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Sleeping Problems?

Posted by Cliff on from the unable-to-count-sheep dept.

hugo_pt asks: "I have had sleep problems for some years, but it always get worse in the Summer. Yesterday I slept one hour, so when I got home at 8PM I thought I'd sleep till 9AM or so. Wrong. It's 1.36AM, and I can't sleep anymore. Instead, I'm reading The Complete FreeBSD, and the urge to sleep is gone. I was wondering how many Slashdot readers suffer from this problem, and what they do to combat it ?"

4 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. Caffeine and Over-Tiredness by Ieshan · · Score: 5, Informative

    Most Slashdotters probably don't notice how much caffeine they consume during a regular day - and there's even a whole bunch that think, "It has no effect on me whatsoever!"

    But, it realy does. On days I'm not feeling well or have sleeping issues, I simply cut my caffeine intake for the next two or three days and my body usually cycles back to normal.

    It IS possible to be "over-tired". Try doing something quiet with the lights low, like reading a light book in bed, or talking to a friend on the phone with the lights off. It may take a while, but you'll usually doze off.

  2. Some Obvious Suggestions by blunte · · Score: 5, Informative

    1. Halt all caffeine intake. Caffeine stays in your system a long time and interferes with natural sleep signals.

    2. Stop watching TV or other "bright" displays a few hours before you wish to sleep. I forget the name of the brain chemical (and I don't feel like looking it up), but bright light (sunlight esp., computer monitors, TVs, etc.) cause the brain to generate "wake up" chemicals. Instead, try reading print material if you need intellectual stimulation in the evening.

    3. Go to bed when you first feel drowsy. I have a window between 9 and 10pm where I get drowsy. If I don't go to bed then, I'll magically refresh and then stay up until 2+am.

    4. Get a regular schedule. Don't nap. Get up at the same (early) time each day, and go to bed at the same time each night. Ideally, try to align your schedule with the sun. It will help.

    Good luck.

    --
    .sigs are for post^Hers.
    1. Re:Some Obvious Suggestions by klui · · Score: 4, Informative

      The sleep chemical would be melatonin.

      Parent suggestions are good. The most important are sleep at around the same time each night. Don't do anything else besides sleeping or having sex on your bed (like surfing on the internet, eating, watching TV, etc).

      I had sleep problems many years ago, and I took a class on Qi-Gong. I was able to sleep after 2 weeks of nightly meditation. The poster's inability to sleep may be due to stress. Exercise may help here--just don't do it just before bedtime. Balanced diet will also help.

      Basically, you need to just try lots of things. But like many others have said, reduce alcohol and caffeine (including chocolate) consumption.

  3. Funny you should ask by Piquan · · Score: 4, Informative

    I just got back from an overnight sleep test at the Stanford Sleep Clinic.

    There's a lot of misunderstandings about sleep. Many "pop" books regarding sleep, and a number of physicians, have plenty of misconceptions about sleep and sleep problems.

    I highly recommend the book The Promise of Sleep . It's written by Dr. Dement, one of the foremost sleep researchers. It helped me understand healthy sleep and sleep disorders, and lead to my discovery that I have a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder (which has just been diagnosed, and I'm about to begin treatment).

    Sleep problems can lead to lots of problems in your physical and mental well-being. In my case, over the last several months, my productivity at work is shot. I can't concentrate on my code. I also don't have the energy to go out and have fun with my friends like I used to.

    It's also difficult to recognize the results of sleep problems as such. You might not feel tired, even when your body is desperately needing more restful sleep-- but it still interferes with your daytime activities. You might think that they're related to other problems. I thought that my problems were the result of problems with diet, exercise, etc. In my case, these were contributing factors, but the sleep thing seems to be the biggest cause.

    I highly recommend you-- and anybody else who has the slightest inkling that they may not be sleeping as well as they could-- read Dr. Dement's book.