Need sleeping advice, please

[bakura_fan]

Ok....yes....it sounds stupid.....but seriously. For the past few months, it's been hard for me to sleep through the night. More and more, I've been waking up earlier and earlier in pain. I have lower back problems, so that's usually what's hurting the most. Now....my body has gotten into the unhealthy habit of waking up every 2-3 hours and maybe after that, I'll be in so much pain that I can't sleep. I'm writing this about 5:15 AM where I am because I decided to just give up attempting to go back to sleep an hour ago. I take many naps during the day.....but, I'd really like to sleep through the night just for once. I have one of those body pillows that's supposed to support your back. It helps for awhile.....but then my back starts hurting a lot. I take one tylenol before bed because my mom says it should help with the pain. Gee, I'd hate to think how I'd be without it. x_x The only time that I've slept through the night was when I was so tired that I couldn't think straight. Unfortunatly if I don't get enough sleep....I get really sick. I thought that maybe my lack of sleep had to do with school and stress....but now that I'm done....nothing's changed. So....any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. *still in a lot of pain and very tired*

[Link Antilles]

Well, my main advice is to exercise during the day.... as simple as taking a walk around your neighborhood.

Others tips I've heard....

- Drink a glass of warm milk (milk contains an amino acid that is converted to a sleep-enhancing compound in the brain).
- Take a warm (NOT HOT) bath (not a shower) before going to bed.
- Avoid naps if they interfere with your normal sleep pattern.
- If unable to fall asleep within 20-30 minutes of lying down, get up and do something else until you feel sleepy. This way your body does not associate your bed with wakefulness.
- Avoid eating a large, late-evening meal - and heavy, fatty foods before going to bed.
- Avoid coffee, tea, and other sources of caffeine, especially in the evening.

Hope that helps!

[bakura_fan]

I actually exercise quite a bit during the day. I'll have to try some of those other things. I've tried the milk, bath, and we really don't have any caffinated drinks and I don't like coffee. Thanks again.

[cbwing0]

Do you sleep on your back, by any chance? If so, that might be the source of your problems. Sleeping on your back is not healty for the spine, and it can cause pain if you sleep in that position all night. Instead, try sleeping on your side (but not on your stomach, as that is bad for the heart).

[Lightbringer]

well, I supose the next logical question is what do you sleep on? i know i had a problem similur to that when i slept on a very old bed thats been at the house for a long time.

Another thing , if you do alot of exercise, perhaps you're over doing it. If its persists i would sugest you go to a doctor and get a rutine checkup. Either way i'll be praying for you as well.

[Rev. Doc]

This may be a foregone conclusion, but I'll ask it anyway. Have you gone to a doctor about this problem?

[bakura_fan]

To answer the first question. I mostly sleep on my side, but I tend to wake up on my stomach.

Yes, unfortunatly I had to do double PE every week. 180 minutes to be exact. Because of my two college PE courses. But, now I'm done with college classes for 6 weeks.

Well, I've been to a chiropractor....but no. My parents don't need to take me to a doctor if it can be helped. *see bottom of edit for reason*

I'm right now seriosly thinking of trying to go back to sleep since I am tired once again....

Edit: sorry, I forgot to answer the matress question. Well, I sleep on one of those no turn matresses. I've turned it around *head to feet* but it didn't help. I've had it for about 3 years. It's also supposedly guaranteed to never sag. Well, I can feel the difference between my bed and my parents bed. They have the same matress but there's isn't indented where they sleep. My parents just got rid of my old matress a few years ago just at the same time I told them that my matress didn't feel right. They tried it*the amtress I use now* and said they could feel nothing wrong with my mattress. *sigh* It just doesn't feel comfortable anymore. And we're kinda tied up on money issues right now.....I decided to not bring up the matter to them again because of this.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Listen to pretty music.

Rai

[Heart of Sword]

Okay. I could never sleep before I invented this way of sleeping...hope this helps.

1) Buy another body pillow.

2) Fold one body pillow against the wall/headboard of your bed so that half of it is laying on the bed and half of it is vertical.

3) Lay your head in the fold of the body pillow.

4) Lay the other body pillow over your side.

You can either sleep on your back or on your side this way and never wake up sore. I think that the reason that I sleep well like this is because it makes me more tired because I feel safe. I don't really understand the logic but it works. ^_^

Oh, and if you can't buy a second body pillow, use a normal pillow.

[bakura_fan]

1. I do listen to music. It's hard for me to feel tired when it's completely silent.

2. I just bought a new body pillow, so it might be a bit poofy and my other body pillow is too flat. I have a total of 4 regular pillows and 2 body pillows. Yeah...I'll hafta try that method. Sometimes I'd put both body pillows on either side of me and I slept quite well.....*will try and remember all this advice*

[SwordSkill]

Read a book. I know I've read that piece of advice somewhere but I've tried it first-hand and it works for me. Just don't read something that would excite or intrigue you too much.

[bakura_fan]

Ok. Read a book. I'll remember that.

Thank you for everyone who's posted and givin advice. And thank you to anyone who might post later. ^_^

[Ssjjvash]

Whenever I have a real hard time falling asleep, like when I haven't stayed up super late the night before--not saying that's the cause of your problem--,
I usually pray. Or I listen to a tape from church. One or the other usually works.

[Yojimbo]

Reading will deffinetly get you tired and a fan somewhere in your room on low will drown out the silence it always works for me.

[Heart of Sword]

Sing. *laughs* Seriously, sing but whisper-sing. Or just close your eyes and start to recount things that happened that day...that will usually start a dream.

[Grumpy]

Read the bible.

Pray for anyone you know has backslid (gave up on being christian)

Pray for all the leadership by name and their wives

Pray for all of your family by name

Pray for everyone in you church. Think of one person and then think of someone connected to them somehow. I prayed for a church of 200 before

I'll pray for you tonight at church ok

[indyrocker]

the one product that beats them all for helping me to get to sleep is sleepy time extra tea its the tea with the bear in the box it helps me every time eather that or benadril its the same drug as a sleeping pill that regular docters can perscribe and it works take 3-4 pills 15-20 min befor you go to bead and it helps a lot!!!!