Sleep

[Richieboy67]

Hey all,

Seeing as some of you just about saved my life when I could not leave the cr for 2 weeks I thought maybe you could help me again.

Since I've been here I have had a very hard time sleeping. I'm talking about 3 or 4 hours most nights. Because of this I have started looking bad. Black circles around my eyes, etc.

I went from 3 or 4 cups of coffee to only 1 a day. I've tried having a drink at night occasionally to no avail.

In the USA I did not have this problem but if I really needed sleep I could take an over the counter pill like Tylenol pm.

Is there anything I can take here? Something over the counter preferably and non addictive.

I really love being here and my wife is amazing but I cannot seem to rid myself of stress with my work, finances, etc. I find myself in bed trying to sleep but thinking of solutions instead.

Thanks!

Edited September 24, 2015 by Richieboy67

[Larry45]

Wake up early, exercise, and get your work done early, if possible.  I've suffered the same problem, as I work late at night and have to switch into sleep mode quickly.  I've been looking for a certain herbal medicine called "sleep-tabs" that was referred to me recently, but it's hard to find.  If it's security that worries you, get a dog.  I slept much better when we had a house dog.  I think most expats just drink a few beers, post silly things online, eat some adobo, and pass out.  Works for me.   :)  

[Jack Peterson]

i go to bed about 9 pm. and leave the 3 ladies with the TV but I find this is necessary some nights   :hystery:

 

You think I'm kidding, Boy can they chatter. :rolleyes:

 

JP :tiphat:

[chris49]

Take an anti histamine which will clear your sinus passages and also give you a good night's sleep.

Benadryl 50 mgm, generic name, Diphenhydramine, available at Generics Pharmacy, 1.75 pesos/tab. Don't take in the daytime thy make you quite drowsy. Also good for relief of itching from bites etc. One tablet only.

[Dave Hounddriver]

I turn the air conditioner cooler, take re-hydrating salts if I am getting up to pee a lot, have a satisfying piece of tail er trail mix, and then count sheep to force myself not to think of anything stressful.  That'll give me a good 9 hours usually.

[Thomas]

I went from 3 or 4 cups of coffee to only 1 a day. I've tried having a drink at night occasionally to no avail. In the USA I did not have this problem but if I really needed sleep I could take an over the counter pill like Tylenol pm. Is there anything I can take here? Something over the counter preferably and non addictive. I really love being here and my wife is amazing but I cannot seem to rid myself of stress with my work, finances, etc. I find myself in bed trying to sleep but thinking of solutions instead.

Better NOT take anything, because such make you get LESS QUALITY sleep.  Better sleep 4 hours with GOOD quality.

(Now I have moved from my house to an appartment to empty my house, preparing the move to Phils. Now my sleep is disturbed by neighbours, but earlier I didn't need more than 4 hours per night, when I weren't woken up by disturbance or alarm clock.)

 

Better not drink any coffee at all, RedBull or such, specialy not in the evenings.

 

So better not take anything - except antistress exersises   :dance:     Doing such exersises proper, REDUCE your SLEEP NEED 2 hours per day, perhaps even more because you are much stressed. Many stressed people say they don't have time to do 20-30 minutes antistress exersises, but that's SHORTER time than the 2 hours they WINN...   :mocking:

[Mike J]

I have had excellent results with melatonin.  You can find a lot of information using Google and then decide if it is something you would like to try.

[No Duff]

Sleep itself is quite complex.

There is light sleep & deep sleep. Deep sleep is the state you are in when the body repairs and recharges, this is important sleep.

I don't claim to know an awful lot, but I do know what works for me, and getting into a pre-sleep routine is important.

I suffered with lack of sleeping for a long time, but no more.

I ensure my bedroom is cooler than the living room. I have an air-con which hums away all night, (some say this replicates the womb noise we experienced pre-birth).

Ginger slices in hot water makes a cheap relaxing tea, it's also very calming on the stomach.

Magnesium oil massaged in to your fore-arms assists too, sounds a bit naff, but it does work.

20 minutes or so of reading does the trick too.

My top tip, without a shadow of a doubt is a herbal medication called "5HTP", (it induces serotonin production, a natural feel good endorphin). 

And to monitor your sleep patterns properly, there is an amazing little device called "Xiaomi Mi-Band", (I got mine online for £5 from HK). It's a very cheap fitness tracker bracelet that bluetooth synchs with your smart-phone. It's waterproof, the battery life is amazing, and it's well worth the money.

Finally, if you lay there unable to sleep, thinking random thoughts, clear the thoughts and just say to yourself over & over in your mind, "go to sleep, go to sleep".

Some of this may sound like mumbo jumbo, but as I said, I did suffer for a long time and I know how it can affect your life, now I sleep well - good luck!

[Jake]

I turn the air conditioner cooler, take re-hydrating salts if I am getting up to pee a lot, have a satisfying piece of tail er trail mix, and then count sheep to force myself not to think of anything stressful.  That'll give me a good 9 hours usually.

Tail mix, mixed with multi-position vitamins is a great stress relief.  A smoke after a roll in the hay....I'm good to go.  

[Jake]

Hey all,

Seeing as some of you just about saved my life when I could not leave the cr for 2 weeks I thought maybe you could help me again.

I really love being here and my wife is amazing but I cannot seem to rid myself of stress with my work, finances, etc. I find myself in bed trying to sleep but thinking of solutions instead.

Thanks!

Hmm.....perhaps you still have lingering worries that initially brought you the hershey squirts, besides questionable food intake?  Two weeks in the CR may have offset your body chemicals?  Do they have Gatorade there?

 

Respectfully -- Jake