Trouble getting to sleep...

For the last few months, I've (as the topic name suggests) had problems getting to sleep at night. I'm often very tired...but it just won't happen until I've laid there for at least three hours (two on rare occasion).

I've tried meditation - seems to keep me awake longer. I've tried reading - I will admit, it has a slightly positive effect, but I've run out of reading material...and patience. :P I've also tried the brain waves for the last two nights - no effect.

And recently, the hot weather has made me sweat a lot in bed...making it even harder. My father wakes up at 3:45, so if I'm not asleep by then, it's game over. I've had no sleep for the last few nights...it could possibly be because I strain my mind a little trying to lucid dream (maybe I should stop trying to VILD).

For anyone who took the time to read all that, thank you. Anyone have any suggestions? All are very welcome.

tl;dr: Can't sleep, help me.

Well, sometimes when i can't get to sleep it's because i'm worrying about something. You can be better off getting out of bed and trying to solve whatever you're worrying about if possible rather than just lying there worrying more.

Sadly though, i get insomnia sometimes, where i can lie there with no thoughts in my head for hours and not fall to sleep. Sometimes i just cut my loses and sit on the PS3 all night until i feel myself nodding off or it's time to get ready for work. I know how bad it is dragging yourself to work when you've gone for a couple of days with about an hours sleep, it's horrible. I guess the only definite way i've ever heard of is sleeping pills. I've never tried them though and i'm no doctor.

I have this same problem of lying in bed for a few hours before falling asleep. What I do to try to make it easier to fall asleep is create a story where I am the main character (of course) and play it out in my head. I do this kind of like a VILD, but without the intent of falling into a lucid dream. It is more an intent of just falling asleep as I know if I want to become lucid I will get a DILD. While doing this if I find my mind wondering off the path of my little play I do not freak out or try to get it back on track I just go with it as I find if I try to get it back on track I just move to that more awake state and have to start over again in falling asleep.

I would also say try your VILD, but make it more into a story or play, not just a picture you want to fall into. And if your mind starts to wander just go with it while trying to stay focused in falling into the dream where ever it may be.

Not sure if that made any sense, but I hope it helps. :)

DG:jester:

Other than what's already been said, have you tried taking melatonin?

Think about nonsensical stuff. Let your mind just drift all over the place. Illogical thoughts that make no sense are common when we're very close to falling asleep, so you can speed up the process by making the thoughts yourself. For instance, think of a tiger that's eating a twinkie, and then the tiger suddenly becomes blue in color. Things like that. Sounds stupid, but it works amazingly well for me - why not try it? :)

I'm going to recommend what Puffin said - make yourself little stories where your thoughts just go nuts, that's always what happens when I notice myself falling asleep is that my thoughts have fallen into random visuals, and I'm sure you'd be able to do it yourself :)

What others have said are good ideas and should be used.

Also, you should try to just release all the junk 30 minutes prior to going to bed that is clotting your mind. Any worries, problems or conflicts throughout the day should be left to think about during the day and not right before you go to sleep. Then when you get into bed try to keep your mind away from focusing on anything particular for too long. Often times it may not be good to read something complex right before you go to bed because you'll just think about that for the next few hours.

If all else fails go pick you up some melatonin.

Best wishes!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Coffeeboonen

Also, you should try to just release all the junk 30 minutes prior to going to bed that is clotting your mind. Any worries, problems or conflicts throughout the day should be left to think about during the day and not right before you go to sleep.

Best wishes!

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hod do I do that?