How do You get to Sleep?
By dragon54u
@dragon54u (31634)
United States
October 10, 2017 3:53am CST
Some of you know my problems with a heroin addicted son. But there have always been problems in my life. Lately I've had such trouble sleeping that I've developed a system to sleep.
First I take an allergy pill around 8PM, dyphenhydramine 25 mg, and watch some TV. An hour later I take another. At 10 PM I mix a drink and at 11Pm another. That usually gets me asleep by midnight. Lately, with all the crap going on with my son, the police, the thefts, plus my own physical ailments, it's 2AM before I can sleep.
Yes, I've tried a week or two with no allergy pills or alcohol. Yes, I've tried meditating and keeping a journal, and "reaching out" to loved ones. And yes, I've definitely prayed about everything and sometimes it helps but usually not.
What works for you when you have so many worries you can't sleep?
11 people like this
12 responses
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
27 Apr 18
@dragon54u
First of all I am sorry about what all you have to deal with. I try different things and the only way I can fall asleep fast is when I am very very exhausted.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
27 Apr 18
It's been a long and hard road but I persisted and can now get some decent sleep. I still have a lot of troubles but after months of taking nothing before bedtime my body finally got back to the place where it gives me some restful, uninterrupted sleep. I just had to be patient, I guess, I expected too much of my poor old body. Sometimes I was even too tired to sleep, as silly as that may sound! I'm doing pretty well now, just had to persist!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
29 Apr 18
@dragon54u
I thought when I was so exhausted and tired that I would fall asleep right way but that still was not the case. That is not silly. I take some pills that are ok to take but sometimes they may help but others no. I cannot fall asleep without anything.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
17 Oct 17
Last night I tried Nanette's method and at 5 AM finally fell asleep, only to awaken unrefreshed at 8 AM. I guess maybe I need to focus more on my diet and activity level. I have lost 2 pounds (much needed loss!) since everyone moved out of my house so I know my tension and stress are lessened. Time to try other methods. Not wanting to snack all the time has made me feel physically better so I will build on that and cut out a lot of my carbs and other sugars. I'm sure that will make a difference.
It's a long road of trial and error! Or maybe getting older disrupts the sleep. I never had so much trouble as after I turned 63 last year. I hope you have success!
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
10 Oct 17
I do exercise until I am tired. Then I can sleep fast.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Oct 17
That is a great, healthy way to do it but I lack that ability. My physical problems don't let me do all that much.
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
10 Oct 17
As you lay in bed: breathe slowly in and as you exhale repeat the word "nothing" in your mind. Repeat; and the next thing you know the alarm will go off in the morning @dragon54u . I know that sounds weird, but it works.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Oct 17
I will definitely try that tonight, thanks!!
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Oct 17
That certainly doesn't sound good! I hope you found a remedy for it.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
11 Oct 17
@dragon54u
And this case is already isolated.
I'm going to tell you a secret. - I am a Dialysis patient. 
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Oct 17
That's kind of impossible to stop worrying but I need to channel it into something more constructive. I'm really sick of no sleeping. I'll try other things, starting with Nanette's method. I'd be interested to know if it works for you if you try it.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
10 Oct 17
I work online and offline till I drop, thats my secret. I do not have regular sleeping hours. Work both physical and mental is the only way to knock me down.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Oct 17
See, there you are working against yourself. Research has shown that watching TV, working on a computer, reading from a tablet, or any other form of electronic involvement actually keeps us awake and makes the sleep we do manage to get restless and incomplete. I'm going to try what Nanette has suggested and see if that works after a few nights.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
11 Oct 17
@dragon54u not when you combine it with real physical work, remember I Have a physical, offline trading shop and it never runs out of things to do, so alternating it with online work will tire me out.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Oct 17
Reading used to help me if I could find something boring. Usually it keeps me up because the book is so interesting!
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
10 Oct 17
Sorry to hear that you're going through a difficult time. I don't really know any other way that could help, the last time I was in the same situation I just took chamomile tea with honey.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Oct 17
That never worked with me, unfortunately, but I know it does for many people.
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@Marilynda1225 (83778)
• United States
10 Oct 17
I have no advice for when worry keeps you from sleeping. Usually I just toss and turn
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@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
11 Oct 17
I've done that all my life, it's so disheartening. I even tried the top ways to sleep from an article in Reader's Digest years ago and they didn't work, either. Chamomile tea, warm milk, etc., only make me get up for the bathroom a couple hours later. I'm pretty hopeless but I'm going to try Nanette's method.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
24 Oct 17
That's a good idea. Since I posted this I have "gone natural" and haven't gotten much sleep but I think it will take awhile to learn to calm my mind and get my body used to its own natural rhythms.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
10 Oct 17
Worries and too many things happening could keep us awake at night. I'm so thankful i still sleep good at my prefered time.
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