Do you have trouble sleeping?

United States
April 21, 2009 1:44pm CST
We moved into this house the end of December and I have yet to get a good nights sleep. I don't like taking pills but am at the point I might have to start. Our bedroom is so small that all of our stuff won't fit into it and I sometimes think maybe that is part of it but who knows. My grandmother suggested I have a glass of warm milk before I lay down at night but that sounds grose to me. Do any of you have any suggestions I might try that doesn't envolve taking pills?
2 people like this
27 responses
@cassyisme (107)
• Canada
21 Apr 09
hi, I also have trouble sleeping. a glass of warm milk, just so you know, doesn't work. try stretching or yoga or tai chi, and maybe some tea too. something meditate-ish. or what I do, is I read. reading always works for me, if I don't read I can't sleep. sometimes I do take pills though. melatonin pills or tongue strips. they're natural, don't worry :) so if that's your last resort, a few of those will most of the time do the trick. take it between half an hour to an hour before you want to go to bed though. I personally take four when I take them, but normal people should take like two xD but I like pills .. so .. yeah. ;D hope I was some help, aha :) peace !
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Apr 09
I have always hated pills. Even when the doctor perscribes them, I don't take them. My biggest fear is I will get addicted to them and depend on them to sleep. Someone else suggested yoga and I just checked a dvd out from the library today. It is "Yoga for Beginners". I am going to try it out. Gosh only know I could use the excercise.
@carann (260)
• United States
21 Apr 09
Years ago I had a terrible bout of not sleeping. I actually had a tape of one of my friends band he had made and I just put on a headset and listened to it and would fall asleep. He wasnt that happy hearing I use his music to put myself to sleep but it worked lol. His band had music that was soothing and soft. I agree with the music idea.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Apr 09
Ya, me to, but now I have to convince my husband to turn the TV off and let me listen to some music. I am going to try that tonight, maybe after drinking some warm tea, and reading a book. Surely between those I will sleep.
@rizzu87 (860)
• Malaysia
21 Apr 09
I think you should not start taking pills in any condition just because you cannot sleep. Try something else, some other way which will give you a good relaxed sleep. Try to feel relaxed in your new house, dont make your self tensed and all. That will make you fell better. Hope this will help you out somehow. Keep mylotting
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Apr 09
I am trying to learn how to be "happy with what I have and not what I had". I think if I could get to that point, it would help me more than anything. I am trying and just when I think I have gotten there, something happens that is the cause of us being cramed in this hole and it starts all over again. I am working on it and I am just going to start trying to chalk it up as, kids acting as kids. You think that will work? HaHa!
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
21 Apr 09
When I can't sleep its usually because my mind can't shut down. I have a millions of things that are going thru my head. I too don't like taking pills to sleep. Though I got to a point that I had to try something so I did take some tylenol PM it helped alot but I would never take it two days in a roll. They say you shouldn't be on the Computer or watching TV in your bedroom before you go to sleep. The other thing is the bedroom is not to your liking and that could be the problem in the back of your head. Not having the room complete maybe part of the problem. You should try to go to sleep at the same time each night. Don't eat anything at least two to three hours before bedtime. If you find you can't sleep don't stay in bed tossing and turning. Read, or go to another room to watch TV. I hope this helps you in someway. Another thing I have done and it has helped is Pray before going to sleep. Good Luck!
• United States
22 Apr 09
Thank you for all the suggestions. I agree with the TV and I finally decided the other night, if I couldn't go to sleep, I might as well get up so I did. I am writing a book right now and I got up and couldn't believe how much of it I got done. I went back to bed, exhausted, at 5:30am and just when I started falling asleep, my husband asked me "are you ready to get up". Of course I wasn't, I had just fallen asleep. Just my luck. Reading does make me tired so I might try doing that just before going to bed. I havn't tried this yet only because I find myself getting wrapped up in the book and not wanting to put it down. Thank you for your respons.
@hacker006 (126)
• United States
21 Apr 09
try wearing headphones or listening to music before bed, it blocks out sounds & relax the minds attention
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Apr 09
The other day I put a real boring movie in and I couldn't believe it, I fell asleep within minutes. Of course I woke up at 2am and couldn't go back to sleep but I do love music. Thanks for the respons.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Apr 09
I feel yeah about having a hard time falling asleep in a new house. P{ills are not the best way to go and yes warm milk does help but yeah its kinda gross. So what i do is metatate and it helps to relax me or throw on some suthing music thatll help me fall asleep.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Apr 09
You are the second person to mention medetate. I will have to try it. I have never done that before. We have 6 kids cramed into a 2 bedroom home so it is always noisy here but once they go to bed I will have to try it. When they are asleep is the only peace and quiet we get around here!
