benadryl!
helped me on many a greyhound bus ride.
ive heard that a warm glass of milk and a scoop of peanut butter helps too.
not sure about that one though.

benadryl

solum wrote:how do i get to sleep?

Reading poststructural literary criticism always did it for me. Made grad school a bit tougher, though.

I'll also admit to falling asleep while listening to a recording of one of the recent Pixies shows.

Hi !
I really do know what you are going throu !!!!
I have had insomnia/sleeping disorder or what ever you will call it for more or less my whole life.
Have tried more or less everything , pills , drinks , exercise , herbs , boose and nothing really seams to work ...
(well the herbs sometimes makes it a bit easier)
I think the problem for me at least is mentaly , it doesn´t matter how tired i get i still don´t fall a sleep, i will try therapy and hope that it will do it for me.
I hope you get it sorted out ,and if if you do please let me know how!!!Take care/Johan

i got to sleep last night! i think the lack of sleep was caused by heat/sunburn. it didn't seem to bad in the day, but at night it only takes something small to give me can't-get-back-to-sleep insomnia. so, last night, took a long walk to get really tired out, then slept outside. voila! six hours sleep!

now, my second problem: my ears are ringing really bad, whih they weren't (i don't think) before i came on holiday (2 weeks ago). its super-annoying. since i've been here, i haven't heard any loud music, and although there was a fireworks festival here, none went too near my head! i was wondering if anyone knows if it could be related to the sun? either that or mybe its the cheap fan i've had on constantly for a week at ful pelt...

ps. to the last guy that posted: i feel like a fraud ompared to a proper insomniac--hope you can find some sort of workable solution.

cough syrup does pack an awesome buzz... especially cough syrups containing Dextramethorphan Hydrobromide. Only problem is that that is basically DXM, a disassociative drug. Disassociatives cause the most dain bramage.
I'm just guessing, but it's probably safer to take actual sleeping pills than to drink too much cough syrup.
People with anxiety and social disorders love cough syrup and other disassociatives because they take away self-consciousness much better than any other drug. But it's probably best to stay away from them. (Other disassociatives are PCP (horse tranqs) and K (cat tranq))
Here's a study on disassociatives: http://leda.lycaeum.org/?ID=9299

The last time I was severely struck with the 2-3 hours per night sleepless pattern was 6-7 years ago. Maybe more, but this was when Melatonin was being bandied around as the newest life-enchancing supplement. I had experienced drinking myself to sleep, weed, NyQuil, Benadryl, but wasn't really RESTING. That is the key. At any rate, I bought some Melatonin supplements, took one, and after a few days was back sleeping normal, with well-defined restful dreams.

Some of the crude chemical fixes (booze, marijuana, DMX) will work in a pinch, but their efficacy seems to wane over time. Cough syrup, in fact, will backfire if you take too much, leaving you more crazed and restless than before. Likewise with pot. In any case, your sleep will be shallow and you'll feel dented in the morning.

You have to treat the cause -- rather than the symptoms -- of your particular disorder. Usually, the cause is anxiety. An earlier respondent made some good points on this matter.

I know it's easier said than done, but you have to flood your mind with enough positive imagery and detail to blot out whatever's bugging you.

While lying in bed, try to imagine a routine you've been through a thousand times before, something familiar and soothing [no masturbation jokes, please].

A friend of mine "drives" Highway 61 on the North Shore of Lake Superior. She knows every inch of that road, and by the time she passes Silver Bay, she's dead asleep. I play my favorite golf course -- imagining every detail as I prepare to hit each shot. I have yet to get past the fifth hole before the alarm clock rings.

Best of luck - - -
- - - chrysler

I think of '68 to '72 Hot Wheel variations I don't have (and may never have) in my collection. I'm serious. It works every time.

Jay

As a lifelong (well, since I was 2) sufferer of insomnia, I felt like throwing in my two cents. The bad news is that there isn't really a permanent solution. There are all kinds of techniques which have been mentioned so far (like meditation). But here are some things I have found that help at least in the short term (as a quick fix): Catnip tea has been the only herbal solution that hasn't left me with a headache or feeling groggy the next day. Go to a health store or herbalist and buy just catnip (well instead of a commercial tea), the potency will be stronger. Steep one teaspoon of catnip in 6-8 oz of boiling water for anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Drink. Catnip is a sedative so it should help you relax enough to get to sleep. Magnesium helps as well. A good Magnesium supplement helps to promote good quality sleep. Exercise. Getting some exercise of some type, just not too close to bedtime, can help you sleep better. Hope all this helps a little.