So sleeping pills

[Aerozord]

Now I've been experiencing some issues lately, mild confusion, lower concentration, memory issues. Considering my poor sleep schedule I think months of improper sleep are to blame. I thought it was time I go back on my long held policy of never touching them to see if they could help. At the very least a few good nights of sleep could help me rule out the possibility if it fails to help. For this I ask not to bring up alternatives because I already shy away from over the counter drugs as often as I can help it.

For this reason I dont really know much about these things and wanted to ask if anyone had any recommendations. While I have trouble getting to sleep that isn't what I am most concerned with, its staying asleep. I have become a light sleeper and between the fox, dog, and loud family I cant get uninterrupted sleep So if its a matter of priority my priority is something that will keep me asleep over something to get me asleep

[pochercoaster]

Here are some things you can try:

1. Earplugs. Honestly, I could never sleep well when living with noisy people, but if you can't get away from a noisy environment earplugs may help.
2. Melatonin. It doesn't work for me, personally, because every time I've tried it it made throw up ::V: and it's more for falling asleep than staying asleep, but it seems to work for a lot of people and is inexpensive, so it could be worth a shot. You can usually break melatonin pills in half as well, if they make you nauseous.
3. Bluelight filters on any electronic devices you use before bed, if you can't avoid using them. Putting a bluelight filter on my phone dramatically improved my sleep.
4. Exercise early in the day/afternoon (not in the evening.) If you are sedentary it's harder to fall asleep. Even going for brisk walks may help.
5. Avoid/reduce caffeine intake. Watch out for caffeine in things you may not think have significant amounts of caffeine, like chocolate. I learned that no, brownies are not acceptable food for dinner, because the caffeine in them made me stay awake.
6. Benadryl conks me out better than any sleeping pill ever did. So does whisky. But they're not good to use in the long run, and whisky probably makes quality of sleep worse. Again, that's more about falling asleep than staying asleep.
7. If you can't fall back asleep after being waken up in a reasonable amount of time, sometimes getting up (out of bed) and doing something else for a little bit can help. But then sometimes it just makes you more awake and you miss out on the rest you can get just by lying in bed awake. So, YMMV.

Poor sleep, in my experience, can really only be solved by changing your environment and reducing your stress. That is much easier said than done, though. I really only started getting uninterrupted sleep when I eliminated everything that was stressing me out. :/

[Flarecobra]

As someone who has relied on sleeping pills for nearly a decade... I strongly suggest what Poch suggested first. Pills should be a last resort. Though sometimes a nice mug of something warm to drink can be helpful as well.

[Marc v4.0]

My Doctor recommended to me L-Tryptophan supplements, and they work pretty damn good.

[Aerozord]

Here are some things you can try:

1. Earplugs. Honestly, I could never sleep well when living with noisy people, but if you can't get away from a noisy environment earplugs may help.
2. Melatonin. It doesn't work for me, personally, because every time I've tried it it made throw up ::V: and it's more for falling asleep than staying asleep, but it seems to work for a lot of people and is inexpensive, so it could be worth a shot. You can usually break melatonin pills in half as well, if they make you nauseous.
3. Bluelight filters on any electronic devices you use before bed, if you can't avoid using them. Putting a bluelight filter on my phone dramatically improved my sleep.
4. Exercise early in the day/afternoon (not in the evening.) If you are sedentary it's harder to fall asleep. Even going for brisk walks may help.
5. Avoid/reduce caffeine intake. Watch out for caffeine in things you may not think have significant amounts of caffeine, like chocolate. I learned that no, brownies are not acceptable food for dinner, because the caffeine in them made me stay awake.
6. Benadryl conks me out better than any sleeping pill ever did. So does whisky. But they're not good to use in the long run, and whisky probably makes quality of sleep worse. Again, that's more about falling asleep than staying asleep.
7. If you can't fall back asleep after being waken up in a reasonable amount of time, sometimes getting up (out of bed) and doing something else for a little bit can help. But then sometimes it just makes you more awake and you miss out on the rest you can get just by lying in bed awake. So, YMMV.

