Insomnia

[thetwolezz]

Since I have insomnia and I'm lonely at night, how can I get my girlfriend to get it too?
Seriously! If we could get on the same damn sleeping schedule I would be SO MUCH happier!
I have sleeping meds but honestly, I ENJOY being awake at night.

 

[akazie]

Does your GF work?

 

[SweetErika]

It doesn't seem fair to ask her to stay up if she's on a sleep schedule that works for her, just because you're lonely and like staying up.

Getting plenty of sleep during the night is also very important to health. Studies have shown people who don't get enough sleep or stay up most of the night are at higher risk for things like mental illness, obesity, heart disease and cancer (colon cancer is a big, and often deadly, one) because messing with the circadian rhythm can impact metabolism, brain chemistry, hormones, the immune system and digestive system.

Is not being lonely at night really worth putting your partner at risk for health problems, especially when you're considering getting pregnant?

Maybe she can adjust by an hour or something, but it seems the better solution would be for you to get on/closer to her schedule. Melatonin is natural, cheap and works wonders for insomnia and getting on a better schedule. You could try it for a couple of months and see how you feel. You may find you don't like being up at night on a regular basis once you get on a better schedule. And, the worst that can happen is you simply go back to staying up, like you're doing now, so it doesn't hurt to try.

If you feel like you're not getting enough time together, you might consider looking at the time you have and trying to improve the quality of it. For example, if you two usually watch TV or do your own thing before she goes to bed, you might consider taking an hour or two of that time for conversation, working on a mutual hobby together, or doing something that's more focused and intimate (massages, cuddling, sex, etc.). My partner and I have found this to work very well for us.

 

[infinity706]

Well, I stay up all night. Of course, I work night shift, so I guess that's a bit different. Maybe that could be a solution for you lonliness.

 

[thetwolezz]

Does your GF work?

No...I do.
And the question was basically a sarcastic attempt to irritate myself. Serious but as I know, unlikely.
Insomnia is just very frustrating.
Maybe a night job IS in order for me!
But then again, she'd want me to be awake throughout the day, too.

I fall asleep around 4am and she wants me awake at 8am. I don't work till noon.

It's not like I'm purposely staying awake....I'd LOVE to fall asleep at a regular time. I spose I'm overstimulated.

I spose every how-to poster could probably answer their own damn questions if they would just think for five rational seconds.

 

[infinity706]

Well, night jobs do tend to pay more.

 

[Bandit58]

Sir has insomnia and has done for years. When we first got together I did try to stay up with him but soon found that I needed my sleep to function the next day. We are together most of the time during the day (he is on disability because of kidney failure) so we get lots of "together time"

I usually go to bed between 11pm and midnight. I don't work in paid employment so don't have to get up early. He stays up and watches TV and plays on the computer until he gets sleepy which can be anywhere between 1am and 4am. This schedule is not ideal and he will have days when he will crash out and sleep during the day and I have to wake him for meals and blood sugar checks (he is diabetic).

Sleeping pills aren't an option they just leave him groggy the next day and more wide awake at night than ever. He smokes pot (small amounts in a bong) which does help him a bit.

I'm afraid I have no magic solution for you, if I did Sir would be sleeping a lot more than he is!

 

[SweetErika]

Ask his doc(s) about Melatonin, Bandit. My doc (who's a little old man and also diabetic) "prescribed" it for me, and I've never had any side effects like grogginess. He's been using it himself for 30+ years without negative side effects, too, so that gave me the confidence to try it. I have to be in bed, ready to go to sleep, when it starts to work, but as long as I don't try to stay up, it gets me to sleep.

 

[sunandshadow]

Hmm. I am a night owl - by preference getting up noonish and going to bed 2-4 am. Seems to be just my natural biorhythms as I have a nice regular schedule when not forcing myself to get up early for work or school or to please others, just not the same schedule the business world or the sun have. I love being awake alone at night, it's relaxing, and whenever I'm in some kind of situation where I can't be alone for a few hours in a tranquil environment every day I get real stressed out real quick. But I'm pretty strongly toward the introvert end of the scale, I imagine it would bug someone more extroverted.

 

[thetwolezz]

Ask his doc(s) about Melatonin, Bandit. My doc (who's a little old man and also diabetic) "prescribed" it for me, and I've never had any side effects like grogginess. He's been using it himself for 30+ years without negative side effects, too, so that gave me the confidence to try it. I have to be in bed, ready to go to sleep, when it starts to work, but as long as I don't try to stay up, it gets me to sleep.

Just picked up some melotonin today. Wish me luck! If i'm on tonight past midnight, ya'll know it didn't work!

