I have been suffering from insomnia since I was a very young child. I think much of the reason that I learned how to read before I was three is that my parents told me I had to stay in bed, even if I couldn't sleep, and ... well, there's only so much you can do.
As you can imagine, I've heard every trick in the book. Most of them are legal ...
I can honestly say that I have tried to battle my insomnia (which, if you are my Facebook friend, you are all too familiar with since I have a tendency to start ranting on FB when I can't sleep, which is with an unfortunate frequency).
But I've pretty much come to terms with it, all joking aside. I've had a sleep study done (I learned that I have "ideopathic" issues falling asleep and staying asleep once I get there ... it was very useful ;-)), I developed good "sleep hygiene" (which is basically having a set routine and using relaxation techniques and such), and I have a prescription for Ambien that I use only when I am on the verge of going completely bananas from lack of sleep.
I have tried virtually everything to deal with my sleeping issues with the exception of hypnosis. I am honestly pretty scared of hypnosis, because in addition to having horrible insomnia, I have horrible nightmares most of the time when I do sleep. These nightmares are in general based around one of those traumatic life events that scar you forever, and I have dealt with it as much as I am going to.
I even hesitate to use Ambien overmuch because I get trapped in my nightmares sometimes, and I can't even wake up. It's like being in a Nightmare on Elm Street movie ;-)
But seriously, I am hoping that you will share your experiences with (and advice pertaining to) insomnia here.
I am compiling a list of things that I have tried and/or had recommended. I have bolded what has worked for me on some level.
* Melatonin
* Ambien
* Marijuana
* Nyquil
* Ginger root
* Warm milk
* Honeycomb
* Reading
* Watching television
* Eliminating caffeine
* Relaxation techniques (for awhile, counting backwards from 100 while actually visualizing each number worked)
* Sex
* Exercise
* Intentionally staying up all night to "get caught up"
* Advil PM
* Music
* Changing pillow positions/beds/and so on
* Sleeping in a dark room
* Muscle relaxants (Valium, Flexeril)
* Sleeping in a bright room
* Alcohol
* Getting punished for bugging my parents in the middle of the night when I was a little kid
* Warm bath
So, yeah, I think that's pretty much the gamut, other than the hypnosis thing, which I am not prepared to tackle. I don't know that I ever will be, truth be told.
Do you have any advice (or encouragement) for struggling insomniacs out there? Share in the comments :-)
As you can imagine, I've heard every trick in the book. Most of them are legal ...
I can honestly say that I have tried to battle my insomnia (which, if you are my Facebook friend, you are all too familiar with since I have a tendency to start ranting on FB when I can't sleep, which is with an unfortunate frequency).
But I've pretty much come to terms with it, all joking aside. I've had a sleep study done (I learned that I have "ideopathic" issues falling asleep and staying asleep once I get there ... it was very useful ;-)), I developed good "sleep hygiene" (which is basically having a set routine and using relaxation techniques and such), and I have a prescription for Ambien that I use only when I am on the verge of going completely bananas from lack of sleep.
I have tried virtually everything to deal with my sleeping issues with the exception of hypnosis. I am honestly pretty scared of hypnosis, because in addition to having horrible insomnia, I have horrible nightmares most of the time when I do sleep. These nightmares are in general based around one of those traumatic life events that scar you forever, and I have dealt with it as much as I am going to.
I even hesitate to use Ambien overmuch because I get trapped in my nightmares sometimes, and I can't even wake up. It's like being in a Nightmare on Elm Street movie ;-)
But seriously, I am hoping that you will share your experiences with (and advice pertaining to) insomnia here.
I am compiling a list of things that I have tried and/or had recommended. I have bolded what has worked for me on some level.
* Melatonin
* Ambien
* Marijuana
* Nyquil
* Ginger root
* Warm milk
* Honeycomb
* Reading
* Watching television
* Eliminating caffeine
* Relaxation techniques (for awhile, counting backwards from 100 while actually visualizing each number worked)
* Sex
* Exercise
* Intentionally staying up all night to "get caught up"
* Advil PM
* Music
* Changing pillow positions/beds/and so on
* Sleeping in a dark room
* Muscle relaxants (Valium, Flexeril)
* Sleeping in a bright room
* Alcohol
* Getting punished for bugging my parents in the middle of the night when I was a little kid
* Warm bath
So, yeah, I think that's pretty much the gamut, other than the hypnosis thing, which I am not prepared to tackle. I don't know that I ever will be, truth be told.
Do you have any advice (or encouragement) for struggling insomniacs out there? Share in the comments :-)
