Who has trouble falling to sleep?

2018-06-23T04:05:12-04:00

Some night I can't go to sleep at all. I stay up all night and surf the net or watch TV or play poker or other games I have on the computer.
Do you have any suggestions that might help..

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2018 8:05 AM

2018-06-23T08:05:28-04:00

Good morning. As a fellow insomniac, I do have some suggestions for you. Like others have previously mentioned, screens trick your brain into staying awake. Stay off of them to help you fall asleep. Watching t.v. in bed is bad as well. My medical provider instructed me to only use the bed for sleep and for 'extracurricular' activities.

Chamomile tea helps people fall asleep. I used it and it worked like a charm. Melatonin can also assist with falling asleep. The problem I had with melatonin was that I would fall asleep quickly, but I would wake up a few hours later. I fixed that issue with taking a regular melatonin capsule to fall asleep and a time-release melatonin capsule to help me stay asleep. Allergies can also affect your sleep pattern. For whatever reason, I had a lot of trouble sleeping when I lived in Texas. As soon as I PCSed to Fort Lewis, WA, My sleep problems went away on their own. I hope this is able to help some. Good luck!

*edit* I almost forgot, naps can affect your ability to sleep at night. Be careful with napping during the day. If you absolutely must nap, try to limit your nap to approximately 30 minutes. This will help you feel refreshed but it will prevent you from falling into a deep R.E.M. sleep. Falling into R.E.M. sleep and waking up in the middle of it will make you feel more tired than you felt before you took a nap.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2018 1:09 PM

2018-06-23T13:09:17-04:00

About 2 hours (at least) before bed, eliminate all electronics usage. What also helps me, besides staying away from electrics, is reading in bed. For me, it helps in the winding down. Some times, my wife is amazed that I fall asleep still holding the book.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 23 at 2018 3:56 PM

2018-06-23T15:56:33-04:00

Only thing I'll add is you're doing stuff that keeps the mind churning. Agree you should lay off the iPacifier stuff. In bed, focus on relaxing your body. If you start to mentally process anything, stop and refocus on relaxing the body. You'll notice that maybe you're clenching your fist or your arm is pinned under your pillow, whatever. Free everything up and focus on the relaxing and clearing your mind. It's been a go-to thing for me because I'm always doing something otherwise. And remember to set your DVR early so you don't fixate on that either.