How long does it take...

[saechalyn]

Another nosey question out of curiosity. I'm talking about any given normal night from the time you go to bed (and actually intend to get to sleep) not when you're more tired/stressed/worried/ than usual or engaging in other bedtime activities.

[bean]

I'm never not stressd or worried unless ive had some herb, so thats a hard question to answer. normally more than an hour, on herb, less than 5 mins but i cant smoke herb every night.

[saechalyn]

I'm never not stressd or worried unless ive had some herb, so thats a hard question to answer.  normally more than an hour, on herb, less than 5 mins but i cant smoke herb every night.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah that is why I put "more than usual" as I am generally pretty anxious myself.

[kellygrrrrrl]

I am out once I hit the pillow...most of the time

[Rayne]

It varies....sometimes I pass right out, sometimes it takes me awhile...sometimes I got too much on my mind to sleep at all.

[Shade Everdark]

My sleep routine is sort of wonky. In most cases, I cannot get to sleep unless I've spent AT LEAST half an hour reading. This usually ends up being more like an hour, but a half hour is the minimum. However, if I don't read, it is usually much more difficult for me to fall asleep.

[Fierce Critter]

Sigh.

If it weren't for 2 things: 1) potential addiction; 2) rarely have the luxury of 8 hours straight available to me, I'd beg my doctor for a prescription for Ambien or Lunesta.

I cannot fall asleep quickly. My brain will not shut down without something to numb it - be it a boring TV show (PBS documentaries, especially on history, are great), how-to program (nothing like Norm Abram's voice on "Old Yankee Workshop"), or some kind of droning or soothing CD - either a sound effects thing like wildlife at night or babbling brook or crickets, or The Cure's "Faith" with faster sounds programmed out.

Part of my problem now is Jon's snoring. To watch a TV show and hear it over the snoring, I have to put it so loud, it's no longer soothing. To listen to a CD - forget it. I won't even try. I COULD wear earplugs so that once I am asleep his snoring won't wake me - but then that makes it impossible for me to do the TV or CD thing.

It's a horrible, horrible quandry. One that might not get fixed without medical help.

I've always had trouble falling asleep. Reading sometimes helps, but it takes an hour of reading to get to that point.

In recent years, I've dabbled in pills. Jon got Percocet after a foot injury in 2002, and I discovered their "sleep assistance" abilities when I took half of one to see if it would help with some morning back pain I was having at the time. OMG - not only did the back pain go away, but the SLEEP was INCREDIBLE. It was the most wonderful thing. But I finished the bottle in about 2 months (took half at a time, and tried not to take it every day), and found myself almost in an addictive state of withdrawal when it was gone.

I ended up going to over-the-counter things like store-brand-version Nytol, and found the one that worked best was actually Tylenol PM. Managed to not feel "addicted" to those - they don't give you a sense of "relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" that the Percocet does, just seems to make it easier to close your eyes and give in to sleep. I can go back to those if I need to (and I may need to...)

In 2003, when Jon had surgery to remove the screws originally put in his foot, he received a prescription for Percocet. He knew of my taking the original ones, and would have been willing to fill the 'scrip so I could take these (he didn't have any real pain). But both of us decided that wasn't wise, so we threw out the scrip. I would have loved - LOVED - the sleep they gave me. But I don't need that kind of feeling of addiction.

My sleep sucks. I hate the state I'm in. Jon goes to sleep about 11:00. I'm up until 3:00 at least. I can't break the cycle. Not without something changing. And I don't know what that has to be.

I do my "wifely duty" of waking up with him at 6:00, making his lunch and frying him up a couple eggs with toast. That takes about 15 minutes, and I go back to bed while he takes his hour of time getting ready for work. I go back to sleep after he leaves at 7:00. I used to wake up again about 10:30, 11:00. Now, I'm sleeping until at least 1:00, and often until 1:30 or 2:00. My days are shot as a result, but I can't figure out how to fix this.

We're both seeing doctors about this stuff when his insurance kicks in in November. I don't know what can be done, but at this point, I'm desperate.

Sorry to hijack the thread. As you can see, this is a topic that weighs heavily on me right now. I've done everything but cry about it. And I might do that next.

[Goth Brooks]

what's sleep?

[unchaste]

My sleep routine is sort of wonky.  In most cases, I cannot get to sleep unless I've spent AT LEAST half an hour reading.  This usually ends up being more like an hour, but a half hour is the minimum.  However, if I don't read, it is usually much more difficult for me to fall asleep.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me too. I've done this for as long as I can remeber.

[DarkVampire]

10-20 minutes I would guess. As long as the cats aren't moving around on my bed.

[Homicidalheathen]

Sleep? What is that? :blink :confused

[Msterbeau]

It varies....sometimes I pass right out, sometimes it takes me awhile...sometimes I got too much on my mind to sleep at all.

Pretty much me too. Some nights my brain is buzzing (not the alcoholic kind) and it takes a while... others I'm tired and it's late and I'm gone seconds after hitting the pillow.

