Sleeping.

[Salazaar]

I don't have insomnia per say but I do seem to have a few sleeping quirks I can't get rid of. I normally sleep from around 12ish to about 7 when my alarm goes off, though often I'll find myself waking up at 6 to 6.30 anyway and I usually feel fine sleeping like that. If I doze off again (at the weekend) and sleep in, say to 9 or so, I end up feeling far more sleepy and groggy despite having extra time asleep!

Best tips for getting to sleep are the oldest ones though:

Do some exercise in the day, doesn't have to be a lot, just enough to get rid of any excess energy you might have. You'll also feel good in general.

Warm milk is good but don't eat anything just before bed.

Don't do anything too taxing or stressful just before bed, let your brain relax. So no rock hard strategy games or anything.

If all else fails, don't stress about getting to sleep, read a book or something until sleep comes to you.

[Rebel]

Alternatively there are plenty of books about relaxation techniques and they help a lot.

There are even books about self hypnosis (before anyone mocks it find out what it is and how it works) that have some extremely good relaxation techniques that will help you sleep even through pain issues.

Finally if its an ongoing problem see a doctor, there may be an underlying medical problem causing this that needs dealing with.

[format]

are Everton keeping you awake, Tzarbo?

Haha,

Stew, it's not like you never you never mock a poster is it... but that's fine - you are funny, right?

Anyway, back on topic-

My sleeping patterns have been out of whack since I was about maybe 14? I think it was in the summer it started - work started at 6am and there was no way I was going to bed at 10, so I'd just stay up til around 4, get a nap then head to work, and sleep when I got home about 4, then repeat.
It's not as bad these days but I've been a bit of a night owl for ages - drives my gf up the wall.

Still, not as bad as my little brother - he goes to sleep at 6 am, gets up for college at 8 then sleeps from 4-8, then repeats, nearly everyday.

[matty-hodgson]

Perhaps the night before the FA Cup final, but not at the moment.

will they win?

[Tzarbo]

This is only recently, btw, and it's not insomnia, it's trouble adjusting my sleep pattern without it fighting back.

I'll try a nice warm book and a lettuce pillow then as advised. Ta.

[Tzarbo]

Haha,

Stew, it's not like you never you never mock a poster is it... but that's fine - you are funny, right?

Following me around the forums like a brown nosing teachers pet, mentioning my name, hoping to attract the mods wont get you anywhere mate. I have spoken to David on MSN, and indeed Saracen via PM and it's an ongoing issue with them.

So yes, Stew, Everton, gosh, you are all so funny and clever.

And yes, I am far more funny than you.

[matty-hodgson]

handbags at the ready girls..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CezNIRYYGY

[pollaxe]

I used to be a terrible insomniac but a few months back I cut back on my caffeine intake. I now only have one cup of caffeinated coffee per day (with breakfast) and I'm on decaff for the rest of the day. (I probably have 3-5 cups a day, total.)

For the past several weeks I've been sleeping really well and I don't get the headaches that used to constantly bother me either. It could be a coincidence but it seems to have worked for me.

I exercise a fair bit (and always have) so I can definitely recommend that but for me it always had to be by early evening at the latest. Anything after 7.30ish seemed to leave me fired-up and I'd sleep even worse.

One of the worst things about insomnia is that it becomes a bit of a cycle - you get so annoyed with it which helps perpetuate it too. I seem to have broken-out of mine for the time being, anyway. I had a serious health scare earlier in the year (one reason why I cut-down on the caffeine) but was sleeping soundly even though I was waiting for test results which I don't think I would've done this time last year..

So, maybe worth a try if you are a heavy tea/coffee/cola/caffeine user?

[CaseyV9]

I get odd nights where I do not sleep. The trick is not to sleep until the following evening. Do more physical things in the day so you are tierd. But do not exercise too close to bed time. Or maybe you are stressed. A night out at the pub. Just a few to get you merry. Just every now and then.

[format]

Jeeze, I knew you had a large ego but I did not expect that
If I wanted to attract the 'attention of the mods' wouldn't I just PM them?

If it makes you feel big and special to think that I follow you about, well, who am I to say otherwise.
Would you like a pat on the back too?

[Tzarbo]

I am a heavy tea drinker, but I can't give that up, it mostly what I drink.

And I've always drank a lot, and this problem is only recently, so I don't see how it could have recently became a problem.

I'd rather not sleep than give up tea.

Matty - It's not happened yet, the final is later this month against Chelsea. I'm not confident but you never know...

[Tzarbo]

Jeeze, I knew you had a large ego but I did not expect that
If I wanted to attract the 'attention of the mods' wouldn't I just PM them?

If it makes you feel big and special to think that I follow you about, well, who am I to say otherwise.
Would you like a pat on the back too?

Indeed, you following me around the forums making snarky comments is clearly a sign that I have a large ego. Well done.

Now, unless you have anything else on topic to add...

[pollaxe]

I've got decaff tea at home which (to a non-tea expert) tastes pretty much like the regular stuff which might be worth a try.

I dunno, it's probably not a one-size-fits-all situation/solution for sleeping patterns as stress, light levels in your room, diet and all kinds of stuff can affect it, apparently.

It's question close to my heart as my sleep's been pretty rubbish since I was very young but I do seem to have had a bit of a breakthrough recently. The BBC had a show on recently called 10 Things You Should Know About Sleep which was quite good. Looks like it's still on iPlayer which might be worth a peruse.

[format]

Back on topic then -

Does anyone else get any of the following?

Sometimes when you are just drifting off, does you ever get a sort of body shock? Your whole body just sort of jumps a wee bit, except sometimes you don't even notice it? Sometimes I don't notice I've done it, someone else has to point it out to me, then I'm aware of it... it's pretty weird.

Also, after a night of very little or no sleep, does anyone else get a twitchy eyelid?

[Tzarbo]

I've got decaff tea at home which (to a non-tea expert) tastes pretty much like the regular stuff which might be worth a try.

I dunno, it's probably not a one-size-fits-all situation/solution for sleeping patterns as stress, light levels in your room, diet and all kinds of stuff can affect it, apparently.

It's question close to my heart as my sleep's been pretty rubbish since I was very young but I do seem to have had a bit of a breakthrough recently. The BBC had a show on recently called 10 Things You Should Know About Sleep which was quite good. Looks like it's still on iPlayer which might be worth a peruse.

I have got into the habbit in the last year or so of not sleeping in a dark, silent room. I always have the light off, but usually fall asleep with a movie or something playing on the TV or PC, could try silence... but I usually find an episode of Time Team gets me to sleep quicker.

Decafe tea... dunno. Tigs drinks it, but again, thats a medical thing, don't know if I could get used to it. Does it taste like tea? I like my tea to be tea flavoured. No sugar or anything.

I'll sleep on it.

[Tzarbo]

Back on topic then -

Does anyone else get any of the following?

Sometimes when you are just drifting off, does you ever get a sort of body shock? Your whole body just sort of jumps a wee bit, except sometimes you don't even notice it? Sometimes I don't notice I've done it, someone else has to point it out to me, then I'm aware of it... it's pretty weird.

It's an evolutionary throw back to when we used to sleep in trees, to prevent falling out.

That's the current scientific thinking. It's only a theory though.