I can't sleep

[Hoopsdoc]

I participated in a sleep study when I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. The doc in charge of that study really saved me with some simple advice for preparing to go to sleep.

1. No tv or caffeine or stimulants of any kind within 2 hours of going to bed.
2. Create a routine that you follow every night.
3. Once you lie down, don't immediately try to go to sleep. Just lie there for 5 or 10 minutes with your eyes open, just letting yourself relax and unwind. Look around the room or just stare at the ceiling. Once you start feeling relaxed, close your eyes.

I follow that routine every night and sleep pretty well. Hopefully, something in this may help you.

Good luck.

[sd4chiefs]

I had the same problem until I stopped drinking red wine in the evening and taking this before bedtime.

[George Liquor]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

I participated in a sleep study when I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. The doc in charge of that study really saved me with some simple advice for preparing to go to sleep.

1. No tv or caffeine or stimulants of any kind within 2 hours of going to bed.
2. Create a routine that you follow every night.
3. Once you lie down, don't immediately try to go to sleep. Just lie there for 5 or 10 minutes with your eyes open, just letting yourself relax and unwind. Look around the room or just stare at the ceiling. Once you start feeling relaxed, close your eyes.

I follow that routine every night and sleep pretty well. Hopefully, something in this may help you.

Good luck.

Another likely reason for my problems is i work swing shift. One week of 7am-3pm then one week of 3p-11pm, so that ****s with any normalcy in my sleep patterns. It's not really hard to get used to staying up late for me, but getting reconditioned back to 1st shift at my job is a real bitch. Coincidentally enough, last week i was on first shift. I think I'm about to start a good 7 month stretch where i don't have to work 2nd shift, so hopefully that will help too.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by BDj23

Another likely reason for my problems is i work swing shift. One week of 7am-3pm then one week of 3p-11pm, so that ****s with any normalcy in my sleep patterns. It's not really hard to get used to staying up late for me, but getting reconditioned back to 1st shift at my job is a real bitch. Coincidentally enough, last week i was on first shift. I think I'm about to start a good 7 month stretch where i don't have to work 2nd shift, so hopefully that will help too.

Ahh. Your circadian rhythm is ****ed. Swing shift has destroyed any chance of your body developing a normal pattern. Unfortunately some people's bodies can just never adapt to it and your sleep will suffer as long as you work it. There are things you can do to help though:

http://sleepcenter.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=54