STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Shello · Kenneth Cole

Insomnia Anyone?

Becca · Kate Spade

It sucks doesn't it? I'm in the same boat as you. The only success I've had is with ambien, but like you said, it's hard to devote the 8 hours required, or else you'll feel like crap the next day. I get about 5 hours of sleep a day, and when I try to regulate my sleep, I end up waking up after 5 hours. I guess my body is so used to it by now. I'm sorry I don't have any of advice, but I understand what you're dealing with.

jacL · Coach

I first want to say I am sorry. I have never experienced such a problem firsthand, but my mother suffers from anxiety and insomnia (they go hand and hand for her), and it was very hard for us as a family when I was younger, so I sympathize with you.

It sounds to me as if you may want to look into therapy or medication to help with stress. Do you feel stressed? You sound stressed to me because of the dreams you are having. Whether or not you think this is right for you, I think you should talk to a doctor.

One of my co-workers just participated in a sleep study. It doesn't really seem like they told her anything new (get uninterrupted sleep in a dark room, etc, etc) but it may help you.

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

You lie awake worrying, then have bad dreams? This happens to me when I'm stressed, too. Meditation has been the most effective fix, but you have to stick with it. also the Taoist concept of desirelessness takes away a lot of worry for me... good luck - this one really sucks!

Kel · Coach

I am in the same boat right now, I am extremely stressed and I can not sleep. I swear I don't think I even got two hours of sleep last night and I am defintely feeling it today. Plus I have a late class tonight that I am not looking forward too. I have no idea how to sleep, I wish i did. I know some things that helped me in the past is to read like just a regular light book before you go to bed, that normally helped me to relax. Maybe drink some calming tea, that also might help.

cat · Marc Jacobs

I really feel for oyu, I have been going through the same exact thing right now. I don't get enough sleep at night and even when I do fall asleep quickly I end up waking up after a few hours sleep(like 4 or 5 hours).Also when I sleep through the night I am having these bizarre and creepy dreams.I know it is from stress and other issuses I am not dealing with at the moment.

The only advice I have for you outside of all the usual things that have been mentioned is that maybe you should go see your doctor to rule out any physical condition that might be causing your insomnia.

jacL · Coach

I wanted to add one more thing--I have heard tai chi is very relaxing. Maybe something like this may help you!

Collette · Chanel

Have you ever tried Valerian Root? I go through bouts of terrible insomnia as well, especially when going through a stressful period and this almost always does the trick. It's all natural and you can find it at most health food stores as well as GNC. It does not make you feel groggy in the morning, all it does it help relax your mind so you can fall asleep easier. It's worth a try, warning though the pills smell terrible. Like stinky feet soaked in stinky cheese. Just an FYI there. HTH!

I also recommend a journal. Sometimes writing down what is keeping you awake is enough to help you sleep, knowing you won't forget it and just putting aside until the next day.

mikacat · Coach

i used to (often) but exercise, journaling, sex, reading something boring ---a textbook or the WSJ or something, a white noise (like a fan or humidifier), xanax or a little wine, tylenol PM can all be helpful. Now I can sleep anywhere anytime.

twinkle · Coach

i'm so sorry, i have been thru bouts of this and it is absolutely the worst. you might want to cut out caffeine even before 5pm. i've heard to stop drinking it after lunchtime if you have insomnia.

the other thing i can suggest is exercise. take a good run sometime in the first half of the day.

hope you get some sleep soon!

luckyclover · Dooney & Bourke

I'm sorry to hear that. Insomnia sucks. There are some sleeping tips on www.tylenol.com you can read and I think the ambien or lunesta site has some too. I think the one about having a sleep routine is pretty good- like maybe reading a book every night for a little while just before bed. I sleep with a fan on and when I can't sleep I will drink a glass of chocolate milk and it seems to help. I've been doing that for years so it may be an association thing like the site talks about ? I used to wake up at 2am every single night. I started forcing myself to stay up later every night (doing anything I could think of- cleaning etc) until I was completely worn out. I would fall asleep as soon as I lay down and I eventually quit waking up like that. I don't know that it was really healthy though- I read somewhere that you are supposed to lay awake for about 10 min or something before you fall asleep.

PrincessPink · BCBG

Xanax is the best for me. I usually chop it up into quarters if I know that I need to get up in the morning. If not, like on a Friday night, I will take a half or a whole and sleep for HOURS!! The nice thing is that you wake up not feeling groggy at all - just well rested. I have also tried Melatonin and that works well too - although not as strong. Exercise is a natural remedy. And, finally - if you have a Whoel Foods or some other type of natural food store, they usually have a display with little blue tubes that are full of "pellets" - get the one for sleeplessness due to stress and anxiety - it works!

Shello · Kenneth Cole

Thanks for all the help! I live right near a Whole Foods, so I'm going to go check out the Valerian root and other sleep remedies there today.