Can't sleep, what are some of your tricks?

[WoodsChick]

Originally Posted by ScottRNelson

I find that surprising. If I take something like Excedrin PM (contains Diphenhydramine citrate 38 mg) I'll feel it all morning the next day. I can't feel a thing different with melatonin at 5mg. I guess it affects us all differently.

For about a 5 year period I worked a crazy schedule. I'd work 2 5am-1pm shifts, then an 11am-7pm, and then 2 5pm-1am shifts. I never knew if it was time to get up or go to bed. I wasn't sleeping at all and my doctor suggested melatonin. The only thing it did was help me go to sleep...that's it. I had no lingering effects at all. I definitely feel groggy and out of it with Tylenol PM and all those other "PM" drugs.

[Climber]

Originally Posted by ScottRNelson

I find that surprising. If I take something like Excedrin PM (contains Diphenhydramine citrate 38 mg) I'll feel it all morning the next day. I can't feel a thing different with melatonin at 5mg. I guess it affects us all differently.

I think it effects a variety of people differently.

I've tried it 3 times over the last 3 decades with the same out-of-sorts drowsy feelings for days afterwards. I even tried the substance that triggers it, thinking that if it was produced by my body it would make a difference, but same thing.

[sprorchid]

When I can’t fall back asleep I visualize either laguna seca or thill east , and do a lap, corner by corner. I think only once I made it thru a whole lap.

[bojangle]

Originally Posted by Climber

I think it effects a variety of people differently.

I've tried it 3 times over the last 3 decades with the same out-of-sorts drowsy feelings for days afterwards. I even tried the substance that triggers it, thinking that if it was produced by my body it would make a difference, but same thing.

I use melatonin 3 mg. It works pretty well for me. Never had a groggy feeling in the morning.

[HappyHighwayman]

youtu.be/EiYm20F9WXU

[DesiDucati]

I recommend playing an audiobook of any favorite author yof. If you go to sleep, great! If you are still awake, you get to experience listening a good story by your favorite author.

I also leave Netflix on a comedy show and fall asleep laughing. I recommend Dave Chapelle, Russel Peters, Nimesh Patel, Akash Singh, Jim Jefferies, and Ricky Gervais. My current favorite is Andrew Schulz. Try listening to his Two Birds Joke.

[Caddywumpus]

Cold room + heavy blanket

[m0t0_ryder]

Wow... so many drugs mentioned in here.
Maybe I'm old school (wait, no maybe bout it) but the natural occurrence of sleep shouldn't require medication.

That said...
I too was having problems falling to sleep during this 2020 routine inversion. And I'm retired.
My mind would get so busy laying there thinking thru events/life that it would keep me awake.

Spent a bunch of time researching (non-drug) methods of sleep induction.
Most are based on re-directing your busy minds thoughts. Counting Sheep. Counting backwards. Doing the alphabet. A single focus distraction to teh busy mind.
What I found that finally worked for me was a mental chant. (is that meditation?)
What I finally/successfully settled on was the simple repeating chant...
don't think, don't think, don't think, don't think, don't think, don't think.
I do this in my mind, not thru my lips. I think it slowly, not rushing it.
It has the two fold tendency to supraliminal distract me from my busy thoughts as well as to subliminally tell me what to do.
Doesn't usually take more than a couple dozen repeats.

[berth]

Originally Posted by DesiDucati

I recommend playing an audiobook of any favorite author yof.

I can assert how good audio books are and putting you to sleep. It's why I don't listen to them in the car.