Sleep problems

[Ozzie]

Why can't I get a good nights sleep? I get to sleep ok, but wake up 4 or 5 times a night and have lots of dreams. I have tried meditating before bed, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good. Any suggestions?

[Brutha]

When do you go to bed and when do you awake?
Are you at a different shedule at different days of the week?

[Eric Roosevelt]

You can't just mechanically go through the motions of meditating and expect good sleep. You have to be genuinely relaxed and happy.

This may sound weird, but it's also good for sleep to stay very conscious during the day about whatever your deepest fears and most difficult problems are. If you don't, they'll just move to your subconscious and cause you to worry without understanding where the worrying is coming from - especially at night, when the mind is solving problems at the subconscious level.

Also remember to sleep in a cool environment, and actually relax your muscles. And try to follow that small, quiet voice inside you that suggests the right thing to do at every moment, whether it's about improving sleep or something else that you at some level know you have to do.

[this is fun]

Originally Posted by Eric Roosevelt

This may sound weird, but it's also good for sleep to stay very conscious during the day about whatever your deepest fears and most difficult problems are. If you don't, they'll just move to your subconscious and cause you to worry without understanding where the worrying is coming from - especially at night, when the mind is solving problems at the subconscious level.

This is interesting. I'm doing that already but I've never paid attention to how that affects my sleep.

[CoolBee]

Quite a few people I know whose minds go in to overdrive at night spend their days ignoring their 'mind-chatter' have benefited from the 'morning pages' exercises.

The Basic Tools

Personally, I have used these over the years at varying times - either when I have 'stuff' going on or when my brain is a veritable minestrone soup of ideas - and I have found a time of day to suit - not necessarily morning.

Basically, you brain dump once a day - I find it's normally half an hour - just write - it doesn't matter if its illogical, ungrammatical, whatever. Its just for you to get it all out. I used to write mine and shred them afterwards. She doesn't say how big the pages have to be or even if one side or two sides count so adapt to suit yourself!

I think that by doing this, your sub-conscious can relax at night knowing you are listening to it.

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by Brutha

When do you go to bed and when do you awake?
Are you at a different shedule at different days of the week?

I go to bed around 10pm and get up about 7.30, same thing more or less every day. I am not working now, am a homebody. I am very active though and enjoy my life.

[Ozzie]

[QUOTE=Eric Roosevelt;393134]You can't just mechanically go through the motions of meditating and expect good sleep. You have to be genuinely relaxed and happy.

Thanks for that. I do worry about everything, even if it is not something I need to worry about! My mind is very busy though, often getting sidetracked and I daydream a lot, letting my mind drift from one thing to another. I'm not sure about the "small quiet voice" though, I don't think I have one.

[Charly]

Hi Ozzy,

There's not much to work with. How long have you been sleep deprived? What do you eat and drink? Perhaps a caffeine overload... Do you exercise? If you do in the evening, that might be causing temporary insomnia. If you don't, maybe you should try some swimming...

You might also be experiencing sleep apnea, or when you stop breathing when you sleep for 30 sec to a minute, which can frequently wake you up and keep you tired. Some exercise and weight loss solved that for me.

Then there is the psychological side, and taking time each day to sort things through (in writing or not) can help also as suggested above.

[chrisrushton]

if all this good advice fails, try supplementing with a little taurine in the evenings.

[MonkeyFace]

Hi, Ozzie, I'm an insomniac, but there are some ncie methods I used to get to sleep at night.

I have a cleansing method I know which is quite useful... just imagine yourself undernearth a cold, refreshing waterfall. Now, see yourself full of bad, red energy. The water rushes over you slowly see the bad energy being replaced and converted in good energy, which I like to see as green. This is a really good way to relieve stress.

Also, I suggest you talk to your sub-conscious mind about the problem, or about whatever it is that's stressing you. I've written a couple of articles on the subject that might help. If you're interested, I'll post a link. ^^

Good luck,

~MonkeyFace

[j2020j0908]

Have you tried Polyphasic sleeping? (aka Uberman sleep cycle). I'm doing it right now (first heard it from Steve, and felt like giving it a try). Even though I'm in the adapting phase, all is going well so far. Here's the blog I update every 4 hours:
Uberman super powers

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by Charly

Hi Ozzy,

There's not much to work with. How long have you been sleep deprived? What do you eat and drink? Perhaps a caffeine overload... Do you exercise? If you do in the evening, that might be causing temporary insomnia. If you don't, maybe you should try some swimming...

You might also be experiencing sleep apnea, or when you stop breathing when you sleep for 30 sec to a minute, which can frequently wake you up and keep you tired. Some exercise and weight loss solved that for me.

Then there is the psychological side, and taking time each day to sort things through (in writing or not) can help also as suggested above.

Hi Charly, I am not overweight and excercise 5 days a week in the mornings. I don't drink anything caffeinated as it gives me palpitations. I am trying the "mind dump" at the moment. Nothing changing so far but only been on it a few days. Thanks for your comments though.

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by chrisrushton

if all this good advice fails, try supplementing with a little taurine in the evenings.

Thanks Chris, but what is taurine?? Never heard of it. I am in Australia, not sure if they have this here but will enquire at health shop.

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by MonkeyFace

Hi, Ozzie, I'm an insomniac, but there are some ncie methods I used to get to sleep at night.

I have a cleansing method I know which is quite useful... just imagine yourself undernearth a cold, refreshing waterfall. Now, see yourself full of bad, red energy. The water rushes over you slowly see the bad energy being replaced and converted in good energy, which I like to see as green. This is a really good way to relieve stress.

Also, I suggest you talk to your sub-conscious mind about the problem, or about whatever it is that's stressing you. I've written a couple of articles on the subject that might help. If you're interested, I'll post a link. ^^

Good luck,

~MonkeyFace

Yes, I am interested in trying anything that might help. I am not an insomniac as I can usually get to sleep, it is just the waking up so many times that is getting me down.

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by j2020j0908

Have you tried Polyphasic sleeping? (aka Uberman sleep cycle). I'm doing it right now (first heard it from Steve, and felt like giving it a try). Even though I'm in the adapting phase, all is going well so far. Here's the blog I update every 4 hours:
Uberman super powers

Sorry, not interested in this type of programme but thanks for your comments.

[MonkeyFace]

Self hypnosis: A New Path - Self-hypnosis - Telekinesis, TK, PSI, and all the other Kinetics

Communication with your sub-conscious mind: Pendulum: A New Path - Communicating with your sub-sconscious: Pendulum - Telekinesis, TK, PSI, and all the other Kinetics

Communicating with your sub-conscious mind, Part 2: A New Path - Communicating with Your Sub-conscious Part 2 - Telekinesis, TK, PSI, and all the other Kinetics

[MasterD]

The two most important things I have discovered for good sleep:

1. Feeling positive and engaged throughout the day. Being active.

2. No stimulating foods that keep me awake.