- NEW!
by King of Sexytown on November 4th, 2009
Alcohol.
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
There are lots of methods.
Some people just need a calming environment. If you work in your bedroom, have a tv on in your bedroom, etc, then your body learns to associate all that energy and stress and waking things, with your bedroom and your bed. Where your body should associate sleep.
Try turning everything off, try breathing excercises to calm down. If you're trying to fall asleep but still at a computer or have the tv on you aren't really trying.
Start to prepare your body for bed, for sleep earlier. wind down, turn your tv off, your computer off. get in calm mode.
Try a warm glass of milk at bedtime. try listening to soothing sounds or music.
If you still can't get your sleep regulated, talk to your doctor, obviously, but try melatonin. It's something some people take to keep their sleep cycle on track (it's a regularly occurring hormone in the body), something that some people just take occasionally to get back on track and into a normal rhythm. It's often used by people traveling to lessen jet lag, in both directions.
Their are also prescription sleep medicines.
You could also just try doing something as simple as taking a benadryl, if antihistamines make you drowsy.
But you have to figure out what your problem is. Is your sleep cycle off? Are you just having problems getting to sleep? Staying asleep? Getting good sleep? And you need to figure out why.
because taking a benadryl can help for a night, but you can't do it long term and isn't really going to solve your problem.
many sleep problems are associated with stress. but you could also have a sleep disorder for which you need treatment, and you could only be diagnosed after seeing a doctor, going through your symptoms, when they came on and everything in detail, ruling things in and out, trying things, and eventually doing a sleep study
by Confuscious on November 4th, 2009
Try a mug of warm milk or a cup of chamomile tea. Just relax. Try to not think too much. If you snuggle up, maybe try some light reading, you should start feeling a little sleepy. Hope this helps :)
by griffin on November 4th, 2009
listen to an audio tape--it works
by Dazed and Confused on November 4th, 2009
Read books just to make your eyes tired... and then lines by lines you will fall asleep. Besides you are spending your time to study and learn.
by -Slick- on November 4th, 2009
Count sheep. +5
by anywho is feeling pretty on November 4th, 2009
A nice glass of red wine does it for me everytime :-)
by iCringe 4 Love on November 4th, 2009
masturbate. makes me tired all the time
by Shirou on November 4th, 2009
I listen to slow music..
but if that doesn't work,maybe you have an insomnia..
by crazy on November 4th, 2009
the best way is to read books. works for me.
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Comments
Works for me! :-/ in moderation of course!!
by Scooby on November 4th, 2009
While alcohol is initially a sedative and will cause somnolence, encouraging sleep, there's a rebound effect later in the night.
As a result of this process, initial results, and then a rebound, there is strong evidence linking alcoholism and insomnia.
dg, -1
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
Well I have a night cap every night or day depends which shift I'm on, sure works for me! :-) I sleep really well 99% of the time! unless woken by the window cleaner or the cats!! :-/
by Scooby on November 4th, 2009
it's different for different people. and a nightcap isn't dangerous. and probably shouldn't affect your sleeping that much. but using alcohol to help combat a sleeping problem that does exist can be dangerous. people tend to have a greater reaction to the alcohol, both the sleepiness part and the rebound. if they are having trouble sleeping, and trouble getting deep sleep, alcohol may make that worse.
there are lots of studies linking insomnia to alcoholism. because you're tired, and you just want a little sleep, and you aren't drinking that much, but then it's a few hours later, and you're still exhausted, and this keeps going, and you eventually need more alcohol to fall asleep
there are reasons that doctors warn against not taking alcohol for sleeping problems, they generally don't have a problem if it's for a night, but if it's more than a night it IS a problem even if it's only temporary and the last thing you want to do is make it worse
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
Like you say!” it’s different for different people" I must be the exception, I only have the one just before I go to bed, I don't suffer the affects that you describe at all! :-/ in fact when I awake I feel invigorated by having such a good long deep sleep! just goes to show! :-/ these studies you mention aren’t always as accurate as they claim, it’s just scare mongering IMO….
by Scooby on November 4th, 2009
yes, but did you start drinking because you had sustained trouble sleeping? or do you just have a nightcap? no, people have very different affects when they drink alcohol. widely differing tolerance levels, and wide variations in terms of how alcohol affects the person, for how long, how suddenly they feel the effects, how suddenly the effects appear to leave, time frames, how prone they are to becoming an addict--there are studies on all of these. different brains respond differently to alcohol.
