Sleep......or lack of it!

declan_lgs

Kernel wrote:

Sorry Gordon, I read it in a newspaper which is, in all probability, in a recycling centre now.

It's in that article aliveandkicking posted.

http://www.mattresses-uk.co.uk/science.asp wrote:

The critical function of sleep is dramatically illustrated in experiments in which rats chronically deprived of sleep eventually die (usually within 2.5 weeks).

Oryx

Going to upset the apple cart a little here re: the exercise. Couple of years ago, I got seriously into the gym, five nights a week, 3-4 hours a night, (yeah I know, no social life) it gave me really bad insomnia, at one stage I didnt sleep at all apart from catnaps for 3 weeks. It took about 18months to say I was fully back to normal. (I was stressed too, but Im stressed since and sleep like a baby ) So basically dont overdo it

What worked for me was not trying to sleep, but staying in bed anyway and relaxing. Dont get up and watch tv or drink cups of tea. Read a book, but make sure its pretty boring. I also used lavender oil, just a small amount on a tissue under your pillow helps, and taking valerian and hops. They dont have a strong effect, theyre just a bit relaxing. And like the others said, get up when your supposed to, its the only way to begin getting your body clock back into kilter. It will take a while, so be patient. Ive heard that even the change for daylight saving takes our bodies two weeks to get used to.

larryone

I used to suffer from insomnia.

The exercise thing is very important... I now cycle everywhere I go.

Also, a habit I got into for helping my sleep patterns:
Drink a glass of warm milk before hitting the sack.
Bring stuff for breakfast with you, and leave it beside your bed.

The second one I found particularly useful. I now bring a sandwich, a kettle, a mug and a teabag to my bedroom every night.
I now wake up when the alarm goes, I switch off the alarm clock and switch on the kettle, and snooze for the couple of minutes it takes to boil, then pour my tea and eat my sandwich.
Because I have something to do immediately after waking up, I've knocked out the problem of oversleeping, which has helped enormously.

Give it a go, it might just work =0)

LegacyUser

I feel your pain on this one... used to sleep really badly for a good few months last year. A mate of mine told me a good relaxation technique you could try out. (It certainly helped me relax anyhoo)

>Get into bed, (at a reasonable hour... before midnight) and make yourself as comfy as possible. Complete darkness... no tv, music etc...

> Lie on your back. Take a deep breath in, hold it and stretch out your entire body, like the best stretch you've had. Hold it for 5 seconds, the breathe out and release the muscles in your body.

> Repeat this 4 or five times and see if your body feel more relaxed.

As someone said earlier, its much harder to sleep if your body isn't relaxed, and you obviously have exams coming up from what you said in your post (college or school?), so your anxiety levels are probably high up already...(which is why a good dose of fresh air, or a gentle walk/malty drink before bedtime always does the trick too).

It worked for me, so maybe it will for you. Also, whats your diet like? it might have something to do with it... if you're not doing so already, try drinking water during the day, and one or 2 pieces of fruit... It'll help with any mental fatigue too, which can only be a good thing with any sort of exams coming up, right?

Always try and get to bed at a reasonable hour, and get up earlier than you have been.... I always found sleeping in late more than once a week threw my body clock waaaay off!!! So now I try to be up outa the bed/house and off on my bike before midday.... It'll be easier once the summer comes in too...

HTH..

LegacyUser

I find 'knocking one out' helps me sleep like a baby afterwards.

neuro-praxis

I should really practise what I preach here, but as a lifetime poor sleeper, this is what works for me when I actually do it.

1) Exercise during the day and a warm drink (Horlicks is great) before bed
2) Making sure the bed is made with clean sheets, and my bedroom is clean, uncluttered and softly lit when I get into bed
3) Keeping a window open a crack, no matter what the weather
4) A bath/shower before bed (which also saves time in the morning)
5) Allowing some time before sleep to actually unwind and get lay the day's stresses aside...you can do this through meditative breathing, or praying, or reading.

Good luck. Being a slave to sleep sucks big monkey ass.

smileygal

Check out your curtain/blinds - make sure thick/dark enough to block out all light. you can get blackout lining to add to existing curtains.
I found curtains always poor in rented accommodation. A bare Velux is the worst poss...and make sure no gap in middle of curtains - a bit of light can leave me awake for hours.

Also pillows- try one less, one more, a new one if yours is ancient. I went back to a feather one for softness

Then mattress - this could be causing it all.New ones can be expensive but are worth it. If yours is older tah anyone can remember, throw it out!