It is 6 AM and I am still staring at the ceiling. How can I get to sleep?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

It's 6 AM, and I work at noon. I need to get to sleep NOW, but I've been staring at the ceiling for the past two hours, my mind running in circles, and now the sun's coming up. It's going to be a looong goddamn day, and the more anxious I get about going to sleep the harder it is. What can I do? Would a shot of whiskey help or hurt this situation?

― Laura E (laurae55), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Help!

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate this. Lie under a blanket and watch tv.

― Damn Yankees- High Enough (nordicskilla), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Get up and do something til you get sleepier.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

bateasamur!

― kephm (kephm), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that "something" is hard liquor.

Which I'm really hoping none of my students will smell on me in 6 hours.

And yes, I've tried that too, kephm.

― Laura E (laurae55), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Read.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe write out on paper whatever is making your mind go in circles. listen to the smiths

― kephm (kephm), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Read something dense.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

http://os.inf.tu-dresden.de/~nf2/easter2002/sleep.jpg

― jp ryan (kephm), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I am reading ILX!

And please stop singing, birds outside my window!

Has anyone ever done this and failed to sleep and just had to gut out the whole next day?

― Laura E (laurae55), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

ILX doesn't count! It will make you stare at the screen like a zombie for hours. You have to lie in bed with a very, very boring (or dense) book and make yourself read it. You will be asleep in no time.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

yes, the day might not be so bad. its tommorow that will hurt. what does the ceiling look like?

― kephm (kephm), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

You are wise, Jordan. I have an issue of The Economist right beside me. One more shot and I'm diving in.

And there is a big circular hanging lamp over my head staring down at me like a giant eye, since you're curious kephm.

― Laura E (laurae55), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Do you have any cocaine? Then you could just stay up, no worries.

― Hank Tenbeer (kenan), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

laura, under no circumstances should you listen to the smiths. when i can't sleep i usually just hit the bong, but that is of no help to you. listening to CNN while lying in bed is also a surefire cure for wakefullness.

― Ian John50n (orion), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I go for reading for a bit until I'm distracted, then I put on some relaxing music that I love and can concentrate on and listen to carefully - classic Al Green is a favourite here, something where there is loads to think about, so that you think about that instead of whatever your mind is whirling around. It doesn't always work, but it's my best strategy generally.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

How long do you give me?

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I make up sentences, literally stringing together word after word that pops into my head, creating long rambling nonsense (I don't vocalise it). No thinking about the words is allowed. It takes my mind out of gear. ~50% success rate.

Failing that (or not wishing to try it), get out of bed. Read. Dense stuff doesn't work for me as it engages my mind. Write. If there's anything that's on your mind, put it on paper. Or compose a letter.

― W i l l (common_person), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Pharmaceuticals. If this happens a lot, ask your doctor for a non-narcotic sleep aid like Trazodone. (which is also an anti-depressant to boot!)

― Orbit (Orbit), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

my ex-gf swore by trazadone. but sasha was kinda crazy; you know that though.

― Ian John50n (orion), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Get out of bed and do sit-ups and press-ups (or some other form of aerobic exercise) until you can't do any more. Then rest for five minutes and do it again. Then go back to bed and breathe slowly and deeply and try to clear your head. Always worked for me.

― Jason J, Monday, 25 October 2004 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

mebbe ask a good friend to gently knock you unconscious?

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Call a talk radio station.

― Damn Yankees- High Enough (nordicskilla), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I once read that the best cure for insomnia was to imagine that you are watching yourself lying in bed on a CCTV monitor in the corner of the room. Then pan back and see that this scene is just a CCTV feed itself. Repeat to infinity as necessary.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Sleep through Meta-ness.

― Hank Tenbeer (kenan), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Count sheepfux0rz.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Famous successful film director David Lynch to thread!

― Damn Yankees- High Enough (nordicskilla), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh yeah - I was going to say I may have been getting confused between cures for insomnia and Lost Highway.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyway, it doesn't work. My brain gets more confused than sleepy.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

is it ok to microwave a day old hamburger? it was in fridge

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, it's OK.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 25 October 2004 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Two shots of gin and one article on Norway later, I fell asleep. After four hours of sleep, I am up again. Better than nothing, folks!

And of course, I received a text message upon waking inviting me to do something really cool tonight, which I will be tired for. Maybe I can nap during the day.

― Laura E (laurae55), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

if this is ever a problem again,

m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.e.

seriously, that's how many men are able to sleep at night. after the orgasm it's all distraction and dreamzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

sorry for grossing you out if that offends, but it works!

