Shut UP Brain!!!! Just "standby" willya?

The BBQ Pit
1

Okay, this is beYOND getting old. I’ve suffered from insomnia most of my life (literally, even when I was a small child).

But for the last 4 months, it’s been nearly constant. I’ve been averaging about 2-5 hours a night.

And I have both kinds, what they call “slow sleep” (where you can’t FALL asleep) and “premature waking” (you wake up before you’ve slept for very long.

Last night was the worst, EVER!!!

Not only could I not fall asleep, but I didn’t do more than barely doze, for the entire night.

My body is dog tired, but the brain just goes and goes (yes, even throughout “relaxation” techniques).

Brain, I’m warning you, just BE quiet, let yourself go, SHUT OFF and SHUT DOWN for the night, willya?

Grrrr, Anyone else have insomnia problems? And good cures?

2

My deepest sympathies. I usually sleep well but when I can’t, it’s sheer hell. I can’t imagine going through that every night.

Have you tried yoga or meditation to clear your mind? There are lots of different styles, and even if some don’t work for you, others may …

3

Have you talked about this with a doctor? Many sleep disorders are treatable with medication.

4

There was a full moon last night. I’m a light sleeper myself and I have a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep. I seem to have more trouble sleeping (such as last night) during a full moon, even when the blinds are closed or when it’s cloudy (it was clear here last night). Do you happen to notice that your sleep problems are at their worst about once a month?

5

Actually, my sleep problems are worse at night. If I were to try to lay down at just about any time during the day (I don’t normally, this just makes it worse), I’m out like a light.

It’s probably stress. It seems as if lately, every life problem I’ve ever had, since kindergarten on, keeps coming home to roost the second I lay my head on my pillow.

As to medication? I occasionally use OTC sleep aides, but don’t like to, because they warn of possible dependence problems.

Doctors are so damn expensive, but I’m about at that point.

Funny, if only my brain were as wired and with it during the day as at night, I could write novels, solve cancer!!

The trouble is, I’m physically exhausted at night, but mentally alert and then both mentally and physically exhausted during the day.

In addition to my “real” job of enviro project mgr, I am also an adjunct faculty member in the PE dept of a local college, I teach about 4 fitness classes including 2-2 hour dance classes a week. During the classes are about the only time I feel “alive” these days.

Thanks for the sympathy, and yes, I will consider visiting a doctor, SOON.

6

Maybe you’re just a night person. Get a 3rd shift job and sleep all day.

7

I guess I shoulda threw one of these :slight_smile: in there, just in case you all think I’m a moron and was serious.

8

Brain isn’t the problem. His plotting & planning is quite silent, actually. It’s that darn Pinky that’s making all the noise.

9

I have similar problems. I’ve talked to doctor’s, and they’ve convinced me that I am borderline OCD and put me on anti-depressents for a while.

This made sleeping even harder, so I quit them. Seems like the only thing that really helps slow me down at night is a nice, hot shower before bed.

10

There’s some non-addictive not-quite-so-bad-for-you sleep medications available now - most didn’t work great for me, but YMMV. I’d recommend seeing a doctor/psychiatrist though. The insomnia could be a symptom of a larger problem (such as mild OCD or Bipolar disorder), which they might be able to treat. Then again, they may not. In any case, it sucks.

A fairly large-ish dose of Sonata helped me for a few days, but I was told I shouldn’t be taking it for long stretches of time.

11

My problems are similar to yours, although not as long lived. I usually call these episodes “brain loops”. The worst one was a couple of years ago when I watched a program in the Discovery Channel about executions, specifically the part about guillotines. They went on and on about how the heads were held up to the crowds and how long the heads lived after decapitation.

While watching the show I found the whole thing very interesting, in an intellectual kind of way. But oh boy, when my head hit the pillow a little thought kept running through my head, “I wonder what will happen after I die.” My brain went into a loop which went like this:

  1. Will I cease to exist when I die?
  2. That sucks!
  3. Goto 1.

It was like that for almost two weeks! Like in your case it was worse at nights. Just as I started to drift off to sleep my subconscious would whisper “I bet you don’t wake up, and then you know what happens.” Loop! I tried the breathing techniques, the soothing sounds and smells, the wine, the kava, nothing worked. For about two weeks I was a zombie. Then one day it didn’t bother me anymore. I realize this is not very helpful, your case seems more permanent than mine. In any case, good luck!

12

So who’s this Brian now?

13

My mother reports that I was a ‘night baby’, awake all night and asleep all day. Now as an adult I am like CanvasShoes, not only do I have trouble falling asleep but I also wake up during the night and can’t get back to sleep again. I dread bedtime because I know I have to get up early in the morning, thus making getting to sleep a chore. During the daytime though sleeping is a treat and I find it very easy to doze off.

