Cure for Insomnia

[sft42]

Can anybody recommend a good cure for insomnia (not the book) as since splitting with a partner i find it nigh on impossible to get to sleep most nights till 2 or 3 in the morning and then get up at 8 but i only really slepp a long time about once a month. Help quick folks or i'll be tripping over the bags in my eyes!

[andy hughes]

Sorry to hear about your breakup, and its effect on your sleep patterns. The first step is to accept that this condition is temporary, and your body will re-adapt when it is ready. If you are relaxed, you may find it easier to sleep. Try a brisk walk before bedtime, and then a soak in a warm bath, and a hot drink, but avoid eating late at night. When in bed, read something light - no romances or horror, and if you don't feel sleepy, don't panic. If you feel relaxed, stay in bed, if not, get up and eat a snack - breakfast cereal is good, and watch TV, or a video, or listen to the radio, and return to bed only when you feel sleepy. If you drop off in the chair, fine. If you feel wrecked at the weekend, try taking naps during the day, or just lie on your bed and rest if you can't sleep. You will find that when your mind has assimilated your change in circumstances, your sleep times will lenghen back to normal. Remember, your body will take the sleep it needs, so if your system is staying alert working on your relationship, that's fine, it won't last long, but the trick is to go with the flow, and not panic about this perfectly natrual reaction to your life-change. Hope things work out for you.

[beenee]

You can briefly read up on self-hypnosis on the net. This involves techiniques that put you in a post-hypnagogic state (REM) - once in this stage it is very easy to slip into sleep.

Try this:
Lie flat on your back: concentrate on your toes and loosen them completely. Imagine them becoming so relaxed that they are almost numb. move very slowly upwards your ankles, calves, knees etc... take your time. It is very likely that you wont even get as far as your neck and head because you will be fast asleep by now. (I do this in view to hypnotise myself but very often fall asleep before I can maintain that crucial REM stage). Good Luck!

[boognish76]

Hate to come over all new-agey but Boots' aromatherapy peppermint and nutmeg pillow mist made me sleep the zombie sleep of the dead. It's effectiveness wears off after you've been using it a while, but by that time you may have trained yourself into a new sleep pattern.

[Janetx]

Sorry to hear that you are troubled. One very good natural remedy for sleeplessness and stress is Valerian in tablet form. However, it may be that you need a short course of anti-depressants or sleeping tablets to get you back into an acceptable sleep pattern. Best of luck.

[simon_says]

I'm troubled with this problem also. I find that lying in bed tossing ( if you'll pardon the expression! ) and turning is the worst thing you can do. If you cannot sleep, don't try and force it. Get up, watch TV, read a book, go online, anything. Sometimes after 1/2 an hour or so, I find that I'm ready to sleep. If this doesn't work, I will try to clear my head of any thoughts ( as these are what keep me awake ), and concentrate on my breathing until I doze off. These methods don't always work, but they do help the majority of the time ( for me ). Good luck.

[couchy]

Not a very scientific suggestion but I find that if I try to do 12 really deep breaths Im usually asleep by the 9th. Good luck.

[5029]

I read recently that lettuce and bananas both make your brain produce seratonin, which induces sleep, so have a wholemeal bread lettuce sandwich or banana about an hour before you want to sleep

[5029]

Forgot to add that melatonin is good, available from chemists. It is widely used to get your body into a good sleep pattern when jetlagged, but I have in the past, used it to cure insomnia

[xyzzyplugh]

breathing is everything.Concentrate on your breathing, notice it, notice its wonder, breathe in (count 6) breath out. You can also visualise the actual numbers in numeric and text form; see them in different fonts and colours too if you try. This will take your mind out of it's circling and into alpha and plenty 'hypnagogic' Q.V. Next thing your asleep. Might need a little practisze; take you about a week and a half (�)

[FTVS]

I fully sympathise as I suffer with insomnia regulalry. Here's what I do: Some moderate excercise during the day No caffiene after mid-day No food after 7pm (assuming a bedtime of circa 11) Warm herbal tea in the evening, camomile and honey I find best Drops of valerian in water 20 mins before retiring (available Holland and Barrett) Lie on yourback, arms by your side: deep long breaths in and out, count eight as you breath in through your nose, eight out through your mouth, relax from your toes up (I ended up doing yoga classes to really get of hang of this - well worth it for me) I visualise the night sky and me peacefully asleep under. Personally arotherapy is not so good for me as I find the new smell unsettleing However geranium and lavender are v popular and effective for some. MOST OF ALL: try to avoid getting angry or upset that you are not sleeping, practise resignisation. Don't lie in bed for hours winding yourself up, get up, read/tv/whatever more herbal tea don't turn the light on if you jump up for a quick wee Don't lie in bed all day teh next day trying to make up for lost sleep, ditto w/ends Good luck - i hope you get better - it's so horrible delibilitating

[sft42]

ok everyone here's an update for those checking back. Breathing techniques do nothing, I have tried more exercise without any great change and diet changes don't seem to be working as i don't really eat very much either these days (have lost about 2 stone in a couple of months) so the upshot is i'm still wide-eyed (but not so bushy-tailed). I think a large hammer to the noggin maybe the only option.

[papia]

Insomnia (sleeplessness) is due to stress, dietary and medical problems. By making small lifestyle changes like having a fixed daily routine, relaxing and eating properly, insomnia can becured. I found the information at http://tinyurl.com/jfzpz useful for getting sleep.