Bloody Insomnia

missdelilah

I usually sleep really well, but tonight, it's just not working. I've been trying for an hour and a half, getting up every so often to do something non-exciting, then going back to bed, as is recommended. I shouldn't have checked here. The last post I read in chit-chat made me really upset. There's nothing I hate more than bullying, and it's even less comprehensible to me when adults do it (I think you know the post that I mean, but the OP asked not to be quoted etc. so I'm trying to be respectful). I seriously think this is all my body spiting me because I have a really early appointment tomorrow and have to be on the ball for this one. Well, thankfully I have a ton of coffee in the house and can buy seven cans of Red Bull just before the appointment (although I hate the latter). Does anyone have any good cures for insomnia, or just things that you do when you can't sleep? I usually just put it up with it, or stay up a few hours later and deal with it that way. I'm hoping some of you have some fun comments to add. Thanks ladies!

CMGragain

This isn't fun, but it helps me get into sleep mode:

I review my multiplication times tables in my head up to twelve.  Nice to know I can still remember them.  If that doesn't work, I do presidents of the USA, Kings and Queens of UK, ten commandments, twelve apostles, make lists of favorite classic movies, classic movie stars, until I fall asleep.
The meds I'm on are disturbing my sleep pattern.

missdelilah

Thanks.  I've never tried anything quite that boring.  My dad once suggested running through the plot of a book or movie that you liked, and it usually, but not always works.

It's ridiculous how much medication impacts sleep.  I always end up on stuff that causes me to sleep way too much, or not enough.  I'll pop back in bed and try the times tables.  Even at this point I'm pretty rusty on them.  

Not so good on the presidents of the US (I should learn, but I tend to know the ones who were in power during the periods I've studied, the first few, and the most recent ones), but I can do kings and queens of England back to Henry VI.

Thanks for the suggestions.  I hope you get some sleep too.

CMGragain

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee
Harry, Dick, John, Harry three,
Neds one, two, three
Richard two,
Harrys four, five, six
Then who?
You know the rest!

Try naming the states of the USA with their capitols in alphabetical order.  Lately, I've been working on the countries and capitols of Europe.  Ready for Asia soon!

krcb

I usually stay up pretty late....like right now (my dad went to the ER or else I would actually be asleep!). I've started exercising at night, and I am really tired afterwards and feel ready to sleep! I'm going to keep up this routine as best I can because 1. I can sleep 2. I am getting my fitness on! Win-win.

lurkergirl

I was asleep and wanted to sleep in, but FI snores so damn loudly sometimes.  So I've been up since 4:00 thinking I could fall back asleep on the couch.  Nope.  Wide awake but too early to really do anything...

emmaaa

I drink a glass or two of wine if I'm having a hard time sleeping. There are nights when I'm so restless I just can't sleep and I can usually tell if it's going to be one of those nights by 7 pm. ZzzQuil is also amazing.

mschristie123

I just had to comment and say that when I read the title of your post, I really thought that your insomnia was bloody. As in you were lying in bed, wide awake and bleeding. I read through your OP and I was like, she doesn't say that she's on her period or anything? Why is she bleeding???..................................................... I'm an idiot.

I hope you were able to get back to sleep!

beethery

All I ever have to do is read the first 20 or so pages of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, or put on How It's Made.

emmaaa

beethery said:

All I ever have to do is read the first 20 or so pages of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, or put on How It's Made.

Gosh yes, I had to force myself to read even 10 pages into that book.

levioosa

beethery said:

All I ever have to do is read the first 20 or so pages of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, or put on How It's Made.

=(  So sad.  I will say this, if you get through the first 3/4 (ridiculous, I know) the last quarter totally makes up for it.  It's super intense and you're like, WHERE WAS THIS ALL IN THE BEGINNING?!  The series is now one of my favorite.  The last book is the best, but obviously it doesn't make sense unless you read the other two.  

