually does the trick.

Flacolaco · 01-02-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drbio

Flaco's license is hereby revoked.

damnit!!!

Nemesis · 01-02-2007, 10:22 AM

This is nothing to joke about. Dependency on alcohol to get you to sleep is a dark dark road. Please don't take that stupid advice. Naturally, you want to see a doctor about it and you seem like a smart enough person, try researching the net. The advice you are getting here is a sick joke, hopefully you know that.

Murphy3 · 01-02-2007, 10:41 AM

Well, that's why I said that drinking too much alcohol and passing out wouldn't constitute 'quality' sleep.

bernardos70 · 01-02-2007, 11:05 AM

Chew valerian root and get some more exercise.....
-Fight Club Doctor

dude1394 · 01-02-2007, 11:13 AM

I"ve tried a couple of different prescriptions for insomnia, they all have their ups/downsides. Downsides is a lot of use makes it pretty difficult to get off them and pretty quick dependence. One thing that we've done recently that seems to help us drift off is we invested in a very good electric blanket. $150+ bucks, with dual controls.

We will pre-heat this before going to bed, I like mine really warm. We can keep the house really cool, yet the bed really toasty without having to have a zillion covers. That has helpmed me a lot as well, it seems that lowering the body temperature helps sleeping.

We've just moved recently and my commute has gone from 45+minutes (if I left at 6:00 a.m. sharp) to 10 minutes no matter when I leave. This seems to have cut down on the stress of trying to get to sleep because I HAD to get up by 5:00am or I'm stuck in bad traffic. This and the blanket has pretty much resolved my prior insomnia.

With respect to drugs I've tried:
- Ambien is pretty good, I've taken those, usually on a sunday before work when I hardly ever sleep well. My wife cuts them in half and takes one every few weeks when she's having exceptional difficulties. They work well but it's better that you get 8 hours because the effects last that long. There is a slight hangover effect.

- Sonata...This one was pretty good if you stay asleep once you get to sleep. It last's only about 4 hours with little hangover at all. In fact some folks have prescribed it for long airline flights. You take it, go to sleep but if awoken, you aren't groggy.

alexamenos · 01-02-2007, 11:53 AM

I used to have insomnia. I found that masturbating furiously helped me sleep.

I no longer suffer from insomnia, but I still masturbate furiously.

Perhaps that's more than you really needed to know.

Cheers

irontoad · 01-02-2007, 12:21 PM

I have no problem whatsoever falling asleep, it's staying asleep that I have major problems with... it seems to be a two part thing... 1, my legs have a tendency to move on their own and twich a lot. 2 is some BS stuff that drives me nuts - I wake up in the night and have little hallucinations that something terrible is going on in the room, such as the carpet's on fire, or there is a snake in the bed, etc. It's not like sleepwalking, I'm 'awake' when I experience this, it's just kind of like an altered state of consciousness, and it takes me a while to realize that it's not really happening...

So yeah, definitely not a stranger to sleep disorders.

bernardos70 · 01-02-2007, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexamenos

I used to have insomnia. I found that masturbating furiously helped me sleep.

I no longer suffer from insomnia, but I still masturbate furiously.

Perhaps that's more than you really needed to know.

Cheers

LOL....... But yeah........ LOL

Rhylan · 01-02-2007, 12:35 PM

I historically have been a major night person, never truly feeling tired until I've been up 18 - 20 hours, but on the flipside, my body never feels rested until I've slept 10 hours. What I really need is a 30 hour day.

But, the thing that helps it for me are 1) maniacal observance of getting up and going to bed at the same time no matter what - fighting the urge to stay up and do something since you can't sleep anyway, and 2) lots of exercise.

I generally don't do a good job of sticking to either, but when I do manage stick to a rigid schedule and make a point to get to the gym, my falling asleep issues all but go away.

Murphy3 · 01-02-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexamenos

I used to have insomnia. I found that masturbating furiously helped me sleep.

I no longer suffer from insomnia, but I still masturbate furiously.

Perhaps that's more than you really needed to know.

Cheers

I've found that it has the opposite impact on my ability to get to sleep. If done directly before going to bed, I have even more difficulty getting to sleep.

