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Sleep

The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 20,783
edited March 2009 in Health, fitness & training
Anyone know of anything that'll knock me out? (besides a hammer :lol:)

I'm having trouble sleeping again. I used to be pretty much an insomniac a few years ago, not sleeping for a week and then sleeping for a full 24hrs or more. I ended up kinda growing out of it.

Seems to be coming back, Its not that I don't really feel tired, I just....can't sleep :?

I've been trying to force myself to sleep, ie getting in bed and staying there, but nothing happens... I just get bloody bored.

when I do "sleep" its more like resting. I'm not really asleep, I'm pretty aware of whats going on around the house etc. I was listening to the foxes until 5am this morning, watched a police helicopter searching the woods for the escaped convict around 3am and was casually reading MBUK in between :lol:.

Any ideas?
B
Santa Cruz Butcher
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  • TeddzzyTeddzzy Posts: 13
    Hi Mate.

    I get like this sometimes, Co Op do "sleep aids" they have the same stuff in them that Nitol do, I take one about 40 mins before bed (when I need too) and they knock me right out.

    Wake up in the morning and feel right as rain.

    You're not stessed or anything are you?? Getting plenty of exercise?
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 20,783
    Kewl, tried nytol before but it never really worked for me.

    Aye pretty stressed... finaly year in uni atm... shed loads of work.

    Trying to get more active, haven't been riding as much as I want too recently due to shed loads of work :(
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • counterculturecounterculture Posts: 507
    try your local chinese medicine shop, i picked up a tea from one here that was for helping with anxiety/insomnia/stress, you feel a load being lifted without feeling completely monged out, it helps you drift off but it doesnt keep you asleep either. i dont know what its called as i cant read cantonese, but it came in a blue packet.
    i spent all me money on whisky and beer!!!
  • Surf-MattSurf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    We have a 5 month old baby.

    Please explain this strange thing you call "sleep..." :cry::lol:
  • ride_wheneverride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    If you're a finalist, go to the doctor, get some beta-blockers.

    That'll help with the stress and let you sleep, a few of my friends swore by them for finals.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    I take beta blockers, I think they interfere with sleep if anything!

    Try making a medicinal pillow from hops and lavender, like on that grow your own drugs prgramme that was on last night.

    Melatonin can help, but I'd discuss that with a doc.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • KiblamsKiblams Posts: 2,423
    I was on beta-blockers from the age of 16-22 and during that time I had several bouts of sleepless nights. Mind you, I was an college and uni for most of that time...
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    I've taken the things for 7 years now, was diagnosed with severe hypertension at just 24!

    If I miss a dose, god, do you know about it, banging palpitations.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 20,783
    Meh, I really hate taking medical stuff.... you'll never find me popping a pain killer.
    The only thing that ever sends me crashing to sleep is alcohol. 6 pints of stella + pillow = passed out. (bit impractical atm :lol:)

    However, i'm pretty much tee-total atm. My only weakness is chocolate.

    Might head over the chinese remedy place and see if they've got some natural stuff...sounds promising :)

    tried a nytol last night, kinda made me feel sleepy for about 2 hours, but I still couldn't manage to drift off.

    I have slept in more lectures than I have in bed tho! :lol: maybe i just need to watch some tediously boring videos to send me off :D
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • KiblamsKiblams Posts: 2,423
    supersonic wrote:
    If I miss a dose, god, do you know about it, banging palpitations.

    I know what you mean, I had a chest infection so had to come off them cold turkey! :shock: and walking anywhere for a few weeks afterwards became very uncomfortable in my chest indeed. I had them for anxiety and chronic migrainesand I realy wouldn't advise messing around them at all, especially for something as meager as sleeping problems.
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • TempestasTempestas Posts: 504
    I find an 8 hour solo ride makes me drift off nicely, just remember to have some food ready for as soon as you get in and have a quick shower before you eat. 15 minutes after finishing dinner I am asleep and cannot be woken.
  • BorisSpencerBorisSpencer Posts: 786
    Lettuce sandwich for supper. Not sure why but it has worked for me when I've had problems.
    Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.
  • .blitz.blitz Posts: 6,588
    bigbenj_08 wrote:
    The only thing that ever sends me crashing to sleep is alcohol.
    Same here - Stella, McEwans or any kind of red wine and I'm gone.

