Category: Let's talk
Hi all,
About every night, I go through this period that lasts an hour or more, when I can't seem to get to sleep.
What ideas do you all have on how to get to sleep?
I have a similar problem too. I will fall asleep for from about 2 to 4 hours and then feel fully awake and usually have a hard time getting back to sleep. Honestly, when that happens, I just get up and start doing things. Sometimes it's walking around, sometimes I get on the computer to do something short like check e-mail or look up something. Eventually I start yawning so I go back to bed, or if it's near the time I scheduled myself to get up, I just stay up. I used to go to sleep later in the morning, but I really don't like doing that. And usually I end up falling asleep for at least a few minutes during the day wich I don't like either.
Although I think things went pretty well yesterday, (I think I did doze off for a few seconds), and slept for about 4 hours last night, I'm hoping they go alright today as well. I think what helped is that I stayed active during the day, like spending not as much time in my room and Mom and I went out for half the day. I don't know if that might help to get you tire by the nighttime.
To fall asleep, maybe you can listen to something that will get boring after awhile, like an infomercial on TV, or a CD with nature sounds, or a music box? Or if you do some exercises sometime before you go to bed, that might help also. I know that When Mom and I used to go to the YMCA during the late afternoon hours, I notice I did sleep better.
A good bottle of scotch normally helps me to sleep.
A good, hot mug of something sweet and milky helps me zonk, as well as the unavoidable nighttime visits to the WWW on your laptop as you slump back on the pillows lmfao. That's a brilliant way to while away the hours you can't sleep, then you finally get so tired it just happens.
Jen.
Good ideas. I go on the computer when I can't sleep. It doesn't put you to sleep, but it sure passes the time. I'm never active during the day. I usually spend 5 days out of a 7 day week in my room. I'll try listening to something boring, and see what happens.
Is this a blind thing? I really think it is. The best thing I try to do is meditate. It sometimes helps, but I have the problem where I have my mind running all the time. And don't give me hell for saying this is a blind thing, I know sighties have it too. Smile.
what about audio books? doesn't anyone read prior to, or while they are in bed? Great way to doze off, and it's also great because it allows your mind to concentrate on something other than what has happened through out your day. Exercise just before bed helps some folks, it keeps others awake though, so experiment with that. Getting out and being productive during the day is a great way to ensure that you're tired at night--i very rarely see 11:00 pm anymore, getting up at 6:00 for work every day definitely tires you out.
listening to the tv helps.
Hey, I also meditate!
Even when I do I sometimes sleep only one hour at a time but it is a nice, refreshing sleep nonetheless.
lmao Bill, you read my mind. Seriusly though Katie I do as a previous poster does, adn read an audio book. Having said that, ironically I'm writing this at 5:06 AM, after not having slept well. I'm sick though so that's kind of different. Usually though yeah, audio book, or something similar.
melitonan, I can't be bothered to look up the spelling now, seems to work quite well for some blind folk. This assumes you want to stay on a steady sleeping patttern, but if you do, it may be something to look in to. You just take it about an hour before bed time, and after a few days, you should start noticing a difference. This doesn't work with all of the people I know who have tried it, but it works for more than it doesn't. At snowflower: research actually would agree with your observation. Reading something borring always puts me to sleep. I have a philosiphy book that I have always found extremely boring, and sometimes I'll read that if I really can't sleep. Either that, or I'll read something for class that will either put me to sleep, or it will allow me to get some reading done. Either way, I end up benifiting.
That does work. I have these really long chapters I have to read.
I once fell asleep reading a chapter in my Psychology textbook about ... yes, you guessed it, sleep. lol I love irony.
and try New age music written by a composer named Chuck wild. I find his CD's help me fall asleep more quickly, and stay asleep longer.
The radio helps as well, or an Aled Jones album. I fell asleep to Aled once in about 10 minutes, lmfao.
Jen.
If I have the radio or music or a tape or something playing, I'd not get to sleep anyway because I'd be trying to listen to and concentrate on what is being said that I wouldn't go to sleep until I turned it off. If I can't get to sleep, I just get up and start doing things in my room.
I downloaded various note taker manuals, and I read them when I can't sleep. Those are my favorite books.
What kind of reading do you find boring. go with it.
LOL The notetaker manuals.
