Insomnia

Saffron · Post by **Saffron** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:12 pm

Does anyone here get insomnia? I have been having bouts of insomia for the last 3 or 4 weeks. I actually went 3 nights without sleep a couple weeks ago. And nothing I take helped me to sleep. I am having a lot of stress lately, with a new job and roommate annoyances. But this is crazy! I am getting to the point that i am afraid of going to bed, for fear that I will not be able to sleep. Literally. It's awful. I am going to try a hot bath tonight with baby oil and epsom salt. Then take some melatonin. :-2

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:29 pm

I've had the same problem for a month now and don't know what's causing it. I'm going to try Tylenol PM tonight.

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:37 pm

From earlier threads:

Abbey's Mom had the right idea... but you don't have to drink warm milk.

Calcium has been called "Nature's Greatest Tranquilizer". Buy a bottle

of calcium tablets and take two when you wake up in the middle of the night.

Other things I do/have done...

It's a toughie, but give up ALL caffeine, and if you can't do that, no

caffeine after about noon.

No exercise within about 6 hours of going to bed. Exercise is good but

get it earlier.

Go to bed and get up about the same time every day. Even on weekends.

If you feel you MUST sleep in on weekends, limit it to no more than an

hour or so past your usual wake-up time.

Save the bed for sleeping and sex and that's it, no tv going before you

go to sleep.

Beware of outside stimulus. I for a while thought I was going to have to

give up Monday Night Football, too much excitement too late at night.

And I did give up (about 5 years ago) listening to music. Sometimes,

early in the day, I can still get away with some. I keep my hand poised

over the "mute" button on the remote, to avoid catchy commercial

jingles, 'cause I will sing 'em forever.

Keep a pad of paper and a pen by your bed, and when you wake up

thinking about something, WRITE IT DOWN. While you are writing,

try and visualize the thoughts leaving your head, travelling down your

arm, through the pen onto the paper. This way your brain think's it's

taken care of whatever. Might help you stop thinking about it.

Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. A "white noise" generator

helps some people. (Ocean waves, etc.)

On the caffeine thing, beware "hidden" caffeine, colas aren't the only

drink with caffeine in them. And watch painkillers like Extra-Strength

Excedrin, it has a lot in it.

Watch your food intake. Should have your last meal about 6 hours

before sleep. If it's a large, regular meal that is. Small snack later

on is okay.

Beware of trying for too much sleep, you need less as you get older,

but 7 or 8 hours is plenty.

(Also, avoid alcohol, can wake you up after your blood sugar drops!)

And I wish you much luck in dealing with this!! When I get a good

night's sleep, I feel I can conquer the world!!

(As a last resort, see a doc and get some Ambien, works pretty good)

Valerian helps some people. You might be beyond help of melatonin

unfortunately.

:-6

Lene · Post by **Lene** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:37 pm

I have used Valerian Root to help me out with the stress / sleep issue before and had great results...you might want to try it out.. good luck Lene

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:16 pm

Tylenol PM work great..!! If it goes on much longer get a perscription for something to take short term till you get back in the sleep groove. I suffer from insomnia as well, drive me batty..!! :-3

Saffron · Post by **Saffron** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:09 pm

I tried tylenol pm too, also valerian root. On those nights, they did not work. For 2 nights in a row I took 2 Tylenol PM, 4 Valerian root pills, Ibuprofins, aspirin, and a handful of melatonin. I did that for 2 nights in a row and did not sleep, then the 3rd night, after taking almost as much i fell alseep at 3 a.m. IT was awful.

I guess I've got a lot going on in my life, more than usual. For a while i thought it was just that my roommate's daughter had her speaker next to the wall between our bedrooms, and that was annoying me beyond words. But now she has muffled it to where I cannot hear it, and I still cannot sleep. So it is me.

