Psychophysiological Insomnia

[Lejuan]

Weed can be good for getting to sleep but disrupts the REM phase.

 

[fosing]

you're not thinking about this are you....

 

[The Ween]

This is the inability to sleep cause you are actually worried about sleep. I've had it now for about 2 years and its brutal.

Anyone hear ever have this specific issue? What did you do about it that actually worked?

Doing some research on this and it does give me some hope, but lack of sleep SUCKS!!!!!!! Even a good night sleep for me is about 6 hours - that's me sleeping in!

Have you talked about it to your doctor? Maybe you can get into a sleep study or clinic.

 

[Matt S]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. some of you are hillarious. I will be talking to a specialist about it if need be, but have finally done some research on my own.

Basically, it seems I have deprogrammed myself to sleep when actually tired, and go to bed for work 'cause I have to sleep' at X time. My first attempt to re-condition myself - set my alarm clock early and have turned off all clocks in the house. Also, if I toss/turn for 20 mins, i am going to get up and do some housework or whatnot until I am tired. Laying in bed resulted in me getting more and more frustrated, and making it worse. Article I found indicated I was making some classic mistakes to make sure I was basically in a vicious circle - its weird, but the moment I hid my computer clock, I felt a little less stressed. Like 7 pm hits and I am already thinking about the night's new challenge of sleep.


Previously: tried alcohol (always a bad way to go), legal drugs like Advil PM, prescribed stuff like Lorzaenpam - its totally in my head. I started to realize taking an Advil PM made it worse, cause now I was worried about Not sleeping AND drugged feeling next day. Also, accepting the fact I may struggle with this for a bit, so not get mad at myself or stressed when I can't sleep.

So weird, cause for my first 37 years I never had this issue; suddenly last 3 (or so), its my new nightmare.

 

[CelticPredator]

Freddy's dead, man....

you can go to sleep.

Freddy died 8 days before I existed.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I always have to sleep with a fan, I hate sleeping in silence

Same here, fan is a must. If I have to sleep in a room that's dead quiet, I'll just lay there all night with my mind racing.

 

[Jen]

I can't fall asleep when it's quiet either. I fall asleep quickest with the tv on. I put the volume down low so I can just barely hear it and put the timer on for 30 minutes. I always fall asleep before the timer turns the tv off.

 

[Matt S]

I sleep with a light on - as sad as that sounds, its like my mind focusing on the annoyance and allows it to quiet the other issues keeping it super active

 

[Jen]

I've read that sleeping with lights on or in light filled rooms can mess with your bodies ability to naturally produce melatonin. It won't affect you right away....but after long periods it can make it difficult for you to fall asleep.

 

[Bodie The Cursed]

you guys sound like a bunch of freaks.. weed + fan = zZZzzZZZzzz



bodie

 

[The Ween]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. some of you are hillarious. I will be talking to a specialist about it if need be, but have finally done some research on my own.

Basically, it seems I have deprogrammed myself to sleep when actually tired, and go to bed for work 'cause I have to sleep' at X time. My first attempt to re-condition myself - set my alarm clock early and have turned off all clocks in the house. Also, if I toss/turn for 20 mins, i am going to get up and do some housework or whatnot until I am tired. Laying in bed resulted in me getting more and more frustrated, and making it worse. Article I found indicated I was making some classic mistakes to make sure I was basically in a vicious circle - its weird, but the moment I hid my computer clock, I felt a little less stressed. Like 7 pm hits and I am already thinking about the night's new challenge of sleep.


Previously: tried alcohol (always a bad way to go), legal drugs like Advil PM, prescribed stuff like Lorzaenpam - its totally in my head. I started to realize taking an Advil PM made it worse, cause now I was worried about Not sleeping AND drugged feeling next day. Also, accepting the fact I may struggle with this for a bit, so not get mad at myself or stressed when I can't sleep.

So weird, cause for my first 37 years I never had this issue; suddenly last 3 (or so), its my new nightmare.

Stay off the computer and don't watch TV for 2 hours before going to bed too. I think this is my mistake. I heard it helps with sleep if you don't do that.

 

[Matt S]

Ok, thanks Ween.....yeah, gonna try to read a bit tonight.....after Warehouse 13!!!!

 

[xjamiex]

I sleep with a light on - as sad as that sounds, its like my mind focusing on the annoyance and allows it to quiet the other issues keeping it super active

Maybe that's what you need then, but invest in a night light or something to A) save on your electricity bill, B) to avoid what Jen said below.

I've read that sleeping with lights on or in light filled rooms can mess with your bodies ability to naturally produce melatonin. It won't affect you right away....but after long periods it can make it difficult for you to fall asleep.

 

[Matt S]

Good call - bottom line for me, the true secret is to shift my negative feeling of 'fear' of not sleeping to a more positive attitude...telling myself it'll be a process and not a magic fix

 

[xjamiex]

Good call - bottom line for me, the true secret is to shift my negative feeling of 'fear' of not sleeping to a more positive attitude...telling myself it'll be a process and not a magic fix

Try yoga/meditation or something to help you relax as well... it'll definitely help you get rid of your negativity towards it.

 

[devilof76]

I had a period of not being able to fall asleep. Every time I was about to nod off, my body would jolt itself back into consciousness. It was like my subconscious was afraid of falling asleep. When I did fall asleep, I couldn't wake up. My alarm could go off for hours and if I wasn't ready, it couldn't wake me up.

I had a lot of explanations available to me. Too much coffee in the course of the day. Anxiety. Roommate's crack habit poisoning my breathing space. None of them held water. I still drink too much coffee. I still have reasons to be anxious. I moved out of the house with the crackhead, but the problem didn't stop.

I came to the conclusion that I couldn't sleep because I wasn't finished with my day. I wasn't doing anything from the time I woke up, until the time I went to bed, that made the day worth waking up for. Smoking pot, playing video games, watching cartoons, reading books, working. Lots of activity and stimulation, some of it even purposeful, but nothing to show for any of it beyond being able to wake up the next day and do it again.

It's the same now. If I waste a day, I can't sleep. If I accomplish something that advances my situation in any way whatsoever, I sleep like a baby. Hope that helps.

 

[furystorm]

Profound. Words to live by...

 

[devilof76]

You meant the yoga, right?

 

[furystorm]

Nope...

But the yoga helps. I sit Zen. I'm a buddhist baby!

 

[devilof76]

Aw, shucks.

Zen was a natural state for me at one time. Something screwed it right up.