I can't get to sleep unless I have a book to listen to. The BookPort has been a Godsend! However, don't choose to read a book you're extremely interested in, as others have said, because you won't be able to let your mind drift.
Listening to the news helps, too. The BBC World service is good for bedtime listening.
I got sleep issues and nothing I do helps the case either... I just lie in bed til I doze off. I swear sometimes I'm part vampire I'm brimming with energy at night but get sleepy during the day.
Sounds like a messed up circadian rhythm.
Yeh, my days and nights get mixed up a lot too.
I go to bed at a reasonable time every night if I have work or school. And when I can't sleep I use my mp3 player as a sound sleeper. Sound sleepers are great! What are they? They are meditation tracks that help you relax and fall asleep. Trust me on this, the latest I got was from a family member. It's soothing rain and thunderstorms (different speeds of rain and sounds of thunder at different interverals of the tracks.). I fell asleep and woke up (would recommend mini speakers near or under your pillow for comfort.) on my back (recommended position) with my arms at my side. ...With the player on my body and headphones still on. I also have tracks with the ocean, dolphins and whales. I'm looking for new tracks with running water (like rivers, streams or waterfalls), birds chirping and possibly if one exists soothing howls of wind. And you can even do your own collection so that you wouldn't have to purchase a bulky sound sleeper.
I know, it sounds wierd but it actually helps me relax and sleep. I even use it for relaxation and meditation for high blood preasure and believe me I got rave results on my latest blood preasure.
That's an excellent idea. Thanks for sharing that.
Oops, got some names mixed up. Well, hello. My name is Katie. Nice to meat you.
I have a CD of ocean sounds, which I love, no mmusic. It's so tough to find non-musicnature sounds CDs... or perhaps I just don't know where to look. Any links or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
I think it's a common problem for us blindies to get days and nights mixed up. I have always been a night owl. If I have no reason to be awake during the day, I prefer to sleep. There's just something so much more peaceful about being awake through the night.
I'm a night owl too. Why stay awake in the day time when there's nothing to look forward to that day. I like staying up at night because it's peaceful.
This is the way I see it:
Sleep issues are both psychological and biological. And, not just blindies have this problem.
I'd give anything to sleep normally; I've had the problem all my life.
I have a problem staying a sleep and random things wake me up.
You could try taking melatonin, I know someone's already suggested it, but I know someone who uses it and swears by it. In fact, this friend keeps harassing me to try it, because she just can't seem to understand that the fact that I'm often up all night does *not* mean I have trouble sleeping, in general! I get in my required 8 hours of sleep, maybe during the day, maybe at night, but I never have trouble sleeping.
Wouldn't your body gradually get used to the melatonin, so the doctor would have to increase the dose?
I don't know about that. It doesn't require a prescription to obtain, though.
Hi there, man i know this topic's old, but usually if i can't sleep, i either get up and do something on the computer, when i feel the need to dose again, i'll leave it and head back to bed. also, i listen to the radio when i'm falling asleep. most discussions at night i don't listen too anyways and, going out at least once a day. you're using energy so get tired that way.
If i can't slep, i get on here, and look through the board topics. Or, i'll listen to my IPod, but since its screwed up at the moment, that kinda destroys taht one. I do listen to audiobooks, but the library hasn't sent me that have caught my interest in a while. But, unlike other posters, I have fallen asleep listening to them. This sucks, because then I have to rewind and find the last thing i remember listening to.
I get on the computer most of the time.
speaking of new age Jim Brickman and Yani music is great to.
I'm loooking for music by Jim brickman, but i can only find music sung by other artists in which he has played the piano for them, nothing instrumental by him.
u could try searching him on itunes if u have it.
i downloaded a really good torrent from BTMon.com few months ago, it's a new age music compilation. it really helps me to sleep. i have that problemt hat i go to bed and then wake up at around 5AM and I start thinking about whatever and I just can't go back to sleep, and it sucks because then i am tired all day.
if you can't sleep, keep a log of all the caffeine you consume during a day and cut back on it.
It worked for me.
when I can't sleep I usually get on the computer or find something boring on tv like an info thingy
A good jerk helps to sleep. Quick fast in a herry!
Hell yeah, most of the time, it does the trick for me.
