Discussion
Who's had or has suffered from insomnia? Just wondering if what I have is insomnia or just nothing...
For around the last 8 months on and off I have been having sleepless nights, I can go a few weeks without having any problems sleeping then all of a sudden there'll be a few nights in a row I can't sleep at all?
When I have the sleepless nights it just feels harder to breath than it normally would and a slight pain in my chest? I've been to the doctors and they just said it could be asthma, gave me a inhaler and it's done nothing for me whatsoever.
I just thought the symptoms were odd because i'm under 20, average weight, work out etc etc...
Thanks,
For around the last 8 months on and off I have been having sleepless nights, I can go a few weeks without having any problems sleeping then all of a sudden there'll be a few nights in a row I can't sleep at all?
When I have the sleepless nights it just feels harder to breath than it normally would and a slight pain in my chest? I've been to the doctors and they just said it could be asthma, gave me a inhaler and it's done nothing for me whatsoever.
I just thought the symptoms were odd because i'm under 20, average weight, work out etc etc...
Thanks,
I had bouts of insomnia from my late-teens to mid-twenties. It would mean months on end of 2-3 hours of sleep for 3 or 4 days a week. As I'm sure you will know, getting stressed about it just makes it even less likely that you will get some sleep. The only way I could minimise it was by following the standard advice:
- Avoid chemical stimulants like caffeine in the late afternoon & evening
- Have a regular sleeping routine
- Give your brain time to switch off before going to sleep. For me that meant no TV after 8 o'clock, same applied when the internet came along.
Often my mind would wander to work stuff, events of the day etc. I found it useful to write out a plan/todo for the next day which would help with that. I figured that even if I wasn't sleeping, if I was chilled out & couldn't sleep it would be better than wound up and not sleeping.
The usual lot of sleeping pills didn't work either & I didn't want to go onto prescription meds which was also supported by GP's
Good luck with it
- Avoid chemical stimulants like caffeine in the late afternoon & evening
- Have a regular sleeping routine
- Give your brain time to switch off before going to sleep. For me that meant no TV after 8 o'clock, same applied when the internet came along.
Often my mind would wander to work stuff, events of the day etc. I found it useful to write out a plan/todo for the next day which would help with that. I figured that even if I wasn't sleeping, if I was chilled out & couldn't sleep it would be better than wound up and not sleeping.
The usual lot of sleeping pills didn't work either & I didn't want to go onto prescription meds which was also supported by GP's
Good luck with it
Do you do any exercise?
I run and cycle regularly, but when I had to take three months off due to injury I found I didn't sleep well. I think my body was used to being physically tired and I just had too much 'energy' to sleep.
Try going for a run/ride/walk for an hour or so in the evening, have a hot bath, then sit and cool down for a half hour or so before going to bed (read a book or something not too stimulating). The cooling process can help your body to think it is time for sleep.
I run and cycle regularly, but when I had to take three months off due to injury I found I didn't sleep well. I think my body was used to being physically tired and I just had too much 'energy' to sleep.
Try going for a run/ride/walk for an hour or so in the evening, have a hot bath, then sit and cool down for a half hour or so before going to bed (read a book or something not too stimulating). The cooling process can help your body to think it is time for sleep.
boyse7en said:
Do you do any exercise?
I run and cycle regularly, but when I had to take three months off due to injury I found I didn't sleep well. I think my body was used to being physically tired and I just had too much 'energy' to sleep.
Try going for a run/ride/walk for an hour or so in the evening, have a hot bath, then sit and cool down for a half hour or so before going to bed (read a book or something not too stimulating). The cooling process can help your body to think it is time for sleep.
I used to exercise a lot before I tore my ankle ligaments about 18 months ago, since then I've just been weight training at the gym so no cardio and I feel a lot un-fitter. I was thinking about taking up cycling anyway and getting a mountain bike, maybe this will also help the sleepless nights! I run and cycle regularly, but when I had to take three months off due to injury I found I didn't sleep well. I think my body was used to being physically tired and I just had too much 'energy' to sleep.
Try going for a run/ride/walk for an hour or so in the evening, have a hot bath, then sit and cool down for a half hour or so before going to bed (read a book or something not too stimulating). The cooling process can help your body to think it is time for sleep.
Thanks for the advice
bga said:
I had bouts of insomnia from my late-teens to mid-twenties. It would mean months on end of 2-3 hours of sleep for 3 or 4 days a week. As I'm sure you will know, getting stressed about it just makes it even less likely that you will get some sleep. The only way I could minimise it was by following the standard advice:
- Avoid chemical stimulants like caffeine in the late afternoon & evening
- Have a regular sleeping routine
- Give your brain time to switch off before going to sleep. For me that meant no TV after 8 o'clock, same applied when the internet came along.
Often my mind would wander to work stuff, events of the day etc. I found it useful to write out a plan/todo for the next day which would help with that. I figured that even if I wasn't sleeping, if I was chilled out & couldn't sleep it would be better than wound up and not sleeping.
The usual lot of sleeping pills didn't work either & I didn't want to go onto prescription meds which was also supported by GP's
Good luck with it
Thanks for the advice I will try that what you mentioned before trying any medication, I seem to sleep better when I'm with my GF which is strange.- Avoid chemical stimulants like caffeine in the late afternoon & evening
- Have a regular sleeping routine
- Give your brain time to switch off before going to sleep. For me that meant no TV after 8 o'clock, same applied when the internet came along.
Often my mind would wander to work stuff, events of the day etc. I found it useful to write out a plan/todo for the next day which would help with that. I figured that even if I wasn't sleeping, if I was chilled out & couldn't sleep it would be better than wound up and not sleeping.
The usual lot of sleeping pills didn't work either & I didn't want to go onto prescription meds which was also supported by GP's
Good luck with it
Will definetly try to be chilled out when I can't sleep rather than like you say being wound up
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