Always the same old advise. Sleep hygiene, exercise, caffeine. Anyone with chronic insomnia can tell you none of that really works. For me it's always been impossible to fall into a regular day/night routine, it's actually whenever I try to force it I'm starting to rapidly feel worse. So the solution has been to just flow with it, I sleep when I can, stay awake otherwise. It's fine and I feel good, the real problem though is the schedule the world runs on.
Why Can’t I Sleep?
31–40 of 288 posts
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#32Since about three weeks ago I cannot sleep. It’s very strange. I know the feeling of anxiety and how it leads to not sleeping, it’s something I’ve had in the past at very stressful jobs. I’ve learned techniques to deal with this, like breathing and mindfulness. But right now this feels different. I’m tired, I’m lying in bed, and I don’t have any stressful thoughts. Yet somehow I just don’t fall asleep. It feels like…
I’ve had chronically bad sleep for most of my adult life, but the last 12ish months has been the best, most consistent sleep I’ve ever had. I think I’ve finally hit a good combination of helpful things. I was diagnosed with an anxiety condition, and working to improve that has helped my sleep to a life changing amount.
A jog or sprints most mornings, followed by meditation, and a low dose of lexapro (5-10mg). At night a melatonin and mindful breathing usually gets me to sleep within 20 minutes, instead of hours.
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#33Always the same old advise. Sleep hygiene, exercise, caffeine. Anyone with chronic insomnia can tell you none of that really works. For me it's always been impossible to fall into a regular day/night routine, it's actually whenever I try to force it I'm starting to rapidly feel worse. So the solution has been to just flow with it, I sleep when I can, stay awake otherwise. It's fine and I feel good, the real problem t…
I can't deny that electronic devices and screens at night make me stay awake longer. The same with coffee after 4-5pm.
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#34Since about three weeks ago I cannot sleep. It’s very strange. I know the feeling of anxiety and how it leads to not sleeping, it’s something I’ve had in the past at very stressful jobs. I’ve learned techniques to deal with this, like breathing and mindfulness. But right now this feels different. I’m tired, I’m lying in bed, and I don’t have any stressful thoughts. Yet somehow I just don’t fall asleep. It feels like…
Find a clinic that is specialized in sleep medicine (e.g.[1]), they might be able to diagnose you. This could be caused by some underlying disease.
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#35Since about three weeks ago I cannot sleep. It’s very strange. I know the feeling of anxiety and how it leads to not sleeping, it’s something I’ve had in the past at very stressful jobs. I’ve learned techniques to deal with this, like breathing and mindfulness. But right now this feels different. I’m tired, I’m lying in bed, and I don’t have any stressful thoughts. Yet somehow I just don’t fall asleep. It feels like…
Do try the benzos, they will help, and in the short term it might be the best option you have. If you are seeking something lighter, guaifenesin (an OTC muscle relaxant available under different brand names) can help according to my experience to give you the 'kick' from "sinking" towards sleep to really sleeping. And, importantly, give up as much caffeine as you can, if you are consuming any. Caffeine shifts your inner clock.
Otherwise, as other have suggested D3+magnesium, and physical fatigue can really help a lot (as tired muscles can then signal to the brain that they really want to sleep).
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#36> ...extreme night owls (who might naturally sleep, for example, from 2 to 10 a.m.)...
Uh what's the next adjective after "extreme"?
This reminds me of companies with so-called "flex time" where you have the option to come in as late as 9 if you want to.
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#37Always the same old advise. Sleep hygiene, exercise, caffeine. Anyone with chronic insomnia can tell you none of that really works. For me it's always been impossible to fall into a regular day/night routine, it's actually whenever I try to force it I'm starting to rapidly feel worse. So the solution has been to just flow with it, I sleep when I can, stay awake otherwise. It's fine and I feel good, the real problem t…
Perhaps you have delayed sleep phase syndrome[1] or an N24 disorder[2]?
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_sleep_phase_disorder
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-24-hour_sleep%E2%80%93wake...
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#38> ...extreme night owls (who might naturally sleep, for example, from 2 to 10 a.m.)... Uh what's the next adjective after "extreme"? This reminds me of companies with so-called "flex time" where you have the option to come in as late as 9 if you want to.
I agree it’s probably not extreme, but man I’d kill to have a life compatible with that sleep schedule.
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#39Always the same old advise. Sleep hygiene, exercise, caffeine. Anyone with chronic insomnia can tell you none of that really works. For me it's always been impossible to fall into a regular day/night routine, it's actually whenever I try to force it I'm starting to rapidly feel worse. So the solution has been to just flow with it, I sleep when I can, stay awake otherwise. It's fine and I feel good, the real problem t…
Yea it’s really frustrating how everyone just assumes you are doing something basic wrong, as if you haven’t spent years on all the low hanging fruit.
My body/brain simply will not allow me to sleep longer than 6.5 hours and that is often really pushing it.
I have absolutely no signs of sleep deprivation. No daytime sleepiness. Every article loves to tell me how horrible it is for me, but there are no symptoms and nothing more I can do.
Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?
#40Since about three weeks ago I cannot sleep. It’s very strange. I know the feeling of anxiety and how it leads to not sleeping, it’s something I’ve had in the past at very stressful jobs. I’ve learned techniques to deal with this, like breathing and mindfulness. But right now this feels different. I’m tired, I’m lying in bed, and I don’t have any stressful thoughts. Yet somehow I just don’t fall asleep. It feels like…
One thing which has helped me is to listen to a podcast or any audio of your favorite topic while lying down. Initially your mind will try to remain attentive but after 20 min or so it becomes harder. After a while you will feel so sleepy that you would want to stop the audio.
I fall asleep with podcasts all the time, makes for some weird dreams related to whatever is discussed. But I find the sleep quality is not the best.