RE: What helps You sleep? (Full Version)

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windchymes -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/18/2005 2:40:21 PM)

Roel,

Good advise about the magnesium. I have heard the same thing about B vitamins, that lack of them can also cause depression and anxiety.

I'm like you with meditation....too stimulating! lol Same goes for those cd's with relaxation "sounds" and music, supposedly composed to interact with brain waves to induce sleep. I found that music annoying and stimulating, to the point of begging my nearly-asleep friend to TURN IT OFF!!!!

Dank u wel! :)

chymes



BitterAndromache -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/18/2005 3:02:44 PM)

Mmm, sleep...I could use some right now. It's definitely one of my problem areas.

I'm another of those people who has trouble turning my mind "off" at night, and I take a medication for my blood pressure that gives me unpleasantly vivid nightmares. My doctor put me on Prozac back in January of '04...it definitely helped me "shut down," but it killed my ability to have orgasms, and I was only on it for about a month before I started experiencing hives. I went drug-less until July of that year, then got put on Zoloft, which stopped the nightmares and didn't interfere with getting myself off [:D] It's starting to not work as effectively, though, and it's expensive, so I'm sure I'll be switched to something else within the next month or so.

Something else I've found that helps is the antihistamine Atarax (hydroxyzine), which helps me sleep and generally calms me down; it has good antianxiety properties and is something to look into if, like me, you can't take Benadryl (stupid heart palpitations).

One good non-drug alternative I've found (besides, of course, orgasms!) is Bigelow "Sweet Dreams" herbal tea. It's spearmint/peppermint/chamomile, and it can knock me *flat*. Don't know why it does that, but I'm not complaining! It also has the advantages of being yummy and helping to settle an unhappy stomach.

One more thing, then I'll shut up and go home [;)] : I've learned to avoid the computer for at least an hour before bed. If I sit up playing games or something, my mind seems to get really wired and it's hard to go to sleep.



knees2you -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/20/2005 7:29:24 AM)

My Father ended his life in 1980
right after I graduated.

I was put on all kinds of Medication for sleep and depression.
It was finally that my body just got
tired of being tired.

But it was a long process.

My Doctor recently put me a Sleep aid
called Tramasapam.
Worked the first night then stopped.

I decided to go Homeopathic or exercises.
Ofcourse my faith helps also~

Sincerely, Ant[;)]



IrishMist -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/20/2005 8:17:35 AM)

Knees2You,

There are some wonderful reference guides both online and in writing that can give you the knowledge that you need for these. Also, remember, if you ARE under a doctors care, make sure you let him know about any natural medicines that you are thinking about using ( ie, camiole, melatonin, etc). They can interact with certain medications that your doctor may have you on.



blushes -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/20/2005 10:47:12 AM)

I take ambien at night.
I've been on it for quite a few months now.
Low dose so it's not adictive.
And my doctor (psy) doesn't have a problem with me being on it long term.



FelinePersuasion -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/20/2005 11:56:34 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: RosaB

Depending on the level of my sleeplesssness, i'll do different things.

Sometimes reading a book helps, it has to be a good one or I'll just get annoyed and start staring at the ceiling.




Now I've done this too, but on a whole I find reading to read to get sleepy counter productive, because then I hate falling asleep in the middle of the book and will try not to if something good happens



FelinePersuasion -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/21/2005 12:13:36 AM)


but I don't see a lot of good books on tape (or maybe a lot of books I like...). Guess a new something to search for online. M
[/quote]




Heheh just find books you DO like then read them to the tape recorder in your best reader announcer voice and then replay when tired:P



greenie -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/21/2005 7:50:42 AM)

i have a very active mind at night, it just won't shut up, so when i'm not on sleep meds and am having difficulty falling asleep, which is usually, then i tap my foot and count the taps. It helps focus my mind and lulls me to sleep. i know when i start missing taps or get off count that i'm getting close and i start the count over. i like to see how high i can get before i'm so lulled that i'm asleep. i never even remember the next day how high i got. Call it a form of self-hypnosis i suppose. Another thing i do, which might seem odd, is sleep with the radio and focus on the words of the songs...again it helps focus my thoughts so my mind isn't all over the place.



sweetpettjenny -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/21/2005 4:04:26 PM)

a good session from a sadist, then curling up in his arms in a very nice sub space....ahhhh



sub4hire -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/21/2005 4:25:43 PM)

quote:

so when i'm not on sleep meds and am having difficulty falling asleep, which is usually, then i tap my foot and count the taps. It helps focus my mind and lulls me to sleep. i know when i start missing taps or get off count that i'm getting close and i start the count over.


That is very much like my spatula meditation. It has never failed me no matter what has been going on in my life. I'm yet to take a pill as well.



veronicaofML -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/22/2005 9:56:20 PM)

since it is just me the pillow and the floor 3 rooms away from anyone else.....

i have my meds i take 365 days out of the year.



knees2you -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/25/2005 10:38:19 PM)

Hello all,
Just got back from my trip.
I've stopped taking the Meds I had been on.
I'm only taking one. It's called Imimparine.
It helps me focus and closes some of my Brain wavies
that have a tendency to keep me awake.

I hope everybody had a Great Thanksgiving...[:D]

Sincerely, Ant[;)]



Wolf1020 -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/25/2005 11:18:03 PM)

what helps me sleep?

