Been having some trouble sleeping lately.
I’ve developed a habit of looking at the alarm clock if I’m not asleep in 15-20 minutes.
I also look at the alarm clock until it hits 10:30, when I try to go to sleep.
Could this be why I have trouble sleeping?
All kinds of potential reasons. Physical. “Spiritual”. Political.
But how will I know it’s 10:30 if I don’t look at the alarm clock?
What is the significance of 10:30? Why do you need to know about it?
Here’s how to solve the “10:30” problem.
Get a mechanical alarm clock. Don’t wind or power it. Set it to 10:30.
Now sleep well, secure in the knowledge it’s 10:30. You don’t have to look, but if you’re naturally skeptical you can look once just to be sure.
Now, if you have to keep looking, even with those controlled circumstances, there’s a diagnosis for this.
ObDisclaimer: I’m not a psychiatrist or psychologist, and even if I were I’m not yours.
Because that’s when I try to go to sleep.
Also, I tried turning around my clock, but I still keep looking at it.
I used to look at my cable box clock until it said 10:30, but a few weeks ago, I replaced it with a TiVo. Since then, I’ve had more trouble sleeping. Think they’re connected?
IMO, yes. I used to stress out if I wasn’t asleep by a certain time as I was sure that meant I would have a shit day tomorrow.
I was finally able to convince myself: “It doesn’t matter if I actually fall asleep. as long as I keep my eyes closed and stay relaxed, my day tomorrow will be fine.” It took a while, but once I was able to convince myself of that, I was able to sleep just fine.
It sounds like yes, they are connected. Your evening routine has changed, and you are taking a while to adjust to it.
Can you place a clock in the same place the cable box was, so your routine is more similar?
I found for myself that I do better if I hide the clock and don’t even look at it. It became more of a distraction and was keeping me awake (still not asleep? oh no!). You could experiment with turning the clock around and not being able to see it. Perhaps that would work instead.
I said I already tried that, but I keep looking at it.
Sorry to double post, but I can’t edit my post.
Should I give myself more time to fall asleep?
I try to go to sleep as soon as the clock hits 10:30. Again, how do I know it’s 10:30 unless I look at the clock?
You need to quit obsessing on 10:30. Go to bed at 10 and then put it out of your mind. It’s that simple.
But I heard you’re supposed to go to bed at the same time every night.
I might not be able to sleep because I try to go to sleep too early.
(I have anxiety problems).
I said 10 because that gives you thirty minutes to go to sleep. Pick a time to go to bed every night. Once in bed, forget about looking at that clock. You’ve already proven doing so doesn’t help. More of the same won’t help either.
I have anxiety issues as well. I find, that when my mind is racing, having a tv on in the background helps drowned out my inner thoughts. Which allows me to fall asleep faster.
I need it to be completely quiet for me to fall asleep.
But, I live with my parents, and they stay up later than I do and talk. We also have dogs, who sometimes bark at night.
Also, I take a lot of ADHD meds. I take risperidone and half a sertraline at night.
Can you try taking them when you wake up?
I’m the opposite. I don’t mind looking at the clock. To me, it’s reassuring to see what time it is and know that, “Oh, good, I don’t have to get up for another X hours.”
I do have to take a sleep aid at night, though, but sometimes, depending on what I’m going to do the next day, it can take longer for me to fall asleep. I have found that I can go to bed early and unlike childhood, it’s not a punishment!! 
I already take meds in the morning. I’ve been taking sertraline and risperidone for about 10 years now. I heard the insomnia side effects are supposed to go away after the first few weeks.
I also take a sleep formula pill that contains melatonin, which I have taken on and off since 2007. I’m worried that my body has stopped naturally producing melatonin. What do I do?
Also, I used to go to bed at 11:00 until a couple of years ago, when I had trouble sleeping for an entire summer. Since then, I’ve been going to bed at 10:30.
You must have a therapist since you’re on ADHD meds. I think you should talk to them about this. I wonder if you might need your meds adjusted or if you’re developing an issue surrounding the time. I may be full of crap, but there might be more here. I hope you get things sorted out. 
Per other discussions on this board recently (:)), liquid melatonin is much more efficient than pills, which often may not contain what they claim. Talk to your doctor about it, but you can buy it in most drug stores.
So, I shouldn’t try to go to sleep at precisely 10:30?
How do I adjust to no longer having a cable box to look at in bed?
How do I stop looking at the clock?