But thanks everyone. Maybe I'll just have to log onto this forum and chat and read until i fall alseep. I never drink caffeine after noon, and I am usually in class at night till 9:30 p.m., then go home. I have a Life Drawing class. That is where we draw nude models. I have a feeling that bothers me subconsciously as I grew up in a strict Catholic home. It seems to be that on those nights when we have male models i cannot sleep when I get home. And this has not happened this much before.:-3

I also did read about not doing anything in bed except sleeping. But I do, I read, write and me bed is next to my pc. It is a huge bed in the middle of the bedroom. Last night I took a hot bath with epsom salt and baby oil, then read for a while. I fell asleep at like 11 p.m.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:19 pm

OK then its time for the good stuff..!! "XANAX" get to the doctors and get a prescription it will relax you and you will sleep like a baby..!! Just know this:

[QUOTE]Generic Name: alprazolam (al PRAH zoe lam) Brand Names: Xanax, Xanax XR. Alprazolam is an anti anxiety agent,benzodiazepine's.Used primarily for short-term relief of mild to moderate anxiety and nervous tension.Alprazolam is also effective in the treatment of activity depression or panic attacks. It can be useful in treating irritable bowel syndrome and anxiety due to a neurosis as well. Alprazolam may help the symptoms of PMS if extreme,some cancers pains if given with various narcotics, Alprazolam is used to relieve anxiety, nervousness, and tension associated with anxiety disorders. agoraphobia,essential tremor,and ringing ears.

Or you can get a perscription for on of the sleep aid medications Lunesta comes to mind its the newest one.

http://www.lunesta.com/lunestaOverview/ ... oad&rd=920

[QUOTE]What is Lunesta?

LunestaTM (eszopiclone) is a prescription sleep aid that can give you and your restless mind the sleep you need. So you can finally enjoy a restful night and a fresh start.

You can feel good about taking Lunesta.

Lunesta is designed to give you a restful night's sleep. It not only helps most people fall asleep quickly, it helps you stay asleep all night long with fewer interruptions and wake up refreshed.

So from the time your head hits the pillow until the second your alarm clock sounds, you're getting the peaceful sleep you need.

Lunesta is unique.

Lunesta is one of the most extensively studied prescription sleep aids. And while there are many sleep aids available, Lunesta is unique because it has all three of the following benefits:

Unlike some other sleep aids, Lunesta helps you sleep all through the night with fewer interruptions.

AND

Lunesta does not lose its effectiveness over time as shown in a 6-month study.

AND

Additionally, Lunesta is approved for long-term use.

Do not use sleep medicines for extended periods without first talking to your doctor.

Read on and get more facts!

Don't let your restless mind keep chasing sleep away. Learn more about how to get a restful night's sleep, and remember to talk to your doctor about Lunesta.[/QUOTE]

Jcas · Post by **Jcas** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:50 am

The trouble with insomnia is after a couple of nights without sleep, you begin to worry if you will sleep when it's bedtime.

It can turn into anxiety, and once that sets in sleep is a mile away. Try not to get too hung up on not sleeping and relax more at bedtime, be aware that some of the stronger sedatives can become addictive.

Read a book on positivity, i find with almost any problem i have, if i approach it thinking positive, it is not as bad ..... :-6 :-6

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 3:06 am

Jcas wrote: The trouble with insomnia is after a couple of nights without sleep, you begin to worry if you will sleep when it's bedtime.

It can turn into anxiety, and once that sets in sleep is a mile away. Try not to get too hung up on not sleeping and relax more at bedtime, be aware that some of the stronger sedatives can become addictive.

Read a book on positivity, i find with almost any problem i have, if i approach it thinking positive, it is not as bad ..... :-6 :-6

Here is a link you may want to check out......

http://www.darksideofsleepingpills.com/

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:16 am

Saffron wrote: I tried tylenol pm too, also valerian root. On those nights, they did not work. For 2 nights in a row I took 2 Tylenol PM, 4 Valerian root pills, Ibuprofins, aspirin, and a handful of melatonin. I did that for 2 nights in a row and did not sleep, then the 3rd night, after taking almost as much i fell alseep at 3 a.m. IT was awful.

I guess I've got a lot going on in my life, more than usual. For a while i thought it was just that my roommate's daughter had her speaker next to the wall between our bedrooms, and that was annoying me beyond words. But now she has muffled it to where I cannot hear it, and I still cannot sleep. So it is me.

