Does it really work?
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
January 2, 2008 10:30am CST
Ok I"m actually quite good with sleeping. Normally I just lay down and pouffff I'm asleep. I don't usually wake up during the night either, but if I do for some reason I don't stay up hours trying to get back to sleep, I just turn to the other side and I"m asleep again before I can say "goodnight" LOL
But I know a lot of people that have trouble sleeping. My daughter included.
That's when I remember about counting sheep. Does that really work? Did you ever try it? hehehe it sounds funny but I guess that it's the visualizing of some repetitive action that might do the trick.
SO did you ever try it? DId it work or it just kept you awake trying to count all the sheep?
3 people like this
12 responses
@ssh123 (31071)
• India
3 Jan 08
If I wake up in the middle of night, it is difficult for me to continue the sleep. I just cannot. But I hardly wake up in the night. My wife enjoys sleeping. I take her to picnics or travel long distances. The moment she gets into the car, I can hear her snoring/sleeping. But promptly she is ready for lunch time or tea time. In fact I admire her capability of sleeping whenever she wants and wherever she wants!! Blesses are such people.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
3 Jan 08
I think we get that ability when our kids are babies and we have to wake up in the middle of the night to feed them. If we couldn't go back to sleep we would be a wreck after a while:)
I sometimes sleep in the car as well in long trips.
It's funny you mention that, because when my kids were little babies and were crying at night we would sometimes just get into the car and go around the block they would be sleeping in seconds LOL
@GardenGerty (169452)
• United States
2 Jan 08
I never counted sheep. I think as a young person I worried, and had trouble sleeping, but now I am like you, head on pillow, eyes closed, sleep. Wake up, roll over, sleep. I would try, when I did have trouble, praying. Either for each person I knew, or alphabetically. I would recite things I knew, like books of the Bible, or Bible verses, or names of states or capitals of states. I think it puts you into a different brain wave pattern that leads to sleep.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
2 Jan 08
I think it's great when we don't have problems sleeping. I feel really lucky because I've talked to some friends that can't sleep well and it really doesn't sound good.
I think anything that relaxes us is good. Sometimes I used to start thinking about something I would like ot happen and then it would redirect my dreams and I would dream about that. That's a pleasant dream and a good night sleep LOL
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
2 Jan 08
The only time I ever have problem sleeping is when travel to Europe.
I was counting sheep walking and sheep flying on the sky....so I have to say that sheep counting is not for me.
Melatonin is working on me when travel.
When at home, anything calming, the best so far is hypnosis tape....
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
2 Jan 08
Yes, the hour change gets to me a bit for the first 2 or 3 days, but after that I"m fine.
I know that counting sheep wouldn't do for me, I would start adding all the details to the little sheep, and then thinking about where they were coming from and making up a story and would end up not sleeping at all heheheh
Anything calming is good for me but even if I don't have it I sleep right away no matter what LOL - either too tired or a clean conscience heheheheh
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
4 Jan 08
For me it doesn;t work. My problem is my mind won';t stop, shut down, be quiet, wahtever. Counting sheep is just another thought process to add to the group.
I don't usually suggest medicating yourself, but I have used Tylenol PM and for me it does work. Since my sleeplessness is usually pain related it helps, however it doesn't when the sleeplessness is mind related. I have found writing a letter or writing in a journal can get the thoughts out and help with getting to sleep.
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
9 Jan 08
I was also told that my medications could be causing part of my sleepless nights. That's why the Tylenol PM. It's not as strong as a sleep aid but helps with the painful legs and allowing me to drift off.
I only woke once last night and then right back to sleep.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
I am very much like you, an easy sleeper. All these years, I've never had problems sleeping, no matter how early or late it is. Once I lie on the bed and turn off the bedside light, I will be asleep within minutes. I am seldom disturbed by noise during my sleep, so I can sleep through the night even if it rains heavily in the early hours of the morning. I guess those who have problems sleeping are generally those that have an inherent sleeping disorder or who have sinus, or like some others who have lots on their mind, stress from work or troubles in their lives which keep them awake reflecting on their problems and issues. Thank God I am free of these.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
4 Jan 08
YOu're lucky too :)
I actually do have sleep apnea and sometimes I do wake up during the night feeling that I am out of breath which I literally am LOL But the thing is that I take a few deep breaths, turn to the other side and I"m back to sleep again heheheh
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
4 Jan 08
I am blessed in that sense. I read that sleep apnea, although common enough and caused by breathing stops or shallow breathing during sleep, can become serious for some because it can increase blood pressure leading to possible stroke or heart attack. There is also the risk of diabetes. It is good to seek treatment if it is serious for your case, to prevent health problems in your life. Our health is important, and we need to protect it, for the sake of ourselves and our loved ones.
1 person likes this
@Vucjak (242)
• Macedonia
2 Jan 08
I have troubles to fall a sleep, but the few times I tried to count sheep, it never worked. It just made me stay awake for much longer. Unfortunately, I haven't found any cure, I'm going to bed when I'm really tired, but because of that sometimes I sleep during days, and stay awake during the nights.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
2 Jan 08
:) I kind of had an idea that it wouldn't work for everyone. Some people - me included - would just concentrate so hard on visualizing all the sheep that it would get them to stay awake longer :)
When our sleep is not balanced it often happens that we tend to have times that we will sleep for a whole day. the problem with that is that again sleep is not balanced and then we're up night and sleepy during the day.
I used to push myself to the limit and no sleep enough but now I'm making sure I sleep the proper amount of hours each night.
@AmbiePam (120641)
• United States
3 Jan 08
Oh rub it in!: ) I have the worst trouble sleeping. When I was a child I tried counting sheep, because that is what was suggested. So I tried. But then I started thinking about why we counted sheep instead of cows? A horse could jump over the thoughts in my head better than a lamb (sheep). Where exactly did this little idom come from? And after that, the sheep counting was shot.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
4 Jan 08
No, it does not work.
Melatonin works
or
Find a tv show that you are interested in, then close your eyes, but only for the commercials, usually I fall asleep in the 2nd set of commercials. The problem is finding a tv show that you want to stay awake for.
1 person likes this
@dfinster (3528)
• United States
8 Jan 08
I tried counting sheep when I was younger and it never worked for me. I've always had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I always seem to have too much on my mind and can't stop thinking about it. If it seems like I'm really not going to sleep I get out of bed and read a book. That always seems to help.
@joey_matthews (8354)
•
8 Jan 08
Nah not for me.
I once counted up to 700 and something and I didn't batter an eyelid, i just started thinking "why the hell am i counting" and before i knew it i had forgotten what figure i was actually on. I know I past 700 but where I dunno lol
~Joey
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I am really good about falling asleep fast except when I'm sick. An old standby I use when I can't get to sleep is to picture a set of stone steps going down and me walking down them. Before long I am off to dreamland. I don't know where I started that from or why it works but it works great for me.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
I even tried counting stars and my achievement was even more awake and refreshed that I feel like getting up of bed. I often had to deep breathing or sleeping meditation to doze off. Another way is to try to read a book which I know will sure make me doze off. lol.
1 person likes this