Sometimes I'll start my dishwasher right before I go to bed. The hum of it will help put me to sleep.
if you can't sleep, try some mindfullness excersize. you can find those either online or on podcast. some even come with the whole relaxation meditation for you to follow to fall asleep. its quite useful for some, and it can be quite stress for others. is one of the tools that psychologist begin to use alot in their practice to destress a client
I listen to manuals and such, but I don't really have that problem. I go to bed, I go to sleep, I wake up, and I might be tired. But if I'm tired it's because of something I had previously done, or because I went to bed late.
sorry to bring this one back to the top.
now I play with the Ipod I got for my birthday when I can't sleep, or stay up on the computer chatting on twitter and things until I get too tired.
I too have sleep issues. I cannot fall asleep. I also take melitonan (although not straight) has other things in the pill besides it, although it makes me sleep. (I don't take it every night) only when I really can't sleep. But I'm a night owl, always have been... thanks for the tips as well! There's this nature station that is on my ITunes that I sometimes listen to, but that's during the day though lol. Amber
Yeah, doing things such as using the computer when I wake up in the middle of the night usually helps, but I have to do those things for long periods of time, in order for me to feel tired enough to fall back to sleep. But for some reason, reading or listening to boring stuff doesn't help, unless I'm on an airplane, and I would either have to be listening to a small amount of background noise, or attempting to read the safety enstruction manuals the flight attendants usually give you. Yeah, I know, that seems a bit odd, but that usually works for me.
And another thing I've realized, is that some nights, when I am finally able to sleep after not being able to for at least two or three days, I'll apparently wake up in the middle of the night, and do things like going into the kichen, and getting food or something to drink, or calling and texting random people. Of course, I never remember doing these things, and the only reason I know I even did whatever it is I end up doing, is because I either find food or drinks next to my bed or on the kichen counter, or look through my phone the next day, and see who I've subconciously called or texted the night before. Apparently, my text messages were only a small group of letters, that didn't create a real word, and I've only subconciously called someone in the middle of the night once, and the person I called apparently didn't answer. This only recently started happening...
OK...Well, here are some hints. Actually, six years ago I sleep walked and sleep did some homework. Some of it was actually right! First, don't fall asleep in the daytime. Nighttime is sleeping time, day time is awake time. Also, try not to drink coffee or get cafine(oops, mispelling alert) right before going to bed. Please note that all spelling alerts are not the responsibility of synthesizer101 and are purely coincidental, inferential or defferential in some way; and whereas, the property to the copyright holder which here is synthesizer101 will not be reproduced in any means excluding internet, retrieval systems, word of mouth, television and radio broadcasting, and mind-to-mind telepathy. You may not use this content to build or construct nuclear missiles, biological or chemical weaponry, niether can it be used to build a house, or a trampoline; and whereas this content may not operate heavy machinery while on legal drugs; and whereas the writer of this content, though blind, did once have a trucking license, legally written by the state; and whereas, no person in incidental, accidental, electrical or mechanical proximity to this content is obligated by section 18832 of part 482 of the policy reenforcement act of 1843; and whereas, all computers in the vicinity of this data shall be obligated to pay a fine of negative fifteen Melanesian francs; and whereas there is no such thing as a Melanesian Franc; and whereas this material may not be displayed on a piece of glass written in human blood, nor can it be projected over an orange christmas light that is allowed for indoor or outdoor use only, nor can it be written in dried steel bars over a human corpse; and whereas this message, when written on paper and dropped in gasoline, will explode if a flame is brought in the vicinity of the paper.
Have you tried half an hour of reading in what format is comfortable for you...large print? Audiobooks? Or even television? Just focusing on one of these mediums, directing your attention to a story or plot, might help relax you. If this is a constant problem might be time for a physical. Make sure you're not stuck with an overactive thyroid or high glucose level. I've actually known some diabetics who left their glucose well over 200 because it's like caffeine to a nondiabetic person. Be sure some organic problem isn't causing the insomnia, and try to fall asleep at the same time consistently.
Um, poster 50...are you okay? lol :p
Actually, I usually try not to fall asleep during the day, and only consume caffeine in the morning, or during the day. And to answer your question, I can only read brail, and can only read large prent for short periods of time. In fact, it's been so long sense I've attempted to read it, that I've forgotten what some of the letters look like. Usually, reading brail will tire me, as long as I do it at night, and maybe I should try audio books? When I was much younger, I remember being able to fall asleep fairly quickly while trying to listen to them... And yeah, you're probably right; I haven't had any kind of physical in a while, so if this continues, I'll see about having one done. As far as I know, my glucose level was fairly normal, and I'm not diabetic, so...I'll take that into consideration as well.