Dr.Zoidberg · 01-02-2007, 01:02 PM

I also have insomnia, because I don´t want to miss any Mavs games which are (for german people) always in the dead of night (between 1:30am and 4:30am starting time).

fluid.forty.one · 01-02-2007, 01:41 PM

If everyone claims to have a sleep disorder, then it's not really a disorder is it?

Nemesis · 01-02-2007, 01:48 PM

Fluid41, I am sure it is a correlation with being a message board fanatic... I just hope some people aren't masturbating and posting at the same time. Not a good picture...

u2sarajevo · 01-02-2007, 02:57 PM

I don't have ANY of the "problems" that have been identified in this thread..... whether it be the one identified in the thread name or elsewhere in the threads contents.

Drbio · 01-02-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irontoad

I have no problem whatsoever falling asleep, it's staying asleep that I have major problems with... it seems to be a two part thing... 1, my legs have a tendency to move on their own and twich a lot. 2 is some BS stuff that drives me nuts - I wake up in the night and have little hallucinations that something terrible is going on in the room, such as the carpet's on fire, or there is a snake in the bed, etc. It's not like sleepwalking, I'm 'awake' when I experience this, it's just kind of like an altered state of consciousness, and it takes me a while to realize that it's not really happening...

So yeah, definitely not a stranger to sleep disorders.

If you haven't you should see your physician soon. Restless legs disorder is easily correctable and if it isn't that he/she should talk to you about other potential causes.

Evilmav2 · 01-02-2007, 03:07 PM

I've also suffered from long bouts of insomnia over the years, but sadly I don't know of any cure. Generally, my bouts tend to run for a week or more at a time, and no matter how tired I am, and no matter how many hours I lay in bed trying to make myself go to sleep I just can't get myself into a sleep state (this often happens when I am stressed out or angry).

Whenever this happens, doing things like posting on bulletin boards and reading extensively sometimes helps, because it mellows me out and takes my mind away from whatever more corporeal things are bothering me, and to some degree, moderate drinking of non-caffinated alcohol (and I know this isn't necessarily healthy) also often does yeoman's work in helping me to finally get to sleep. Additionally, for some reason I've traditionally found it much easier to take short naps during the day than to fall asleep at night, so I've long mitigated the profound tiredness that I feel during daylight hours during the midst of a bout, by taking short naps whenever I have a free hour or two during the day...

dalmations202 · 01-02-2007, 04:57 PM

From what I have seen in my lifetime, insomnia is caused from the mind being overworked (stressed) and kicking into gear -- when the body is not physically tired enough to get to sleep.

Remedy, do more mindless physical work during the day (garden, work-out), and then slow the mind down by reading (Bible does the trick for me), close to bed time.

Also, don't use your bed as a living room. No TV, don't read there, etc. unless you are about to go to sleep. Train the body to "go to sleep" when it is in bed.

It works for me, but then again, I can sleep about anytime unless I let my mind (stress) control me.

dude1394 · 01-02-2007, 05:18 PM

In reading up on some of sleep drugs there was a suggestion to get rid of the clock. Or at least make sure you cannot see it.

The reasoning was that it removed the anxiety of knowing you HAVE to get some sleep because you have to get up in two hours or so. I hadn't thought of that but the times I've had issues I did keep looking at the clock to see how bad it was getting.

MavKikiNYC · 01-02-2007, 05:23 PM

...though possible side effects include uncontrollable rage, pillow punching, nausea.

dude1394 · 01-02-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MavKikiNYC

...though possible side effects include uncontrollable rage, pillow punching, nausea.

Genious...

Smiles · 01-02-2007, 06:50 PM

irontoad: I had some "dreams" in which something demonic was holding my mouth shut or something like that, especially as a teenager. I'd heard somewhere that there was power in just saying the name of Jesus, so I'd fight to say "Jesus". Sometimes it felt like something was fighting to keep me quiet, but once I got it said, I would wake up and could breathe and move again. I'm sure my priest would say "Jesus" is a magical word, but there could also have been a more scientific explanation. Either way, it worked! You could always try a different word too.