― oneiric, Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I believe Laura is not a man.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

that's why I shared our great secret ritual with her, to help her sleep, since I believe (though I don't know from first hand experience) women can orgasmate too

― oneiric, Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, but they don't fall asleep afterwards as much.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:30 (twenty-one years ago)

still

― oneiric, Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:31 (twenty-one years ago)

women can masturbate too

i think

xpost

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:33 (twenty-one years ago)

You took a long time to write that post, jon.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:34 (twenty-one years ago)

that's why I shared our great secret ritual with her, to help her sleep, since I believe (though I don't know from first hand experience) women can orgasmate too

Oh yeah, that can happen. x-post

To sleep when I can't sleep:
(aside from all the other good tips as noted above)
I slacken my jawbone so that my upper and lower teeth don't mesh. There's a lot of needless pressure going on there. Lay on my side and get a friend/cat/dog to stretch out with me.

Also, there's a lot of good to be said about white noise. I use earplugs and a fan to wipe out all external sound. Works very well.

― jim wentworth (wench), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:54 (twenty-one years ago)

it was an xpost that got lagged by xpost

[xpost again surely]

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I feel your pain, Laura. Try a BIG bone-cracker of a s-t-r-e-t-c-h in bed, after massaging the arches of your feet HARD. Then lie very very still in your preferred sleeping position.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 03:39 (twenty-one years ago)

carbon monoxide may work

― todd swiss (eliti), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 03:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I believe I already said earlier in the thread that masturbation failed me! (twice) So unless by some miracle there is actual sex to be had, straight gin will be my sleepytime ritual next time I encounter this problem.

― Laura E (laurae55), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to be able to meditate myself to orgasm 90% of the time I'd fall asleep before I got there. Either way, sweet rewards.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

So unless by some miracle there is actual sex to be had

Oh, there is. You may not want it, but there's always sex to be had.

― Hank Tenbeer (kenan), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:16 (twenty-one years ago)

orgasm.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Remy, did you just come on your keyboard? You should know better.

― Hank Tenbeer (kenan), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:17 (twenty-one years ago)

You're right. Businessmen solicit me almost every day when I walk home from work. I could have a restful night's sleep AND turn a profit. Why didn't I think of it before?

Though, seriously, I don't have m/any options in terms of people who wouldn't try to pay me.

― Laura E (laurae55), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:19 (twenty-one years ago)

If they're already trying to pay you, I think you have more options than you realize.

― Hank Tenbeer (kenan), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been up for 18 hours myself, Laura. I'm not doing too hot, and I have a lot of work before I can hit hte hay.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm probably going to be up another 12 hours if I party tonight the way I plan to.

Which means that I must achieve a delicate balance of liquor and caffeine to maintain consciousness.

― Laura E (laurae55), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, god. DOn't go nuts. I stayed up too long and hallucinated myself into a temporary insanity once.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I predict crazy drunken cell phone emails for EVERYBODY tonight!

Once in college I stayed up for 40 hours straight and started to hallucinate, and couldn't figure out how to get a spoon to my mouth at dinner. It was pretty fun, actually.

― Laura E (laurae55), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Crazy? Drunken? Count me in!

― Hank Tenbeer (kenan), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 05:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Gimme a call certainly, Laura. I'll be bored and trying to avoid doing homework. Good luck with the businessmen!

― Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

So unless by some miracle there is actual sex to be had

I misread "actual" as "anal" and was therefore far more amused by that post than I should have been.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan, does it give you a thrill to express your sexual nature so often on the interwebbernet?

― Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

only when he does it while wacking off

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 15:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes.

(xpost haha IT'S LIKE THERE'S A WEBCAM IN MY OFFICE)

― DUH (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 15:45 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, and again with the insomnia. Once more, it is 6 AM. Fortunately, I do not have work tomorrow, although my plans to get up early and go traveling are now completely screwed, and I'll be stuck in my boring little town again for the day.

I turned around and slept at the other end of the bed. I counted, forwards and backwards to high numbers. I tried Will's rambling nonsense suggestion. I even rode my bike around for an hour earlier in the evening hoping that exercise would help, but nothing. My mind just sat there spinning for 4 hours after I laid down. It's not like I'm thinking great thoughts or anything, mostly just running repetitively over the same ideas and problems in my life in a pretty unproductive way. Also for at least one hour straight, the new Gwen Stefani song was on relentless, unceasing loop.

IT IS 6 IN THE FUCKING MORNING, and this shit has to stop. Has anyone else had chronic/recurrent insomnia before? What caused it? How did you stop it?

― Laura E (laurae55), Saturday, 6 November 2004 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I get exactly that at times - those thoughts running around in circles drive you crazy. I think the first priority is to stop them: read a book, put some music on if you're alone, and read until you are ready to sleep. It mostly works for me, but isn't infallible.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 6 November 2004 21:49 (twenty-one years ago)

lie back and imagine (really hard) you have just won the lotto that very night, and are now fabulously rich. very meticulously plan out what you are going to do for the next month (i aim to take a cruise, but you can improvise).

if you do this properly, it will release loads of endorphins and float you off to dreamland. and, y'know, if it ever actually happens, you won't have buyer's remorse after a week like most of the chavs that seem to get lucky.

― d.arraghmac, Saturday, 6 November 2004 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.