coffeebuddha: (Default)
coffeebuddha ([personal profile] coffeebuddha) wrote2011-09-16 05:57 am

Sleeping aid advice

So here's the thing. I'm tired. I'm ridiculously, literally fall down when I try to walk, feel like my eyes are about to fall out of my head tired, but I just can't fall asleep. It's 5:45AM and I haven't slept even a moment. I only slept about three hours last night (night before last at this point? idek) before my alarm went off and I had to get up. This has been the norm for me for months now. I've been drinking a single glass of red wine before going to bed, which helped to slow my brain down enough that I could fall asleep, but that doesn't seem to be working anymore. I don't want to go on sleeping pills. I really don't want to go on sleeping pills. I have an addictive personality and a history of alcohol/narcotics abuse in my family. For me, sleeping pills are the absolute last resort, and maybe even not then.

I'm tired and I'm desperate. If anyone has any tricks they use to help themselves fall asleep, I'd be willing to try pretty much anything at this point. Except for sleeping pills--vitamins and supplements would be okay--or meditation--because I've been trying that on and off for years and it's never once helped me. Other things I've tried that don't work include warm milk, tea, and lavender scented lotion. Tried that shit for a week and I hate the smell of lavender. Which is possibly part of the reason it didn't work.

a_blackpanther: (Helen)

[personal profile] a_blackpanther 2011-09-16 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, wow, that has to suck. I don't have any experience with this really (my problem is waking up), but I remembered an article I read a while ago:

http://lifehacker.com/5828581/how-i-achieved-better-sleep-with-the-help-of-technology?tag=sleep

And this one: http://lifehacker.com/5838765/ask-and-answer-questions-about-sleep

Anyway, also read the comments, those are a bunch of inventive people there with good tips. Hope this helps, or at least gives you some idea of what to try.

*hugs*
a_blackpanther: (Vala)

[personal profile] a_blackpanther 2011-09-16 12:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, and this one: http://lifehacker.com/5798884/end-your-insomnia-snoring-and-other-common-sleep-problems-with-these-expert-tips?tag=sleep

Actually they have a whole sleep tag: http://lifehacker.com/sleep/

Also, have you tried meditating before you go to sleep, or in the evening? I've tried it a few times, it's probably not exactly what any expert would actually call meditation, but it did help clear my brain and make me feel more relaxed.

[identity profile] coffeebuddha.livejournal.com 2011-09-16 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you for all the links! I haven't had a chance to read them yet, but hopefully something will help. :)

Meditating has never worked for me. I even did yoga for a while just to try to learn the proper breathing techniques. It relaxes me sometimes, but never enough for me to fall asleep.