# Cannot sleep **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765 "2011-12-19T18:56:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cam3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@cam3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cam3000)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765/1 "2011-12-19T18:56:06Z")
I have been trying to get a full night sleep…used all type of medicine - no luck! Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765/2 "2011-12-19T18:59:07Z")
Benadryl. My wife and I use it so much I asked my doctor about it. He said no worries…it is safe long term. As for it’s effectiveness on you YMMV…for me it knocks me out pronto. So much so I can’t take it during the day. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765/3 "2011-12-19T19:03:11Z")
Eat healthy. Practice good sleep hygene. (Google it) Daily exercise will help. Don’t take naps during the day. Don’t work your computer or phone after dinner. Boring movies are good to help you get sleepy. I watch 2001 A Space Oddyssey, and am usually asleep by the time the Jupiter mission gets going. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765/4 "2011-12-19T20:15:53Z")
don’t think about not sleeping. read something not engaging until tired. listen to nonengaging radio or static. can’t sleep, clown will eat me. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765/5 "2011-12-19T20:17:20Z")
Call Dr. Conrad Murray - he’ll fix you right up… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765/6 "2011-12-19T20:21:18Z")
[moderating] Moved to IMHO. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765/7 "2011-12-19T20:27:35Z")
Are you taking any other medications? Is there some reason you can identify for your lack of sleep? And some more details might be useful. How old are you? Where do you live? What are the conditions? Do you sleep alone? What do you do for a living? ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannot-sleep/606765/8 "2011-12-19T20:30:53Z")
The most effective thing I’ve found for helping me get to sleep is to get up at the same time every morning, regardless of whether I’ve had any sleep or not and regardless of whether it’s a work day or a weekend. It seems a bit backwards, but it’s the one end of the sleep cycle that is within your control, and it helps your body then learn at least part of the pattern of a healthy sleep cycle.