Poor sleep, in my experience, can really only be solved by changing your environment and reducing your stress. That is much easier said than done, though. I really only started getting uninterrupted sleep when I eliminated everything that was stressing me out. :/

1. Thought about them but its not simply sounds. Today I was woken up by a fox and dog jumping over me.

2/5/6. These things dont really affect me, besides my bigger issue is staying asleep not getting to sleep (I mean that is an issue but one I can manage)

3. I dont even keep my phone in the same room as me when I sleep

4. This has become hard, I have gone so long I'm basically tired constantly.

7. good advice but if I cant manage to complete a rem cycle than its still an issue.

I cannot, sadly, remove the things that stress me out. I do not have a very healthy homelife, my parents are out getting drunk as we speak (guess how that turns out when they stumble home at 2am), I just got off work and I have to get up to go back to work in about 8 hours.

As I said if there was an alternative I'd do it but the only way I can possible sleep at this point is to chemically force my body to stay asleep. I am not in control of my environment. Hell I'm actually abit worried simply because I became a light sleeper for a reason, do you have any idea how many times these idiots left the oven on when they went to sleep?

[pochercoaster]

Re: melatonin. It does help some people stay asleep, but it's usually recommended for falling asleep. It may be worth trying just to see if it helps. (And also maybe what Marc suggested.)

I'm sorry you're in a bad spot, Aero. I've been there with the alcoholic parents and shitty roommates. I hope that you are able to get out of that situation. Don't give up!

Edit: Also note that if you try melatonin or what Marc suggested, read up on them a bit. Because these things tend to be marketed as "natural" supplements or whatever people tend to treat them like they're harmless instead of, y'know, chemicals like everything else. Not that most are particularly bad, but you want to be reasonably informed and not overdo them. (Not saying you would, just a blanket "please don't eat supplements like candy" warning.)

[Aerozord]

Edit: Also note that if you try melatonin or what Marc suggested, read up on them a bit. Because these things tend to be marketed as "natural" supplements or whatever people tend to treat them like they're harmless instead of, y'know, chemicals like everything else. Not that most are particularly bad, but you want to be reasonably informed and not overdo them. (Not saying you would, just a blanket "please don't eat supplements like candy" warning.)

thats basically why I am asking here. I dont know of anyone here that jumps on those bandwagons. I dont want to waste my money on useless garbage nor pick up the sedative equivalent of crack.

[rpgdemon]

Other things to try before sleeping pills is to carve out your bed as a place just to sleep. Don't play on your phone, or use your computer, or anything in bed, and you'll start conditioning yourself to fall asleep better, whenever you lay down, because you associate the two.

[Aerozord]

Other things to try before sleeping pills is to carve out your bed as a place just to sleep. Don't play on your phone, or use your computer, or anything in bed, and you'll start conditioning yourself to fall asleep better, whenever you lay down, because you associate the two.

pretty much already do because its more the fox's bed than mine at this point

Anyways since I feel its kind of a dick move to ask for advice but ignore it, I did get some earplugs and Melatonin. So I will give that a try for a night or two before I dip into actual sleeping pills

---------- Post added 03-28-2016 at 08:06 AM ---------- Previous post was 03-27-2016 at 05:09 PM ----------

That was, lack-luster. It did help me get to sleep faster, but I remember waking up multiple times throughout the night. Knowing how that normally works it was probably more times than I remember. I'm gonna step up to actual sleeping pills and see if those work

[shiney]

Thanksgiving every day. You'll sleep like a baby, and eventually die of a heart attack or go bankrupt.

[Aerozord]

Thanksgiving every day. You'll sleep like a baby, and eventually die of a heart attack or go bankrupt.

I'm actually unusual, being full rarely makes me lethargic. I usually feel very energetic after thanksgiving