[Martin Reed]

We're bombarded with insomnia advice, and most of it is often repeated and extremely dumbed down. Avoid caffeine after the morning, don't read in bed, have a nice warm bath before going to bed, etc.

I know that for some of us, this insomnia advice is not only mundane, it's also wrong. I know of at least one member here who finds a cup of coffee helps him get to sleep. I know many of us find reading a book in bed helps us sleep (myself included).

I thought it would be interesting for us to discuss methods that help us sleep that seem to go against the typical insomnia advice. Instead of blindly accepting the often repeated insomnia tips, let's pick away at them and see if they still make sense.

What do you do to try when trying to get some sleep that you find the 'experts' often advise against? What seems to work for you, when you're told it shouldn't?

This could be interesting.

—

If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[IvanAleisterMesniaa]

Coffee does help me sleep, it gives me energy and then when that energy is gone I have an easier time getting my 1-3 hours, so it does help me sleep.

Dono if I ever said that or if your referring to me, or someone else!

Besides coffee, I find having a warm bath, shower or any type, be it cold warm, hot, whatever or be a shower or bath keep me awake.

I an told by my doctor to stay off the computer, because the glare from the screen makes me stay awake. TO be honest that is a lie in my case. When I am not on the computer I am usually if not always, working on something, a film, drawings, having a coffee with friend, or doing something to take my mind off my pain. When I am on a computer I read, I do whatever I can to take my mind off my pain, and after a little bit I get tired. I find when I don't get to browse my usual sites, games, talking to my girlfriend on the computer etc, I can't get to sleep because i haven't got my routine in that wears me down.

Drinking a warm glass of milk does nothing. Two reason I have a mild allergy to milk so if I drink it too much in a week I get sore ears and develop ear infections if i drink too much. And two. When I do drink milk(very rarely) I find I feel like its keeping me awake, but not like coffee give sme energy then I get worn out and can sleep. It just keeps me awake I find. It's just plain weird.

Getting a massage does nothing. I find it just makes me excited and gets all the kinks out of me making me want to just go on a walk. Doesn't help me sleep.

I can;t think of anything else at the moment

[MarinaFournier]

The dictum of not using the bed for anything besides sleep or sex is rather stupdi to me–I've read in bed for decades to help me get to sleep, and because it may be the only time in the day when I actually have a good block of time for it.

At this point, I'm to stay in bed most of the day, due to surgery on a heel with a bone spur. My foot is to be elevated. While at first it was hard to drop off without the remnants of medication/anesthesia in my system, I seem to be able to sleep just fine. It's sitting up comfortably on this marshmallow bed that's difficult!

I'm doing something now that I otherwise don't do, and that's use the computer in this bed. Can't really sit at the table with my leg dangling, or for long with my leg up on the knee-scooter (does something painfully weird to the nerves on the TOP of my foot).

[cherrychapstik]

'Martin' wrote on '22:

What do you do to try when trying to get some sleep that you find the 'experts' often advise against? What seems to work for you, when you're told it shouldn't?

This could be interesting.

Well, when I can't sleep in the middle of the night I now get up and get on the computer. I didn't used to, because I was told not to. But I find that it helps better to get my mind off of everything instead of sitting and worrying. Reading a book in the middle of the night sucks (which is what they tell me to get up and go do) because I'm so tired that I don't remember what I've read.

Eating before bed. They say not to eat an hour or so before bed, but I'm hypoglycemic (not diabetic, just the one thing), and not eating makes me wake up at night, hungry. It makes it more difficult to sleep, stay asleep, and go back to bed. So I make a cup of whole grain cereal an hour before I take my ambien. I've found that I don't have as hard of a time not eating when I wake up at 4 and my defenses are down. I don't eat anything with a lot of sugar, just something that will last a few hours!

[MarinaFournier]

'cherrychapstik' wrote on '10:

Eating before bed. They say not to eat an hour or so before bed, but I'm hypoglycemic (not diabetic, just the one thing), and not eating makes me wake up at night, hungry. It makes it more difficult to sleep, stay asleep, and go back to bed. So I make a cup of whole grain cereal an hour before I take my ambien. I've found that I don't have as hard of a time not eating when I wake up at 4 and my defenses are down. I don't eat anything with a lot of sugar, just something that will last a few hours!

You're being sensible, as you're eating complex carbs which will not spike your blood sugar. It's the sort of after dinner/before bedtime snakc any diabetic or hypoglycemic should have!

[Author]

Posts