Oddly enough, I too have found that reading the Bible can help me get to sleep. Sometimes it's because I'm reading a more boring passage (or one I am unfamiliar with), and other times it's because the stories (or poetical books) are so peaceful & relaxing. Of course, you have to be able to focus in on whatever you're reading. If it doesn't hold your attention enough, your thoughts will wonder to the things that keep you up at night. If it stimuates your mind too much, then it won't help you focus, breathe, relax and fall asleep.

An idea I didn't do often, but really worked:
Swimming laps slowly, and focusing exclusively on my breathing and strokes (the feel of the water, etc.) for the entire time. Then take a warm shower while keeping your surroundings and thoughts as quiet and calm as possible. Control your breathing and body movements as much out of the pool as you did while swimming. This keeps your mind, and therefore body, more primed for sleep as opposed to "action". There is just something about being in the water for a while before going to bed.

Sorry, so long.

nashtymavsfan13 · 01-02-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Shot Rob

I have suffered from insomnia for years. Alot of my posts occur in the wee hours because I can't sleep.

I notice alot of other people write here at odd hours, too. DO any of you suffer from insomnia?

Anyone have any sugestions on how to cure it?

Some of that has to do with different time zones. I live on the West Coast plus I'm a night person who tends to stay up late. I know others live in different time zones too.

I'm a night person and I sometimes have a lot of trouble getting to sleep. Once I'm asleep though I sleep soundly and don't wake up easily. I have trouble getting up early in the morning, no matter how late I stayed up, but I think that's mostly because I'm not a morning person. Good morning is an oxymoron to me.

Dalm gave some good advice. It tends to help you sleep if you have some tea or something hot to drink and then reading and or a hot bath is helpful. It helps get your body more relaxed.

Nemesis · 01-02-2007, 07:12 PM

Fire and Brimstone always help me sleep.

MavsX · 01-04-2007, 01:24 PM

work out. Join a gym, go everyday..make it a routine...then sleep nice

Male30Dan · 01-04-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexamenos

I used to have insomnia. I found that masturbating furiously helped me sleep.

I no longer suffer from insomnia, but I still masturbate furiously.

Perhaps that's more than you really needed to know.

Cheers

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to alexamenos again.

HILARIOUS!

Windmill360 · 01-04-2007, 03:14 PM

When you have insomnia, you are never really asleep and you are never really awake.

CarolinaJHoFan · 01-05-2007, 02:12 PM

Yes and i have taken ambien in the past and did not like it. At least 2 nites out of the week i lay in bed for 2 hours or more with no sleep in site. Tylenal PM is good but leaves me foggy the next morning and sometimes even unable to think clearly the next day.

Nash13 · 01-05-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windmill360°

When you have insomnia, you are never really asleep and you are never really awake.

I was waiting for somebody to say this. That was one weird movie.

raefformvp · 01-05-2007, 05:59 PM

just a little note on my absolutely, positively horrendous experience with ambien...a couple of years ago I had bronchitis. I saw another doctor because my doctor was on vacation and was given an antibiotic. I called the next day to see if I could get something for the cough because I couldn't sleep at night and I was keeping the hubby up with my coughing as well. I don't know if I was misunderstood, but the doctor prescribed ambien (20 with SIX refils!!). so I took one that night and the next morning I woke up and found one beside the bed and the rest gone. apparently I kept taking them because I couldn't remember if I had taken one. by the time my husband noticed they were gone, I was falling down and slurring my words. I can't believe that I didn't have more serious side effects. I suggest if anyone does try this drug, that they only do so under supervision. I woke up the next morning and drove and have no memory of driving. I ran my car over the curb and did about $1000 damage to my car. thank God I turned around and came home without injuring someone. I can't believe the irresponsibility of that doctor to prescribe a new drug like that with six refils. absolutely crazy!!!!!!

Drbio · 01-05-2007, 07:05 PM

Ambien is awful. I have heard so many bad stories. A guy I went fishing wiht one time took it and started sleep walking. He ended up having sex with a neighbor that he really didn't like. Another person I know took Ambien and drove herself to another freaking city before the police finally stopped her!!!!

It's an awful drug.

u2sarajevo · 01-05-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drbio

He ended up having sex with a neighbor that he really didn't like.

So did the person he was having sex with think she was being raped? (assuming it's a woman) Or did she (or he, not the neighbor) take advantage of the ambien takers state on the drug.

Either way, that is awful. And hard to imagine.