# Insomnia cures **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383 "2011-12-16T04:57:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/1 "2011-12-16T04:57:40Z")
I am a very light sleeper, and if I wake within an hour of first falling asleep I’m bound to find myself wide awake with major insomnia for the next few hours. It’s like I’ve just had a refreshing nap, and falling back to sleep feels almost impossible. Except for last night when I tried putting on my ipod and playing one of my favorite books. Lights out, pillow perfect, Bill Bryson reading me a story and I dozed right off and got a great night’s sleep. When I woke up this morning I felt like a genius for curing my own insomnia! So…how do you cure yours? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/2 "2011-12-16T05:04:20Z")
The best trick I have, if it could be called one, is to tell my brain that sleeping is not the goal of going to bed; rest is and if I spend the next \_\_\_ hours lying in a warm bed wrapped in a cozy blanket with my head on a soft pillow awake, that’s perfectly fine. Kills the stress of, “It’s 3 AM and I haven’t slept more than an hour! Go to sleep, go to SLEEP, GO TO SLEEP!” ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/3 "2011-12-16T05:06:27Z")
a radio set to static between stations work for some people. electronic light noise or nature sound machines work for some people. these are stand along or part of a clock radio. radio to a non-obnoxious music or talk works, not something that irritates and not something that engages you. reading something enjoyable but not engaging or stimulating works, not something you need to think about or finish. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/4 "2011-12-16T05:32:38Z")
Knock out. It’s by Schiff and is a supplement with Valerian root etc. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/5 "2011-12-16T06:28:37Z")
Routine. After I lay down, I lay on my right side for a few minutes until I get sleepy, and then I flip over to my left side and fall asleep. And a fan has to be on. If I don’t do it exactly like this, I will literally lay there sleepless all night, as unbelievable as that seems. The routine is imperative. If I’ve had caffeine, however, then all bets are off and I’m not falling asleep no matter what. In that case, I take a doxylamine, the generic of Unisom, and that puts me right out. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/6 "2011-12-16T11:35:12Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > Knock out. It’s by Schiff and is a supplement with Valerian root etc. No it is not a supplement, it is an herbal DRUG. Valerian has [pharmaceutic properties](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-aminobutyric_acid). Why do people think that plants are harmless? I can kill you or make you incredibly ill with [several](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_dropwort) [of](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_of_the_Valley) [the](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytolacca) [plants](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb) that grow in my pasture and they are perfectly natural. ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/7 "2011-12-16T14:27:22Z")
I have terrible insomnia occasionally. I got 2 hours sleep on Wednesday night, yet last night was still wide awake at 3am. I just could not get myself tired enough to sleep. I tried watching tv, reading, getting up and walking around, but nothing was working. I was feeling so tired yesterday during the day but could not sleep last night. I’m feeling awful today, eyes burning, exhausted but I’m not sleepy! This usually happens between 3-4 nights a week. The other nights I can sleep just fine (normal 7-8 hours). I do not drink caffeine after 12 (in fact I have one cup of coffee a day in the mornings). I don’t eat spicy food at night. I’ve pretty much tried everything. I hate taking artificial help but sometimes I have to when I’m so exhausted and I have to function the next day. Actually, last night was unusual. Usually I have no problem falling asleep at around 10-11 but then I will wake up around 1 or 2 and will not be able to fall back to sleep until around 4-5am. I have to be up at 7am every morning! Thank goodness my company is closing for the next 2 weeks for Christmas vacation. What are your tips for getting a good night’s sleep? ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/8 "2011-12-16T15:10:25Z")
1/2 an Ambien and an extended-release melatonin 45 minutes before bedtime. Works for me. StG ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/9 "2011-12-16T16:27:25Z")
Requests for medical advice/anecdotes go in IMHO; let me move this thither for you. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/10 "2011-12-16T16:46:17Z")
Have you tried getting some light exercise during the day? Maybe getting on a treadmill or going for a brisk walk? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/11 "2011-12-16T16:50:05Z")
Yeah, start with exercise. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/12 "2011-12-16T16:52:13Z")
During a particularly bad bout of insomnia in college, the doctor gave me 7 sleeping pills. I took one a night for a week to get me back in the sleeping routine and then I was just fine going forward. If this is a fairly unique event, this might be a good thing to try. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/13 "2011-12-16T22:26:45Z")
If you spend your evening in a room with a bright light on, or sitting in front of a computer, that certainly doesn’t help. I believe blue light does something to block the body’s production of melatonin. A computer program like F.lux might help, by reducing the amount of blue light emitted by your monitor after dark. The fact that your insomnia is regular and recurrent indicates that you might have a treatable medical condition, though. I’m not saying you’re bipolar, I have no idea, but manic episodes have a tendency to keep bipolar people up at night, and it might explain why you’re not sleepy even though you’re exhausted. It’s a possibility worth investigating. Have you ever seen a psychologist? ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/14 "2011-12-16T23:09:50Z")
Cut out caffeine. It’s the only thing that worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/15 "2011-12-16T23:19:27Z")
How’s your bed? I never had trouble going to sleep, but with our new mattress we wake up a lot less during the night. I agree with the exercise suggestion also. Do you have a bed time routine? You might want to find a book that is less than interesting. Certain books knock me out faster than Ambien and don’t result in my raiding the fridge asleep either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/16 "2011-12-17T00:03:30Z")
Celestial Seasoning Sleepytime tea, washing down a melatonin. Add NO MORE THAN ½ shot of booze to the tea if you like. (too much booze makes your sleep crappy- for many this starts around 1 shot, maybe 2. ) ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/17 "2011-12-17T00:13:51Z")
I know three people have said it already, but it cannot be emphasized enough how much exercise can change your sleeping patterns. On the days when I don’t work out, I get tired much later in the evening. I work out most days, but I would estimate that a day off of working out can push my bedtime back a good four hours, and double the amount of time it takes me to get to sleep. If I really get a good workout in, I’ll occasionally be in bed before 8:00 PM. (And I’m in my twenties, so this is a pretty big deal.) ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/18 "2011-12-17T01:22:14Z")
Thanks for the advice - I will definitely try the exercise thing. In the meantime I got some OTC sleeping tabs which will hopefully give me a good night’s sleep tonight. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/19 "2011-12-17T02:08:48Z")
I have an app on my iPhone–Sleepmaker Storms–that I set to _medium multiple thunderclaps and rain_. The time is set for 20 minutes, but I rarely make it past five. I turn on the app, it starts to play and my mind starts to shut down. Works like a charm at night. Unfortunately, it’s a battle when it’s raining outside and it’s not bedtime. Of course, if I have caffiene, I can almost guarentee that my mind won’t shut down. In that case, I take two Benadryl, which takes off the edge so I can go to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383/20 "2011-12-17T07:09:49Z")
I’ve been working on my sleep hygiene. I don’t use my bed for anything but sleep, and I’ve cultivated a routine of trimming my nails and putting lotion on my hands and feet at bedtime. Then I use a massager to loosen up my TMJ area (I clench my teeth a lot in the daytime, and the massager loosens up my face–it feels extremely relaxing). The routine helps a lot. But I still can’t sleep without some kind of tv show playing all night. I usually default to a season of _Always Sunny_ or _South Park_ on repeat. In spite of these efforts, I still get too anxious to sleep properly at times. But if I can anticipate a stressful bedtime, 20 minutes of sleep/nap meditation audios help me clear the mental clutter. If all else fails, a benadryl or two is my last resort and hasn’t yet failed to work. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insomnia-cures/606383.md?page=2)