sleepless in "Villages"

[jebartle]

Anybody have any ideas on how to conquer insomnia....Not interested in prescription drug approach for fear of leading to OTHER problems...Any and all suggestions is appreciated.

[Barefoot]

Anybody have any ideas on how to conquer insomnia....Not interested in prescription drug approach for fear of leading to OTHER problems...Any and all suggestions is appreciated.

If I can't sleep, sometimes I visit TOTV and read the dog threads over and over and over. That would put anyone to sleep. :mornincoffee:

P.S. Have you tried Melatonin?

[graciegirl]

One of the frequent posters on this forum told me that for a long time after moving here she couldn't sleep well. She was so exited about all of the things she was going to do the next day.

I say....just get up and have a nice cold drink and maybe stay up with something interesting to do...like a puzzle or a murder mystery or have a television in one of the other bedrooms with earphones so as not to disturb your mate. Your mother didn't say you had to STAY in bed and if you are tired tomorrow, you can take a nap.

You can also take a walk...outside at night. I would and do sometimes. I think that this place is wonderfully safe.

[ooomy]

now that is funny:a040:

[graciegirl]

now that is funny:a040:

thank you.:D

[zcaveman]

If you have Comcast, you can alwats put on channel 2 and let VNN put you to sleep.

[pooh]

If you have a small CD player and headphones, you can try this CD...Sound Sleep by Kelly Howell. It works. Before you realize it, you're off to dreamland.
Here's a link... http://www.brainsync.com/shop/sound-sleep.html
A friend recommended Kelly Howell CDs to me years ago. I have a few and find them to be very relaxing. My bedside radio is also a CD player and I've got a small set of headphones that plug into the CD player. I put on the CD, put on the headphones and before the CD is over, I'm asleep.

[Boomer]

Hi jebartle,

A long time ago, maybe a year, I started a thread on the topic of insomnia. It is buried in the archives somewhere here in the Medical and Health Discussion forum.

I generally do OK with sleep. But there are times when my brain kicks in and just will not shut up and I end up thinking too much about whatever has been on my mind.

I have found though that I can generally trick my brain into thinking about something that is completely boring but involves some concentration. That works most of the time. Sometimes I try to think through the alphabet in random order. It is so boring that it might only take one time to try getting to the 26 letters. Other times, I start counting backward from 1000 by 7's. Try boring the heck out of your brain.

Another thing I do is turn on a CD that I have had forever. It is a recording of the rhythmic sound of surf hitting the beach. That is the only sound. No seagulls or anything. Just the surf. That works sometimes, too. I also have a CD that is a recording of a steady rain. It has a little thunder but it is off in the distance, a far away rumble. But I like the surf one better.

I hope you can find something easy to help you, too.

Goodnight
Boomer

[kfierle]

I, too, was am insomnia suffer for longer than I would like to admit. I had difficulty falling asleep or would wake up after only a few hours of sleep and be awake for the rest of the night. I know how frustrating it can be.

A friend who had just finished cancer treatments told me about a product her doctor mentioned that would be good for her insomnia. It is an over-the-counter sleep product called Midnite. Now please understand that I am NOT one to take any type of pill but I was desperate. I asked my pharmicist friend about the safety of the product and she said go ahead and try it since one of the primary ingredients was melatonin. She also mentioned that it may take a while for the melatonin to build up in my body so I may have to take it for several days before seeing any results. I decided to try it and it worked!! It doesn't "knock you out" and I never feel like I am "foggy, groggy" when I get up in the morning. It helps me fall asleep and stay asleep for several hours. I can also take this product if I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. Now I only take the product when needed, not on a nightly basis.

I was SO happy that I found something that worked for me that I mentioned it to several other friends who were struggling with sleep. They all found relief using this product. One friend was using a prescription sleep aid and tried this product and now uses Midnite instead.

I am not a salesman and do not own stock in this company. I just know that it worked for me and thought I would share it with you.

I hope you find something that works for you since insomnia is the pitts!!

[islandgal]

Boomer -
I also have several CD's of the surf, one with dreamy music and one with the surf only.
I play one of them every night as I turn off the light when I hit the sack - it works every night for me.