In general sleep comes easy... and I feel very greatful for that considering the sleep problems I hear some people have. Especially here.

[Daevion]

It can take me up to 2 hours to fall asleep......and often I'll wake up periodically during the night. I'm sure I have some kind of sleep disorder.

[Onyx]

I ended up going to over-the-counter things like store-brand-version Nytol, and found the one that worked best was actually Tylenol PM.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just wanted to let you know that Tylenol PM is Benadryl plus Tylenol.

You don't need the Tylenol unless you have a headache or something, so if you decide to go back try to just buy some generic Benadryl (generic name is dipenhydramine) - cheaper, safer and no danger of liver damage from using Tylenol on a regular basis. You can also get the Benadryl in name brand sleeping pills, but it's the same medicine as generic Benadryl.

I can sooo relate to this problem. :( Takes me hours and hours and there are times when I actually never do drift off to sleep and am up literally the entire night. I've also been having nightmares when I do fall asleep.

I really can not remember the last time I had a full night of restful sleep.

[kellygrrrrrl]

For those of you who cannot sleep, or have a hard time...try using a fan....it gets the air moving wch can be relaxing and can drown out noise, or try warm milk...or Chamomile Tea with Hibiscus Flower, Peppermint & Spearmint....Bigelow makes a blended tea called Sweet Dreams, for me it gets me drowsy...

Sometimes If I am really really desperate for sleep, I'll take a shot of Niquil....

[Fierce Critter]

... just buy some generic Benadryl (generic name is dipenhydramine) ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Funny you mention that - and thanks, by the way.

I had a horrible allergy attack last month, and picked up some generic liquid benadryl at the Dollar Store. DAMN! Talk about SLEEP! Put me out almost in the same manner as the percocet.

I wondered if it would be bad for my stomache, though. Do you know if it has the same problem as over-the-counter sleep meds, in that after a while, they can start having the adverse effect?

As for the fan suggestion, nothing upsets my sleep worse than a fan. The feeling of air moving over me drives me insane, and I can't tolerate that kind of noise. No, I either need a specific noise to focus on to shut my brain down (Cure or sound effect CD's or TV show) or no noise whatsoever.

As for teas/herbs, none have worked for me except going for the strongest - valerian root & passion flower. Catnip, chamomile, mints, etc. - all a waste of time for me.

Oh, yeah - I've been doing a fair amount of sleepless nights off and on myself. Gets to be 4:00 a.m. and Jon has to be up in 2 hours - I just stay up.

Sigh.

[Fierce Critter]

By that way, Jon, that mutherfucker, rarely makes it past 60 seconds before he's snoring.

We often take bets: How long will it take Jon to fall asleep? I generally say 30 seconds or less - and if he makes it past 10 seconds, it's an off night.

Mutherfucker.

[JaneDead]

By that way, Jon, that mutherfucker, rarely makes it past 60 seconds before he's snoring.

We often take bets: How long will it take Jon to fall asleep? I generally say 30 seconds or less - and if he makes it past 10 seconds, it's an off night.

Mutherfucker.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

same in my house he is out pretty damn instantly and i am up for an hour or more. sometimes even 3. listening to the snoring. in that case i get up sometimes and do something for awhile.

[Fierce Critter]

Too bad we're not neighbors. We could play pinochle or something while our husbands sleep. :grin

[Nienna]

IF I can go to sleep, it takes at least an hour.. and I sometimes wake often. It sucks.

[Head Wreck]

between 5 hours and 5 minutes

[Onyx]

I wondered if it would be bad for my stomache, though. Do you know if it has the same problem as over-the-counter sleep meds, in that after a while, they can start having the adverse effect?

Sigh.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't think it's bad for your tummy, however I've read that any OTC sleep med can lose effectiveness after awhile. I have a friend who uses it and she does 10 days on and 10 days off.

[bean]

It depends on what cycle I'm in (depressive or manic). When I am in a depressive swing, I will sleep and sleep and sleep. Everything will make me fall asleep. It's not a restful sleep though as I will wake up every few hours, but be too tired to get out of bed. These are the times when I cancel appointments and sleep literally 20 hours in a day. I fall asleep pretty much right after my head hits the pillow.

This used to be bad when I was in college because my depressive swings would last months. I only showed up to class to take tests most of the time and called into work all the time.

As I'm getting older, I'm becoming more manic, which may or may not be a good thing.

In my manic phase, I stay awake for days or will only sleep for an hour or two each night. I will be tired but can't sleep. After a few days I resort to Valerian tea, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. When it doesn't work, I resort to drinking and taking sleeping pills, in an effort to sleep..that is how bad it gets.

I have nightmares almost nightly, and I have been told that I gasp for air in my sleep. The last person I went home with told me I slept horribly. No shit.

[EvilEve]

most times, it'll take me about 45min. to fall asleep, and stay asleep for a decent amount of time. if i happen to wake up during my sleeping period, i'm up for 2hrs. (not sure why) then fall back to sleep.

[Eric Cartman]

I go to sleep in five minutes unless mr kitty jumps on my belly and pisses me off! bad kitty!!!!!