<p>Believe me I’m NOT lying awake at night worrying about where to send my kid to college. But for the past few months I’ve had a ton of trouble sleeping. Last resort I’ll go to the doc and get a prescription but I’d rather figure something out on my own.</p>
<p>I already abstain from caffeine past noon, usually avoid sugar after 6, etc. but to no avail. I used to fall asleep at 10 and get up at 6. Now I lie there wide awake until at least 1 a.m. and I’m still up around 6. Five hours a night just doesn’t cut it for me.</p>
<p>Make sure u dnt excersise beforehand, or use any electronics a few hours before. Trust me, I had the same prob. There’s also medication if it’s serious, but beware, this med contains side effects. Natural is best.</p>
<p>go for a walk; any time before 7:00 pm…works wonders…</p>
<p>If that fails, there is a natural over the counter tablet I have used occasionally called Midnite…no side effects, no morning grogginess etc…even safe for kids…</p>
<p>But do exercise early in the day. I also had what I was sure was stress-related insomnia until I started walking almost every day more than a year ago. Besides, the endorphins from the exercise do a world of good.</p>
<p>Also chiming in with a vote for melatonin. We buy ours at Costco & it’s a super cheap supplement. Less than $5 for a big bottle. D1 swears by it; D2 has to be careful as it sometimes causes her to have vivid dreams.</p>
<p>How about chamomile tea? There are a few blends out there with names like Sleepytime.</p>
<p>Sleep in a dark room, no TV on (flickering and bursts of light wake you up), No bright clock digital readout.
Big meal at lunch.
Small meal for dinner before 6pm
Until your sleep is restored, no alcohol</p>
<p>You might also be letting your body fall into a pattern so try to break it. Make a deal with yourself- if you are still lying there after 20 minutes, you have to get up and doing something useful. Or try staying up and actually awake until 1. You might even try to really shake your system up by pulling an all nighter, crashing early the second night and shifting the whole pattern around.</p>
<p>For me its no physical exercise after 7pm, warm shower then sit down to do quiet stuff by 8pm (open mail, watch tv, read). About an hour before I go to bed I take 1-2 benadryl. Keep the bedroom dark, cool, etc. I’ve tried most medications, most suggestions and for years nothing worked. The Doctor said that I could take benedryl for years with no side effects. Works for me.</p>
<p>another vote for Benadryl. I had 7 weeks of international travel in May/June all over the world and was waking up at 2am every night no matter when I went to bed. I started taking Benadryl before bed to get my body back on schedule. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if you’re a female, but hormonal shifts can also contribute to insomnia.</p>
<p>Are you using your computer at night? I find that if I do that, it wakes me up and then I can’t sleep. It’s a definite pattern with me. </p>
<p>I have a wonderful little pillow called a Bucky that you can heat up in the microwave. I put it around my neck or on my lower back and it helps me relax and fall asleep. You can order them online. </p>
<p>It’s supposed to be helpful to establish a bedtime routine. That helps your body relax and realize now it is time to sleep.</p>
<p>OP,
You are getting 5 hours of sleep and call it “cannot sleep”? I am getting 5 hours on my good nights. Otherwise, I might sleep only 3. And I have no worries, nothing, I do not worry, do not think about anything. What helps me thru the day is outside swim at 6 am and cup of coffee. Unfortunately, I can swim outside only summertime and I can have only 3 cups of coffee / week, I have a health issue if I have more coffee. I also absolutely cannot regular coffee past 8am, forget noon. I do not think you have anything to complain about with 5 hours of sleep. I envy you! You are good, nothing to worry about.
I am not sure what aspect of “where to send my kid to college” you are worrying about. But unfortunately, worries will not help. Whatever aspect of it worry you, you need to:
1 state a problem clearly,
2 look for the options to resolve it,
3 choose option,
4 develop plan based on chosen option,
5. implement the plan and
6. evaluate feedback from implementation of the plan on continuos basis.<br>
It will get you somewhere, worries will not.</p>
<p>Benedryl works fine for some people, but for others it flips. Before I realized what was happening, I took Benedryl and I was awake for hours-- speeding! I use an OTC pill once in a while but I have to be sure it’s the right formula because the most common one flips on me–it’s the same one in Benedryl (diphenhydramine). I have to use doxylamine succinate. It takes time to find that one because it’s less common. There is an OTC version of Unisom that has this main ingredient, but there’s also a Unisom version that has the diphendydramine in it, so you have to get the right one. If you feel speedy when you take a sleeping pill, look at the formula and maybe you are like me!</p>
<p>I love this pill! My problem is waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep for hours sometimes. I don’t ever feel groggy after taking this pill, but I try not to take it more than once a week. I am not sure if you can get too used to it, but I don’t want to take the chance.</p>
<p>^Also, you can gain weight when taking Benedryl. It is not a good drug at all. None of them. However, when something hurts, I noticed that I sleep better. The reason - Advil. Sleeping pills are bad idea. Do not take them. I just do not listen to anybody who says that 5 hours is not enough. If I am OK, it must be enough. Now, 3 hrs few nights in a row is not good, although occasional 3 hrs is OK.</p>
<p>I haven’t tried it but Dr. Oz is recommending Tart Cherry Juice for Sleep to increase melatonin levels naturally. It also helps fight heart disease and provides pain relief. Who Knew?!</p>
<p>Also ,make sure your sleeping place isn’t too warm .Cooler is better . The Costco melatonin is great ,made by Schiff . White bottle with red cap . I also find a small fan on low very soothing ,and the white noise is helpful .</p>