Thread: Dealing with insonmia?

Originally Posted by Naiya

How old are you?

Old enough.

(AKA it doesn't matter)

I don't know too much about insomnia. Mostly, I only ever experience it when I'm thinking too much about my day, or if I'm trying to WILD at the wrong time.

But I went ahead and looked it up for you!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insomni...t_for_insomnia

Hehe, all right.

I was just wondering. Have you tried the usual methods for winding down before bed? Like, a shower or bath and not being online or watching TV for the hour before you go to bed? Reading a very very boring book?

Some people take over the counter sleep aides, but those can be addicting, so I would avoid them if possible unless your doctor recommends it (in other words, you'll be completely dependent on them to get to sleep at all).

Originally Posted by Naiya

Some people take over the counter sleep aides, but those can be addicting, so I would avoid them if possible unless your doctor recommends it (in other words, you'll be completely dependent on them to get to sleep at all).

Speaking of that, I take one called Nytol. One extra strength tab puts me out for 8-9 hours. Doesn't seem to affect dreams or recall. Been lucid once when I took it (doesn't really up the chance, just noting that it doesn't down your chance, either!).

It hasn't been habit forming for me and it's also found right on the shelves at your local drugstore. My guess is it's probably just antihistamines.

Only problem is it feel pretty sedate when I wake up. That fuzzy, groggy, stream-rolled feeling. Doesn't usually go away for a few hours.

Normally, before I go to bed, I read a book. I get extremely tired after reading a few chapters, but I just don't fall asleep .

As I said earlier, I'm trying to stay away from medications and drugs. The wikipedia article looks like it has some interesting non-pharmacological solutions that I'm willing to test out.

I am also trying to accomplish lucid dreaming (the EILD tracks at the Audio Aid Repository make me very sleepy), but I'm not sure if I can do it since it is hard to do dream recall if I never dreamed in the first place (even if I do fall asleep, I don't remember having a dream). Should I give up on that and focus more on solving the insomnia?

Insomnia seems to be caused by physical/psycho-spiritual stress/unrest.

To lower physical as well as psychological stress/tention I have found Yogic stretch exercises VERY helpfull in Calming the Body and the Mind to a HUUGE degree.
This tention/stress is what causes the restlessness known as Insomnia. By doing a couple of Yogic exercises you can Release this tention and afterwards you feel MUCH lighter and calmer both Physically and Psychologically/Spiritually. If your restlessness is servere then I suggest combining Hash/Cannabis with Yoga.
Here is a series of YouTube movies teaching simple and effective Yogic exercises:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS-9fXmUt-c
Once it's finished it will automatically skip to the next movie with the next exercise. There are many. Give it a try before bedtime, perhaps combined with Cannabis, and let me know if it made falling asleep any easier, okay?

Off course I wouldn't advice smoking Cannabis or Hash before you've passed the age of 18. Smoking Cannabis before that age might interfere with your natural development into an adult, responsible human being. Off course if Insomnia is disturbing your mind severely, forget what I said and feel free to use Cannabis to help you get to sleep.

Afterall there's nothing as debilitating and disturbing as Severe sleep deprivation. And trust me; I, master Insomniac, should know.

In terms of the recall, trying drinking a cup or 2 of apple juice before you settle down to read. On average, I usually remember 1 dream a night (if that). When I'm on the juice, it ups the recall to 3-4 dreams.

Originally Posted by SKA

Insomnia seems to be caused by physical/psycho-spiritual stress/unrest.

To lower physical as well as psychological stress/tention I have found Yogic stretch exercises VERY helpfull in Calming the Body and the Mind to a HUUGE degree.
This tention/stress is what causes the restlessness known as Insomnia. By doing a couple of Yogic exercises you can Release this tention and afterwards you feel MUCH lighter and calmer both Physically and Psychologically/Spiritually. If your restlessness is servere then I suggest combining Hash/Cannabis with Yoga.
Here is a series of YouTube movies teaching simple and effective Yogic exercises:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS-9fXmUt-c
Once it's finished it will automatically skip to the next movie with the next exercise. There are many. Give it a try before bedtime, perhaps combined with Cannabis, and let me know if it made falling asleep any easier, okay?

Off course I wouldn't advice smoking Cannabis or Hash before you've passed the age of 18. Smoking Cannabis before that age might interfere with your natural development into an adult, responsible human being. Off course if Insomnia is disturbing your mind severely, forget what I said and feel free to use Cannabis to help you get to sleep.

Afterall there's nothing as debilitating and disturbing as Severe sleep deprivation. And trust me; I, master Insomniac, should know.

Has ANYONE read my first post? I'm staying away from any medication, unless it is absolutely necessary. And I'm under 18.

I don't like yoga that much, since I'm extremely (physically) weak and the exercises hurt me more than they help me (however, I do have Wii Fit, if that counts as yoga).

As for the video, I don't think that I would be able to stay in that deep breathing state for very long. I get distracted easily (possibly another cause of my insomnia).

Also, I don't like apple juice.

Originally Posted by Sinani201

Has ANYONE read my first post? I'm staying away from any medication, unless it is absolutely necessary. And I'm under 18.

I don't like yoga that much, since I'm extremely (physically) weak and the exercises hurt me more than they help me (however, I do have Wii Fit, if that counts as yoga).

As for the video, I don't think that I would be able to stay in that deep breathing state for very long. I get distracted easily (possibly another cause of my insomnia).

Also, I don't like apple juice.

Well I leave it up to you wether or not your Insomnia is extreme and debilitating enough to call it "absolutely nececairy". Cannabis is by no means a risky or extreme thing. It can be eaten or drank. But that's all up to you.

I also showed you Yoga as an alternative, Non-medicinal way of conquering Insomnia. And I can tell you as a fellow Insomniac, it can really be profoundly relaxing both physically and mentally. I can really recommend it. Don't get offended. I'm simply laying out all the options I see and know of to overcome your Insomnia. You decide what advice you will and what advice you won't follow.

But come on, at least give Yoga a try. Don't give up, before you even try. Maybe it might cause you to miss out on a simple, effective way to overcome your Insomnia.

And if you're "physically weak" then just take it easy. Yoga needs no strength. It stretches the muscles and spine up while attention is focussed on breathing. Sometimes stretching may hurt a little. But that's fine and won't kill ya. It might start tingling in your spine, legs, feet... That's a sign you're doing it right. Energetic tention being released.
If you stretch for a couple of minutes into a yogic posture you will DEFENITELY feel how your previously tense muscles have become REALLY noticably looser. Body will be ALOT more relaxed And also it will noticably have calmed your Mind. And the cause of Insomnia is Physical and Mental unrest, so Yoga can calm restless bodies and minds and so help Insomniacs to sleep.

I'm sure that if Insomnia gets so severe that it really starts ruining your life (which I know it can) that you will give Yoga a try anywayz.

But would it kill you if tonight before bedtime you'd do 3 different Yoga exercises. Spending 2 minutes on each exercise. That'd be 6 minutes of Yoga before bedtime.

If you decide to give it a try, report back here to let me know how it went and if it helped you get to sleep.

Originally Posted by Naiya

I was just wondering. Have you tried the usual methods for winding down before bed? Like, a shower or bath and not being online or watching TV for the hour before you go to bed? Reading a very very boring book?

I've also found that those little tricks help a lot of people. Here's this one site where you can find all of those little tips and tricks (stay hydrated, get lots of sunshine, powernap, etc.) and then there's another site I found about using fung shui and qigong to counter insomnia, if you're interested in that kind of stuff.

Hope you find something that helps.