Tips for overcoming Insomnia?

[Oob Child]

See if your devices have a blue light filter. Or get some blue light glasses. I use my phone throughout the night and it's far easier to go back to bed with the blue light being filtered out.

I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

 

[MiMito3]

I’ve had trouble sleeping my whole life (insomnia), but recently I have had ‘experiences’ and been sleeping even worse. I struggle to sleep and only get about 4 hours of sleep per night compared to my previous 7. I also recently experienced sleep paralysis for the first time, which was extremely unsettling.

I’ve tried everything, proper curtains, writing in a diary, meditation music as I fall asleep, sleep hypnosis, listening to Audible (audio books) to help me sleep, supplementary melatonin and other medications, but I still can’t fall asleep easily and won’t stay asleep.
The melatonin would put me to sleep within 45 minutes when I tried the 1mg supplements, and the 5mg supplements put me to sleep in less that 15 minutes, but I don’t like the idea of relying on them too much or having them every night. The audible worked for a year or so, but I can’t find any other books I’m interested in. It’s like I’ve listened to all the good ones!

Does anyone else who has had trouble sleeping have any tips? I’m able to function normally with 6hrs of sleep but only 4 makes me feel tired all the time.

Edit: I forgot to add I use a weighted blanket and a heat pack, they help a lot.

So many things can affect sleep. Not drinking enough water has caused me to not sleep well. Caffeine too late in the day. Alcohol. But depending on your gender and age it could be hormone related as well. I didn’t have enough progesterone or estrogen after menopause. Started taking bio-identical hormone replacements and now sleep great most nights. It’s just torture when you can’t sleep. I’m sorry you struggle with this.

 

[Sally PB]

I imagine myself in a story when I'm in bed, waiting to fall asleep. I can work on the same story for months at a time, replaying scenes to improve them.

Solve a very clever murder? Did that. (basis for the novel I wrote)
Be 40 years younger, single, and meet a wonderful man and fall in love?
Tell off a nasty coworker/boss? Oh, that was fun!

It's entertaining, if not soporific.

 

[AidKD]

I try very hard to keep a good diet, and run around a lot at school.
I need the audio from my phone to sleep though..
I use audible for background noise and listen to audiobooks to sleep. I can't sleep without it, and have to look at the phone right before bed to start my audiobook. If this is the problem, it's not something I can get out of.
I pray every night, either thanking God or asking for something. I usually pray for happiness.
Thanks for trying, I think I'm a lost case at this point though

I sure hope you're able to get it figured out! Oh, and I just want to mention, no matter what anybody at all ever in the whole wide world says, don't start taking melatonin. Number one it's a hormone so it's really not good for you at all, and two you wouldn't want to get hooked on it. I hope you're able to find something to help you! ❤

 

[azurbanclucker]

1. melatonin. 5mg at least 2 hours before bed. If you are a large person, 10. But start with 5 and see how that goes.
2. water only starting 3 hours before bed. sugar and caffeine will keep you up.
3. NO TV or phone at bedtime. They 100% keep you awake longer. Read a book. A boring one. Such as:
4. Webster's unabridged dictionary on the nightstand. Pick a random page. Start reading definitions. My record is 2.5 pages before I was gone. And in a pinch, it's heavy enough you can beat yourself unconscious with it if all else fails.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I imagine myself in a story when I'm in bed, waiting to fall asleep. I can work on the same story for months at a time, replaying scenes to improve them.

Solve a very clever murder? Did that. (basis for the novel I wrote)
Be 40 years younger, single, and meet a wonderful man and fall in love?
Tell off a nasty coworker/boss? Oh, that was fun!

It's entertaining, if not soporific.

I do the same thing when settling down, and start working on the fun parts of my story, seeing my creations moving and talking in my mind, is so relaxing, like I'm finally in charge of something

 

[Oob Child]

I sure hope you're able to get it figured out! Oh, and I just want to mention, no matter what anybody at all ever in the whole wide world says, don't start taking melatonin. Number one it's a hormone so it's really not good for you at all, and two you wouldn't want to get hooked on it. I hope you're able to find something to help you! ❤

I take it every two nights..
Thanks for the encouragement, I really hope I sort it out too.

 

[saysfaa]

I imagine myself in a story when I'm in bed, waiting to fall asleep. I can work on the same story for months at a time, replaying scenes to improve them. ...

That is essentially what I did with planning farms. Deciding what kind of farm was just the setting for the stories.

 

[saysfaa]

I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

Did you find the blue light filters?
It looks like several choices in Australia for about $45AU for phone size. A little more for bigger screens but I think your best option is to get one for the phone so you can set your audio book. Or, better, there may be an app that turns the book on at a set time.

 

[Sally PB]

Webster's unabridged dictionary on the nightstand. Pick a random page. Start reading definitions. My record is 2.5 pages before I was gone. And in a pinch, it's heavy enough you can beat yourself unconscious with it if all else fails.

I really like my compact OED, but not for falling asleep. The type is so small you need a magnifying glass and GOOD light to read it. It also includes the history of useage and etymology of the word. Fascinating stuff!!