Do any of you have insomnia?

[Prepostereax]

I've had the opposite problem (narcolepsy) which may be related, ie exacerbated by sleep deprivation.

It was worst when I was around 30.
I didn't seek any professional advice (sleep clinic etc) since common-sense told me that it was due to work & lifestyle factors, which I was not prepared to address at the time.

Eventually I made adjustments and the last time I had a microsleep was around 50 (I've got about a decade on you)
Luckily there were no other cars on the road at that hour.

What helps most is getting adequate rest (duh) at some point.
How to achieve this?
And still pull late-nighters?

One key is to get an actual nap, a siesta, during the day.
It's somehow natural in places where this is part of the culture, eg Spain.
Not so simple in a western country.
If actual sleep is difficult, then putting that time aside for meditation is a good substitute.
Even better, is to have time for both sleep and meditation.

I've tried red-light glasses (they kind of work, but not easy to get used to). I rarely use them, since the time spent wearing the glasses, I might as well be meditating or trying to sleep instead.

Blackout eyepads are quite effective, but not so easy to keep on in summer, when they are needed the most.
Blackout curtains get around the comfort issue.

The best thing that works for me is white noise (combined with blackout eyepads/ curtains).
There's plenty of free apps for this, but I prefer a dedicated device.
The one I've been using for the past few years is "sound oasis"

Again, the key is to put some quiet time aside.
You still party hard, and late, from your other journal, right?
I've found that as long as I get some rest during the daytime, I can pull an all-nighter, though that is just on occasion, these days, not a habit.

I don't use chemical/ pharmaceutical supplements.
Nor alcohol (though that is effective, I wouldn't recommend for obvious reasons).
I've tried ashwagandha and maybe it helps at higher doses, but I suspect it's more placebo effect.

 

[crowolf]

What are you struggling to accept in your life?

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Omg you old fart DJ. Love that song......knew it reading the first lyric line....

Signed old fart club rat, lol.

Haha, I remember the first night I played this in the club and everyone was just kinda mulling around and then it broke into the part with the church bells and people just kinda looked around and started walking off the floor to the bar...

And then it came out of the church bells part and kicked back in and it was literal mayhem to the point people were jumping over the railing to get back on then dance floor...

Probably one of my favorite memories and I was like "got all you Mofo's*

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

I don't think I have insomnia normally, but pretty much anywhere outside of my home I struggle with sleep immensely - I cannot sleep in hotels or friends houses or airplanes for instance. I can comment about my experience if it helps.

I need the following to be able to fall sleep:

• Pitch black room (like a cave)
• White noise (usually a fan works)
• Very cold temperature - I'm talking in the low 60s at most, ideally in the 50s
• No bright lights/blue lights. I turn off all lights in the house, dim screens + use bluelight software.

For me, the most important things are having a very cold and very dark room, without both of those I basically cannot sleep.

I'm sure you've tried all sorts of melatonin- I've found most of them completely ineffective but there are a couple I could specifically recommend if you're interested.

 

[Plinco]

 

[MatureDJ]

I have a prostate issue that makes OTC sleep Rx impossible, so I take Zolpidem; I also take Amitriptyline (originally for my tinnitus, but it has a good effect for bringing on sleep). I also take Melatonin, and sleep herbs that have Valerin et al. In the USA, I take Alteril.

Something you might also try is an antacid like Maalox - acid reflux can cause a higher level of cortisol & blood pressure.

 

[Plinco]

I have a prostate issue that makes OTC sleep Rx impossible, so I take Zolpidem; I also take Amitriptyline (originally for my tinnitus, but it has a good effect for bringing on sleep). I also take Melatonin, and sleep herbs that have Valerin et al. In the USA, I take Alteril.

Something you might also try is an antacid like Maalox - acid reflux can cause a higher level of cortisol & blood pressure.

Sleep medications are not at all good for you. They have been shown to not increase the quality of sleep, and increase the risk of cancer.

 

[MatureDJ]

Sleep medications are not at all good for you. They have been shown to not increase the quality of sleep, and increase the risk of cancer.

They work for me just fine.

 

[Prepostereax]

Very cold temperature - I'm talking in the low 60s at most, ideally in the 50s

I concur, all those things you mention, I've found helpful too.
Especially putting yourself into cryo, as close as possible.

(Unfortunately I have dependents who can't stand Arctic temperatures, so it's rare that I can indulge in dialling the aircon to max)

i always look forward to long distance flight, even in cattle-class, because many of the peculiar conditions I need for good sleep are met.

 

[inquisitor]

Sleep cycles are an hour and 30 minutes long. Always aim for complete sleep cycles.

When you nap less than 30 minutes, you will wake up fine.
When you sleep for an hour, you will wake up angry.
When you sleep for an hour and thirty, you will wake up fine.

Always aim for complete sleep cycles at night.

9:00 pm - 3:00 am is four sleep cycles. Go on, count.
9:00 pm - 4:30 am is five, and so on.

The more sleep cycles, the better the sleep, the better the days.

Adjust accordingly.

Read Night School by Richard Wiseman for more good stuff like this.

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

Sleep cycles are an hour and 30 minutes long. Always aim for complete sleep cycles.

When you nap less than 30 minutes, you will wake up fine.
When you sleep for an hour, you will wake up angry.
When you sleep for an hour and thirty, you will wake up fine.

Always aim for complete sleep cycles at night.

9:00 pm - 3:00 am is four sleep cycles. Go on, count.
9:00 pm - 4:30 am is five, and so on.

The more sleep cycles, the better the sleep, the better the days.

Adjust accordingly.

Read Night School by Richard Wiseman for more good stuff like this.

this is the kind of normie advice i hear given with a complete lack of understanding of what insomniacs are going through.

if one was able to precisely control when they sleep to that extent they wouldn't be having any sleep problems in the first place.

while it's a really helpful to stick to an consistent schedule to the best of your ability, you may not have the luxury of being able to fall asleep when you want then stay asleep the throughout the entire night until your alarm wakes you up. Anyone with sleep issues would know think this is pure fantasy.

 

[Plinco]

I've found this video to be informative.