[bt]

Lemme hear em, thanks in advance

[planetlisa]

I recently got into brainwave entrainment. It plays tones designed to affect your state of mind. There are many apps out there; my favorite is called Get High Now

[Marshfield]

Melatonin helps my husband

[janedoe726]

Another vote for Melatonin!

[Foxtrot's]

+ for Melaltonin! it is mild, no morning hangover and works with the body to produce Seratonin. it does not work instantly, but gives a good sleep. All sleep-aids are addictive and I refuse to go there.

These days I don't need the melatonin, and try to use less and less when I do not sleep well.

But sleep is more than that - it is routine, not eating foods that disagree with you, not going to bed hungry and waking up with the 3:00 am low blood sugar,
or over-full. If you wake up, it may be because you are thirsty, and don't know it, or that you need to go to thebathroom, and don't know it, or need a teeny snack like a bit of cheese.....no coffee, tea, wine, etc. It is re-setting your clock so bedtime is always the same, etc. Takes resolution.

I used to be the world's worst sleeper, but am quite good at it these days and feel unbelievably better since I'm not dragging my sorry ass round all day.

[Alagirl]

+ for Melaltonin! it is mild, no morning hangover and works with the body to produce Seratonin. it does not work instantly, but gives a good sleep. All sleep-aids are addictive and I refuse to go there.

These days I don't need the melatonin, and try to use less and less when I do not sleep well.

But sleep is more than that - it is routine, not eating foods that disagree with you, not going to bed hungry and waking up with the 3:00 am low blood sugar,
or over-full. If you wake up, it may be because you are thirsty, and don't know it, or that you need to go to thebathroom, and don't know it, or need a teeny snack like a bit of cheese.....no coffee, tea, wine, etc. It is re-setting your clock so bedtime is always the same, etc. Takes resolution.

I used to be the world's worst sleeper, but am quite good at it these days and feel unbelievably better since I'm not dragging my sorry ass round all day.

Yes, on the melatonin, I have days when I get over exhausted and can't sleep. the pill might not work on the first night, but usually the second is better.

Also routines and rituals.
Shut down all electronics, especially backlit ones, well before bedtime.
Don't eat late, have a light supper.
A hot bath or shower, soothing scents...cut down on the afternoon java (or have some for those people who are put to sleep by it. there are a few)

Read a boring book!

No electronics in the bedroom.

[veetiepony]

I'm curious about this too. Which brands that manufacture melatonin are the best?

[Alagirl]

I'm curious about this too. Which brands that manufacture melatonin are the best?

I use Walmart brand.

[Foxtrot's]

Costco...guess they are all similar, wouldn't know, not tried any others.

[Event4Life]

Read yourself to sleep, or listen to an audiobook. Go for a walk before bed. Do not use internet directly before bed. Don't drink caffeine after lunch.

[Foxtrot's]

Son-in-law: - "No alcohol before noon, no caffeine after noon" works for him.

[Grataan]

Read yourself to sleep, or listen to an audiobook. Go for a walk before bed. Do not use internet directly before bed. Don't drink caffeine after lunch.

This works for me except for those times when there isn't going to be anything that works for me, like tonight. Throwing electronics out of the bedroom is out for us here (unless kindles and iphones/ipads don't count)

AdvilPM/TylenolPM/Benadryl backfire on me (get super revved up, like a toddler that gets sugar and caffeine)

Of course, I do occasionally have caffeine after noon (like when I'm on call and get sleepy before I can go to sleep) oh hell who am I kidding it's more like after 6 not after noon. I got headaches from the melatonin capsules I tried, but luckily I'm on a new muscle relaxer for my back and it makes me sleepy.

Did have a talk with my GP and he said try most of what other people have suggested if still not working we can try sleep aids but I'm not sure I want to go that route quite yet. Does anyone take RX sleep aids?

[bf1]

I have suffered for years. My physician and I are pretty convinced it is due to hormones - I am post menopausal, and this is not uncommon.

I have gotten through by various means. Good sleep hygiene - no caffiene after my one morning cup, no computer after dinner, etc. Once a week I take a tylenol pm, and get a decent night - altho I still wake several times. I am now on a regimine of 3 gr of melatonin - 3 hrs before bedtime. It does help, but again, I rarely feel "rested" in the morning.

I had a blood test, and I am low in vitamin D (yes I supplement, and yes I do get sun). Very interesting to learn this. I have upped my supplements to 4000 per day.

We will give this about 3 months, then get a sleep study done if it doesn't help.

Good luck. But do try melatonin. And turn off the electronics - it is the "blue" light they say that interferes with our brain.

[Event4Life]

This works for me except for those times when there isn't going to be anything that works for me, like tonight. Throwing electronics out of the bedroom is out for us here (unless kindles and iphones/ipads don't count)

AdvilPM/TylenolPM/Benadryl backfire on me (get super revved up, like a toddler that gets sugar and caffeine)

Of course, I do occasionally have caffeine after noon (like when I'm on call and get sleepy before I can go to sleep) oh hell who am I kidding it's more like after 6 not after noon. I got headaches from the melatonin capsules I tried, but luckily I'm on a new muscle relaxer for my back and it makes me sleepy.

Did have a talk with my GP and he said try most of what other people have suggested if still not working we can try sleep aids but I'm not sure I want to go that route quite yet. Does anyone take RX sleep aids?

kindle w/ e-ink is fine - anything with a lighted screen (aka Iphone/Ipad/kindle fire/tablet/etc) is what effects lack of sleep/insomnia/whatever you want to call it, according to my mom the expert (love having a GP for a mom, haha!).

When I'm traveling I almost always need an audiobook to fall asleep - one you've listened to time and time again works best. For me it's Harry Potter.

If I must use sleep aids I use Tylenol PM (usually when I'm staying in a youth hostel dorm) and drink a glass of wine before bed. It has to only be a glass though; for me more than 1 and I'm up half the night!

[IronwoodFarm]

Good sleep hygiene is everything. I try to stick to my normal bedtime as much as possible.

I'm also one of those lucky people that easily fall asleep with a TV on. So when I am traveling, I crank up the AC, burrow into my bed, tune into a channel with talking heads and fall asleep easily. Sometime in the middle of the night I turn off the TV and continue sleeping.

[Perfect Pony]

Two things that work very well for me is drinking electrolytes (making sure I am hydrated) and taking a Calcium/Magnesium supplement. Both dehydration and a lack of calcium/magnesium can cause insomnia.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/163169.php

[flashwhitelock]

Sleep study may be worth it. I had no idea I had restless leg and sleep apnea. Once treated, low and behold, presto, no insomnia.

[StefffiC]

I have Trazadone and Xanax. Don't mix them, but if I'm just having insomnia with no anxiety Trazadone works great. If I've got panic attacks and anxiety I take Xanax instead.

I can usually sleep without either.

I have also tried Lunesta and the other more common one - I can't recall the name - and both worked, but I had really bad nightmares on both.