I think I'm having insomnia bouts.

[LaDestitute]

Lately, for the past week or so; I've been unable to sleep. It's not that I can't, I just don't want to...and I end up staying up all night up to six AM or later, sometimes even 8 or 9 AM in the morning. And since it has been going on for more than five days (now nearly a week), I think there might be something wrong with me. I suspect I may have psychological problems or something underlying in my psyche that is causing this.

 

[dadevvtsvre]

Are you always on the computer before you go to bed? Staying on the computer all hours of the night will stimulate your brain and keep you awake. The best thing you can do for yourself is to get off the computer at midnight or 1 am or something. Just turn it right off and go to bed. You probably won't fall asleep right away at first but as your body adjusts to your new sleeping schedule you will usually fall asleep and wake up at around the same times.

Seriously. It's not psychological problems. It's as simple as stopping what you're doing, relaxing for a bit and shutting your brain off, and going to bed. Sleep might not seem important but your body can't function properly without it! There are loads of health problems associated with a lack of sleep. Just tell yourself every night that whatever you're doing can wait, and that it's not more important than getting a good night's rest.

A few other things will help you get to sleep faster. Don't eat at night, as not only is it unhealthy but it will keep you awake, especially sugar. (although that should be obvious) Exercising a couple hours before you go to bed is also helpful.

When you don't need to get up for any particular reason, most people have a tendency to stay up all night and feel shitty the next day. Don't let this happen to you. Stay smart and get some sleep.

 

[LaDestitute]

Dav, thanks for the advice.

Edit: Yes, I do tend to stay on the computer nearly the entire day since I have nothing better to do actually. I'm a bit of a night owl anyway. However, I may suspect it may actually be something psychological or related to my past because I've had some major problems in my past that I don't think I'm over yet or are still lurking in my subconscious, causing damage I might not be aware of.

 

[Venetia]

are you sleeping through the day or are you awake all night and all day?
because if you're still getting a decent amount of sleep, but it's just in the daytime, your circadian rhythm is just messed up. and that's not a problem, it happens really easily.

if you find that you can NEVER sleep when you need to, but you REALLY FUCKING NEED TO, and your ability to function during the day is impaired, you could have a legit problem, and see a doctor. don't let them put you on ambien; i can't describe how addictive that shit is.

sometimes psychological problems can affect sleep patterns. PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a condition that causes your brain to never leave its "fight or flight" emergency mode. Soldiers recently returning from war get it frequently. People who were abused a lot as children, or who've seen murders etc are prone to it, too. If this is your case, see a psychologist.

True physiological sleep disorders (hypersomnia, narcolepsy, etc) almost always begin appearing in early-mid adolescence.

 

[Jason]

Sounds like me, don't sleep till 5-6am and wake up at 1-2pm, although I don't see a problem with this, I'm more active after 6pm anyway, always have been, I've always felt groggy during the day but as soon as it's 5-6pm, I get this boost of energy and feel wide awake, like my day has just begun, and I'll stay like that till 4-5 in the morning, never really bothered me lol...

The only thing that annoys me, is getting like 2-3 hours sleep if I have to wake up early, like when I had to wake up for school and college at 7-8am and was falling asleep at 5am, I knew I needed the sleep but no matter what I was doing, couldn't fall asleep before 4am earliest, and it's still like that now, but I've gotten used to it, so meh.

Take some sleeping pills or something, maybe they'll help you, they sure as hell don't help me!

 

[Venetia]

if your circadian rhythm is simply messed up (this is very easy to do), then do this.

- one day, FORCE yourself to wake up during the morning (i.e. 8-9am).

- don't nap. you will want to. real bad. don't. do something strenuous or very active to keep your mind out of sleep.

- don't take caffeine after 3pm.

- don't do any exercise after 5pm.

- stay off the computer and video games within 2 hours of bedtime.

- before bed, make sure your bedroom is clean, dark, and cave-like. take a warm bath, and do something to rest your mind. brushing your teeth and a good floss is a good idea too. believe it or not oral hygeine affects sleep hygeine. if you have detritus in your mouth your mind will focus on it, even if you're not.

- try to sleep. if after 30 minutes you can't sleep, get up, read for a little bit (or do something that makes you tired--DON'T get on the computer!), then try again. rinse and repeat all night.

do this for a few days and your rhythm should be back to normal.
this is called sleep hygiene btw.

 

[Venetia]

Take some sleeping pills or something, maybe they'll help you, they sure as hell don't help me!

they actually hurt you. though you may sleep on them, you will get less slow-wave (restful) sleep, and will wake up tired. they impair your GABA receptors in your brain which affect your ability to control your own circadian rhythm (and a lot more than that but I'll be brief).
if taken once in a while they're fine but taking them even for a few days in a row can do a lot of harm!

 

[Sgt. Cookie]

I often get to sleep about 2-3 am. And wake up about half 11. Bloody brilliant.

 

[dadevvtsvre]

if your circadian rhythm is simply messed up (this is very easy to do), then do this.

- one day, FORCE yourself to wake up during the morning (i.e. 8-9am).

- don't nap. you will want to. real bad. don't. do something strenuous or very active to keep your mind out of sleep.

i end up having to do this alot when it's the end of a holiday and school or work starts soon. it really sucks and you will feel crappy for a few days but as soon as your body adjusts to the new cycle you'll feel good again. but if you nap during the day and end up not going to bed early one night the whole cycle is screwed up and you have to start all over.

 

[Ellie]

insomnia butts







it sounds to me like you just have a fucked up sleep schedule. it's rather common round this site.

How long do you actually sleep for?

 

[OrbitDuke]

Anyone in college I think has this issue, binge drinking nights aside.
I had the same issue for a while. I'd stay up all night working on a report and next thing I know I get on Facebook or something and then it's time for class!
All the above advice works great. force yourself outta bed early, and get to bed early too. allow yourself those 8 hours of sleep. You'll find after a few days of doing it it'll come a lot easier. Do some work outs in the moring. a good morning jog will get you ready for the rest of the day. If jogging isn't your thing, take up a martial art. Nothing beats the feeling of doing a few kata before the cup coffee and some flapjacks.

Don't take PM painkiller or let a doc get you on a medicine if you don't have a legit problem. PM painkiller is just funky, and most sleeping medications can be addictive. Best bet is to force yourself to rework your sleeping schedule.