Need Help Falling Asleep!

Tylenol Pm, glass of wine, and a hot bath did relax me enough to fall asleep. Working out during the day also helps. I would sleep at least get 4-5 hours.  Still working at it!

I have had insomnia problems for the past few years and have some tips.  The Sleepytime Extra tea is great and works well for me.  Also, take a calcium/magnesium supplement (be sure it doesn't have Vit A or any other ingredients that might be stimulants - just pure calcium/magnesium) and drink it down with a little warm milk with honey in it. The enzymes in the milk help you metabolize the calcium. Calcium is often called "nature's tranquilizer"!

This may sound too obvious, but be sure you aren't getting any caffeine, chocolate or other stimulants within 4-6 hours before bedtime. I have been kept awake for hours just from some chocolate sauce on my dessert- who'da thunk.

Another trick that I really like when I have something heavy on my mind: journaling. Sometimes when the words are floating around in your head and you keep thinking the same thoughts over and over again, it helps to put them on paper. I have a big journal document saved on my  home computer that is full of my thoughts, fears, dreams, frustrations - and just a half hour of banging away on the keyboard makes me feel calmer somehow and I can finally drift off to sleep. Try it - it might really help.

Good luck - and remember that it will get better.

The valarian tea and meditation seemed to help, I slept almost a whole 5 hours last night! I just kept repeating a mantra (love as I would breathe in and peace while I would exhale) and though sad thoughts still came into my head I was able to sleep some. And when I would feel awake and sad, I would read and distract myself. Thank you all for your help.

All good advice, thanks everyone! I have been trying the book, the exercise and the keeping busy, herbal sleeping aids, no help yet, but I will pick up the tea and the tylenol pm and hoping it will work!

It always helps me to read a good book right before bed, that usually relaxes me and makes me drowsy to fall asleep.  The advice about cleaning the house until you can't keep awake also helps to.  Or even trying to exercise a little bit each day, like taking a walk in the fresh air helps to.  Or if all else fails the tylenol pm works to!

If you want some help with the meditation try one of the CD's they have out there. Brian L. Weiss, MD makes a good one and there's another favorite of mine that I just can NOT remember the name of.. grrr... I will try my best to find it and get back to you. These really do walk you through it until you get the hang of it.

Thank you so much, I will pick some up today! I've been trying the meditation thing but it hasn't been working so well. You are right, though, I just need to stick with it!

I just went through the insomnia thing last week. I will tell you what I did and hopefully it will help. Before bed sit down and relax. Get some Sleepytime tea with Valarian (make sure it has Valarian in it). Celestial Seasonings makes it and it's called Sleepytime Plus (or something like that). Drink your tea and try some meditation. If you've never done meditation it may be really hard at first so if that doesn't work maybe a hot bath or something like that. Even if the meditation doesn't work for you, keep it up, it's gets easier with practice. Best of luck and if you have any questions feel free to send me a message.

Thanks. The lack of sleep is just adding to the sadness and depression. It's a bad loop to be in!

Tylenol PM worked for me too.  Hang in there.

I am sorry I can't help. I can only tell you I have been there. One of things I took to help was Tylenol PM. I also clean my house and organized until I could not keep my eyes open. I can only tell you that it will get better and you will be able to get some sleep.