Hi all

lately i have been having such a bad sleep routine. every night i am unable to get to sleep until approx. 3am. it is 2:15am here now and i have been trying to sleep for just over 2 and a half hours with no joy. i have tried everything, ive tried listening to relaxing music which has worked before, i have taken sleeping tablets (non prescribed herbal ones) and i have tried closing my eyes thinking of past good memories. i have tried thinking of future things i look forward to. i have tried focusing on my breathing to try to gain a rythm, i have literally tried everything. all those things i just mentioned are all things that have helped me in the past, but the last couple of weeks havent. im out of ideas, and i desperately want to be going to sleep earlier than 3am every nihgt. it is causing me to get up at 12 noon, making my body clock be way out of timing. all week it has been like this, in fact its been about 2 weeks now.

tonight i went to a site i know of called Health Journeys. it specialises in relaxation, mediatation techniques. there are downloads of MP3 files that you can listen to that help you sleep and can be used to obtain self confidence and releave stress etc. i bought a couple of them last summer, but no longer have them for some unknown reason, so tonight i went back on to the site to buy a new one. they definately help me sleep, and plus they build my confidence and keep me mentally focused and driven. for more inofrmation visit www.healthjourneys.com and find the MP3 download section in "Shop". so anyway, i bought one of them, but they say i will recieve a confirmation email within 1 working day...not good for me tonight then! but it does mean i will have it from tomorrow night onwards.

but that still leaves me with the dilema of how to get through tonight. it is now 2:28am as i post this, and my mind is in overdrive. im trying to get to sleep with a mind that is running at 300MPH. it is racing and i dont know what else to do to stop it.

any suggestions? thanks in advance.

simon

Gosh, Simon, I have no advice to give you. If the tapes you bought help you, that's great. I have to take meds to sleep. Nothing else helps me so I have nothing to contribute except hope tomorrow night is better.--Suzy

[psisci]

Do alot of press-ups, sit-ups etc...... Really. I used to travel alot for work and hated hotels, and this worked..

s

[Zen888]

Hi Simon

Suggestions:

*Warm bath or shower
*no caffienated drinks or alcohol before bedtime
*journal/write down your thoughts and feelings
*exercise during the day...even just a walk
*call a close friend to chat with in the early evening

Take Care!

[SeptemberMorn]

All I can say is either Tylenol PM or warm milk with honey in it.

Good luck, Simon!

[Boopers]

Hi Simon,

I sure can't help you as it is two fifteen here and I am up, too.
I have the same problem.
The worst part is, tomorrow I will be so tired all day long.
Hope you can find the answers.
Hugs,
Linda

[sabby]

Hi Simon....I can relate to the racing mind thing when going to bed. I hate when that happens!!

What I have taught myself to do is pretty easy and it really works for the most part. It may take a few nights for you to get into the swing of it, but it's well worth it.

It's a form of meditation and what it does is take your mind down a few notches. Lay in bed, on your back with your legs straight and arms at your side. Close your eyes and take a few deep cleansing breaths. Start saying goodnight to your body (in your mind, not outloud). Start with your toes and think something like this - "It's time to relax and go to sleep toes, Good night". Then say the same thing to your feet, your ankles, your calves, your knees, your thighs, etc etc., working your way up to your head.

After doing this for a few nights, you should find that you may not even make it to your head by the time you fall asleep.

Like I said, it takes some practice, but I have found it extremely helpful. I also tell myself when I go to bed that I cannot function the next day if I don't get some sleep.

I wish you good luck and happy dreams!

Hugssssssssssss
Jean

[Enigmatik]

I wish i could offer some suggestions however my time used to be like yours 2-3am now its amazing ifi get to sleep before 7-8am and wake up later than 12-1... if the tapes help u id like to know also if you find any other solutions... good luck and sweet dreams (once you get there!)

Thank you for your tips.

sabau2, i love that idea, and what i must point out is that these meditation cd's help you do this whilst playing extremely relaxing music into your ears, and Bellaruth Napastak (think thats how you spell her name) who makes these cd's has such a relaxing voice. when i used to listen to the cd's everynight it would take me about 20mins to get off to sleep. she uses guided imagery, so she asks you to imagine you led on a beach with the waves crashing upon the shoar, and the sun beating down upon you. if i remember rightly they even play sounds of the ocean waves. they sent me into a trance almost and because she asks you to lie on your back with your arms in a comfortable position, she teaches you breathing techniques, about breathing in good air, and breathing out bad thoughts. some nights if i was still awake and moved, it felt really wierd because after a while your body becomes so relaxed that you kind of forget you have limbs, its a wonderful feeling. they definately work, i just wish i knew where my old ones went. she also asks you to imagine you being in a situation that you desire to do (which for me is being on stage singing) and she kind of tells you how you would be feeling at that point, therefore it gives you confidence the next day. it definately works. and the bonus of these things is that if you fall asleep half way through you still hear what she is saying. our minds "listen" when we are asleep, it is the only sense we dont shut off whilst asleep, thats why alot of people learn different languages whilst asleep using similar methods.

i would recommend anyone who has trouble sleeping to try them out, they are very cheap too. just vist the website and have a look for yourself, if you have trouble sleeping. they also have ones for illness recovery, stress relief, anxiety relief, all sorts. be sure to check them out.

last night i got to sleep about 3:15am. that was the last time i looked at the clock anyway. today, i woke up at 1pm. its half one now and i feel so groggy.

i am going to the doctors today to ask for some advice on sleeping tablets. together with the relaxation cd it should send me off to sleep.

so heres hoping i have a normal night sleep, and that i hear from Health Journeys. you can download the relaxation tapes, so its pretty instant. i just need to get an email giving me instructions. hope its today!

simon

[FaithisAlive]

AAw Simon, Hun, I totally get how you feel cuz sleep has always been as issue for me.... I hope you find something that works for ya....we can't have that creative, genius mind of yours being fatigued.....

Love ya Hun! Faith

[Perna]

I would trying working the other way around. If you get up before Noon, you'll have to get to sleep earlier? It might be a hard couple days but I think it's easier to force yourself to stay up/awake than to make yourself go to sleep.

[January]

Hi Simon,

I hope your Dr. gave you some good advice.

When my sleep pattern became even worse than yours, my Dr. told me that hard as it might be, I needed to make myself stay up all night and all the next day. She said to try to make it until 9 p.m. and then go to sleep. It makes you feel horrible for a day or so, but it does help.

Jan

[Fuzzybear]

Just sending some furry hugs ((((((((((((((( Simon )))))))))))))))))