I've been saying that I've had insomnia for a few years now and every night I get more & more convinced that I really do.

I'm 20yo and ever since I was little I've had trouble falling asleep. I've always noticed when I'd be trying to go to sleep w/ someone else at the same time, like at a sleep-over and even when I slept w/ my mom when I was a kid, I would always be the last one to fall asleep and it seemed like everyone else would fall asleep almost right away.

It takes me around 30min on average to fall asleep once I've got my eyes closed and am trying to fall asleep, and that's when I'm tired. I even have to have my room perfect "atmosphere", (not a bit of light, no noise, & it has to be cold) I can't even try to go to sleep if I'm not tired b/c I'll just lay there. I also don't sleep very well, I'm always waking up throughout the night. I might 1 good full night's sleep a week.

Lately I've been having to "self medicate" by drinking 2-4 beers or a shot or two of liquor. I've been doing that for about the past year since I started college since I'm having to wake up early for class so therefore I have to go to sleep early. I always try to shoot for 8hrs of sleep every night b/c I know how important sleep is when it comes to learning. That means I have to go to bed around 10-11 each night, that's unheard of in a dorm where it doesn't get quiet til well after 12, and I'm usually not even tired by 10 or 11 so I have to "induce" sleepyness.

The funny thing is that I'm really an early bird. I can't stand sleeping past 9am and really prefer waking up at around 6. but that's not always possible b/c I can rarely get to sleep on early enough to be able to get enough sleep by 6am.

Well, I could keep going on but I've gotta start getting ready for a test this morning so I've gotta stop. I'll add more later.

But could anyone tell me if that seems like Insomnia to them? or could it be something else (like a psychiactric or emotional proplem)?


Thanks

This sounds like insomnia to me.

Try warm milk instead of booze.
Also, avoid naps during the day at all costs. They might help you catch up, but they'll make it more difficult to sleep at night and you need to sleep in one stretch.
Are you on stimulants? If so, you might consider switching to Strattera.
Avoid cigarettes and coffee as well -- both stimulants.

Good luck!

Does the warm milk have a "tranquilizing" effect? the reason I drink is to make myself sleepy. Like I said, I can't even try to go to sleep unless I'm sleepy, and w/out aid it takes me forever to become sleepy.
I never take naps during the day. I've never been able to take naps during the day, even after not getting much sleep the night before or even staying up all night.
I do take Adderall (regular, not XR) and know that that can contribute to it, but I make sure to never take it after a certain time where it could still be effecting me when it's time to go to sleep. I'd like to try Strattera but I don't think it would work nearly as well as Adderall does.
I don't smoke or drink coffee, no nicotine or caffiene of any kind.

yep it does to me top

Along with warm milk and a hot, relaxing bath, a last-resort might be to try a dose of Benadryl. It always knocks me out.

lol. I wish I could take a warm bath, but I stay in a dorm and I don't even like taking showers here, and they're far from relaxing b/c the whole time I'm trying to focus on not touching anything:)
I'm going to ave to try the warm milk. is there any kind that works best? like Vit D or Skim? I do prefer Vit D...
I've taken benadryl before, in the form of "Simply Sleep" tablets. they did work a little but I found that it left me drowsy in the morning.

thanks for the tips and advice!

I'm going to ave to try the warm milk. is there any kind that works best? like Vit D or Skim? I do prefer Vit D...


Any milk will do. Good luck!

this is so awesome. my roommate came in drunk at 3 this morning w/ his drunk friend and his drunk girlfriend and they were all talking and making all kinds of noise and turning lights on and **** (keep in mind I stay in a tiny *** dorm that's smaller than a hotel room) and now I'm wide awake after trying to go back to sleep for over an hour.
GOD I HATE THIS!

I have the same problem. I find that if I try to hard to fall asleep I just feel worse. I also seem to have a "window" of sleepiness and if I miss it it's another night of early morning tv. Benadryl works well, I have also used Tylenol PM, usually the off brand kind. Don't know how good the Tylenol is for you, but crosschecking has shown me it has the same amount of sleep aid meds as the strictly sleep aid pills offered over the counter for a lot less.

I wonder if problems sleeping could be an ADD problem. I can't turn my brain off. Tried relaxation, picturing relaxing scenes. Mind tends to drift and thoughts race. Any opinions out there.

Shoot, I cannot turn my mind off and sleep right now! Anybody out there?

I couldn't get to sleep until 3am last night!! I had an interveiw this morning, so scary, and now I am like zoned out -and sort of fearful of everything, like I am mentally ill or something, is this normal? It is hard to relax....