Trouble falling asleep at night

[Enigma]

I have trouble falling asleep at night. When I lie in bed to go to sleep, my mind will always start to wander.  I'll think about all sorts of different things; how my day went, things that are troubling me, etc. I don't go to bed until around 3 in the morning because if I go in any earlier, I'll be still awake thinking. Since my mind is so active, it usually keeps me up for an extra one or two hours.  I've tried blanking my mind out, which will usually only work for a short while, then I'm back thinking about something before I even realize it.  Anyone have any tips for falling asleep fast at night?

[coyote]

avoid caffeine! If I drink any later in the day, thats exactly how my night goes as well!

[darkdan]

I was that way for years and years (what actually cured me was spending a semester only sleeping 4 nights a week).

Try to relax an hour or more before bed time.  Maybe try getting all your thoughts out.  Write them down, plan your week out, etc.  This way you don't have to think about those things when you get to bed.

Melatonin is cheap and effective too (and non-habit forming).

[daftcow]

I too, have a wandering mind when I go to bed.  I usually cant get to sleep without the tv on, which people find strange.  If I am concentrating on listening to the tv, lying with ym eyes closed, then I am not thinking about things too much about my worries.  It helps me fall into a sleep.  This solution may not be ideal, and I still wake up at least three times a night, but I couldnt sleep at all otherwise.

General advice is to avoid caffine, and go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning , which i cannot do because of my shift pattern.  Avoid reading in bed too and Ive read that the tv should not be in the bedroom, that the bed should only be for sleep.  Making sure your bedroom is tidy before you go to bed is another tip Ive read somewhere.  I cant do that either because my bf is so bloody lazy that I cant keep up with his mess.

Im sorry Ive babbled incoherently and I hope that in some way I have helped a little.

[Dr. Nathanial]

Let me add something,

I had same problem over many years, till I got the information about "REIKI treatment...

Now I can sleep well... I suggest you all to give it a try

[italianpole]

That happens to me too, but my doctor tells me that its just part of my ADD.

[S. Earl Martin]

I agree with the advise given already. I avoid anything that might stimulate me at least 4 hours before I am supposed to go to sleep. This includes exercise, complex thought or choclate etc. I also practice visualization and a form of hypnosis. I see myself sleeping and I repeat in my mind in a calm voice "sleep, sleep" this clears my mind of distractions that are keeping me awake. It does't always work, but most of the time it works for me. I used to drink several beers right before going to sleep. It did allow me to sleep, but it interfeared with actually resting. I think it effected REM sleep.

[jjamo]

I have the same issue , I'm glad I am not the only one with this issue.It seems as though my mind not only seeks what i have done throughout the day but it stresses what i need to do , !
 

[teacup]

***get up early and keep busy throughout the day
*journal before you go to bed, write all your thoughts and plan your next day, even it's an hour by hour itenerary!
*have a bedtime routine
*take a hot shower
*NO TV or computer before bed. the light tells our brains it's daytime.
*read
*avoid caffeiene
*acupuncture can help (like reiki)
*address and work on dealing with any emotional issues. depression, anxiety etc.

I go through phases of not being able to sleep and all of these have definitely helped! Getting up early is one of the biggest ones. If you go to sleep late and sleep through the day your body will be used to that routine. If you want a certain sleeping pattern, you have to do it and stick to it.

Acupuncture has also been huge for me because it address all of your health problems. Not sleeping is a sympton of something else. Acupuncture helped my depression/anxiety, stress, and lethargy. I sleep better, don't get sick, and feel a lot more positive. It's all connected!!

[wolschulze]

I have trouble falling asleep at night. When I lie in bed to go to sleep, my mind will always start to wander.  I'll think about all sorts of different things; how my day went, things that are troubling me, etc. I don't go to bed until around 3 in the morning because if I go in any earlier, I'll be still awake thinking. Since my mind is so active, it usually keeps me up for an extra one or two hours.  I've tried blanking my mind out, which will usually only work for a short while, then I'm back thinking about something before I even realize it.  Anyone have any tips for falling asleep fast at night?

I think that your problem is in your excessive impressionability. Try meditations. I'm sure it will help you.

[anaklio]

The most important thing for goodnight time is good wakeup time. It's very important to get up at the same time every day. The first hour is critical. Absorb as many "daytime cues" as possible during that time: bright light, exercise, food intake.

[liza123]

I have trouble falling asleep at night. When I lie in bed to go to sleep, my mind will always start to wander.  I'll think about all sorts of different things; how my day went, things that are troubling me, etc. I don't go to bed until around 3 in the morning because if I go in any earlier, I'll be still awake thinking. Since my mind is so active, it usually keeps me up for an extra one or two hours.  I've tried blanking my mind out, which will usually only work for a short while, then I'm back thinking about something before I even realize it.  Anyone have any tips for falling asleep fast at night?

What about drinking a glass of hot milk(full cream)?The calcium(if I am not mistaken) lets you doze peacefully through the night

[anaklio]

The most "active" ingredient in milk is tryptophan as it is quite sleep-inducing. It is the precursor to melatonin which is a time cue for sleep. Tryptophan is also prevalent in turkey. So I guess a glass of milk and a turkey sandwich should REALLY knock you out ;-)

[liza123]

The most "active" ingredient in milk is tryptophan as it is quite sleep-inducing. It is the precursor to melatonin which is a time cue for sleep. Tryptophan is also prevalent in turkey. So I guess a glass of milk and a turkey sandwich should REALLY knock you out ;-)

Ha ha ha. I did not know that. Thanks. But, unfortunately, I cannot take the turkey sandwich since I am a vegetarian...guess a "mock turkey" sandwich would not work, huh?

[ConsciousPuppet]

I'm a heavy thinker too, so i usually find myself wondering at night. So i try to exhaust my brain during the day. Reading in this site, playing yu gi oh its a real mental exercise for me, talking with people about more than just small talk. Asking questions about everything!

Also, if i haven't done any exercise during the day i got all that energy in my system. So move around somehow.

If you have a strong active mind, put int to use [im not asying you dont]. Play strategy games, read abstract stuff like philosophy. Try to tire out your brain.