Can't sleep to lucid dream

**Darkswerk** · 05-07-2013 05:55 AM

Wells it's now 12:50 am here and I'm pretty much wide awake. I just started getting into lucid dreams and I've got most of it down except the most important part, I can't sleep. I don't have a set schedule which I am working on but I usually have to stay up until I pass out. Today for example I ran 2 miles did drink or eat anything before bed turned off all electronics and read a book. I lay in bead completely relaxed for over an hour and feel rested but didn't fall asleep and now I feel even less tired. I naturally have always stayed up late and I wish I could stop.

So my question is how can I fix this? I lay in bed relaxed and I don't move or scratch when I try to reach sleep paralysis which I hear helps with lucid dreams but I have yet to reach that too

**Arra** · 05-07-2013 09:12 AM

One thing that might help you sleep easily at night is getting more exercise during the day. You're pretty much guaranteed to feel really tired earlier than usual if you get a lot of exercise. Have you ever gone through a long, stressful day of hiking or lifting boxes or some other physically stressful activity? The night after something like that, you sleep easily. But that may take time you don't have.

I should really be taking my own advice, as I'm currently having the same problem. I tend to just stay up until I'm extremely tired. There are a couple methods that I've been using to help myself sleep lately.

The first is taking melatonin about 15 minutes before I plan to sleep. It's a safe, natural hormone that your body produces to control your sleep cycles. You can buy it (I believe) ar any grocery store or drug store. I find I'll get pretty tired only about 15 minutes after taking one, although it may be acting as a placebo, but even if it is, at least it's working. I should really be taking it earlier than I do, before I get tired at all, when I want to get to sleep. But I've developed a habit of taking it only once I'm already moderately tired, so that it makes me extremely tired and then I can pretty much pass out.

The second thing I've been doing lately which has been successful in helping me fall asleep is listening to sleep hypnosis videos. Specifically, I've been listening to youtube videos by Jody Whiteley. She has many recorded sessions, some which last hours. She specifically focuses on hypnosis videos to help people fall asleep. There are also a variety of sub-focuses. Besides general sleep, you might listen to one for anxiety, for procrastination, for stress, for good dreams... she even has a few that are supposed to help induce lucid dreams.

**Ginsan** · 05-07-2013 10:15 AM

Maybe you should do some strength exercises to work your (skeletal) muscles instead of just your heart and lungs (by running 2 miles). Just some pushups or pullups or planks (I do lots of planks during the day, it's great!) should get you tired. Something like that with high intensity could get you tired and even with sore muscles within 5 minutes easily. http://www.lilburn-mustangs.org/bask...k-exercise.gif This is a plank, in case you didn't know

Well exercise is pretty much the standard remedy for almost any problem and if you have no time it is obvious to do high intensity stuff but I don't know how bad your situation is so maybe a doctor could help you.

**Darkswerk** · 05-07-2013 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Dianeva

One thing that might help you sleep easily at night is getting more exercise during the day. You're pretty much guaranteed to feel really tired earlier than usual if you get a lot of exercise. Have you ever gone through a long, stressful day of hiking or lifting boxes or some other physically stressful activity? The night after something like that, you sleep easily. But that may take time you don't have.

I should really be taking my own advice, as I'm currently having the same problem. I tend to just stay up until I'm extremely tired. There are a couple methods that I've been using to help myself sleep lately.

The first is taking melatonin about 15 minutes before I plan to sleep. It's a safe, natural hormone that your body produces to control your sleep cycles. You can buy it (I believe) ar any grocery store or drug store. I find I'll get pretty tired only about 15 minutes after taking one, although it may be acting as a placebo, but even if it is, at least it's working. I should really be taking it earlier than I do, before I get tired at all, when I want to get to sleep. But I've developed a habit of taking it only once I'm already moderately tired, so that it makes me extremely tired and then I can pretty much pass out.

The second thing I've been doing lately which has been successful in helping me fall asleep is listening to sleep hypnosis videos. Specifically, I've been listening to youtube videos by . She has many recorded sessions, some which last hours. She specifically focuses on hypnosis videos to help people fall asleep. There are also a variety of sub-focuses. Besides general sleep, you might listen to one for anxiety, for procrastination, for stress, for good dreams... she even has a few that are supposed to help induce lucid dreams.

