What do you do when you cant fall asleep?

I tried reading and gaming... Listening to music. Only thing that helped a little was melatonin supplement or an OTC sleep aid.

I do have insomnia. If it goes past 11pm, I can't take my sleeping pill, due to needing to be up around 6/630am.

When those nights happen, and reading doesn't work. Then it's a matter of making my room, as black as I can.

If there's something on my mind, holding me back, then I write it out, otherwise, I'll stay awake, until I do get too tired to stay awake. And if it's closer to 4/5am, then time for coffee and I need to stay up. Rare, but it happened last week, for me.

Sometimes, putting my ipod on, helps me. And the following night, I try to make it an early night.

Two nights in a row, by the third night, it's sleeping pill time for me.

Hi, For the past few months, this has been an issue for me. I've tried guided méditations with some success at the beginning, but now they don't work anymore. Now, I read or watch movies. It relaxes and occupies my mind. I've tried herbal infusions and that did nothing also.I would love to use OTC sleep aids but I was told never to use any of them with the medication I am already taking. I know one thing for sure, it is always best to discuss insomnia with the healthcare provider (GP or Psyc). I am scheduled to see my specialist in a few weeks but I am on a waiting list for an ealier appointment if someone cancels. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...Don't get discouraged. During the time when insomnia occurs, I find it is best not to get too frustrated about the matter or it just raises the level of anxiety. That time can be used wisely at doing quiet things. The only inconvenient is if someone has to work in the daytime and perform. That would be another issue. I wish you recover soon.

i try my best to cry.. to be honest. because after crying i get really sleepy for some reason ._.

due to nursing my babies I cant use OTC products or prescription sleep aids, one of the all natural ways my treatment providers recommended was that my wife and I enjoy ourselves with some intimate time together or I have some solo intimate moments.... strange as it sounds it releases brain chemicals naturally that will help a person get a good nights sleep and wont harm my nursing babies either.

If you can't, why don't you try walking and see if that might help?

^Walking in the middle of the night outside? i pace the house... sometimes jog in place, doesnt really help...

I think the worst part about it, is that i do things to keep occupied, but then i RUN out of things to do and im just siting there staring into space! Its really maddening.... then the Anxiety starts!

I do feel like going outside to take a walk but since I live in the city, i don't feel safe about this idea...

i tend to put a dvd on or something, on a low volume.

or just come on the computer- sleep is 0 for me, so it's every night i'm finding myself distractions to get me through the night

Talk to your health care provider, or seek professional advise from your doctor.
Could be a problem going forward.

"almostthere"

when I can't fall asleep, I usually read a book. but when that fails, then I just lay in bed staring up at the ceiling and daydreaming

When I can't sleep i tend to think about everything I screwed up on in life, I worry as i watch the clock and count down the hours I have to sleep if I do fall asleep right now, I take OTC sleep aids and when all that doesn't work I will eventually wake up my husband for sex and if that doesn't work or he isn't interested I will make my way down the stairs and distract myself from the quiet which make those thoughts much more invasive with the computer or bad t.v. and maybe eat a snack....which is where I am at right at this exact moment in time.

I never feel that I have problem if I can't sleep for one night or even a week.
But after that usually I do something stupid which is can hurt me because my brain too tired..
So, my psych prescribed me some meds..
3 times, he changed the meds because its doesn't work
And the last he feel satisfied because he can make me sleep for 2 hours every night.
Only 2 hours.
I don't know..
May be something wrong with my brain?

I just play on PC or read a book, but I was wondering if you've tried progressive muscle relaxation? My shrink sort of pushes that as an alternative to drugs. You can just go on iTunes and get a scripted sort of talk that tells you what to do. It didn't work for me I was actually more awake and felt rested after doing it but it works for some people. The other thing is that if you use electronics as night the blue wavelengths of light can keep your brain thinking its daytime so it's best to use blueblockers which are orange sunglasses that block the blue light.

I have a free track of hypnosis that really helps. Joseph Clough has a free app and I got this particular track from his website for free. I like it because its a de-stressing hypnosis where instead of waking you up out of trance at the end he give you the option to go to sleep instead.

If you wanna try it, I uploaded it here.

Last night I fell asleep for about 1-2 hours and during that time not deep at all. It is now 4:04 am next night and still no sleep. I was exhausted at about 11:30 stayed up instead Exhaustion went Away and yet again no sleep is back!! Have to be up in 4 hours and who knows when I'll pass out.
I tend to think at these times. Stare at the moldings and see many things go through my mind!!

What do you think about Melatonin pills?