1 person likes this
@suvint (2)
• India
22 Apr 09
No i don't have trouble sleeping,iam not seistas becoz iam busy man in the morning times i has go for my spoken english and evening i have partime work at airtel.
• United States
28 Apr 09
I am glad to hear you do not have trouble sleeping. It is something that many people have problems with and I think it is getting worse with the economy. Stress is a big factor and lots of people are very stressed in life right now. Thanks for your respons.
• United States
22 Apr 09
I have trouble sleeping as well but it's usually when I have a lot going on or a lot that I'm worried about. Once those worries go away I sleep better. I actually haven't slept in 16 hours and I have to go to class this afternoon so I don't know if I'm going to end up staying up for over 24 hours today. It's because one of my classes are bothering me. I drink warm milk before I go to bed sometimes, I didn't last night though. I used to think it was gross but I got used to it over time. I don't really have as good suggestions as the ones that others have given you. I can only say that if there's something that's bothering you and you resolve that issue you might be able to sleep better. I don't think that pills are the way to go though because people become dependent on them if they use them often. It's better if you try to take some alternative suggestions that are given here.
• United States
28 Apr 09
You are correct. I have had lots on my mind every since we moved here. We lost our nice home and had to move into this and that in itself has bothered me. I am getting past that and it seems to be helping. I am starting to see the end of the tunnel now. I hope whatever is bothering you in your class you are able to resolve or get through so you can get some sleep. Staying up for 2 days straight is not good. I have done it many of times and even though I couldn't sleep and was wide awake, you don't function the same as you do after a good nights sleep. I hope you are able to get at least a nap in before your class.
@HelScream (2822)
• Philippines
22 Apr 09
well first off you have to do something about your stuff make your bed as comfortable as you can organize them and give out the stuff that you dont need anymore this would lessen your stuff. make drawers or anything or utilize the space below your bed and put the stuff there just make your bedroom spotless from your things cluttered all around the room in this way you have a huge area and you will see you will find it easier to sleep. I have this problem once I really am not that particular with cleanliness its just that I had problems sleeping if things are not in their right places with this I decided to arrange my room the whole day and put compartments in it after that and being tired for doing that the whole day I feel asleep like a baby ,satisfied with the arrangement of my room. Till now I dont have problems sleeping anymore for I found the solution to my problem. hope thigns would work out with you my friend. Try to make yourself comfortable by making a lot of space in your bedroom.
• United States
25 Apr 09
I want to thank you for your respons. We are so cramped in there I have clothes thrown at the end of the bed. It covers up the one and only vent to. I have started cleaning it up and will try better at keeping it clean. My room never use to get as bad as this one seems to. I can't stand dirty clothes all over but it just keeps pilling up anymore in this room. I never thought of that being possibilities. Thanks!
• India
22 Apr 09
Dear Angelican you might laugh at me but what you grandma told works for me ... i certainly think you can give it a try. I also have this similar problem and it is impossible for me to get a good sleep except when I am in my own bed which I have been using for years. Sometime when I go to the relatives and especially have to share a bed with my brother it is quite difficult for me to get a good sleep. I used to keep on waking up .... to say the sleep was very thin and it was quite disturbing. I discussed this with my aunt next day and she suggested me the exact same thing what you have said and somehow may be some coincidence I slept very well after having some warm milk(not hot). So I kinda started believing in it. As you know certain things can only be in your mind .... since it has worked for me the first time I kind of get a feeling that it helps. Does work for me ..... so I would say you might consider giving it a try.
• United States
28 Apr 09
I am glad it has worked for you. My 9yr. old stayed at my grandmothers house and saw her drinking warm milk and when she told him why, now he has a glass before bed. He thinks it works to. A lot of things are all in what we believe in. If you think it will work, then it probably will. I think, it will give me an upset stomach so on that theory, it probably will give me a tommy ache. I have bee reading a book and praying. I prayed every now and then before, not sure why not every night, but it does seem to be working and I am going to stick with that for now. Good luck to you and than you for your respons.
• Canada
21 Apr 09
I would like to give you a couple of suggestions. I have a lot trouble sleeping myself and sometimes a cup of chamomile tea helps or meditating for about 30 minutes with a relaxing music in the background could be very beneficial as well. You mentioned that all your stuff doesn't fit into your bedroom. Have you considered minimizing what you have in the room or do you need everything that's in there at all times? If you look around, you might find some of the things that you don't necessarily use very often and perhaps you can find another place to store them. I hope this helps a little. Good luck!
