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Why Can’t I Sleep?

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Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#181

Post by steve_adams_86 »

While we’re sharing anecdotes of what helps us sleep: I like to read ancient philosophy on an ebook reader at the lowest backlight setting. Usually within 15m I’m dropping the ebook reader on my face and wondering what I read.

I do find that I get a lot out of the reading despite having to back track constantly. It’s just interesting enough for me to open it up, and just dry enough to put me to sleep.

Last night was Seneca. He went on and on and on with tangents. The information was generally good, but it’s like you’re being sucked into a black hole of some dude ranting in the most eloquent yet benign ways.

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#182

Post by 0xcde4c3db »

411111111111111 wrote: post #148
ta1234567890 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the real problem though is the schedule the world runs on. Yes! People have different circadian rhythms. Also teenagers tend to naturally be night owls. But the world doesn’t care much. Even having schedule flexibility at work, if you have kids that you need to take to school, then you have to follow their schedule.

Most seditary people turn into "night owls" if they don't pay attention. Your phrasing makes it sound like people can't help themselves, but thats just wrong. Sleeping habits are actually an issue of discipline unless you're suffering from an actual medical condition... Which are extremely rare Either start working out/do cardio or reduce your sleeping time until you're able to go to sleep at the time you wish. some…

Medical conditions affecting sleep are pretty common. In elderly men, obstructive sleep apnea might actually be the rule rather than the exception [1], and that's just one condition.

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27568340/

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#183

Post by whobar »

emerged wrote: post #39
sarsway wrote: post #31

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 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 no…

I thought 6-8 hours was considered the "normal" range, so there is nothing wrong with your 6.5 hours.

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#184

Post by linsomniac »

For the past couple months I've had success with this "one weird trick" to help get to sleep: I go through the alphabet and for every letter I think of 3 unrelated words that start with each letter. When I'm tired by my mind is running, this helps me slip into sleep.

My wife and daughter have also had success with it.

I also have had success with listening to audio books or podcasts, but don't like doing that if my wife is also trying to go to sleep. Despite that she can't really hear me over her Sleepbuds.

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#185

Post by l-p »

bloqs wrote: post #91

I have yet to meet someone who complains about insomnia who actually accurately follows all of the advice. Notably usually absent or poorly followed: - waking up early, at the exact same time, every day. - as SOON as you get up, you need to eat a heavy breakfast of fats and protiens with as few carbs as possible. Some people think they are special snowflakes who "have never been able to eat in the morning", you need…

> waking up early, at the exact same time, every day

If you can do that, congratulations, you don't have insomnia.

> need to eat a heavy breakfast (…) Some people think they are special snowflakes who "have never been able to eat in the morning"

If I don't wait one or two hours after waking up before eating I'll puke, or at best have some severe nausea for hours, no thanks.

I'm insomniac and it drove me quite close to death, try getting a total of 6h of sleep in a week, 48h without rest, or staying still and conscious for 8h. Sleep deprivation is torture and everyone has their idea of how badly people manage their lives, how insomnia isn't a thing, and how they should just "go to bed", "quit screens", or "eat proper". You think we have not tried everything and anything?

Melatonin saved me, not condescending uninformed counsel. When I started taking melatonin I discovered what feeling sleepy was like. I only knew exhaustion until then, and it was not always enough. I've been able to sleep for the past two years and it still feels like a luxury.

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#186

Post by azaras »

wruza wrote: post #149

Ironically, I fixed my moderate chronic insomnia succesfully by going to a doctor with a completely unrelated( citation needed ) set of symptoms. My CBT therapist wanted me to fall asleep during the appointment to perform another technique, but obviously I could not. He said to not worry and explained a routine which I’m happy to share to those who didn’t try yet: - lay, relax, comfort^ - do not move further - do not…

Wellcome ti Yoga Nidra...

https://youtu.be/7H0FKzeuVVs

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#187

Post by arisAlexis »

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #181

While we’re sharing anecdotes of what helps us sleep: I like to read ancient philosophy on an ebook reader at the lowest backlight setting. Usually within 15m I’m dropping the ebook reader on my face and wondering what I read. I do find that I get a lot out of the reading despite having to back track constantly. It’s just interesting enough for me to open it up, and just dry enough to put me to sleep. Last night was…

funny, I used to do the exact same thing with Seneca but at some point he would write something very deep that I would need to think and that made me spiral into a whole revaluation of my life which really ruins any hope of sleep.

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#188

Post by after_care »

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #181

While we’re sharing anecdotes of what helps us sleep: I like to read ancient philosophy on an ebook reader at the lowest backlight setting. Usually within 15m I’m dropping the ebook reader on my face and wondering what I read. I do find that I get a lot out of the reading despite having to back track constantly. It’s just interesting enough for me to open it up, and just dry enough to put me to sleep. Last night was…

I read until the words are blurry, then I put the ebook down. I specifically choose books that are slow, mildly interesting, and unlikely to inspire bad dreams.

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#189

Post by after_care »

linsomniac wrote: post #184

For the past couple months I've had success with this "one weird trick" to help get to sleep: I go through the alphabet and for every letter I think of 3 unrelated words that start with each letter. When I'm tired by my mind is running, this helps me slip into sleep. My wife and daughter have also had success with it. I also have had success with listening to audio books or podcasts, but don't like doing that if my w…

Along the same lines of the alphabet trick you can also count backwards from 100 to 0. I rarely make it through more than once.

It’s a trick that keeps your mind from wondering, but isn’t stressful.

Re: Why Can’t I Sleep?

#190

Post by jacksonkmarley »

emerged wrote: post #39
sarsway wrote: post #31

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 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 no…

Maybe there is something I'm missing, but if you're not tired what is the problem?
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