Oh, wait... I'm not too sure half an hour of reading will solve the sleepwalking problem, but it would certainly solve the insomnia some of us (including myself sometimes) are having... Not too sure high glucose has anything to do with sleep walking either... My bad, I should've paid more attention to that post.
Yeah a friend told me about melitonin when I had mentioned to her that I sometimes have sleep issues, and so far it has worked really well... I can get a good 8 hours of sleep without waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep (one of the problems I sometimes have). Sometimes I do wake up but I can go right back to sleep. I just take it right before I go to bed and I'm usually asleep with in 10 minutes.
Is it true you are never to wake a sleepwalker? My sister used to sleepwalk and no she wasn't blind, but they always said never wake a sleepwalker. Anyway probably akin to superstition, but any thoughts on the matter?
I've been told the same thing. I was told that waking them while they're sleep walking would cause them to forget things such as their name, and their current physical location, but I don't know if it's true. The same person who told me this, said that the best thing to do, would be to carefully guide them back to their bed, and let them wake up on their own...
Well, I just wanted to write something humorous. And no, wake them up, or they will be mad at you in most cases when they bang into the wall and wake up in pain, seeing you right there. And they'll say "Why didn't you wake me up?" I've woken up my sister when she sleepwalked into my room, and she just went back to bed, no problems.
lol that post was pretty funny, but...interesting? :p
Well, I guess it would have to depend on the person; like I said, I don't know if that's true, but I have herd a story about a little three-year-old boy having been woken up while he was sleep walking, and apparently he forgot his name, didn't know where he was, and...I'm not sure what else was wrong with him. I was told he had to relearn quite a bit of what he knew before that happened. But like I said, if that's even a true story, it probably just depends on the person it happens to.
I usually don't have any problem sleeping but when I do i find the most boring thing I can on the tv. Usually after a little bit I'll fall asleep. I think for me it helps that I'm pretty active and busy throughout the day so by bed time most nights I'm pretty tired.
I'm not sure whether this is related to sleeping or not for you all, but it is of course for me. while I was with my ex wife, I had no sleeping problem at all. but now after my divorce, I'm facing this.
Wonder whether loneliness is keeping us awake?
Raaj
I think you hit the nail on the head, pal. I'm sure it is a factor. Sinse my life has been "on the right track" I've had little trouble sleeping.
to the person who said waking up a sleep walker is ok, that's false.
I have a friend whose kid sleep walks on occasion, and she'll either quietly guide him to a couch, or just leave him be.
waking them up is the worst possible thing, honestly. stories like the one Ashley mentioned are a good example.
That's scarry.
I always get sleepy around 7 PM or thereabouts, we used to just call it 'watching the evening Snooze' as that's right around when prime time TV is on, and many males just sorta nod off.
But I have no TV now, we watch what we want when we feel like it on the Internet. I still get the 7:00 sleepiness.
I can't say I understand the depths of what some of you all go through. But please don't let the whiners telling you you have trouble because you're not doing enough. Know what? Same whiners, different day, belly-ache at people like me, my father-in-law, and others saying we have troubles like this because we're doing too much and ... have to change our lifestyles.
The mark of being a complete and utterly hapless fool is this flip-floppery: one gets it because they're doing too much, and should change their lifestyle. Another gets it because they're doing too little and should change their lifestyle.How do you possibly take two opposites and still get the same result?!What next? Is an absolute value now the same as a reciprocal for these people?
I used to discount the blind sleep thing, and honestly by reading on here I can tell I have not suffered like some people have. However, if melatonin is used, and I know by keeping birds that it is, it makes sense to me why I've experienced. I treat the apnea, I exercise and am fit, and yet I can't get rid of the sleeepy hour or so. If I do nod off then, and sleep too long, it messes up my cycle at night.
Whatever the hell you do do *not!* listen to the hapless fools telling you you're having an issue with it because you're lazy.
