Insomnia

[Ohnomysweet]

Hello all,
I've been having so much trouble getting to bed at night. On a good day I can get to sleep at midnight, on a bad, three in the morning. It's a major problem because I am an art major and I need to be able to stay awake during my three hour studio classes. I have tried incense, burning/smoking herbs, drinking teas, exercising before bed to tire me out, taking warm water baths with candles, almost everything I can think of sans sleeping pills.

I've had sleep problems for a while now. It used to be so bad that I would stay up for days and ended up hallucinating/passing out on the couch.

Is there anything I can do? I don't like to take medicine which is why I've gone to such great lengths to avoid it (also I would never ask because I know that there is a one in a million chance one of you is an actual doctor haha.) I must say that I've had a lot of stress over the past months. I'm living in a very bad situation and many times I'm kept awake just by the noise my roommates make. Either way I need help. Anything offered will be greatly appreciated.

Much thanks,
Bailey

[JackRabbitSlims]

I know I'm probably gonna have shouts of retort and people telling you I'm wrong, but personally, pot is amazing.

Its a natural herb which you most probably know.

I would suggest smoking it about 2 or 3 hours before you want to sleep, so when you crash, your very sleepy and your body with want to sleep also.

If you don't like maryjane, what about a work out? Maybe go for a run or do something to exert yourself that makes you tired.

If nothing else, I reccomend maybe looking into sleeping pills at a natural food store or something. I know you don't want to take pills, but you do need your sleep!

[Ohnomysweet]

Oh I didn't know that marijuana makes you sleepy. I guess it makes as much sense as anything else that it does haha.

Last night I did fourty minutes of yoga, and that tired me out, I smoked a skullcap, mullein, mugwart mix, that tired me out, and I drank my super strength sleepy tea, that tired me out. But when I actually got into bed I could hear people outside being particularly noisey and using swears and foul language and I couldn't let my mind go enough to fall into sleep. It's such a hastle because I'm so used to living in my house which is in the desert (well as close to the desert one gets in suburban Arizona.) I'll be moving back there over the weekend because life is so bad in my apartment I can't stand it anymore. Unfortunately, if my sleep problems continue at home, I won't be able to smoke anything at all, possibly not even lighting my incense! (my mother and sister hate new age stuff.)

Thanks for all your help though! It's easier for me, because of the colder weather in the desert, to run because it doesn't hurt my legs so much (I have an extra bone in my ankle which rubs up against my muscles when I run and oh boy does it hurt.) So maybe I'll try that when I move back home.

[Moon_Stone]

~LOL- there goes Gemini Gremlin with the pot again. LOL~

OK, less the pot idea, I have some others to share:

1. Your main issue seems to be the noise, so go to the hunting/fishing section at a Walmart or wherever and get some of those inner-ear plugs used for shooting/hunting. Then go to the bedding section and get one of those not-shaped/formed (you'll want the regular fluffy type instead) memory-foam pillows. At night, stick the plugs in (which just kind of make the noise seem to be a lower decibel but you can still hear it), then put the fat, fluffy memory-foam pillow over your head & ears. (if you sleep on your side- if not, start trying to fall asleep that way, once you get to sleep, if you shift onto your back, the noise probably won't wake you at that point.)

2. White noise: a lot of people have a fondness for white noise when helping them fall asleep- not only does it muffle out other noises, it can help put you into a "trance" (sort of) where you're off in your mind somewhere. Often those noises mimic the sounds of the womb, and even as adults, we find it really comforting. Also, it can aid the person in "transporting" themselves somewhere else in their mind to a specific "place" they develop that relates to each sound. There's an awesome program for the iPod touch that gives you sounds and songs to work with and combine in any way you like-- I used that program to create all kinds of things, there's one that reminds me of my grandparents house I used to spend a lot of time at as a kid- very fond memories and a very calming, welcoming sound combo. Perhaps look into something like that- they sell white-noise machines as well, but be sure to listen before you buy- that way you'll know whether or not you hate the sounds prior to wasting the money. Any monotone type noise is good though- it quiets self-chatter and busy minds. (Or music sounds- it doesn't specifically have to be monotone.)

3. Exercising before bed is actually bad for help falling asleep- it releases adrenaline and other hormones that, while you might feel "tired", do continue to surge throughout your body for quite a while after completing your exercise routine. It's very different to want to flop down on the couch and rest verses close your eyes and drift off to sleep. (Though this fact of adrenaline affecting ability to fall asleep has been scientifically contested. When it is tested, though, it's on ordinary people who aren't suffering with sleep disorders, so it's at least safe to say it's not a "good" manner of getting yourself into being ready to slip off into a sleep-state.)

4. Aromatherapy- lavender essential oil in a diffuser is great for this purpose. Some people also respond well to eucalyptus or menthol scents. Get a diffuser (the type with a tea light candle below and use real essential oils up top in water), and see how that works for you. Combine with relaxing music to aid in getting yourself ready to drift off.

5. Stop all caffeine consumption for the day by no later than 4:00 pm. None- not even chocolate.

6. A lot of people find reading a good way to distract the mind and make them sleepy- it'll ease your mind into another place as well, you're more inclined to wonder what's happening next in your story than think about what ever is remaining on your mind from your day.

7. Lastly, you can always try herbal Melatonin tabs -but check with your doctor first to make sure it's okay, and as with any meds, call your pharmacist to make sure there aren't any drug interactions you may have or need to be aware of. (you'll need to tell the pharmacist every med you take currently.) There may also be some homeopathic things that can help with falling asleep (like tissue salts)- I'd make a call to your local health food store and ask them what they have that might help too. :28:

Bright Blessings & Pleasant Dreams! (Hope this helps you get some!)
(...dreams that is.)

Oh, and by the way- mugwort increases intuitive and lucid dreaming-- that's not a good herb to be burning if you're trying to get a restful sleep. It's great for lucid dreaming though! :28:

~MoonStone

[Ohnomysweet]

Thank-you so much MoonStone! These ideas might be just what I need.

I already have an aromatherapy diffuser, but I'm not sure if I have lavendar. I'll have to check. I bought an eye mask and it came with a portable aromatherapy (really just oils you put on your wrists and rub together to activate the smell or whatever.) and that works, but not for very long.
I too have heard mixed things about exercising before bed. Is yoga so intensive to be considered adrenaline producing?

UPDATE:
Yesterday it was raining and so I opened the window and used that as the white noise you described. I lit some Jasmine incense, which was the only thing I had, but it was pleasing and put me in a good enough mood and I ended up sleeping much faster than I would have.
I'm going to Target today so I'm going to look for a cd with rainwater because that was very calming.

Thanks so much MoonStone!

[Doc]

This is probably an idea you won't hear a lot of. When I need white noise to sleep to, I turn on the weather radio or weather alert and listen to the monotone recording that repeats the forecast over and over.
This probably stems from my childhood growing up in tornado country and I don't know whether it will help you or not. But it might help put you to sleep and if not, you will at least be able to name all of your local counties in alphabetical order for years to come!