[bkcunningham1]

Take care not to eat anything too late in the evening. Your body working to digest a meal can keep you awake. Of course, watch how late your intake includes any caffeine, coffee, chocolate, tobacco, sugar, vitamin C, et al. When I have trouble sleeping, I like to drink a cup of Celestial Seasonings Sleepy Time (caffeine-free) tea while making an effort to mentally relax.
My husband uses Tylenol PM. He says it works like a charm and doesn't leave him feeling weird in the morning; just rested.

[getdul981]

You might try this.

http://insomnia.emedtv.com/valerian/valerian.html

[Talk Host]

Click here and your sleepless nights are over. (http://johnmorganseminars.com/sleep-all-night.html)

I have been associated with this company for 20 years. I can vouch for its effectiveness.

JLK

[Russ_Boston]

A minimum of 1 hour of vigorous exercise daily.

I like this idea plus (if you don't like beach sounds or the like) try putting a small window fan on the floor near your side of the bed. It creates a gentle flow of air across your face and as a bonus creates a white-noise that is very soothing.

[ConeyIsBabe]

Anybody have any ideas on how to conquer insomnia....Not interested in prescription drug approach for fear of leading to OTHER problems...Any and all suggestions is appreciated.

(1) Do not eat any food or drink (except water) three hours before bedtime.
(2) Your last meal (3-hrs before bedtime) should NOT be spicy and MOSTLY carbs, like pasta, potatoes, veggies ~ and small amount of protein.
(3) Of course, do not think about anything stressful !
(4) No daytime naps ! :laugh:

[jebartle]

Wow!...Thanks everyone, you are Grrrrreeeeereaaat! Just love this place!

[BobKat1]

Click here and your sleepless nights are over. (http://johnmorganseminars.com/sleep-all-night.html)

I have been associated with this company for 20 years. I can vouch for its effectiveness.

JLK

I know it's progressed a lot since WAY back in my younger days, but I imagine a man with a mustache moving a pocket watch back and forth saying "you are getting sleepy"....

[MSNPA]

When I first moved to The Villages I could not sleep at all. I was up each morning before dawn and out walking by 5:30 A.M. Throughout the night I would walk around the house and either get on the computer, read or watch TV. In the past few months this has all changed. For some reason lately all I want to do is sleep. I have been getting up entirely too late for early morning walks and I have been loving my afternoon naps way too much. I have never been this relaxed in my life so I think this has a lot to do with it.

[Pturner]

Click here and your sleepless nights are over. (http://johnmorganseminars.com/sleep-all-night.html)

I have been associated with this company for 20 years. I can vouch for its effectiveness.

JLK

TH, I had no idea you sold snake oil on the side. :laugh:

[otherbruddaDarrell]

Nyquil before going to bed.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Russ_Boston]

TH, I had no idea you sold snake oil on the side. :laugh:

Oh Oh!

[Annabelle]

Some great suggestions posted on this thread!

Don't:
1) Eat or drink anything close to bedtime.
2) Food will stimulate brain activity and liquids will wake you up with a full bladder at 2am. (Only Diabetics should have a bedtime snack).
3) Work on the computer too late at night. Light from the computer screen will keep some awake and "wired" up long after logging off.
4) Exercise in the evening. (Vigorous exercise)

Do:
1) Take Melatonin Sublingual tablets (they really do make you drowsy).
2) Take L-Tryptophan (500 mg) with evening meal. Promotes relaxation.
3) Try keeping a sound machine on your nightstand, choose a "sound"
that is relaxing and let it run all night or set it for whatever length you
wish.
4) Read something lite and pleasant in bed for relaxation.
5) Sleep on a high quality mattress and have an equally good one on the
guest room bed for the nights when hubby's snoring keeps you awake!

Annabelle

[Barefoot]

Don't:
3) Work on the computer too late at night. Light from the computer screen will keep some awake and "wired" up long after logging off.

Thanks Annabelle. It is midnight, and I'm on the computer. But at least now I finally understand why I have insomnia.

