As somebody who also has sleep issues, the bolded part is your biggest problem, IMO. Getting anxious and worried about not sleeping and being tired the following day starts the vicious cycle... can't sleep -> worry about not getting sleep -> worry about being tired the next day -> anxiety -> can't sleep -> etc. How to break that cycle? I'm not sure, but if you figure it out, let me know.
I have sleep issues as well. What helps me is to not drink anything for a couple of hours before bed time, take a Zantac, and if I want a really good night's sleep I take a Tylenol PM. Nothing to drink so I don't wake up to pee. Zantac so a little indigestion won't wake me. The Tylenol has a sleep aid and helps in case I have some soreness that might wake me.
I can relate because I've had really serious insomnia issues - not so bad now, but about a year ago night after night up until 2 or later. Since you are waking up repeatedly, and it happens often, I would recommend, if you have health insurance, seeing a sleep specialist. There may be a physical problem. Try to get a recommendation from a primary care doc since this is a field that has a lot of quacks in it. You may have sleep apnea. In apnea, your breathing stops long enough for your body to react. The physiological reaction is a surge of adrenaline, which makes you gasp and increases heart rate, getting breathing going. While adrenaline is great if you're running from a wild tiger, if you're trying to rest repeated adrenaline surges can result in anxiety or even panic attacks. My breathing was obstructed and every time I started to doze (which makes muscles relax) I was not getting enough air, so I'd jerk awake in panic. Then when I fell asleep kept waking over and over. I can easily see how sleep deprivation is a torture technique; I would have done damn near anything to just be able to sleep. One thing the sleep specialist told me that was helpful. Insomnia is miserable but you will NOT die. You will be tired. That's all. Because at 2 AM you are clearly worrying about what will happen if you don't sleep. Just a note to be careful about taking other people's prescription meds. I took a trazadone from a friend and it made my condition worse. If the usual relaxation techniques, many described here, exercise during the day, no food late, warm bath, etc don't work, do try medical assessment.
The over the counter sleeping pills will knock you out, but the next day is horrible. I use melatonin from time to time if i need to get up early when my sleep schedule is going to sleep late. 3mg, 30 min before bed should do it for ya'. No sleeping pill hangover the next day at all.
Its pretty insane how prevelant this is.... i have recently been having issues the last week as well.... last night i didnt go to sleep till 430...and i had to wake up at 730 FML I think im going to try melatonin tonight
1. Lay there and try counting backwards from 100 to 0. So fucking boring. Works 50% of the time. 2. Have my wife read to me. She's English, and the monotone reminds me BBC, which my parents always used to listen to when I was a kid. Works 20% of the time. 3. Rub one out. Works 10% of the time, but even when it fails it ain't all bad. 4. Go lay on a couch and put on a Tivo'ed episode of Charlie Rose, volume low but audible. Because of the black background, it doesn't project much light into the room, and the low murmur always puts me out in a matter of minutes. Unless somebody is on that I really enjoy, but that's why I always have 3 episodes sitting there in line. There's always at least one episode with some French filmmaker or Norwegian architect or similar boring shit. Works every time. I also find if I get lots of exercise during the day, I don't have problems sleeping at night.
Judging by your screen name, turn out the lights and listen to this: [video=youtube;-EILNvJ2y2I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EILNvJ2y2I&feature=related[/video] If that doesn't work try the long version: [video=youtube;HX2q9sacvss]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX2q9sacvss[/video] Exercise a little (push-ups, squats...) and stretch before bed. As for sex, I find the real thing more effective than rubbing one out alone. If you're doing it right.
I'm in the same boat. I'm 20 and rarely get to sleep before 3 AM. A few weeks ago I was up to see the sunrise almost every day for a while. Doesn't matter how early I get up and excersize doesn't seem to make a difference. Absolutely can't get to bed before about 2 AM and typically later. Almost all of my sleep problems are trouble falling asleep but lately I have been getting up really, really early and unable to get back to bed. My mom has always been the opposite though- gets to bed fairly easily but rarely stays asleep for more than a couple hours at a time. Can't wait to get old lol. I drink a lot since I'm in college which always makes it easier to sleep but I don't really have any techniques to get to bed when I'm sober. Every so often I'll take Nyquil if I've got something important the next day and really need the sleep. I used to REALLY freak out while having bouts with insomnia because obviously in high school you've gotta get up before 7 AM and get through a 7 hour day. I've really come to grips with it more lately and accepted it. Its very tolerable when I know I only have class a few hours a day and often not until the afternoon but I'm not looking forward to getting a 9-5 and having these issues again.
