Ask Lemmy

Hammer or perhaps large frying pan

When I close my eyes and see my demons, I engage them in a staring contest and fall contentedly asleep.

For me, what works is an ADHD medication along with not trying to fall asleep. Trying to fall asleep causes me something in the area of anxiety and guilt, so I end up frustrating myself awake. If I focus on a mindless task like scrolling through Lemmy or reading a book, I get engaged in that and end up accidentally falling asleep. The funny thing is that I have to keep doing my mindless task until I fall asleep, so many times, I wake up looking like I passed out in the middle of something with my glasses still on and my phone laying around. I'm actually curiously impressed that my glasses or phone haven't broken yet.

Achieve alot during the day

Drink for 48 hours straight.

New years was fucking way to much this year.

Drugs hard core prescription sleeping pills. I'm sorry but if you're as desperate as I was and have tried everything then hard sleeping drugs typically with a benzodiazapine in it

I had sleep issues for years, almost failed high school because of it and then I was late to my own graduation. Now I have a routine that serves me well: Wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day, no caffeine, no sugar at night, nightlight on my monitors at night, listen to boring audiobooks with a sleep timer, don't lay in bed watching TV.

Close your eyes. It's impossible to stay awake with your eyes closed. True fact. They're hardwaired right to your brain eventually your brain is like "aight, I'ma head out."

Previously I used the 4-7-8 method (take a deep breath for a 4-count, hold it for a 7-count, exhale for an 8-count). I did that until I fell asleep.

Recently I started deep breathing/exhaling (no counting) and it works just as well.

Write about the things that worry you the most.

My (probably not very healthy) hack is to watch YouTube. My brain focuses on one thing and all the thoughts keeping me up just stay quiet.

If you have persistent sleep problems even after applying all the advice, if you can afford it, consider taking a sleep test/study to learn what's the core issue

First your bed is for sleep and sexy times and nothing else. That way your body is conditioned to go to bed whenever you lay down. Doing other actions in your bed reduces this impulse.

Second, monitor your stimulant usage which includes tea, soda or coffee. Caffeine impacts your sleep more than many realize.

Finally stop lolking at screens an hour or so before bed.

Imagine a place where you are most cozy and visit it every night when you try to sleep. And then maybe sound machines. And finally, deep breathing. Slowing your heart down through this will physically make your body want to go to sleep (so basically meditiation).

I do all of these in tandem, I have the sound machine going and I settle into my cozy part of my brain and then imagine my lungs as a cup filling up with water to the top while inhaling and then draining out as I exhale. The trick with this is to not stress yourself thinking about if you're doing your breathing right, just try and relax and focus.

Also melatonin. But that isn't effective for every situation.

Good luck.

You know.. ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)

I have a lot of them. Sleep and I are in an... enemies to lovers kind of relationship.

There's hate-fucking, is what I'm saying. I hate it so much and it's all I want.

Some of my advice might be bad advice due to my ADHD but I can't tell what might work for you so.

Also, I have left off a lot of stuff that I have done that is... not good. If you need harm reduction options, let me know.

1. I wear an eye-mask. The gentle, soft, cool (not cold!) pressure is a reminder to my brain that it's bed-time.

2. Don't eat too close to bed.

3. Make sure there's nothing uncomfortable (like a tag from the sheets) touching me.

4. Play a TV show I find comforting but that doesn't need my 100% attention, at a low enough volume that I can't quite hear it unless I'm very, very, very quiet. This helps make me some moving/jittering/jiggling. (I play Futurama. Can't get a nightmare from Futurama.)

5. I take l-theanine. It's supposed to make people "alert" and "calm" but my doctor recommended it to me and it's sedating effect is so strong it significantly drops my blood pressure. (Very useful if I have to take stimulant medication.)

6. Which leads to I take prescription medication. It doesn't quite do it, and is hit-or-miss, hence the list.

Whenever thoughts are too much for me, I try to focus my focus my eyes on the black presented whilst they're closed. Don't think about all the stuff that's bothering you, just focus on that bit of black, right there in front of you. keep focusing long enough, and it always sends me to sleep.

Course, I also take a muscle relaxer (or couple benedryl if I'm out) before bedtime and that shit helps immensely lol

Look up Progressive muscle relaxation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_muscle_relaxation

There are plenty of videos on YouTube, try a few and pick one you like.

Concentrating on breathing also helps.

Breathing exercises, actuating that vagal nerve

Following the breath works for me regularly. Meditation makes me sleep.

As someone who is disabled my go too is a nice comfortable bed, my service dog by me, a weighted blanket which never new how amazing it helps my sleep. And my CPAP machine.

These help me sleep, oh also I have sleep as android help me track my sleeping patterns and play thunderstorms every night to drown out everything around me so my brain can relax

For those who like sounds while sleeping, I heartily recommend mynoise.net. It has amazing soundscapes... static noises, rainforest wildlife, medieval library, starship bridge... It is excellent for sleeping, adding some background noise, or enhancing the atmosphere of a DND session.

Sleeping hygiene is a good point. No phone in bed.

But also try to make it cozy

Have a nice duvet cover, I like cotton. No synthetics. Change it more often.

Temperature in your bed room should be lower, open your window before going to bed.

Have good curtains. But not too dark. Whenever I have a window shutter and I close it completely, I just don’t wake up and sleep over 8-10 h.

Here are my things I do when I can’t sleep

If my feed are cold, wear socks, or cloth but don’t heat the room too much.

Try to sleep in a different room (if you can). When I am just too active I move to my sofa for a change. It really helps me.

Important question. Are you alone or is someone next to you. If your sleeping schedule or preferences don’t mix with your partners, try separate beds. Cuddling sounds cute until you cannot sleep because of a snoring person next to you. And don’t be angry when your partner prefers to be separate.

As some others have mentioned, regular workout will help a lot. Another thing you can do is cardio for 10 minutes before sleep and ending with a few minutes stretch to tire and loosen up your body. Also try to sleep at the same time daily. Your circadian rhythm will aid you too.

If you have trouble sleeping in general, it might be a bad habits thing. Melatonin supplements can help to get you tired. 1mg before you go to bed is enough, if you try to relax and sleep. They don't do anything if you do stuff that keeps you awake however.

This particularly anything exciting like sports, listening to energetic music, watching tense movies, playing fast or demanding games etc. Avoid any such thing for at least two hours before you try to sleep.

History documentaries with good narrator and minimal loud music

Don't try to fall asleep.

The effort is what's keeping you awake. Sleep when you feel tired.

If you don't feel tired at night, then you may not be doing enough mental or physically engaging activities during the day.