insomnia.

[fluffy jorgen]

well, lately i've been having serious problems falling asleep, let alone staying asleep.
i don't really want to take sleeping tablets. i can't relax and unwind before i go to bed, because there's always something on my mind and my brain just can't shut down.
i don't want to go to my GP again, everyone's sick of my illnesses and issues as it is and i don't want to worry my mum either. any ideas on how to get a good night's sleep? 

[fluffy jorgen]

well, yes, my bedroom's always a mess, the neighbours are always making a noise in the middle of the night (how do i stop that?), there's always a light in the hallway. what you're saying, i should work on my surroundings? thank you for the advice! 

[Dennis]

Melatonin might help too. It's not a sleeping pill, but it is the substance that your body produces when it's time to sleep. Doesn't leave you foggy and if you want to clear it out of your system, you step outside into daylight.

Dennis

[fluffy jorgen]

can you just get this at the chemist's then or do you need a suscribtion?

[Dennis]

In Canada and the US, you don't need a prescription. Not sure about the UK.

Dennis

[Pica Pica]

i've always struggled with that.

I have found camomile tea, and a cd I compiled myself is the best job.

[Pica Pica]

oh, well $1.50 (for a box) would be cheap here (about 70p) but everything is more expensive here, I mean that is probably less expensive then a cup of tea in a cheap cafe.

[fluffy jorgen]

oh yes, a calming drink before you go to bed as well. 
i know, everything's so expensive, i'm skint these days as it is. 

dreams, blah, the ones i had before i stopped sleeping were crazy and weird as well, i think i'd prefer them to insomnia too. 

[Lucy]

Its such a bagga, the anti depressants helped me for a while but now my insonia is back.. 

If you go to your GP they will help you, discuss how you feel or if you have a theropist they might be able to help.

[fluffy jorgen]

A warm drink and a calming CD seem to be doing the trick.
Though I still keep waking up a lot, at least I manage to get some sleep!
Thanks!

[tekla]

I'm over fifty years old, and some nights I sleep on a plywood platform covered with a bit of carpet, no mattress, no pillow (I use my backpack), no blankie (I use my coat).  Other times I've been noted for sleeping on a floor (backpack and coat again) while bands (Like Slayer or Evanescence) soundchecked a couple yards away.  Either way, I sleep like a baby.  I can do that because I'm totally exhausted. 

Real hard and vigorous physical exersize a few hours before bed will help you sleep.  Don't do it right before, as it energizes you, but like 3-4 hours before bedtime.  It gets rid of a lot of tension, and makes your body want to rest.

[tinkerbell]

I used to suffer from severe insomnia before.  Nowadays, I sleep like a baby.  I'm finally at peace with myself, and my sleep patters are normalizing, thank God!


tink

[dawn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian_%28herb%29

it works for me, when i need it, i don't use it often though. you should be able to get it in most health shops or chemists/pharmacies.
check the contraindications and make sure it doesnt react with anything you are on first, yadda yadda yadda etc.

[tekla]

Making your body need rest is better than drugging it into sleep.

[Rowan_Danielle]

A white noise generator might be able to help with the noise aspect of the environment.

Going to bed tired can help too.  Or reading a book before bed, especially if it is one that you like but find so relaxing you doze off reading it.

You might also keep track of what you eat in the hours before bed.  That can sometimes have an effect.

I personally prefer to avoid sleeping pills and the like.  But then, I can usually get to sleep without a problem by getting warm.

[Lucy]

Making your body need rest is better than drugging it into sleep.

Whilst I agree with this statement, it is not allways possible

I find exercise and the gym does help me to a degree but not allways,

Pills only help for a short term and sould not be counted on for long term use.

[Camden]

I ALWAYS had that problem till I discovered Calcium/Magnesium that they sell at any healthfood store and it works great. I have to take it a few hours before I actually want to get to sleep. It's pretty cheap too.

[fluffy jorgen]

update.
i'm able to sleep again.
thanks to some of your suggestions and everything.