Sleep

[November]

How do you sleep?

I have been a terrible sleeper my entire life, I take a long time to fall asleep and wake often, even on heavy sleep meds. But ever since I've had a phone to scroll before bed, I sleep so much better. I fall asleep so fast, once I turn off the phone now.

Sometimes what I watch before bed will influence my dreams, although that isnt specific to pictures, its happened with books too. But books dont put me straight to sleep like the phone does. I will toss and turn after reading, where as once the phone light is out, I am too.

Do you sleep better since smart phones came on the scene? Whats your bedtime routine?

 

[thetopher]

Usually exercises before bed; nothing heavy just some calisthenics and maybe light kettlebell use. Then I have a quick shower followed by a 20 minute read and then I sleep soundly.

If I don't do that I can usually stay up a lot later- say if I'm having a horror movie night during Halloween season- because I haven't signaled by body the 'getting ready to sleep' routine.

 

[NotASlayer]

I sleep poorly, taking a long time to get to sleep and waking up a lot. I read before sleeping, either physical or on tablet; I prefer physical if possible. But nothing seems to send me to sleep easily.

 

[thrasherpix]

I sleep poorly and can no longer deny it. When I was younger, I could handle it without a lot of stress, but it's harder now. I believe it's a genetic problem as it runs in the family.

It usually takes me at least an hour, sometimes several hours, to fall asleep (and I've tried ALL the usual bits of advice, it doesn't work for me). Once I'm asleep then it's easy for me to get back to sleep after waking up even if I do a quick chore.

A cycle I get stuck in is I sleep okay but only for a few hours (say 4) several days in a row, but then I'll oversleep in an overcorrection, sometimes as long as 12 hours. And then my sleep is shot, taking me days or even weeks to get neatly back on track.

It would seem that my body thinks nighttime is when one should be up. Sometimes I'll feel sleepy during the day and look forward to bed only to feel myself losing the sleepy feeling after sunset. (On a side note, I have night vision that amazes others, so maybe my body was meant to be nocturnal.)

I also used to toss and turn. I learned to sleep by myself because I apparently kick while I'm asleep. This made it hard for others to sleep with me in addition to my own difficulties. I don't think I do any longer (I often wake up in the same position I fell asleep in) but see no reason to tempt fate.


I find certain wordless ASMR helps me sleep when I have insomnia. And it has to be done right (for me). Other ASMR vids will have no effect or even irritate me. I sometimes also practice self-hypnosis when I have insomnia which sometimes helps, sometimes doesn't.


ADDING: I used to sleepwalk as a child (into my early teens). It would sometimes scare me to wake up elsewhere, say the couch rather than my bed, and worried I might walk outside.

I have no idea how I did it, but I once, while sleeping, took off all my clothes, folded them up neatly (better than I usually do!), and then put them in a drawer (some items belonged there, others didn't). I wasn't awake for any of it and don't know how I did it. (I was startled to wake up naked and had to turn the light on before I could find the clothes I'd fallen asleep in.)

I'm so glad I no longer sleepwalk!

 

[CardboardGhost]

I've always had a hard time getting to sleep. Once I'm out, I sleep like the dead, but it takes so long for me to get there that I rarely feel like I get enough rest. It's been worse since I started university, because, like all students, I often don't finish my assignments early enough in the day and instead must stay up much later than is ideal.

And some of it is just poor decision-making on my part. I'm writing this much too late in the evening to justify.

I've tried various things to get to sleep faster, but I haven't had much success with that. I think I may just naturally sleep and wake a few hours later than someone with a "typical" sleep schedule, but I'm not really in a place where I can just follow the hours my body wants to sleep.

 

[NotASlayer]

It would seem that my body thinks nighttime is when one should be up. Sometimes I'll feel sleepy during the day and look forward to bed only to feel myself losing the sleepy feeling after sunset.

I have similar problems; I can feel tired and ready to fall asleep at any moment... until I actually try and fall asleep. Then I find myself much less sleepy. I can lay down in the middle of the day for a quick nap and drop off far more easily than I can at night. I can even dose off in my chair during the day if I want.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Smart Phones never helped me to sleep any better, mind you I've never owned a smart phone, I have a flip phone.
Some nights I don't sleep at all, then after two hours kip the next day I can feel better. I have tested myself to see if I have a brain tumour that might be keeping me awake. I tested the reflex of my knee, as there is not much of a reflex the chances are I do not have a brain tumour.