I actually listen to her I tried tonight but no luck. It's now 5:18am and I'm still awake Ill have to try that melatonin. I took two NyQuils around 3 that stuff doesn't help. I've taken harder prescribed sleep aids and they don't help much either. Benadryl works but only at 100mg+ so maybe a natural drug will work better

**Darkswerk** · 05-07-2013 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Ginsan

Maybe you should do some strength exercises to work your (skeletal) muscles instead of just your heart and lungs (by running 2 miles). Just some pushups or pullups or planks (I do lots of planks during the day, it's great!) should get you tired. Something like that with high intensity could get you tired and even with sore muscles within 5 minutes This is a plank, in case you didn't know

Well exercise is pretty much the standard remedy for almost any problem and if you have no time it is obvious to do high intensity stuff but I don't know how bad your situation is so maybe a doctor could help you.

I do go to the gym which I find helps a little but I've been going to the gym everyday for 2 years so unfortunately it work its way in with my sleeping problem. But I'll focus on high intensity training next time and see if that helps

**Ginsan** · 05-07-2013 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Darkswerk

I do go to the gym which I find helps a little but I've been going to the gym everyday for 2 years so unfortunately it work its way in with my sleeping problem. But I'll focus on high intensity training next time and see if that helps

If you go to the gym every day you obiously exercise a lot more than I do, I just do some planks and I have a paper round in the morning.

Originally Posted by Darkswerk

I actually listen to her I tried tonight but no luck. It's now 5:18am and I'm still awake Ill have to try that melatonin. I took two NyQuils around 3 that stuff doesn't help. I've taken harder prescribed sleep aids and they don't help much either. Benadryl works but only at 100mg+ so maybe a natural drug will work better

So you didn't sleep and it's already morning? That's strange man.. Do you have this more often or is it just today? Because I would go to doctor if it keeps up

**Darkswerk** · 05-07-2013 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ginsan

If you go to the gym every day you obiously exercise a lot more than I do, I just do some planks and I have a paper round in the morning.

So you didn't sleep and it's already morning? That's strange man.. Do you have this more often or is it just today? Because I would go to doctor if it keeps up

This would be the 3rd day in a row I've stayed up till around 7 am. But it's weird because I had a normal sleeping schedule one day I went to bed at 12 woke up at 6 and then the next night ill just be up all night.

**Arra** · 05-07-2013 09:30 PM

How much sleep do you get when you stay up too late? If you're getting a good amount of sleep (like 8 hours) you won't get tired until the same time the next night. Have you tried purposely not getting enough sleep, so that you get tired earlier the next night? It sucks to be tired during the day, but sometimes that's the only way to fix your cycle.

**Darkswerk** · 05-08-2013 01:54 AM

I just went out and got melatonin each pill has 3mg with 10mg b-6 which I also hear will help so will see how that goes

**JoannaB** · 05-08-2013 03:05 AM

This may be obvious, but sometimes I miss the obvious so just in case you are like me: do you drink any caffeine (coffee, soda, energy drinks, etc)?

Also sleep issues at times are related to stress: do you have a lot of stress in your life?

If you cannot figure it out yourself and this has been going on for a while, I strongly recommend you see a doctor. Since you mention prescribed sleep aids, I assume you already have seen a doctor, but I would recommend seeing a different doctor for a second opinion then, making sure to let them know what all you have tried thus far. Lack of sleep has some nasty side effects and thus finding a cure for it is important. All the best to you!

**Darkswerk** · 05-08-2013 06:10 AM

Yea I avoid caffeine. But I definitely have a lot of stress right now so I'm sure that's helping.

**JoannaB** · 05-08-2013 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Darkswerk

Yea I avoid caffeine. But I definitely have a lot of stress right now so I'm sure that's helping.

Aha! In that case I would say that your problem is really how to reduce the stress. Once you do, the sleep will improve. I know because at the beginning of the year I had tons of stress and I had insomnia issues too. I have reduced my stress drastically, and I can sleep well. I recommend improving your awareness during waking life as a good technique for stress reduction: watch yourself carefully, become aware of what causes you stress (cause and effect), catch the stress as it is building up and diffuse it (realize that stressing will only make the situation worse not better, and change your attitude to a more productive emotional state). It is very hard to do, but it is doable. Look at ADA tutorials on this site and try to practice it, increase your metaawareness (become aware of your awareness, of what makes you tick). Good luck!

**stonedreams** · 05-14-2013 03:52 AM

One word, exercise!! I had this same problem when i was out of season during sports it was horrible. So I just picked up a new habit, lifting weights for an 1hr and a half. Every night I was exhausted and it really helped me fall asleep. I suggest taking up a sport or weight lifting or even better running!! Keep at it and good luck!!