What do you do when you can't sleep?

[Sapphire eyes]

Just wondering as I am often a worry wort and have this problem...any hints or tips...?

[Willowtree252]

I will take a hot shower or bath my friend that always helps.

[Boschi]

I'm sure I'm not alone in suggesting the old stand-by - masturbation.

Cheers,

Boschibator

[Willowtree252]

oh my I thought I was the only one that did that one

[Floyd]

Listen to "sleepy" music, try and clear my mind of all my thoughts, have a wank, write down anything that's bothering me... And if all that fails, come online and talk to my other-timezone friends.

[dlline]

I'm with Boschi. Well, not really because that would change the whole dynamic of this conversation. I agree with Boschi.

[gorn]

What are we talking about? Sorry, I fell asleep and missed the beginning of this thread ...

[JujuDeRoussie]

And if all that fails, come online and talk to my other-timezone friends.

same here...
and I also agree with Boschi... But then who will say the contrary? lol

[woahnellie]

hmm hands in pockets i say! and i tend to write occasionally!

[mangled_monkey]

I sing to myself. Lullabyes can work even when sung to yourself...

[cathy north]

Wake up my squeeze and see why she's sleeping through my insomnia. So rude of her. Then there is the Boschi approach wich does the trick too.

I do LOVE how candid we can be here.

[JujuDeRoussie]

hmm hands in pockets i say! and i tend to write occasionally!

It happens sometimeS... I have so much things on my mind that if I don't write them down I will never sleep.. but it is another kind of insomnia isn't it? ^^

[writerfreak]

I read, or write, if I'm worried about something or my mind is too full. But if it's just simple insomnia and I can't sleep with no reason to stay awake, I have found that watching Rachel sleep puts me right there with her rather quickly.

writerfreak

[Sapphire eyes]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions there everyone lol you guys do make me lol I am British we don't masturbate we have Horlics malted drink lol lmao thanks for the suggestions everyone

[writerfreak]

Oh, and I forgot to add, if I'm angry (like right now) I write crazy pissed off lyrics or draw pictures of the people I'm pissed at and throw darts at them.

writerfreak

[VampKei]

When I can't sleep it's usually 1 of 2 things. The first being that I have a lot of ideas that I need to write down, or I'm worrying about something. I usually watch a really bad movie. Something of the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 variety. Usually it is an ep of MST3k And of course as with everyone else masturbation does wonders. It makes you forget what you were worrying about and you get to fall asleep feeling good and relaxed..

[JustSkipIt]

Well, first off I usually sleep very deeply and very easily. On the rare occasions that I can't sleep I usually do one of two things. If it is before 4:30 or so, I get up and work for an hour or two (if I don't have work to do, I surf the web). If it's 4:00 or so or after, I get up and go to the gym. I get very irritated that my gym doesn't open until 8:00 on the weekends.

[Teddykins]

I agree with some of the others..."dancing with yourself."
Yeah, I think masturbation or a warm shower...or both if you have one of those little detachable shower heads.

I ususally roam the internet. Like right now...I should be sleeping right now. Hahaha.

[Teddykins]

Oh, and I forgot to add, if I'm angry (like right now) I write crazy pissed off lyrics or draw pictures of the people I'm pissed at and throw darts at them.

writerfreak

I like your answer :]
I do that too...minus the darts. Now I want darts.

[Sapphire eyes]

Good advice people but I kind of stay away from darts ever since my brother threw one at my arm, or should I say into my arm when I was little :(
I can't sleep now I have tried everything...
Anymore tips would be very much appreciated

[Teddykins]

Good advice people but I kind of stay away from darts ever since my brother threw one at my arm, or should I say into my arm when I was little :(
I can't sleep now I have tried everything...
Anymore tips would be very much appreciated

have you considered cutting back on your caffine intake?

or exercising before bed?

you basically need to tire yourself out but if you are drinking anything with caffine that isnt going to work

[Sapphire eyes]

Yep I am always walking and exercising because of health issues, I don'tg drink anything with caffiene beofre I go to bed. Thanks for the tip though

[Teddykins]

no problem i live to help or at least try....but this doesnt work for everything

[littlewicca]

just stay in bed, if i cant sleep is because im thinking too much,m so i stay thinking untill i fal asleep..

[Auriam]

I take a shower then I listen to music relax.
If i don't feel like listen to music i think about good and happy stuff

[cathy north]

Well here I am and it's 3:43 AM

[umgaynow]

well last night I had an anxiety attack...but usually I either read, watch bad latenight tv or meditate, petting the dog (not a euphemism) is also a good substitute for the meditation and much easier on those nights when you can't sleep cuz your brain won't shut off...

I've been an insomniac my whole life so I have tried pretty much everything...I try to stay off the internet now because that just makes me stay awake longer...sometimes used to play my guitar quietly but I have a busted string right now and can't afford a new one...also I find that reading poetry or something you have absolutely no interest in or something tedious can also be helpful...I used to read the begets at the beginning of the Bible

[Emms]

I recite monologues/dialogue from movies /television in my head... I've done it ever since I was a kid. I have an audio-graphic memory and I can recite hours of dialogue verbatim. It usually puts me to sleep after a while.

[Boschi]

A friend says he likes to get up and have a bowl of cereal or ice cream. Something about the carbs or dairy helps him conk out.

Hmmm.... hey, what about turkey? It has that sleepy making amino acid, tryptophan. Yup, medicinal turkey. Keep it in a vial by your bed.

But seriously, there are supplements that include tryptophan, usually mixed with some other "natural" sedatives. I think someone has already mentioned valerian, and there is also kava kava, but check the laws in your country/area - some places restrict it. Also be aware that kava kava has been implicated in some rare but severe health problems, and that it can make some folks groggy when they shouldn't be - like when you're driving. (I, on the otherhand, seem completely unaffected by it....).

I don't know about the homeopathic "stuff" though - I'm a skeptic at heart.

As for me, I know that doing something physically active during the afternoon or early evening really helps me sleep.

[umgaynow]

I recite monologues/dialogue from movies /television in my head... I've done it ever since I was a kid. I have an audio-graphic memory and I can recite hours of dialogue verbatim. It usually puts me to sleep after a while.

Glad to know I'm not the only one...and now I know what to call it instead of like a photographic memory but more like a tape recorder than a camera...duh!

hehe just had a silly thought...what if in place of photographic, someone had a pornographic memory?