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

Sleep fine I guess. Deep sleeper but usually only 4-5 hours a night. Maybe 6-7 hours if less sleep for several nights. Occasional insomniac. Usually go to bed round 3am (depending on work) and get up round 8am.

 

[hoponlilmama]

I sleep poorly and can no longer deny it. When I was younger, I could handle it without a lot of stress, but it's harder now. I believe it's a genetic problem as it runs in the family.

It usually takes me at least an hour, sometimes several hours, to fall asleep (and I've tried ALL the usual bits of advice, it doesn't work for me). Once I'm asleep then it's easy for me to get back to sleep after waking up even if I do a quick chore.

Have you seen someone (sleep therapist, perhaps) in regards to your issues? Or I'm wondering if there's maybe another remedy out there for you that perhaps you haven't come across.

I apologise, as I'm sure you've heard that last sentence about a million times over!
Reading this thread has made me recall some studies in regards to certain foods helping people with sleep problems.

 

[thrasherpix]

Have you seen someone (sleep therapist, perhaps) in regards to your issues?

I did. The 2 doctors (and clinic in general) did not inspire confidence. (And I saw one doctor as a glorified nurse as he relied almost completely on AI, barely even looking at me, let alone conduct an actual exam. The other doctor, same clinic, also relied heavily on AI, but at least she actually examined me.)

The main thing that happened, after blood tests and the like, was that they had a clinic send out a "sleep study" device that I had to wear for sleep. It was mailed to me and I mailed it back. It monitored my breathing which was not the problem (though I did mention the problem I had with melatonin that I'll explain below), though even if it showed I didn't breathe then they'd just sell me a pointless nose device to keep my nose open despite that the problem of breathing would be more paralytic in nature (so no point in keeping my nose open).

I have no plans to see another doctor or clinic over it. It's probable that there is a pill for me that I could get a prescription for, but it would probably be addictive and damaging to my body, have side effects, and who knows how much it would cost.

On the plus side, the blood tests showed I was in good health, so that ruled out a lot of possible problems. My problem, which I think is genetic, just isn't something a doctor can handle.



Though on a side note, I did try melatonin (available without a prescription in the USA). That works, but at a cost of actually cutting my breathing off (at least it can, I took less than 30--only one at a time, I didn't take more than recommended--as I didn't finish the bottle and experienced the breathing paralysis maybe 3-5 times). I woke up unable to breathe, as in I was paralyzed. It was terrifying and happened more than once before I realized it was the melatonin (no alcohol or other meds were involved).

Yet another doctor tole me people have actually died from that (and some countries don't allow melatonin without a prescription for that reason), though what happened to me doesn't appear to be listed as a possible side effect. And...I can't recall the details of this...I found out that melatonin pills can have A LOT more than claimed per pill (as in 500% of what's listed in dosage), which is probably what happened to me (the pills of that particular bottle were probably supercharged). I won't try melatonin again.

 

[hoponlilmama]

I did. The doctor (and clinic in general) did not inspire confidence. (And I saw one doctor as a glorified nurse as he relied almost completely on AI, barely even looking at me, let alone conduct an actual exam. I saw two doctors, same clinic, and the other also relied heavily on AI, but at least she actually examined me.)

All that happened was I was signed up for a "sleep study." A clinic then mailed me some stuff to put on (even tape on) that monitored my breathing, despite that I don't snore or have any trouble breathing, which their pointless test confirmed. (And if I did test as not breathing--which would be paralytic in nature rather than clogged sinuses--then they'd have sold me a useless device to stick in my nose to keep it open, which would be pointless.)

Darn. I'm sorry you didn't get a definitive diagnosis. On top of that I'm sorry to hear that these people were relying on AI! Pretty poor form.

I have no plans to see another doctor or clinic over it. It's probable that there is a pill for me that I could get a prescription for, but it would probably be addictive and damaging to my body, and who knows how much it would cost.

I think sleeping pills are more of a 'last resort' if other avenues have been exhausted. I guess it depends on the individual and what their issues are.

On the plus side, the blood tests showed I was in good health, so that ruled out a lot of possible problems. My problem, which I think is genetic, just isn't something a doctor can handle.