Also, OP, try taking melatonin and magnesium before bed.  Practice meditation or deep breathing.  Or start crafting a story in your head while you lay there.  Sometimes I can turn an awesome story in my head into an awesome dream before even realizing that I fell asleep.  

missdelilah

Thanks guys. I did eventually get to sleep, but not until almost three. @Time2strtliving I've had some bad reactions to melatonin, but I'll definitely try magnesium. I've done all the deep breathing stuff a million times. It usually works, but it seemed like nothing worked last night. @mschristie123 I should really stop using Australianisms on internet sites. Actually, a lot of British people get 'bloody,' but the people I meet here are often confused by it.

missdelilah

@CMGragain I don't remember learning any fancy rhymes about kings names. And goodness! I don't even know whether I could name the capitals of all 50 states. @emmaaa I tried ZzzQuil (well, a non-branded product with the same active ingredient that's an antihistamine invented in the 1930s) and was super groggy the next day. It's fine if I don't have to get up particularly early, or if I can take it ten hours or more before getting up, otherwise, totally forget driving anywhere for the first several hours after waking. @krcb I thought about exercise, but the internet advised against it, saying that any exercise done within about four hours of sleeping might make it harder to fall asleep. Really not sure on that one, but might do it next time. @lurkergirl I'm sorry you had a sleepless night too. It's so unfun! Well, after being out for twelve hours today, and on my feet for ten, I am well and truly zonked. Hopefully I won't have a repeat of last night.

beethery

Time2strtliving said:

beethery said:

All I ever have to do is read the first 20 or so pages of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, or put on How It's Made.

=(  So sad.  I will say this, if you get through the first 3/4 (ridiculous, I know) the last quarter totally makes up for it.  It's super intense and you're like, WHERE WAS THIS ALL IN THE BEGINNING?!  The series is now one of my favorite.  The last book is the best, but obviously it doesn't make sense unless you read the other two.  

Also, OP, try taking melatonin and magnesium before bed.  Practice meditation or deep breathing.  Or start crafting a story in your head while you lay there.  Sometimes I can turn an awesome story in my head into an awesome dream before even realizing that I fell asleep.  

I totally agree. They were very good, but the first 3/4 took me like 3 months to read because I kept falling asleep!

CMGragain

Really?  This is how British children learn them.

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee,

Harry, Dick, John, Harry three;

One, two, three Neds, Richard two

Harrys four, five, six... then who?

Edwards four, five, Dick the bad,

Harrys twain  and Ned the Lad;

Mary, Bessie, James the Vain,

Charlie,Charlie, James again...

William and Mary, Anna Gloria

Four Georges , William and Victoria;

Edward seven next, and then

George the fifth in 1910;

Ned the eighth soon abdicated

Then George the sixth was coronated;

After which Elizabeth

And that's the end until her death.

Alternatives to last 2 lines (Elizabeth II)

And if you've not lost your breath

Give a cheer for Elizabeth.

Alternatives to last 6 lines (Edward VII onwards)

Edward seven, George and Ned [or Ted],

George the sixth, now Liz instead.

This is easier than learning the Presidents of the United States.

As a music teacher, I had to teach "Fifty, Nifty United States" in alphabetical order.  I can sing it in my sleep.  Much more useful than The Macarena!

emmaaa

missdelilah said:

@CMGragain I don't remember learning any fancy rhymes about kings names. And goodness! I don't even know whether I could name the capitals of all 50 states. @emmaaa I tried ZzzQuil (well, a non-branded product with the same active ingredient that's an antihistamine invented in the 1930s) and was super groggy the next day. It's fine if I don't have to get up particularly early, or if I can take it ten hours or more before getting up, otherwise, totally forget driving anywhere for the first several hours after waking. @krcb I thought about exercise, but the internet advised against it, saying that any exercise done within about four hours of sleeping might make it harder to fall asleep. Really not sure on that one, but might do it next time. @lurkergirl I'm sorry you had a sleepless night too. It's so unfun! Well, after being out for twelve hours today, and on my feet for ten, I am well and truly zonked. Hopefully I won't have a repeat of last night.

That sucks! The reason I like it is because I NEVER feel groggy the next day. A helpful hint though: only take the full dosage if you're getting a full 8 hours of sleep. Anything less, just take 3/4 or 1/2 the dose. That has really helped with me.

steph861

CMGragain said:

This isn't fun, but it helps me get into sleep mode:

I review my multiplication times tables in my head up to twelve.  Nice to know I can still remember them.  If that doesn't work, I do presidents of the USA, Kings and Queens of UK, ten commandments, twelve apostles, make lists of favorite classic movies, classic movie stars, until I fall asleep.
The meds I'm on are disturbing my sleep pattern.

I do the list thing too. I'm not sure if it actually helps me sleep, but it at least keeps me occupied.