A rubber mallet to the head seems to help [:D]



candystripper -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/26/2005 9:29:10 AM)

If You read anything about insomnia -- clinical insomnia -- the first thing You'll see is what is called "sleep hygiene". Generally, this means (1) establishing a routine bedtime and arousal time; (2) no daytime napping (3) removing any distractions from Your bedroom (e.g., the computer); (4) while awake and trying to sleep, avoid reading, the computer and the television -- all are too stimulating.

i have a Rx for Restoril; cheap, non-addictive, and not as good as Ambien or Lunestra but about $20 a month compared to more than $100 a month...so a good alternative for people without drug coverage.

In December i will have a sleep study done; this is something my therapist has wanted done for ages, but i wasn't ready. i expect the study to reveal the quality as well as the quantity of my sleep is poor. This is due partially to the use of sleep meds, which may not induce the deep, restorative REM sleep.

So, IMO, anyone with chronic or clinical sleep problems should get a sleep study done and ascertain what role, if any, drugs should play.

Personally, while i doubt there's much harm in them, i don't care for OTC or homeopathic "meds" because they are not subjected to FDA trials or reporting requirements. We had a scare while my kid was in college because she was taking diet pills from a homeopathic store that contained epenephrine. Early tests showed liver damage and i was very worried; but when the drugs cleared her system, she was fine. Still, had she not sought medical advice and continued taking the pills, who knows?

candystripper



knees2you -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/26/2005 8:33:41 PM)

CandyStripper[:D]

I had a sleep study done on me at the University of Wisconsin.
They tested me for everything.
even sleep Apnia and Narcolypsy.

I pray Your tests will go well~[:)]

Sincerely, Ant[;)]



KCMOLucky -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/26/2005 11:54:48 PM)

After I had my tonsils out, my doctor prescribed Xanax as a sleep aide. I was in excruciating pain, and couldn't sleep, because every time I'd go to sleep, I'd start to snore, and snoring would hurt my throat... It was a vicious cycle, and after surgery, all you really want to do at 4 am is sleep...lol. Well, I only took a couple of the Xanax, and he prescribed something like 20 or 25. So, I had a bunch left over.

In the last three or so years, Ive had terrible insomnia, and it would last for days on end. I finally decided to take the Xanax one night, and, wow, did it put me out! In fact, I was asleep so heavy that I didn't wake up when I ripped my fingernail off.

Yes, you heard it. I ripped the nail OUT of my finger. I woke up at around 6 the next morning, noticed the pain, and woke my husband up. He said, "Oh, hun, you need to go to the doctor!" My reply? "Ok, but I'm too tired right now, we'll go in a couple of hours." I went right back to sleep.

I decreased my doseage to around 1/3 of a pill, and only if nothing else works.

I've found that meditation works wonders. Also, try reading, but read a book that holds no interest to you. If I read something I'm interested in, I'm likely to watch the sun come up over the top of the pages...lol.



maybemaybenot -> RE: Sleep Aids (11/27/2005 12:29:06 AM)

As for natural medicine... I use 9-12 mg of Melatonin. Note " mg", some brands come in mcgs. I also take skullcap, I use the extract- 5 drops, and Valarian Root 2 capsules. I sleep like a lil baby, and have no foggy headedness in the AM.

Valaerian root and Skullcap are very good for muscle relaxation, and the side effect is sleepiness.

You must be careful when taking herbal remedies, as they can interact with medications you may already be taking, or they can have adverse effects if you have certain conditions, particularly auto immune diseases. There is a book that gives the Herb, it's use, dosage and cautions. It is called Earle Mindells Herb Bible. Pretty inexensive, and found at most health food stores.
There is also a Physicians Desk Reference that cross references Western medicine and herbs as to the safety and or possible complications. This book is a bit harder to find, as it is not a US publication. It was compiled by German MDs. Please feel free to PM me if you would like to know more about it, I can put you in the right direction.

maybemaybenot



LaMalinche -> RE: Sleep Aids (11/28/2005 9:59:32 AM)

A fifth of Captain Morgan's puts me right out. Heeheehee.

Just kidding. Don't think I could drink that much. At least and not have alcohal poisoning afterwards.

If you sleep with someone, try matching your breathing to theirs. Otherwise, breath in to a count of five, hold for a count of three, and exhile to a count of ten. Rinse and repeat.

Another trick/suggetion is to tense each muscle in your body and relax it, start with your left foot, then your left calf, right foot, right calf, left thigh, right thigh, left hip, right hip. . .

Heck, reading this should have put you to sleep

Continue to your scalp, and you should be relaxed enough to sleep. Plus you have taken your mind off of whatever was making it whirl.

Sweet dreams



AbstractSavant -> RE: Sleep Aids (11/28/2005 1:35:56 PM)

My Master and I have a bedtime ritual for the six nights a week we sleep next to each other. I make us both a cup of relaxing hot tea and we either watch one episode of a favorite show on DVD or read together before turning all of the lights down and crawling under the sheets to fall asleep or playing on top of the sheets until we pass out.

My asthma medicine can cause a bad case of mind and heart racing insomnia, so if I've had to take it within 2 or 3 hours of bed, all the hot tea and cuddling in the world doesn't work. So Master will put me into a hypnotic state programmed to slowly and efficiently fall into natural sleep.

On the one night a week we "take off" to spend with our other partners, I have a ton of trouble falling asleep and usually won't until I hit the 20 hours awake mark.

Master is lucky though. He's practically narcoleptic and falls asleep within moments of hitting the pillow. He has even been known to pass out in the middle of loud parties or nightclubs. How he can fall asleep with Depeche Mode or Combichrist blaring over his head never ceases to stun me.



RiotGirl -> RE: What helps You sleep? (11/28/2005 3:05:13 PM)

My mother uses Ambien. Says it works great.



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