    Something else that works is to mentally replay your last bike ride. Start from the first turn of the pedals and stick with it - every twist'n'turn, every climb, every descent. If you find your mind drifting, go back to the last bit you can remember and carry on. HTH.
  • MancunianfightingcatMancunianfightingcat Posts: 2,054
    beer always knocks me out, but then I don't sleep properly after too much alcohol, I fidget about all night and wake up more tired. If I'm genuinely tired, one beer normally sends me right off!

    You can't beat loads of exercise and a good feed though! That gets you proper sleep.!
    Ants
    Orange Blood - Orange 5SE - Marin Rocky Ridge
  • MastineoMastineo Posts: 182
    ZOPICLONE, prescription only but works amazingly well. Gives you incredibly realistic dreams as well, which might not be a good thing.
  • FurkukFurkuk Posts: 71
    If you drink coffee then stop, you will be amazed just what an effect it has on you :D
    Now the owner of a GT Aggressor XC 3
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 20,783
    Furkuk wrote:
    If you drink coffee then stop, you will be amazed just what an effect it has on you :D
    consider caffeine dropped from my diet :)

    edit: and chocolate for that matter. Could be sugar :S
    what other cheap "snacks" an i have instead? :(
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • FurkukFurkuk Posts: 71
    What about Nutella on a digestive biscuit? :wink:
    Now the owner of a GT Aggressor XC 3
  • PopehPopeh Posts: 115
    If your having any naps throughout the day/early evening these don't help either.

    I go through long periods of been unable to sleep, lie in bed till early hours of the morning and eventually turn my laptop on outa bordom .... as a result I end up napping through the day (once in a lecture).

    It's weird, you go to bed feeling really heavy eyed and tired but once your there it just doesn't happen.

    So all I can really suggest is avoid any naps before you go bed, avoid caffeine after late afternoon, do some work you need to be working on which will leave you feeling more relaxed about getting some done rather than spending your entire night thinking about what you need to do.

    If your sleep cycle slips a few times it can take a while to get back into a routine.
    - Marin 2005 East Peak
  • BlackSpurBlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Melatonin is great stuff - I could never sleep on planes before I tried a small dose but I was out pretty damn fast! My dad who is a commercial pilot so has to sleep at all sorts of weird times, swears by it!
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    I get insomnia, usually because my brain refuses to switch off! It usually is trying to design a full susser lol.

    Anyway, trying to purge your thoughts and stop calculating stuff helped me. Let thoughts naturally eter your head - before long you'll be dreaming.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 20,783
    Haha, i'm either thinking about bikes or cars..

    ATM i'm trying to decide wether a clio 172 cup or a Golf GTI 1.8T would be best :lol:

    I've been planning how much I have to save/earn so that I can get a nice car and a spesh fsr trail 2 when i've finished uni :D
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    hehe, now the sun comes up earlier it gets really depressing at 6am!

    Though my suss quest is almost solved - I thin Dave Weagle has is 'sussed', best design I have seen.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • The Northern MonkeyThe Northern Monkey Posts: 20,783
    Got a pic? :P

    I was still up at 8am this morning as my flatmate was putting out the rubbish.I'd been sat watching the news for hours and getting insurance quotes from confused.com and direct line :lol:

    Got some good deals too :P
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • reppohkcorreppohkcor Posts: 111
    Tell the doctor your getting bad pressure headaches, mention amitriptiline to him/her, with any luck you'll get a prescription. That stuff'l get you dreamin' 8)
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    Bloody hell, used to take that too! Well, its brother dothiepin. Was quite sedative!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • reppohkcorreppohkcor Posts: 111
    supersonic wrote:
    Bloody hell, used to take that too! Well, its brother dothiepin. Was quite sedative!

    I've tried stopping taking it, the doctor gave it to me because of my different/unknown symptomes, in other words they didn't know exactly what was wrong!
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    Sounds very familiar! After a few months they realised I shouldn't have been on it at all with my BP problems!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • reppohkcorreppohkcor Posts: 111
    supersonic wrote:
    Sounds very familiar! After a few months they realised I shouldn't have been on it at all with my BP problems!
    Sorry i'm hijacking the thread! Indeed well i'm back to see the doc tomorrow morning, chest pains and wierd pulputations, everything is going wrong ever since i got a bad virus before christmas!
  • antflyantfly Posts: 3,448
    edited March 2009
    I would avoid Chinese medicine,you don`t know what`s in it and sometimes they use powerful dugs and people think it really works.Well yes it does,because they have put poweful prescription drugs in without telling anyone.
    Smarter than the average bear.
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