But thanks everyone. Maybe I'll just have to log onto this forum and chat and read until i fall alseep. I never drink caffeine after noon, and I am usually in class at night till 9:30 p.m., then go home. I have a Life Drawing class. That is where we draw nude models. I have a feeling that bothers me subconsciously as I grew up in a strict Catholic home. It seems to be that on those nights when we have male models i cannot sleep when I get home. And this has not happened this much before.:-3

I also did read about not doing anything in bed except sleeping. But I do, I read, write and me bed is next to my pc. It is a huge bed in the middle of the bedroom. Last night I took a hot bath with epsom salt and baby oil, then read for a while. I fell asleep at like 11 p.m.

I do understand your desperation, believe me I do... but please don't take

all those painkillers together again! Very hard on your liver processing all

that and also, sometimes they "fight" each other and you don't get full

benefit of ANY of them! It's very scary to me that you did that!

:-1 :yh_hugs

Saffron · Post by **Saffron** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:37 am

Yeah it was scary to me too.!!

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:53 am

My friends and I have all suffered with bouts of insomnia. For us its because of menopause. Interruped, or no sleep is part of the journey through this. We all take tylenol pm, as was mentioned to you. It does work great. As Carla said Xanax is a fabulous drug, if you can get it. I like it so much, I dont get it. It is supposedly habit forming. Stress will do it to. I have a lot of issues right now in my life. But Ill tell you... Ive learned after many years to clear my mind when my head hits that pillow. There is nothing that can be done about anything in the middle of the night. The fear of not being able to sleep is something Ive experienced also. Try watching TV instead of getting into the feared bed. That has worked for me also.

Saffron · Post by **Saffron** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:23 pm

Isn't Xanax a prescription drug?

I contacted my dad last week when I was suffering with the no sleep issue. He said he will round something up for me. He is a chiropractor and he knows so much about holistic herbs and stuff. He also told me to get black cohosh, so that works with the hot flashes. I am going to call him tomorrow and see what he found. He also works in a hospital, he has an office there, and he can get things there. Maybe he will get some Ambien for me.

I already took 2 valerian root pills, they are herbs. But I am trying to stay off the Tylenol pm's. But is it only 8:21 p.m. now. I'd like to stay up for once and watch Saturday Night Live. And I have the fan on too. That kind of drowns out noise (like the 16 year-old's stereo speaker in the bedroom next to me). My mother gave me ear plugs, but they to not work at all.

Attached files

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:45 pm

Saffron wrote: Isn't Xanax a prescription drug?

I contacted my dad last week when I was suffering with the no sleep issue. He said he will round something up for me. He is a chiropractor and he knows so much about holistic herbs and stuff. He also told me to get black cohosh, so that works with the hot flashes. I am going to call him tomorrow and see what he found. He also works in a hospital, he has an office there, and he can get things there. Maybe he will get some Ambien for me.

I already took 2 valerian root pills, they are herbs. But I am trying to stay off the Tylenol pm's. But is it only 8:21 p.m. now. I'd like to stay up for once and watch Saturday Night Live. And I have the fan on too. That kind of drowns out noise (like the 16 year-old's stereo speaker in the bedroom next to me). My mother gave me ear plugs, but they to not work at all.

Yes it is, years ago it was given to patients instead of Valium because Valium was highly addicting, years later Xanax is just as if not more addicting.....it is an anti anxiety drug, not too easy to get these days....

A couple of weeks ago I read an article about taking more then the prescribed dose of Tylenol can cause acute liver damage......that is scary

Never ever have alcohol in your system either it can be lethal. Isn't it strange after all these years the public was never made aware of any of this?

Saffron · Post by **Saffron** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:57 am

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: Yes it is, years ago it was given to patients instead of Valium because Valium was highly addicting, years later Xanax is just as if not more addicting.....it is an anti anxiety drug, not too easy to get these days....

A couple of weeks ago I read an article about taking more then the prescribed dose of Tylenol can cause acute liver damage......that is scary

Never ever have alcohol in your system either it can be lethal. Isn't it strange after all these years the public was never made aware of any of this?
I had taken Vicodin after an accident and my elbow was dislocated. That helped me sleep. It had a label on the bottle saying that it can cause liver damage and it had that acitominophin in it. I think that is the ingredient that causes it.

So last night I just took Ibuprofin and 2 valerian roots. I did finally fall asleep at 10 pm last night and slept the whole night. But who knows what will happen tonight.:p