but because of the known responses, and what we know about people who do get tired from alcohol, who can use it to help them fall asleep when they are having sleeping problems, they are more prone to being in categories that would make their sleeping problems worse, they are more prone to addiction, it's just a bad idea
--continued--
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
even if it doesn't make your sleep problems worse, and you don't get addicted--even if nothing happens bad on the alcohol end and it doesn't make your problems worse, there is one other problem
if you have a sleeping problem, it needs to be properly diagnosed and treated, whatever it may be. maybe alcohol can deal with it for awhile, but if you have a condition, it could be getting worse. if your sleep problems are caused by stress, alcohol will generally also help calm you. but if your stress is bad enough to cause sleep problems of that extent, it needs to be dealt with. maybe you just need a few lifestyle changes. maybe you need to talk with someone, or be on medication, or maybe all you need is a vacation. it could be anywhere from very complicated to very serious. but if you have a problem, alcohol isn't a cure for most sleep disorders
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
also, if you have sleep apnea, drinking alcohol before bed could be dangerous.
your body needs to wake up because you aren't getting enough oxygen--waking you is a forced safety mechanism.
depending on how you react to alcohol and how much you drink, you could make it much harder for your body to be forced awake by the brain. that's why doctors generally order sleep studies before trying certain types of sleeping drugs. all I'm saying is, try teas, try calming things, try changing your habits (avoiding caffeine), try warm milk, but don't try any drugs (and for these purposes I'd include alcohol) before you talk to a doctor--i might not even try melatonin without talking to a doctor
better safe then sorry. let me reiterate--i'm not against alcohol, or a nightcap before bed. but if you don't know what's going on, don't self-medicate with alcohol or anything else. it's worth suffering a little longer, to keep yourself healthy
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
Good advice! :-) you are very well informed granted! I stick to just one small whiskey before I hit the sack more out of habit than medicinal but it hits the spot & I enjoy it too :-) thanks for sharing the info SLA.
by Scooby on November 4th, 2009
if your going to have alcohol daily, red wine is going for the heart. but bad for your enamel. and brushing immediately after something acidic like that, can actually make it worse. there's a whole rinsing and brushing system recommended. I have no idea what you'd do for whiskey though
SLA? not familiar with that acronym/abbreviation/slang/??
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
SLA = Slightly less anonymous! That is you, yes?? ;-/ I love red wine BTW too, but only have a bottle with friends of a weekend now! as for oral hygiene I stick to the twice a day..... :-)
by Scooby on November 4th, 2009
totally missed that--course, I just changed my name from anonymous to slightly less anonymous because when arguing with other anonymous people I got confused. I generally don't think about the abbreviation of my username until someone else calls me by it and I go huh?
ah, no, the oral hygiene rules with red wine and other acidic things is to not brush immediately afterwards. it's still in your mouth and basically, from what I get, you're brushing the acid in. eating with it, particularly certain cheeses can help. oh, hang on, let me find the article.
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
ah, here. I knew it was npr or the bbc: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8314802.stm
I'm fairly sure npr did a longer version of the story, same basics, but brought on people to interview and ask questions. it was fascinating really
by Slightly less anonymous on November 4th, 2009
Thanks for that SLA :-) ya learn something new every day on AB, I'm a wiser man for it, I pulled this off the site as I'm a lover of cheeses also, not so much a connoisseur but I'm working my way through them as an accompaniment to my wine weekends! :-) Thanks again..
by Scooby on November 5th, 2009
How can you stop this erosion?
1) Alkaline mouthwashes are highly recommended
2) Proper brushing of your teeth with a soft tooth brush is encouraged.
3) Drinking with food is also a good idea as acidic food starts a natural reaction called tooth remineralisation—a salivary function that’s helps restore the teeth’s balance.
4) To help the remineralisation work, wait 30 mins after eating before brushing your teeth.
5) Cheese can also help as it contains calcium in a high concentration
I hope this is helped a little towards taking away the fear factor of White wine.
"Think I need a drink after all that"
by Scooby on November 5th, 2009
+6
by Mountain Momma on November 7th, 2009