 

[SweetErika]

Just picked up some melotonin today. Wish me luck! If i'm on tonight past midnight, ya'll know it didn't work!

It won't work if you don't want it to or if you're not ready to sleep. I take it and make sure I'm in bed, ready to sleep, 15 minutes after that, so I can relax into sleeping when it starts kicking in at 20-30 minutes. It helps a little, but won't get me to sleep if my mind is really engaged, I'm in a lot of pain or I'm trying to go to bed hours before I usually do. If I think I'm going to have trouble falling asleep, I'll take two tablets, but still may have to resort to something else, depending on the distraction. Melatonin helps your body get into a natural rhythm, rather than forcing it into sleep, like sleeping pills.

So, if it doesn't work for you tonight, keep trying. You might have to step down gradually from your current bedtime to the new one. It also might take you a week or two to get into the right cycle; just keep taking the Melatonin at the same time every night. Since it doesn't cause dependency or have any negative side effects, you might as well take it nightly, whether you think you need it or not.

Oh, and it's super-cheap at Costco!

 

[thetwolezz]

It won't work if you don't want it to or if you're not ready to sleep. I take it and make sure I'm in bed, ready to sleep, 15 minutes after that, so I can relax into sleeping when it starts kicking in at 20-30 minutes. It helps a little, but won't get me to sleep if my mind is really engaged, I'm in a lot of pain or I'm trying to go to bed hours before I usually do. If I think I'm going to have trouble falling asleep, I'll take two tablets, but still may have to resort to something else, depending on the distraction. Melatonin helps your body get into a natural rhythm, rather than forcing it into sleep, like sleeping pills.

So, if it doesn't work for you tonight, keep trying. You might have to step down gradually from your current bedtime to the new one. It also might take you a week or two to get into the right cycle; just keep taking the Melatonin at the same time every night. Since it doesn't cause dependency or have any negative side effects, you might as well take it nightly, whether you think you need it or not.

Oh, and it's super-cheap at Costco!

I bought it at Riteaid ...120 tablets for 5 bucks. Is that good or should I look elsewhere. And hey, thanks, you've been a great help. Hopefully this works. I'm going to take a long hot bath and try and go to bed same time as girlfriend tonight. Can't have sex though cuz I find it stimulates me even more afterwards and I'll never fall asleep!

 

[SweetErika]

I bought it at Riteaid ...120 tablets for 5 bucks. Is that good or should I look elsewhere. And hey, thanks, you've been a great help. Hopefully this works. I'm going to take a long hot bath and try and go to bed same time as girlfriend tonight. Can't have sex though cuz I find it stimulates me even more afterwards and I'll never fall asleep!

Are they 3mg tablets? Mine (from Costco) are Schiff brand, with 3mg of Melatonin and 25mg of Thiamine (which helps stress relief, apparently). It was under $5 for 300 tablets. Actually, I think I've gotten it for $2-3 due to an "Instant Rebate" the last couple of times I've bought it.

Anyway, I mention the dosage because the 3mg is what I'm basing my one or two tablet recommendation on. If yours are 1.5mg, for instance, you should probably take 2-4 tablets.

I'd say $5 for 120 3mg tabs isn't a ripoff, but if you keep taking it, you may want to check out Costco and/or elsewhere to see if you can find a better deal. Or, even watch the sales at Rite Aid, as they often have a buy-one-get-one sale on vitamins and supplements. They don't seem to lose efficacy as long as I keep them sealed and out of heat and moisture, so you're probably safe stocking up with 1-2 years worth or something if you find a really good deal.

And, you're very welcome. Sweet dreams!

 

[thetwolezz]

Asleep by midnight. Up at 1:30 for a few minutes, then 3 for a few. It's 4:30 and WIDE awake now. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

[Gil_T2]

Asleep by midnight. Up at 1:30 for a few minutes, then 3 for a few. It's 4:30 and WIDE awake now. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm one of the ever active minds that travel in different directions at the same time 24/7 & when on sleeping tabs found I was taking more than double doses with still no effect & then wiped out even more all the next day yet mind is still running flatout even though with silly multi directional thoughts.

 

[SweetErika]

Asleep by midnight. Up at 1:30 for a few minutes, then 3 for a few. It's 4:30 and WIDE awake now. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Maybe try 2 tabs tonight, then. There will probably be some bumps in the road while you get in this routine. I know whenever I've tried to get to bed much earlier, I tend to wake up at first light for the first few days. Eventually the bumps smooth out and I can sleep 7-8 hours, or until my alarm goes off.

Do you exercise and avoid caffeine after Noon? If not, I'd say try it until you get in your preferred routine.