Wired up Bare :Screen_of_Death: :mornincoffee:

[Freeda]

Sleeping is best induced, and is most restorative (healing), when the sleeping area is completely pitch dark; that means no light from windows, nightlights, alarm clocks or electronic devices, etc. Even a single tiny, slight light in the room, or glow through your window shades, is a problem. The problem with inducing sleep through drugs is that it is not as restorative, and this, in time, contributes to health issues, since we were designed to, in part, heal from the day to day stresses of life during our sleep, and it must be natural, restorative sleep in order for this to occur.

Even with our eyes closed, the brain still perceives any light that is present in the area, which can not only hinder falling asleep, but, more importantly, will inhibit or decrease melatonin production, which is supposed to be increased when we are sleeping; and which is a hormone that is essential to getting restorative sleep (and which is also why a melatonin supplement, as indicated in one of the posts above, can help; although melatonin does not so much help falling asleep as it assists the restorative quality of our sleep, once we fall asleep). In other words, melatonin is your body's 'natural' Ambien. Also, as we age, we may produce less melatonin (this process, like all others, is mediated by how overall healthy we are), and so a melatonin supplement can be wise for us boomers and older.

Creating a totally pitch dark sleeping area, particularly when traveling, can be a difficult situation to create, so the most practical way to do this is to sleep with a sleep mask, totally blocking any light perception. These are available at drugstores and other retailers, and online. Different masks have a different 'fit' so you may have to experiment to find the one that fits you most comfortably and with complete light blocking. Eye masks are, for the same reasons mentioned above, helpful if you are wanting to take a nap on a plane, etc. This is why you see in some of the old movies the stars wearing sometimes glamorous eye masks when they took naps or were sleeping - (those were the days before the 'advances' in our being able to medicate ourselves to go to sleep!) It's also why we're given eye masks on many international flights; I notice that the Asian airlines are particularly savvy about the value of these.

(Some researchers also think that this is why instinctively humans often slept in caves during the 'caveman' days - not just for protection from animals and the environment, but for light avoidance).

Try using an eye mask, unless you can create a totally, perfectly pitch-dark bedroom, and you will having less problems falling asleep, and will also start noticing how much more refreshed you feel when you awake. You may even find that you don't need as much sleep. If you find that the eye mask feels uncomfortable at first, it is something that you will quickly get used to if you continue; and once you do, the eye mask becomes a 'trigger' to signal the brain to go to sleep. Also, for the same reason, try to avoid getting up during the night, or to limit, as much as possible, how much light you expose yourself to if you get up during the night, since then the brain then has to have time to go back into deep sleep. Restorative sleep is critical to having optimal health.

[K9-Lovers]

I agree with Freeda; darkness is important. My mother kept having terrible nightmares and they were so bad she finally saw a doctor about it. He guessed that it was light coming into her bedroom. Sure enough, once she lightproofed the room, the nightmares stopped completely!

[graciegirl]

I agree with Freeda; darkness is important. My mother kept having terrible nightmares and they were so bad she finally saw a doctor about it. He guessed that it was light coming into her bedroom. Sure enough, once she lightproofed the room, the nightmares stopped completely!

I have slept with a light on, not a night light, a regular light,for all of my life. I know, Sweetie is a saint. He got used to it and has slept comfortably in a lighted room for plus 40 years.

I think insomnia comes with age to a certain degree. Using over the counter Melatonin can cause nightmares. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/melatonin-side-effects/an01717

I am not a supplement taker except for calcium and vitamin D3 prescribed by my MD.

[Boomer]

I bought some sleep masks from Magellan's travel supplies catalog a couple of years ago. I love them because the eye part is rounded and does not smash your eyelids.

The one I am linking you to here must be their updated version because the nose part looks a little different. I had to take the scissors to the nose part of mine because it was too big. (not my nose -- the nose part of the mask.) When I bought mine, it came in only two colors. The product description tells you all about the design for the eyes.

Also, please note: This is not a swimsuit top. This is a sleep mask. Please do not get confused or you could get kicked out of the pool.

http://www.magellans.com/store/In_Flight_Comfort___Earplugs___EyeshadesIF707?Args =&refchan=Search

Boomer