Originally Posted by AudreyG

I go through bouts where I can't sleep (going through one right now). I'll lie in bed all night, thinking and thinking, my brain going a million miles an hour... only to fall asleep a couple of hours before my alarm rings. Grr. Thank god for coffee.

Originally Posted by Huggles

After yoga and the gym, I have absolutely no trouble sleeping. Babies don't sleep this well!


Maybe you're not healthy?

Originally Posted by CYF

I've got the same issue. I'll lay in bed for an hour or two sometimes without falling asleep.

Originally Posted by CYF

6 hours of sleep last night again.

Heard from a bunch of people that exercise works wonders. Starting some martial arts lessons this week, hopefully that will help somewhat.

Originally Posted by atom

I've had sleeping issues since I was a kid. Either sleep walking or insomnia. The Turkey - warm milk thing is a myth. They've found that tryptophan is in all meat pretty much equally. The reason people think they feel tired after they have turkey is because they eat so god damn much on Thanksgiving and all the blood rushes to their stomach.

About a year ago I went almost 5 days on about 2 hours of sleep. My wife was so worried she went to our family clinic and had our Dr prescribe Ambien. Unfortunatly when someone has insomnia the people they live with suffer as well.

I dont think exercise really helps all the much. Im in pretty good shape and run a lot. I have personally never found it to make a difference on nights when I can and can not sleep.

What I have found that can make a difference are
-no caffeine after 2pm - can stay in your system 8-10 hours. some people are hypersensitive, i think i'm one of them
- Reading before bed, helps the mind relax and tires the eyes.
- If I can't go to sleep in the first 15 minutes I get out of bed and go in the living room and read on the couch. Don't hop back on your computer or go do the dishes, you need to relax.
- No eating before bed. This can initially make you feel like your tired but as your body digests it creates energy.
- If all else fails I take an Ambien. Ambien has its pro's and cons's. I think it is very dehydrating. I can also end up shaky the next day if I've taken it the night before.

Originally Posted by After Shock Media

Not to knock you. There is not enough tryptophan in warm milk, nor even a full plate of turkey to make someone tired. What makes people tired on Thanksgiving (occasionally other times when they eat turkey) is carbohydrate overload. You are just eating way to many carbs and sugars. Your body gets very tired from it, not the tryptophan. Plus you need to get the tryptophan on an empty stomach with no other amino acids which the turkey contains. Heck soybeans and parmesan cheese contain more of it than turkey does.

Even then if you could get enough tryptophan to make you tired in pure form, it would require a very large amount.

Good info on soda's, caffeine and stuff.



Was a few suggestions posted. Did not catch that you were anti drug. Does that include all herbals too?

Do go with white noise generation. Do set a schedule to be in your sleep room where you sleep only (OK may be hard for some, but lack of TV etc helps). Do block out all lights. Slightly colder temps make people tired as well. Often a fan that will blow on your face every so often will also help keep your eyes closed - or try a mask.

I would suggest 30 minutes or so before hand to drink some herbal tea. Nothing wrong with "sleepy time" brand. I like ones that contain any or all of the following:
lemon balm, lime, st johns wart, chamomile, hops, rose, and most berries.
While slowly drinking and enjoying your tea, jot down in a note pad any pressing thoughts in your head. 30 minutes are up - put away and go to your sleep room.

You should only need 1 - 2 teacups worth. I typically brew a pot for 4 servings, knowing that one of them will most often get wasted between the wife and I.

Just a slight warning. For some valerian root can cause the opposite of getting sleepy. It does appear in many herbal tea's. Nothing wrong with it. Just do not give up on tea all together because of it.