Insomniac - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**travelchick75** · 05-15-2008, 04:20 PM

Do any of you other tpunks have trouble sleeping? I havent' been able to sleep properly in MONTHS and im slowly going insane i think lol does anyone know any tricks of the trade for falling asleep without meds

?

**maracle** · 05-15-2008, 04:34 PM

I vote for meds. I've had occasional insomnia, it is mostly in your head (at least for me it is)...just a habit you get into and you expect to not be able to fall asleep so that's what happens. Stress is also a big factor, I think.

The newest "sleeping pills" aren't sedatives, they're hypnotics. So there's no side effects. Ambien, Sonata, and Lunesta. They just make it easy for you to shut your mind down, and then you fall asleep.

**TheJake** · 05-15-2008, 05:46 PM

sex. loads and loads of it.

that or start traveling 24/7

**AKguacamole** · 05-15-2008, 06:24 PM

A little bit of the mary J. usually does it. Otherwise, reading will surely drop my eyelids eventually

**c0urt** · 05-15-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJake

sex. loads and loads of it.

that or start traveling 24/7

where the hell have you been jake?
I dont sleep really, lately I have, but it is pure exhaustion more than anything

actually, when I really cant sleep I either bang some poor girl or rub a few out.

or start traveling

**travelchick75** · 05-15-2008, 07:45 PM

trust me if travelling were an option i'd be on that like a fat kid on a smartie..however with a three hour long math class on mondays and wednesdays after a full day of work and about a million miles of walking you think i'd be exhausted enough to sleep! But alas to no avail and here I am once again still bloody awake lol...this sucks

**expatben** · 05-16-2008, 01:05 AM

try putting on the TV and dozing off. Thats what I do.

**TheJake** · 05-16-2008, 04:14 AM

it's 4am. I am awake. Always awake. I need to travel somewhere!

**travelpunk** · 05-16-2008, 04:32 AM

Yeah, I think that I'll be calling it a night in about half an hour....as usual...

bluewaveted · 05-16-2008, 05:28 AM

If you really can't sleep, then medication is the solution.

**BelfastFlyer** · 05-16-2008, 01:15 PM

my grandmother would have a glass of whiskey... works a treat!

snowball1982 · 05-16-2008, 08:39 PM

Step 1:
Analyze lifestyle and get information. Search the internet and read the literature.

Is it physical?
Do you drink coffee after 6? Plenty of exercise (3-5 hrs a week)? Do you maintain a regular schedule (go to bed or get up same time everyday)? Take drugs or other stimulants?

Is it psychological?
Do you not sleep because you are thinking too hard? Stressed out? Going through your list of things you need to do?

Step 2:
Consult heath care professional

Just some suggestions.

**mooloo** · 05-17-2008, 01:10 AM

I agree with snowball, maybe try and think about what is causing the not sleeping, reading some of your other posts perhap it could be stress related?
I say think about what it may be and if it is stress or something physical try and make adjustments to your life, see if it makes a difference if not try sleeping pills or see your doctor to check everything is in order...?

Best of luck either way! Not sleeping sucks! I went through a few weeks of dodgy sleeping a couple of months ago, not fun at all.

**travelchick75** · 05-17-2008, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowball1982

Step 1:
Analyze lifestyle and get information. Search the internet and read the literature.

Is it physical?
Do you drink coffee after 6? Plenty of exercise (3-5 hrs a week)? Do you maintain a regular schedule (go to bed or get up same time everyday)? Take drugs or other stimulants?

Is it psychological?
Do you not sleep because you are thinking too hard? Stressed out? Going through your list of things you need to do?

Step 2:
Consult heath care professional

Just some suggestions.

Step 1: Yeah I did try all that "cognitive therapy" stuff. I had to because of my anxiety, the only coffee that I have is at work between 8 and 4 and I get at least two hours of exercise a day so you think i would be tired or something. It is very possible that my sleep deprivation NOW is because of stress because of moving/school/new job ect but this has been going on for almost year now so I'm gonna bet its not solely because of that lol

Step 2: I finally did cave and go to the doctor..I hate doctors

But anyways as it turns out I apparently have a problem with my thyroid or something so I have to go for blood work and an ultrasound

But on the plus side he did give me a drug thats supposed to help me sleep and ease my anxiety Bleh Now I really don't like taking drugs but If this baby will help me FINALLY hit slow wave sleep I'm all over it!

Thanks for all the suggestions Tpunks!

**mooloo** · 05-17-2008, 09:09 PM

Doctors suck, but they're usually worth it in the end to find out what the heck is wrong!

Glad your getting it sorted, hope the drugs work a treat!!!

**aliz** · 05-17-2008, 11:43 PM

a glass of red and a Richard Dawkins lecture works for me. although you may not have a nerdy boyfriend like me so maybe you don't have hours of footage of Richard Dawkins talking about evolution... in a really soothing voice... yeah, maybe go with the meds.

**travelpunk** · 05-18-2008, 02:25 AM

Glass of Cabernet, a scented candle, and one of those mini desktop water fountains might do the trick...

**lauren313** · 05-18-2008, 02:03 PM

Go with caution on the medication, they're super easy to get hooked on. Working with people with mental health problems, I'm constantly seeing people who were prescribed hypnotics YEARS ago, and are still taking them every single night, without ever having had someone help them out with the root cause of the problem.

I've had trouble sleeping for years, pretty much every night, I take between 2 and 3 hours to fall asleep. It's become a way of life for me now, I just put it with it.

**worldwidemike** · 05-19-2008, 08:54 AM

I agree that it may be something as simple as examining your lifestyle.

Number one most important thing that helped me over my insomnia: Do not do anything in bed except sleep...well, maybe that ONE exception.

But seriously, don't read in bed, don't watch TV in bed, don't talk on the phone in bed, etc. If you do nothing but sleep in there, your mind will be conditioned to sleep once you lay down in bed. Otherwise, it might be pre-conditioned to be ready to be stimulated by TV, reading a story, etc.

Also, the obvious no caffeine anywhere near bedtime. Once I get home from work, no soda for me. Water is what I drink at home during the evening, pretty much.

And finally, if you're laying in bed and still can't seem to get to sleep, concentrate on your breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth...like you're doing yoga. That's how some people who meditate get into their state -- paying attention to their breathing and clearing their mind. You'll be surprised how sleep can sneak up on you.

Good luck!
-- Mike

**travelchick75** · 05-19-2008, 09:35 AM

Hey Hey

Lauren, dont worry I'm in no way going to get hooked to this drug and i've seen what they can do to people

uncool. And i'm uneasy using drugs to begin with so as soon as its done its done lol I only have a months prescription so i'm hoping that it will at least get me back onto a normal sleeping schedule and ease my anxiety somewhat so that i will be able to sleep on my own. I think once I find out more about this thyroid problem and get to the medical route of that then all will be well..I hope haha And mike yeah i've totally heard that too, maybe I should use my bed a little less for math and a little more for that one exception you are referring too lol

Thanks again for all the tips guys!