What do you do when you can't sleep?

TSgt Kristin Parsons — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 04:14:42 -0500

I tend to watch tv and hope I fall asleep eventually

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 4:21 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 04:21:24 -0500

I s**t the bed and roll around in it. I'm just that psycho.

Now on to something serious............oh the other comment I was going to post is psycho too.

Pretty much, just lay there and stare at the ceiling.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 4:28 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 04:28:17 -0500

TSgt Kristin Parsons It's all about clearing your mind. Pretty easy for me. Not much up there to clear out.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 5:10 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 05:10:11 -0500

Lay in bed in the dark and try to stay awake. That's sure to put you to sleep.

Try to think back to the last PowerPoint presentation you received.

If those fail try SSG Private RallyPoint Member's suggestion and poop the bed.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 6:38 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 06:38:15 -0500

Never had that problem....I can pretty much fall asleep anywhere at anytime. The wife hates this because even if the bed is uncomfortable Im asleep....although I might be in a deep sleep, I can wake up to the slightest sound. Just because your paranoid doesn't mean their not out to get you.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 7:53 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 07:53:48 -0500

Usually read something ... or just lie there and try to think about nothing, TSgt Kristin Parsons. Sometimes I'll get on an electronic device (tablet or phone), but the experts say that's the wrong thing to do because the light you're looking at keeps you awake and makes it even more difficult to fall asleep.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 24 at 2014 9:30 AM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 09:30:22 -0500

Lay in bed going thought get out of my F****ng head. Then i play on my computer or roll around in bed. But normally if i cant sleep it deals with some deep thoughts. So i try meditation

Response by PO1 Steven Kuhn made Dec 24 at 2014 9:36 AM

PO1 Steven Kuhn — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 09:36:02 -0500

I wake up 2 or 3 times every night due to back pain. Sometimes, even when I am very tired, I cannot sleep. Usually it is because of thoughts racing through my head. I try and reminisce of happy times in my life where u felt happy, safe, or peaceful. I try to reject specifics (like who said what, or who cooked what) and focused on the peace and contentment. Sleep came quickly!

Hope you get some good rest,

Steve

Response by Sgt Jason West made Dec 24 at 2014 10:04 AM

Sgt Jason West — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:04:37 -0500

Ever since I found my sleep number I have no problems getting to sleep. Now staying asleep is a whole other matter.

My sleep number is 7. 7 beers and I'm gtg.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 7:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:30:39 -0500

SSD 2

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Dec 24 at 2014 7:53 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:53:52 -0500

I surf the web until I get sleepy.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 7:54 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:54:22 -0500

Melatonin works great.

Response by SrA Andrea West made Dec 24 at 2014 7:55 PM

SrA Andrea West — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:55:14 -0500

I give up and get up and do things around the house, or read until I get sleepy.

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Dec 24 at 2014 7:55 PM

1SG Frank Boynton — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:55:21 -0500

Easy, I get out my old college economics manual and start reading it. In less than two pages I'm out like a light.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 7:57 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:57:55 -0500

TSgt Kristin Parsons, the advise you got so far are some helpful and some funny. Coming from an officially diagnosed insomniac like myself (with all seriousness) understand your diet-by that I mean study in depth what it is you eat or don't eat in relation to rest and relaxation. Coffee is not for everyone. Magnesium deficiency is pretty common in our American diet (a 500 mg daily helps). Worse of all/last resort (I had to stop recently stop) was prescription (Trazadone... Ughh).

Response by SMSgt Judy Hickman made Dec 24 at 2014 7:59 PM

SMSgt Judy Hickman — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:59:26 -0500

I rarely have problems going to sleep. Now staying asleep is another issue, I wake up and my brain starts churning about some issue at work or conversation I need to have with a leader or something else around those lines. At first I don't realize what I am doing and then eventually it clicks in that I just need to stop thinking, I generally start with counting sheep, think about non stressful things and eventually I will nod off.

Unfortunately it happens a lot and I haven't quite found a way to turn my brain back off, once it starts going.

Response by SPC(P) Micah Lavigne made Dec 24 at 2014 10:34 PM

SPC(P) Micah Lavigne — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 22:34:53 -0500

I take meds (no joke) and when I occassionally take a "dud pill" or realized I forgot I read an Army Regulation or an Army Publication. Army Correspondence puts me to sleep every time. (And Ironically I remember parts of it better too)

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 10:44 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 22:44:30 -0500

Still worried that Santa won't bring your toys, TSgt Kristin Parsons? I know that keeps me
up at night.

I was reading about this recently. If you can't go to sleep during the roughly 90 minutes where the brain would normally be in the active REM cycle, there is not much you can do, short of medication to help. According to my readings, it is suggested to make the time productive: Get up and do something useful like chores. Supposedly after around an hour or so, you will feel tired again and can then try to relax and return to bed.

