[Blue_Bird]

Does anyone else get wired at night? I do every single night, I pace for several hours, talk a lot and have trouble sleeping.

What do you do to relax?

I take Klonopin as needed but its an everyday thing and I don't want to have to take it every night. Sometimes even that doesn't calm me down. It's like I turn into a hyper kid at night.

I'm thinking of trying Chamomile tea, does that help relax you? I'm supposed to take the Klonopin prn up to 3 times a day but maybe I could talk to my doctor about taking 2 each night with a cup of that tea. Maybe that would be a good combination to help me out. Then leave the other one to use during the day if I have something I'm especially anxious about.

I don't want any other meds added or increased.

[eskielover]

I take a hot shower right before I go to bed....it really helps to relax me....& NO caffeine in the afternoon on or it is up all night.

Also.....no internet to get hung up with or involved with.....it's good to have a quiet time to start relaxing several hours before going to bed.

All the things I know to do....but don't do myself.....guilty also of staying up all night.....& sometimes I can't go to sleep unless I am totally exhausted.....that started really happening after a trauma I went through as I couldn't sleep for the nightmares....& hated the dreams to I feared going to sleep.

I still struggle with that at times even 10 years later.....but in this cold weather, bed is definitely more attractive to curl up under the down comforter & get warm as I keep my house on the cool side & I have a room heater in my bedroom that helps warm it as I can't sleep when I'm cold either.

There is a good sleeptime tea that I do like at times. Trying to put stresses out of one's mind is critical to being able to sleep restfully.

For awhile I started taking the melatonin OTC pills......seemed to help also but not good at taking pills even one's like that.

For me, the hot shower is critical for calming down....it's like I wash all the stresses away.....I have a good smelling candle that helps in the steamy bathroom & it's just a good feel....jump into my sweats & head into bed....without allowing anything to distract me.

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by eskielover

I take a hot shower right before I go to bed....it really helps to relax me....& NO caffeine in the afternoon on or it is up all night.

Also.....no internet to get hung up with or involved with.....it's good to have a quiet time to start relaxing several hours before going to bed.

All the things I know to do....but don't do myself.....guilty also of staying up all night.....& sometimes I can't go to sleep unless I am totally exhausted.....that started really happening after a trauma I went through as I couldn't sleep for the nightmares....& hated the dreams to I feared going to sleep.

I still struggle with that at times even 10 years later.....but in this cold weather, bed is definitely more attractive to curl up under the down comforter & get warm as I keep my house on the cool side & I have a room heater in my bedroom that helps warm it as I can't sleep when I'm cold either.

There is a good sleeptime tea that I do like at times. Trying to put stresses out of one's mind is critical to being able to sleep restfully.

For awhile I started taking the melatonin OTC pills......seemed to help also but not good at taking pills even one's like that.

For me, the hot shower is critical for calming down....it's like I wash all the stresses away.....I have a good smelling candle that helps in the steamy bathroom & it's just a good feel....jump into my sweats & head into bed....without allowing anything to distract me.

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I may purchase some candles. I've heard that aromatherapy is good for you.

I have a self help book that teaches relaxation techniques, I may need to get into that.

I also have relaxing sounds/music on my iPod I forgot about which I can use.

So far I've got this for my plan (with your help)
-Hot shower
-Good smelling candle
-Chamomile tea at night
-Relaxation techniques
-Use my heating pad, I don't have any physical pain but I like to use it in the winter. It turns off by itself.
-Relaxing music/sounds
-Klonopin if absolutely necessary.

Again, thanks for the suggestions and jogging my memory

[hamster-bamster]

You might benefit from vigorous exercise IN THE AM! You may also benefit from natural ways to boost melatonin production in your body - first thing in the morning, weather permitting, go for a 30 min brisk walk. Even if it is overcast, you will still get the UV rays and getting the UV rays in the morning is the way to set your circadian clock right.

Candles... IKEA sells incredibly nice smelling white candles, for close to nothing. I do not remember the scent. Geranium, maybe? Oh, let me look in my stash of used candles...

here - the product is called MATTFULL and the code is 502.096.10

I use it for concentration, but it definitely can be used for sleep, too.

