are there any ADD people out there who have trouble sleeping? can't get your thoughts to shut up or stay on track? i can't nap during the day either. does anyone have any tips on how to fall asleep?

same problem here, it's both a disadvantage and an advantage, i just keep doing stuff till i crash

I can't fall asleep without the TV on. Usually, I'll watch a DVD or something that I've already seen loads of times. It seems like if I can "focus" on one thing, I don't have so many thoughts racing round in my head.

It can be nice at points but it does drive my GF insane because I just can't sleep and keep tossing and turning.

if i could nap it wouldnt be a problem

actually thinking about it, flamingmo has quite a good idea, watch a dvd that u've seen before or try and read a book in bed and that should knock u out, if that doesn't work i suppose u could always fall back on sleeping pills but i don't like to use them...dunno why

actually thinking about it, flamingmo has quite a good idea, watch a dvd that u've seen before or try and read a book in bed and that should knock u out, if that doesn't work i suppose u could always fall back on sleeping pills but i don't like to use them...dunno why
Only problem I've ever had with pills is having to put the book down after a good chapter. I just end up thinking about what is going to happen next.:confused:

the film idea is still valid and if fiction books won't work try non fiction? i dunno

I find that a good book makes me think more too. I usually either keep going until I crash, or use that as a thinking time. I can usually count on being awake for 1-2 hours after getting in bed. :(

do you guys find that your medicine raises your heartbeat to a level where it bothers you when you sleep?

Can't say I have a problem with the heartbeat thing - how late are you taking your meds?

Something that also works for me is Melatonin, if you can get hold of it. I would only recommend taking that at night though - not if you want to nap during the day.

I had the same trouble too, so i reduced my dosage until i got used to it and increased it ever so lightly until my body could take it. would advise the same.

there is a post in the adult adhd section where there is a discussion on increased heart rate i will see if i can dig that up, meanwhlie u could look in there. hope that helps...

Increased heart rate thing may be addressed in medications sections.

Melatonin is good helps to darken room.

Taking doses early in day may also help.

Looking for rebound effect after meds begin wearing off...I sleep better if I go to bed before medications wear off completely because I rebound...I can take 20mg of Adderall and then a nap through the entire dose effect...waste of pills!

Hot shower.

Relaxation meditation

journaling

waking up earlier in the day.

Stay up in internet all nigh go to work next day any way....insomnia is a self limiting syndrome although if you are hyper active this self limiting syndrome can take days and days and.......


A few suggestions

When I recently switched to a new doctor due to moving from one state to another, he asked me about my insomnia problems, and he especially wanted to know what happens when I try to go to sleep. I told him that the problem was twofold: I'll just completely forget the time, and look up and it's 3am and it had just not occurred to me to try to go to bed. Then when I went to bed, I'd lie there for hours unable to just get to sleep, because I'd be thinking about stuff that happened that day and stuff that was going to happen the next day and stuff that needed to get done and stuff that didn't get done, and I just wouldn't be able to put everything out of my mind and go to sleep. I pointed out that I knew that the adderall wasn't the problem, because I would regularly take naps during the day on it. So we decided to test out adderall as a sleep aid, and it worked very well. Keep in mind that doing so is very unorthodox and potentially dangerous for most people.

The answer for me is sex.
A couple rounds of bumping uglies and I'm out like a light.
I didn't realise this until I recently became single again and went back to staying up all night and then being dead at work all day.

Also when I was taking straterra I found I would crash pretty hard whenever I had gone without sleep for awhile.
I would literally be unable to do anything other than sleep.
Say I hadn't had a good nights sleep in a while, shortly after taking the stuff one day I would crash and fall into what can only be described as a coma.
I'd literally sleep for 9 hour stretches in the middle of the day.

Like the post above me I started to use strattera as a sleep aid.

I would take it 2 hours before bed time, and as soon as my head hit the pillow i'd be out like a light.
I also would feel more rested than I am now sleeping unaided.
The odd thing about this is that even though 40mg of strattera would barely last through the day under normal circumstances. 40mg taken just before sleep seemed to work all night and throughout the next day.

Wow, your sleep pattern (or lack thereof) sounds exactly like me! I would spend hours lying in bed tossing and turning. There are a lot of tricks I've found that work for me. Most are pretty simple, but they do the trick

1) Focus on your breathing: I like to mentally say "In, out, in, out..."

2) the DVD thing really does work. I prefer a foreign film so I don't listen to the words. Musicals are a definite no-no!

3) A former therapist taught me how to calm my mind. Think of a sentance like "I am ready to go to sleep now", take a deep breath in and out, and start counting backwards from 100 in groups of 5 and keep repeating the pattern. (i.e. "I'm ready for sleep", 100, 99, 98,97, 96, 95 "I'm ready for sleep"...etc.)

4) Sometimes, just changing locations works well, too. I usually grab my comforter and pillow and crash on the couch with the tv on low.

5) Eating or drinking something warm. I read somewhere that temperature changes can encourage sleep. My bedroom is usually cold, so I got an electric warming blanket. I turn it on an hour before I plan to go to bed, so by the time I'm ready for bed, my bed is toasty warm.

6) Sleeping aids do work, too. DON'T, however, go to Walgreen's and grab a sleep aid off the shelf. I tried those once, and I would sleep for 12 hours straight. That semester, I would get up and go to class only to fall asleep in class. (I'll never know how I got an A in that class!) Go to your doc and talk to them about prescription sleep aids. I use Lunesta (2 mgs). I don't generally have a "hangover" and I wake up raring to go. Talk to your doc about what sleep aid would be best for you, as always.

7) Schedule a time to go to bed every night. I picked 11 and try to go to bed as close to 11 as possible, if I get tired before that, I go to bed, but generally, if I'm up past 11, I get tired and a little cranky.

8) Use your bed for only two things: sleeping and copulation. That way, when you hit the mattress, your mind knows what's about to happen and can prepare either way.

9) In my experience, reading in bed is actually a bad thing, because if you're reading, it's probably a topic that you find interesting. This will only stimulate your mind and you wind up getting excited and worked up. If you really want to read before bed, read something really dry and boring, like my philosophy book. You can even buy it off me. Cheap.

Hope one of these helps you out with your sleep issue. Best of luck!