It is not suggested to go to your computer/tablet/phone during this time because the wavelength of light emitted can interfere with the brain's ability to prepare for the relaxation required to enter sleep. This is one of the reasons it is not recommended to surf while in bed.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2014 3:58 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 03:58:36 -0500

I read news and RallyPoint. I pretty much don't sleep. I have been like this since I got back from OIF I. I get about 4 hours usually. Sometimes I read. That probably works the best but it requires light.

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Feb 2 at 2015 5:39 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 17:39:55 -0500

Great question...I usually sleep whenever I lie down...in the car, office or sofa...and the bed of course but when I cant sleep I just listen to some mystical type of meditation music on youtube.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 7:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:04:56 -0500

Usually Read a book.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 1:16 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 01:16:03 -0400

I dream of unicorns and coffee with Presidente Obama.

Response by CPT Alan W. made May 13 at 2015 1:24 AM

CPT Alan W. — Wed, 13 May 2015 01:24:16 -0400

Benadryl.. It's really an antihistamine, but it usually gets me to sleep in an hour or so, and it's not considered to be addictive. I only take it when I'm on the road and suffering from a time zone change.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 1:32 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 01:32:38 -0400

Push ups. Push ups until you reach muscle failure then do ten more and you will sleep like a baby. It works for me every time. I started doing it while was stationed at Fort Hood because I couldn't sleep for at night for weeks on end. Once I started doing countless push up, sleep started coming easy afterwords.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 3:28 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 03:28:22 -0400

free write everything on your mind. I usually keep a list(s) for everything i need to do the next day, next week, etc etc. This helps me to stop thinking of what I need to be doing and lets me disconnect from work.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 3:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 03:58:23 -0400

Turn the lights on and read a book, usually after a few pages I am done. Also, don't think about work or anything like that, it will keep you up all night.

Response by SGT Justin Lamb made May 13 at 2015 4:09 AM

SGT Justin Lamb — Wed, 13 May 2015 04:09:29 -0400

SFC,

It's 3am and I'm on rally point.. Thank god I don't work tomorrow! I tend to watch tv till I pass out or down 2 beers that makes me feel sluggish enough if im lucky. Sometimes I'll get a few cat naps that equal up to an hour or two then the next night it's a better nights rest.. Few days later repeat.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 7:11 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 07:11:50 -0400

Take melatonin, it's amazing.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made May 13 at 2015 7:26 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Wed, 13 May 2015 07:26:43 -0400

I take Melatonin, turn on my white noise machine, and read. That usually does the trick on nights that my ears aren't ringing from my Service connected Tinnitus. Those nights are almost unbearable :(

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 8:13 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 08:13:57 -0400

I read a book. When my eyes start to feel heavy and blur, then I know I am ready to pass out.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 8:51 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 08:51:24 -0400

Right now I am back on sleeping pills. Like someone else said I hate them, because I feel like a zombie waking up.. but at least I am getting sleep again.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 9:23 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 09:23:41 -0400

SFC Joseph James I've been always skeptic about sleeping monitors but, I got a Fitbit last week, to keep the fitness motivation. It comes with an App with pretty cool features like sleeping monitor. I gotta say that in less than a week it has help me to stay asleep longer and get more rest during the night. I don't know if it's something psychological or what but I've been even going to bed earlier than usual just to improve my resting time. It comes in different styles and it looks good in uniform, if you get the black one as me. You can look for more info here: http://www.fitbit.com

Fitbit Official Site for Activity Trackers & More

Find your fit with Fitbit's family of fitness products that help you stay motivated and improve your health by tracking your activity, exercise, food, weight and sleep.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 13 at 2015 1:35 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 13 May 2015 13:35:06 -0400

1. Frequent exercise (normally an hour or more before bedtime).
2. No screens one hour before bed time.
3. Bedroom is cold and dark and not used for anything but sleep.
4. No blue lights an hour or more before bed-for greater effect red lens only.
5. White noise
6. Nutrition and hydration.
7. If needed, melatonin supplements or Valerian root.
8. Lie on stomach with leg cocked up and alternate arm forward, this should immobilize you and prevent tossing and turning, mentally prohibit yourself from moving and image yourself into relaxation.
9. If you've laid for 30 min with no effect get up and read a boring book that you need to read for 15-20 minutes then try again.

Response by SPC Chad Kolod made May 15 at 2015 2:36 PM

SPC Chad Kolod — Fri, 15 May 2015 14:36:30 -0400

I have serious issue sleeping as well, maybe for different reasons. Try a sleep machine that produces white noise. There very cheap on Amazon and they work wonders. It's sounds like a fan. Maybe a little louder, but it works wonders. Good luck and get some sleep!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 4:57 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 May 2015 16:57:17 -0400