• United States
21 Apr 09
Thanks for the tip. My stuff, well, we were forced to move out of a large home into a very small home. It is our furniture that won't fit. Our bed won't even fit in this room. I have already stored my dresser but really would like my bed. We can only fit the matress in it. Luckily our matress is one of those thick ones so it's not so low to the ground but non the less, it is on the ground. I will try the tea tonight.
1 person likes this
@zulfah (48)
• Indonesia
22 Apr 09
i have same problem, it's hard to sleep. But it's only if i had trouble at my office or if i got idea will came to my head. My wife advise me to read before sleep, and it's work it's allocate my mind to other topic in my head. make a relax feeling and u just wake up in the morning without trouble bothering your head.
• United States
28 Apr 09
Reading a book is working for me and I am glad it is working for you. Good luck and I hope you have solved your sleep problems. I think mine is doing much better and hope it continues.
• China
22 Apr 09
maybe there are something else you don't realise for your trouble sleeping.but as you said the bed is too small for you to fit into,i think it is the key.when i was a student in a college the bed is small too.at the first year i have trouble sleeping but soon i accustomed only thinking about nothing and finding a little better pose,when you slept down that will be well.
• United States
22 Apr 09
Thank you for your respons. My bed is accually a king size and it takes up the whole room. I just can't fit my bed frame in the room. I honestly think we need to get a queen size mattress and different furniture that isn't so chunky but can't afford it right now.
• United States
23 Apr 09
No problem. I am saving money like crazy right now. The way the economy is right now, anything can happen. Were I work has been so slow and there are days I only work 1 - 2 hours so I am afraid one day they might decide to get rid of me but when things start getting better, I plan to use money I have saved for a smaller matress. Hopefully a bigger home!
• China
23 Apr 09
sorry i misunderstood your meaning and indeed i got the contrary mean.a king size to a queen size,maybe it is a good idea.you can affor it some day in future if you insist on.good luck
• India
22 Apr 09
I have always sleeping problem, sometimes i can not help myself sleeping trying various sleeping help tips but following few method its help having good sleep. Reading a good book before going to sleep or praying are helpful, if you love music then listen soft music.
• United States
28 Apr 09
Reading a book and soft music are great ideas. I have been trying this lately and it seems to be working. Now if only I could stop waking up at 4am! I also need to let go of the daily stress and I am working on that. Good luck to you and I hope you find something that works for you.
@dexterous21 (1180)
• Philippines
22 Apr 09
Oh no! I myself have trouble sleeping since childhood. I had done a lot of things to get me into a good sleep but I couldn't. Just recently, I decided to do my exercise at night to make me refreshed from the tiring day. And Alas! I was able to sleep well at night.
• United States
22 Apr 09
Well several have suggested yoga and I am going to try that. I'm glad you found something that works for you. I hope it does for me to.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
22 Apr 09
Once in a great while I do....when I am overtired I think it's worse......but I actually count frontwards to 100...then backwards...until I fall asleep!
• United States
22 Apr 09
Kind of like counting sheep. I have tried that. I sometimes think it is a lost cause. I guess we all have to find what works for us since not everyone is the same. I am glad to hear it works for you.
@sameroad (3179)
• United States
22 Apr 09
i used to have problems sleeping... i think working out really helps me to sleep. helps me to relax i guess. take away stress.. maybe take a bath or watch something really boring lol hmm i m not sure what else, cookies and milk? milk makes me sleepy.
• United States
23 Apr 09
I will admit, the best nights sleep I have had was when I put in the most boring movie I had ever seen. I still havn't watched it. I didn't make it past the first 5min. LOL! Maybe I need to go buy it and I can put it in every night.
• Philippines
22 Apr 09
yeah..i have trouble in sleeping for sometime if i noticed that i couldn't sleep i take a glass of coffee without sugar or if not gotta watched a horror movie or a kind of movie to make me sleep. but i don't take any sleeping pills..coz i'm afraid not to wake up again..
• United States
23 Apr 09
I hear you. I am affraid of getting addicted to them.
@happy2009 (330)
• China
22 Apr 09
I have this problem one year ago,but I haven't taken any pills ,but just let it was,and the phenomenon lasted for about 1 month.If you pay much attention on it ,your press will be much heavy ,and it will last longer.
• United States
22 Apr 09
Kind of like the Secret. If you keep thinking about it, it will only get worse. I got ya.
• China
22 Apr 09
when i was in middle school,i always couldn't sleep without any sake.but i haven't any trouble after enter the college. in fact,when you can't fall asleep,you must think something constantly,which makes you more difficult fall asleep.so i suggest you don't think anything when you have trouble in sleep!make you brain have a blank!
• United States
23 Apr 09
Tried it. I have 6 kids and there is so much to think about. I do think if I could get my mind cleared it would definatly help but I don't see that happening in the near future. Thanks for your reply.