Though on a side note, I did try melatonin (available without a prescription in the USA). That works, but at a cost of actually cutting my breathing off (at least it can, I took less than 30--only one at a time, I didn't take more than recommended--as I didn't finish the bottle and experienced the breathing paralysis maybe 4-5 times). I woke up unable to breathe, as in I was paralyzed. It was terrifying and happened more than once before I realized it was the melatonin (no alcohol or other meds were involved).

Even 'natural' therapies can have their risks - I actually recently read about the issues surrounding melatonin and it's shocking! And medical professionals should be informing patients of any potential risks/side effects!

Yet another doctor tole me people have actually died from that (and some countries don't allow melatonin without a prescription for that reason), though what happened to me doesn't appear to be listed as a possible side effect. And...I can't recall the details of this...I found out that melatonin pills can have A LOT more than claimed per pill (as in 500% of what's listed in dosage), which is probably what happened to me (the pills of that particular bottle were supercharged). I won't try melatonin again.

From what I understand, there's foods that have melatonin in them. A much less scary alternative than what you experienced!

The surprising foods that lead to better sleep

Most of us know going to bed on a full stomach can affect our sleep. Changing what we eat and the time of day we eat certain foods can help us sleep better.

www.bbc.com

 

[NotASlayer]

I have no plans to see another doctor or clinic over it. It's probable that there is a pill for me that I could get a prescription for, but it would probably be addictive and damaging to my body, have side effects, and who knows how much it would cost.

And the problem with any chemical crutch, natural or not, is that if you take it all the time to get to sleep, you may wind up having to take it in order to get to sleep.

 

[November]

I just found it so bizarre that the phone scrolling puts me to sleep so easily, when so much else has failed before. I assumed it has something to do with making my eyes tired. I always have a shower before bed and that probably contributes to me being knocked out pretty fast cos I'm usually exhausted after that. This has only happened in the last few years, so maybe it is age too, but I am so thankful for it!

I can even dose off in my chair during the day if I want.

I can never fall asleep in a chair! Rarely, laying on the couch. The last time I fell asleep on the couch was when the poodle was a puppy. I woke myself up with snoring and she was just staring at me haha.

I think sleeping pills are more of a 'last resort' if other avenues have been exhausted.

Incorrect. Sleep meds are the first resort. I've never had a sleep study, but I've had every sleep medication under the sun. Sleeping pills are the very first thing doctors gave me when I said I couldnt sleep, not even a blood test or anything. I have 4 childhood friends who were addicted to stillnox in our late teens/early 20's and they were the non mentally ill friends. The mentally ill friends are still heavily addicted and on all sorts of meds now, or dead. But thats another story. It annoys me that people think doctors will actually investigate anything thoroughly cos when you've spent years in hospitals, you know its not true! When all you have is a hammer... it goes from hammer to sledgehammer when the nail doesn't respond.

 

[hoponlilmama]

Incorrect. Sleep meds are the first resort. I've never had a sleep study, but I've had every sleep medication under the sun. Sleeping pills are the very first thing doctors gave me when I said I couldnt sleep, not even a blood test or anything. I have 4 childhood friends who were addicted to stillnox in our late teens/early 20's and they were the non mentally ill friends. The mentally ill friends are still heavily addicted and on all sorts of meds now, or dead. But thats another story. It annoys me that people think doctors will actually investigate anything thoroughly cos when you've spent years in hospitals, you know its not true! When all you have is a hammer... it goes from hammer to sledgehammer when the nail doesn't respond.

They shouldn't be. I'm definitely not against medication if someone needs it, but other avenues should be looked at before the prescription pad comes out.

Sometimes you have to push - if a person has gone and tried other methods first and they're without success, you have to go back to the doctor and discuss what other options there are, besides sleep meds.

That said, I am very aware of the many horror stories of medical professionals brushing off patients or not taking them seriously. I experienced it myself! That's when I learned you really have to:
a. Trust your gut
b. Advocate for yourself (i.e pushing for answers/treatment)





@thrasherpix I hope you eventually find something that helps with your sleep. Even if it makes a small impact!

 

[Stake fodder]

I sleep pretty well, though now have to get up at least once for the bathroom. I take melatonin, which helps a lot. I've found it better that, if I am wakeful in the night, to accept it and read for a while, rather than lying there awake in the dark. Then I get interested in my book and want to keep reading even though I'm nodding off!