Another thing - if you find yourself liking aromatic candles for sleep, you might use different aromatic candles to tell you "good morning"! Say, the bergamot scent is invigorating. If you find ONE scent for sleep and ANOTHER scent for "good morning", you would not just benefit from how your body reacts to the scents, but also from having little rituals define the two key transitions in your day. That ultimately would lead to your brain receiving the signal to shut off when the warm and relaxing scent infuses your room and to perk up when the invigorating scent fills the atmosphere.

Finally, brush your teeth first thing in the morning and not after breakfast. Not only is it far better for the teeth, but the mintiness of the toothpaste would wake you up.

To sum up - the more awake you are in the AM, the easier it would be to handle shutoff at night.

[Blue_Bird]

Thanks for the suggestions hamster-bamster! I'm really going to need to work on these techniques as I just got accepted to college and will need a good relaxing night and sleep everyday.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

Thanks for the suggestions hamster-bamster! I'm really going to need to work on these techniques as I just got accepted to college and will need a good relaxing night and sleep everyday.

Well, congratulations to you!!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

Does anyone else get wired at night? I do every single night, I pace for several hours, talk a lot and have trouble sleeping.

What do you do to relax?

I take Klonopin as needed but its an everyday thing and I don't want to have to take it every night. Sometimes even that doesn't calm me down. It's like I turn into a hyper kid at night.

I'm thinking of trying Chamomile tea, does that help relax you? I'm supposed to take the Klonopin prn up to 3 times a day but maybe I could talk to my doctor about taking 2 each night with a cup of that tea. Maybe that would be a good combination to help me out. Then leave the other one to use during the day if I have something I'm especially anxious about.

I don't want any other meds added or increased.

I just got a promotional email from VITACOST - they have many sales and shipping is free for $49+. It reminded me of your thread. I buy this from them:
Natural Vitality Natural Calm Plus Calcium Raspberry Lemon -- 30 Packets - Vitacost

Even though the name contains the word "calcium", the primary reason most people buy it is to get magnesium supplementation. This supplementation virtually rid me of leg cramps which were severe and hereditary - my mom and her mom had leg cramps. I was utterly surprised that a simple supplement would do that.

But most people use it for mood and relaxation and not against cramps, so I decided to try taking it before bedtime.

The link above is to packets with a very nice citrusy flavor - not too tart, but just right. You probably can buy powder for less - when I run out of packets, I will research that option. So whether you open a packet or scoop a dose of the powder, you put it into a glass and pour boiling water on it. That makes a fizzy drink. Then you wait a bit and drink it while still hot.

I do not know if it is the actual chemical working of this supplement, or the ritual aspect of it - I have a special tall thick glass with night stars painted on it and I use that glass only for this bedtime drink, or the fact that the water is hot and just washes all the worries away, but I do sleep better whilst on it.

The supplement is safe - no mega doses of anything - so you might want to try it.

[eskielover]

I just got accepted to college

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

I listen to a radio program.....the chiropractor has a treatment he calls CalMax. It's a calcium/magnesium combination & he says that the magnesium is needed for the calcium to be absorbed into the body & this combination relaxes the body & helps with sleep. The liquid form is also absorbed into the body quicker than a pill that has to dissolve in the stomach & then make it's way into the blood stream. They have an offer over the radio for the first 30 days free to see if it works.....it's been on my list of things I want to get. It's also for leg & foot cramps which I get mostly during the summer I get when I get into bed.......it's so painful. I used to get cramps in my hands so bad that I couldn't even hold a pen to write with. Interesting as my pain specialist has lowered the level of pain medication I'm on very slowly over the last 6 months, the cramps in my hands has lessened. Before I would pick up things in the kitchen & my hands would cramp so bad I would end up dropping the things I was holding. This started to happen after my anorexia got bad the last time. It does happen more after I have not eaten for a few days so I know that it has something to do with the lack of those chemicals in my body.

The combination of the calcium & magnesium seems to be critical for sleep & for relieving muscle cramping so it's a proven fact, not just a ritual effect & also as I said, the liquid absorbs more quickly than taking a pill that has to dissolve first.

Another helpful supplement is B-12. My friend had the same problem sleeping & getting up with any energy in the morning if she did go to sleep & started taking the B-12...she now sleeps better & gets up early in the morning & has energy. The combination definitely helps & I really need to get a sleep pattern going....I had crashing in the afternoon because then I am not tired by the time it's time for bed. It really helps to get onto a schedule (I hate schedules) but they are important for our own wellness.

Here is some information on magnesium:
magnesium: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD