Sleep issues

[elwood]

I figured I'd give it a shot. I am a new member and have some sleep issues I was hoping someone could help out with.

I have had a sleep issue for a long time. I have been prescribed ambian (yechh) and been on anti-depressants. I have also been to a sleeping clinic to try to solve the problem twice.

I generally go to bed the same time, and rise the same time everyday, 11:30 pm to 6:45 am. I eat a decent diet, I am 6'7" and weigh 230lbs.

The reason why I origianlly went to the sleep clinic is when my first child was born I would wake up at every noise in the house. I started sleep walking with a pillow in my hands thinking it was a baby. My wife would find me this way and i would either smoosh or drop the pillow (pretty scary for a new mother) and me. This started to happen more and more, with an increase in depression. I went through some behavioural therepy (that helped) and 2 bouts of anti-depressants (Lexapro, Celexa). At this same time, a old OCD problem I had, came back and that was helped by the medications.

The sleep clinic found I was waking up "my brain was active or they call it arousal" 120 times a night. I was also having apneas 7-8 times. Non-obstructive, my brain was forgetting to breath. I tried a second night using a CPAP, it helped, but lowered my "arousals" to 80-90 times a night. They never really found anything they could do for me. They had me on Nexium and allergy pills, thinking it could be something to do with my stomache or allergies keeping me up. Really didn't so much. They prescribed Ambien, which I reacted terribly to.

The sleep problem did get better after the therepy, and I did try a few things the past year or two. I quit caffeine for a year, it didn't really help to much. Its hard to stay off when you don't sleep to well. I had started running last summer (I am not running now), I was running about 3 miles a day. That helped, probably from exhaustion, but I still did not get great sleep.

Currently I read before bed, and I sleep the same each night, not great. The sleep clinic had claimes I only get real "sleep" 60-70 percent of the time. I have always had nightmares, some pretty violent and those still occur.l occurs. Sometimes, my mind gets into an OCD worry state about work. I do understand I cannot do anything about these things I worry. But it is not easy. If I stay in the state of 1/2 sleep too long, I know the next day will be rough. I usually take a benedryl to make it through the night. The benedryl seems to stop the worrying.

I was hoping that someone had some suggestions.

I have has lucid dreams in the past, and it may seem far fetched afetr one podcast, but I have been trying that the past week (to no success).

I know it may be off topic, but I though someone may have some ideas.

Thanks.

[Angela]

Well, at the risk of raising old wounds, I had the same issues you have had and the one thing that made a huge difference for me was PATHS. I now sleep like a baby for the first time since I was a baby.

It is a little expensive (and has created some controversial arguments here in these forums!), but if you follow their rules and it doesn't work in 30 days, they'll give you a 100% refund.

My boyfriend, Danger Man, and I were not able to sleep in the same bed before we started doing PATHS -- he would get infuriated by my rising 4 or 5 times every night, and I would have to wake him up to get him to stop snoring. He no longer snores, and I am able to sleep through the night. This has helped our relationship tremendously, let me tell you.

It also seemed to effect the quality of our dreams, which suddenly became very happy and sweet, and led Danger Man and me to talk through some issues were were working with and needed insight on.

(I am not selling PATHS -- just telling you something that worked like a charm for me.)

[elwood]

I will take a look, I am open to investigating different things. Thanks for the suggestion.

I guess one other thing to note, is if I can get my brain occupied. I can generally sleep (a little better). This is something I found out recently, If I can get myself involved, before bed, in some kind of non-work puzzle I can at least make it through the night with my typical sleep pattern.

I was reading some books on Quantum Physics or the Theory of Relativity, and I try to figure out the examples of what they described in the books or if i try to invent things I can make it through, circuits, software etc.... But this just gives me my typical non-restful sleep. Last night, I resorted to a less then idea (benedryl) sleep aid.

[gijsbert2002]

have you considered giving your sleep clock a 'reboot' ?

You could do that by switching to uberman or biphasic sleeping, but also not sleeping for one night.
When I totally lose my rithm, I simply don't sleep for one night. This kicks my body into 'need sleep now' mode and gives me my rithm back when I do sleep. I also find i sleep a lot better(deeper) for a long time after that.

[John Hill]

Like so many other people you have so much going on in your conscious and subconscious mind day and night you have to actually spend some time not thinking to give yourself a break. I wrote an article recently Universe Of Success » Archives » How to Stop Thinking that might help.

John

[desertlady]

Sleeping soundly has always has its ups and downs with me also. Physical excercise has helped. Meditation has helped. PATHS never did help and I'm surprised that Angela even brings it up in this forum again. If she accredits PATHS with her and dangerman's sleep patterns, then her own mind is more powerful than she realizes. And she still continues to pay money to this sham of a company. Oh,well.

Good luck on getting the zzzz's.

Donna

[Blythe]

(I am not selling PATHS -- just telling you something that worked like a charm for me.) So Angela you are not a PATHS affiliate, is that right?
Because only as a non affiliate of PATHS has your post of PATHS working for you ,any merit.

Elwood please note, PATHS has not worked for many others.PATH users are leaving PATHS by the droves.

[Brutha]

What is ambian? It hasn't even a wikipedia entry.
I think using meditation to get to sleep wouldn't be effective in your situation.

I would recommend some form of excercise.
Meditation with a focus on deep inhalation could also help you (at best right before sleeping).

Another form of therapy you could try is Brainwave therapy. Transparent Corporation has a software you could try for 15 days. If that helps a bit it is worth the money for you. If it doesn't it won't cost you anything.

You could also try to adept polyphasic sleeping.

Whatever you do, please report back if it helped.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Blythe

So Angela you are not a PATHS affiliate, is that right?
Because only as a non affiliate of PATHS has your post of PATHS working for you ,any merit.

That's right, I am a very happy customer, not an affiliate, of PATHS. Danger Man, too. We're sleepin' like babies since we started PATHS; we now wake up feeling refreshed and energetic and sexy. Before that, we would take a half a benadryl, but we'd wake up feeling drugged.

Refreshed and energetic and sexy works much better for our relationship.