Insomnia

Amitriptyline stops the racing thoughts. I have taken it in the past to shut down me feeble brain. The only side effect I had was serious cottenmouth the next day. Insomnia is on the list of Unapproved/Off-Label/Investigational

Sometimes my thoughts race too. I'd never take any meds for it so normally I get up and make a sandwich and watch my A-Team DVD's :> Or you could take up sekret night-time reading when your mind wont stfu.

once a month? Watson: Hmmm sherlock methinks the problem is elsewhere Sherlock: meep meepas watson keep it down, this old windmill has ghosts.

Yoga is the bomb for this shiznizzle

Yeah I know what you're thinking Qwerty...PMS, and although I know it's probably hormone related, it actually doesn't take place at "That time of the month". I'm really not comfortable talking to you about hormones though, so that is as far as I'll delve into that topic. I do like doing Yoga and Pilates though, it's helps with my back pain too. Excercising before bed also helps me sleep better.

Fastlane: I don't like to rely on any medicated sleeping aids, because I need to be alert enough to wake up if my daughter cries. Plus I don't want to get addicted. I do take Effexor for panic attacks and anxiety though, so I'm sure that helps me from going even more krazEE.

Lefen: Reading does often help, except I tend to daydream, especially if I haven't got into the book yet. I do enjoy I late night snack., as is also well known about me. I find the later you stay up the more hungry you get, then you get mote thirsty, which subsequently makes you have to pee more! It's a vicious cycle!

Thanks for all the advice! I finally hit a wall last night and had got a good solid 5 hours sleep...woot!

I took an amatrypyline once about 15 years ago. I had a friend who was taking 4 or 5 a day (he was a serious psychotic). I slept for about 17 hours, than was a zombie on the couch for another 24. It stopped any and all thoughts.

Wish I had more.

I had not figured in the BabiEEyes factor. There is another journal or forum on this subject somewhere. Possibly Lefens. And yes ghost if you take 50 - 100 mg and specially if you drink heavy you are down wherever you stop moving for 12 to 18 hours.

I am an insomniac.

It sux.

When I was a kid I could stay up a week straight.

As an adult, I experience insomnia and go for a 72 hour period without sleep every 3 months or so.

I feel for ya, I hate it!

HOLY meep! Non-crappy-poker site plugging comment! ^

Krazeeeee, sounds kinda like OCD. But maybe not, are the thoughts intrusive or bizzare? Does it happen anyother time that you can notice?

I will diagnose/treat/cure your malady. LK will assist.

Insomnia is great when you have a kid... that's probably one of the reasons you can't relaxes.

Racing thoughts? Then stop all time by focusing intently on the mystery of a koan or a dripping faucet==>Meditate!! Breathe like the yoga thing but think with the smallest portion of your mind and let it blossom into everything; then watch as it withers like a snowflake melting on the ground.

puddle. drop. spot. nothing.

mind altering drugs do what your body should do for you--there is a possible physical deficit in your brain chemistry but it is likely not to be structural. Dietary habits should be considered such as: all necessary trace elements, varieties of food, multiple non-repeating meals, different food sources, organic food, mild food alergeries [milk, whey, lactose, meat, proteins, wheat, gluten, &c]. There are many vitamins in berries, grains, greens and fruits that are rarely consumed by the average [INSERT PSYCHOTROPIC MOOD ALTERING DRUG HERE] user, particularly in the American States of Obesity, Malnurishment, and Soul-Killing Greed. Not to mention the hyper-processed foods made readily available in fast food and other major markets for Tyson, Sysco, Pepsico, Yum! Brands, MC Donald's Corporation, &c.

I am not saying to go all hippy new age--but do investigate the relationship between your body, the food you ingest and the mental state you desire as opposed to the one you find yourself in. At worst you will be a healthier insomniac.

post script: ever try exercise?

KrazEEyes = Excercising before bed also helps me sleep better.

Hey Phil, Ever try reading the whole thread? LOL

When I can't sleep, I like to sit down with a nice can of Coca~Cola and play Online Poker... Sometimes I wish I new a new place to play online...

wink Psst... Pla7net... This is your cue buddy... go go go!

I know a couple of people who have had great success with taking timed-release melatonin at night during their rounds of insomnia. The timed-release variety seems to be the only type that does anything for more than two hours. However, I don't know if you would be able to hear your kid crying, maybe Hubbie can have wake-up-at-night duties during that period.

Melatonin is availible over the counter (I think) and is the only thing that actually helped that isn't hardcore medication.

gd lux