If you're between jobs, well, duh! You suffer insomnia because ... news flash, you are stressed out. I was there on a couple of occasions. Last thing you people in that situation need is to be hard on yourselves. Easy for me to say looking back, I know, but try not to.
Anyway I would say I'm in the exploration phase of this whole sleep business, though I'll admit I'm not about to change my lifestyle. What? listen to some fool telling people like us to slow down, and telling others to speed up? Be glad these people are not building your roads, bridges, houses, etc. I am now convinced of some aspect to being blind having an effect. If I'm honest, I will say I've always had the 7:00 evening effect no matter how much, or how little, I've been up to. And, having kept birds, I have watched their cycles: they are way more photosensitive than humans are.
Wanta know another way to prove this? Go to a place where you don't have a clue what the daytime or nighttime noises are like. This happened when I went to Florida. Got home from work, went to the local pool, obviously did not have a clock with me. Assumed I'd know when the sun went down - though why I assumed that in the armpit of heated humidity I don't know. What actually happened was I got home from the pool at 11:00 PM, literally not knowing how much time had passed. The daytime and nighttime noises were totally unfamiliar to me there. For better or worse, it did make pulling a work-related all-nighter easier. Can't say much for the crash afterwards though.
What I'm saying is, you think you're in sync because of all the familiarity, routine or no routine.
I'm sure routine affects somewhat: if I take two weeks off from work, sure the cycle changes some. But it doesn't get drastically worse. The 7:00 snooze is still amazingly tempting, and as time goes by, it gets more so. Whether or not I stay awake through it, I get a second wind. And it's sudden, not jost slowly getting sleepy.
It is, in fact, like what happens when you towel a bird. Only birds go ahead and drop off.
So yes, despite whatever weird bunker-dwelling idealists claim about blindness not being an affect, I would say it most probably is. Again, I get it, and I do most things people say you should on here. Didn't know I needed to get that off my chest. Don't even know if I'll do anything or just keep cranking the engine the way it is. But whatever you do, don't listen to 'em. Remember these are flip-floppin' fools who will as easily tell you it's because you're doing too much that it happens.
I definitely believe now that if you took away my daytime and nighttime indicators, e.g. alarm clock for work, birds outside, etc., things would mess up bad. They would not mess up nearly as bad if I had access to light. Birds don't care about alarms, and their sleep cycles are always proportional to access to light.
I'm pretty certain now that it must affect us.
I will add one thing:
If you want to treat a bird cruelly, keep lights on all day and night, or do the opposite: keep lights off all day and night.
Their immune systems will weaken, and they will die. Slowly. The fashionably anti-cruelty-to-dogs people would never tell you this, because birds are not fashionable.
Birds are an extreme case of photosensitivity and it is entirely in their biology.
To that end, to some extent, I'm more and more convinced it must be in ours also: flip-floppin' fools aside.
I really like nature tracks, and listen to them just about every night. In fact, I find that if I don't, I end up having really odd dreams. I'm not sure why. But I have over 8 GB of nature tracks in my collection, and it's always growing. Waterfalls, streams, rivers, ocean, music, no music, summer, winter, rain, thunder, wind; you name it, I've got it. Ok. I honestly didn't mean that as an advertisement. hahahaha!
Yeah, audio books are a great way to fall asleep. That's usually what I do. My sleeping patterns are very erratic, but to be honest I actually kinda like it. I don't work for now, so I can just sleep and get up when I want to. Usually, I just don't want to go to bed at a regular time, so I stay up very late into the night. Sometimes, I even stay up the whole night. Lol. My circadian rhythms are just weird, and it probably does have to do with my blindness, but I really don't care. I'm just naturally more of a night owl. *grin*
hey ocean, could you share those nature sounds? I love them. just pm me if interested in sharing.
Raaj.
sorry. I can't do that, as that would be infringing copyright laws. I bought many of them myself, actually. However, if you're a member of any sites where you can download music, you should be able to find many of them there. I also recommend:
http://www.naturesounds.ca
And:
http://www.listeningearth.com
they offer pure nature recordings with no background music or anything unnatural. Their prices are pretty reasonable.
ah ok. no problem.
Raaj
I usually get up, read a book, do some homework, try the bathroom if I need it or go on the computer. but half of this stuff I shoulndn't do because it just makes me stay up even when I get tired, I think the best solution is to read a book you don't like that much. and try to focus.