So, some years ago I was diagnosed with chronic low-level depression and an associated sleeping disorder. I take anti-depressants (Zoloft) and Ambien (a perscription sleep aid). I can’t tell you what a joy it was to start sleeping all the way through the night! I have actually been known to wake up happy once in a while.:slight_smile: I have no side effects from the Ambien other than I am now entirely dependent upon them for sleep. My doctor understands this and I have no difficulty getting perscriptions. If I don’t take my Ambien at bedtime I will be restless and awake all night. Ambien, not a bad bargan for a little rest. See your doctor. Help is available.

14

The problems you’re experiencing sound like a circadian rhythm issue. Despite your need to be awake during the day and sleep at night, your physiology tells you to do it backwards.

Check out this brief description of how circadian rhythm works, and this list of various websites dealing with the subject. Hope that’ll help some. :slight_smile:

15

CanvasShoes I have exactly your problems. (both the slow sleep and the “three o’clock is a fine time to wake up” ones)

I seem to have settled down into a two-day cycle - first there’s the “no sleep, feel like shit all the next day” day, then at the end of that one I sleep like a log, feel fine the next day … and then it starts all over again.

Here’s some non-doctor-involving suggestions (tried and untried…)

  1. Don’t eat sugary things in the evening.
    A friend of my MIL’s swears by this as a cure for his insomnia. Tried it, did stuff-all for me

  2. Valerian.
    A herbal remedy my MIL says worked for her. I haven’t tried it myself yet though, 'cos I’m pregnant and I’ve been told I oughtnt to

  3. Midnight snack.
    My grandma used to swear by “a cup of hot milk to settle you down”. I experimented last night with a pile of toast and hot chocolate just before lights out. Slept like a baby. Possibly not a statistically significant result yet!

  4. Don’t do so much stuff!
    I can pretty much trace the start of my own shit-awful insomnia (as opposed to the ordinary common-or-garden insomnia that I’ve pretty-much gotten used to) to the big pile of obligations I’ve got on my plate at the moment. That includes:

  • Being a musical director for a musical
  • Trying to help sort out the Big Pile ‘O Crap involving my grandma’s will (and that’s a thread in itself. My uncle’s heading for a pittin’ one of these fine days…)
  • Work
  • Tutoring
  • and sundry other church-related stuff

Hope some of this helps. You have my heartfelt sympathy!

16

Good idea,exactly what I was going to suggest. I’m a night owl,and I’ve finally come to terms with it at the age of 30. I do still go to sleep early,so I can get up in time to get things done “under the burning moon” like paying bills etc. :smiley:

:eek: I’m not a moron. :frowning: I really do sleep during the day,and do things at night. Some people are just wired that way. It’s better than being ill all the time because I’m not getting enough sleep.

Even my doctor has said that as long as I get enough sleep,and don’t oversleep,then I should be fine. I had a bad patch there for a while,I kept getting sick,because my body couldn’t fight the illness,it was too weak.
She’s said that as long as we (my husband is a night owl too) can still function,and get shopping,and bill paying and such done,then there is really no problem. We often take time to get out,during the warm months,and get fresh air,and sunshine,we just plan accordingly,we go to sleep early,and get up to “frolic under the burning moon” We go out less during the winter,too icy and cold,brrrr.
It is hell,to try to function the same as the rest of society,but you can’t because you just can’t sleep during the night. I hope you can find a solution that works for you. Just letting you know,that at least one person knows what you are going through,and that sleeping during the day really is a possible solution. It’s a bit strange adjusting at first,and you do have to plan to get sunshine too,but it worked for me. It’s better than not sleeping at all,that’s for sure.

Do go to your doctor first,and see what is going on with your system,maybe there is a medicine that would work. I wouldn’t go for the Valerian,without reading up on it,and consulting an herbal specialist. I mean the kind that holds a degree. Homeopathic physican? I think that’s the one I mean,they study as hard as a doctor,and know as much as a pharmiscist,if I remember correctly.
Good luck,I’ll be thinking of you,and hoping you find a solution.

17

I keep suggesting this but no one tries it. But here goes again.

I used to have problems falling asleep, largley due to the brain running on overdrive as you describe. Now I do writing. Get a cheap notebook and a pen and take it to bed with you. Do ‘stream of conciousness’ writing. Write down whatever random thought pops into your head, no matter how trivial.

I write for about 30 minutes. Sometimes less, sometimes more if something specific is bothering me. Then I can sleep. It’s kind of like opening a valve and letting the thoughts drain out, rather than let them swirl around in my head.

Try it. What could you lose?