I'm officially a insomniac.

[Gothic Sponge]

I don't sleep anymore! I've had 7 hours of sleep in the last 3 days. It's odd, because i don't feel tired. I think i'm just stressed out.

[politicat]

1. Are you functioning okay?

Is your mind... for lack of better easy terminology... wandering off by itself?

trouble typing or other fine motor skills?

Those are my indicators to go get the tylenol PM out and get some sleep. The first means that you're taking micro-naps, basically shutting down for a few seconds at a time. This can be dangerous as all hell while driving or doing something attention intensive.

Motor skill diminution is a sign of serious fatigue.

If you're not having those problems though... hey, maybe you're a mutant. Go reproduce! That's an important mutation!

Pcat

[Gothic Sponge]

3. I think my motor skills are okay....

I've had trouble sleeping for years, but this past year has been the worst. I've tried drugging myself....it doesn't work.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Well I'll join you

but I AM tired. I don't know why I do this. I stay up WAY too late and then I'm tired in the morning.

I have a different job this year and my husband went back to working nights and I think it's just weird to be alone and my job isn't as high pressure as my old one so I think I just feel like I can dick around at night and have it not affect me.

But I'm taking the GRE Monday so I need to commit to staying off this thing for the next few days and getting some decent sleep.

Here's hoping you do too Gothic. Do you nap in the afternoon? If I do that, I sleep until 8 pm then I reall AM up until all hours! Sheesh!

[Gothic Sponge]

5. No, i don't nap.

Best of luck on the GRE! I'm doing school/work, and i'm dealing with much personal grief. Maybe i need some Zoloft! Hehe!

[miss_kitty]

4. are you drinking loads of caffeinated beverages?

do you try to lay down and drift off? are you having trouble shutting your mind down at night? Are you drinking alcohol? are you getting a good physical workout during the day?

I don't know what any of that means, but I know if I am not burning of energy during the day in addition to high caffeine intake, and things I can't stop thinking about, I will stay awake. and booze can interrupt sleep patterns.

I know you are not asking for advice, so I won't give you any. I do the hot bath/shower warm milk. I also try to force myself to think non-stressful thoughts (like the perfect life scenario-bores me right to sleep).

Please be careful until you get some good sleep. OK maybe that's advice, but really, no one wants to see you get damaged.

:)

[Gothic Sponge]

6. I always have trouble shutting my mind.

I drink green tea, but i only have a cup, or two a day. I don't drink any alcohol. On occasion i'll have a glass of wine with dinner. I do the treadmill 45 minutes a day. Thanks! I do appreciate your advice.

:)

[shraby]

7. When you go to bed try this..

it's a sort of self hypnosis. Concentrate on relaxing..start with your toes and work your way up. As you do that, deep breath. In as far as you can then out as far as you can. By the time you get to your hands you should be asleep. If that doesn't work, get up and read some du.

[Gothic Sponge]

8. Thanks! I'll give it a try.

I use a "sleep machine." It makes white noise, and ocean waves. It does help a little.

[miss_kitty]

9. i have a hepa filter that makes white noise

its good if i'm trying to sleep and there is noise outside.

[Gothic Sponge]

10. I have a hepa filter too.

[Downtown Hound]

11. I get insomnia off and on

usually when I'm overloaded with work. It really sucks because that's when I need sleep the most. The first time I ever got it was when I was in college and taking 20 units of summer classes, which basically meant that I was in school from morning till night. I was up for three nights straight with no sleep, and got about three hours on the fourth night. I finally realized I was insane and dropped half of my classes. The insomnia stopped. I've had it bad twice since then, always when things at work got really stressful. The thing I've found that works the best is regular exercise. It does help you sleep. The problem is when I'm stressing I have trouble finding time to work out. Nevertheless, if I've exercised regularly for a week or more, I never have trouble getting to sleep.

If it gets really bad, see a doctor. They can give you some meds to make you sleep. Ambien did the trick for me, although it made me feel groggy as hell the next day. Still, after being up for three days, it felt like a blessing. When my insomnia gets really bad, I'll usually get a two week prescription for it, and make sure I work out every day. By the end of those two weeks, I find I no longer need it.

If you never have, you might want to consider yoga. In addition to being a good workout, it helps calm you, which is what you really need. Seriously, don't be afraid to get medical help. Insomnia can be a very serious condition if it persists, and can really affect your ability to function in day to day life. Be prepared to make some lifestyle changes though if you really want to beat it for good.

On edit: Another thing I forgot to mention is Valerian Root. If you've never heard of it, it's a herb you cook into tea. It's a muscle and nerve relaxant. And I mean a REAL RELAXANT. It doesn't knock you out the way Ambien does, but it can help. Plus it's all natural with none of the side effects of Ambien. You can get it at most herbal stores. If you don't have a herbal store in your area, let me know. There's a place here in my town that sells it online. I don't know their website off the top of my head, but I can find it out for you.