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Can't sleep

Hope

I can't sleep, so am on my computer. It is futile lying in bed anxious, so am distracting myself the only way I know how. It is rare for me to be up at this time, although it is not unusual for it to take several hours to fall asleep.

Any one else struggling? I had a lot of caffeine earlier, too close to bedtime, which I think is the cause.

  • This is why I love being a student at uni. No one questions my nocturnal habits because everyone else is the same, only I don't spend most of my time out drinking...

  • hi there!

    I have been told (by a medical professional) that insomnia and autism often go together and that is true in my case.

    My brain just won't stop so I sleep very little but have found the following helpful in at least getting 2/3 hours a night:-

    1. Keep the same routine EVERY day of going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time. So for me I go to bed at 12.30 every night and my alarm is set for 7.00 although I am usually awake before.

    2. Keep the same bedtime routine. I always bath or shower and then have a hot milky drink (supposed to help) and a light supper (toast or a bagel) about half an hour before bed.

    3. Don't over stimulate in the 2 hours before trying to sleep. This means for me, no TV, no computer etc. And definitely no people! I read, listen to the radio, sometimes play my guitar - anything that relaxes me.

    4. If there is anything in your head, get rid of it. I keep a journal and write stuff down. If I have recorded it in writing, I can dispose of it mentally because it is still there somewhere - works for me!

    5. I use weighted bedding and always have air in my bedroom which is often unheated. I find this useful - the weighted bedding has transformed things actually - I went from no sleep to some every night.

    6. Don't be tempted to lie in next day even if you're sleepy. Chances are if you sleep late it will wreck the next night's chance of sleep.

    I hope that's of some help - it has helped me lots and there are still nights I don't sleep but I stick with my routine and mostly now I get some sleep at least 4 nights a week which is great because as a teenager I went almost 5 years on as little as 2 hours a night which made my autism really bad.

    :-)

  • I am late-nighter,, the world is quieter then. Firstly I would suggerst, Don't fight yourself, see your bed as a place you do not need to sleep in, see it as a REST ZONE first. Secondly, I find that if play a game(meditation maybe) I focus on feeling for a comfortable heat zone point on my body and follow the nice sun spot point around my body,, I go beyond my mind(thinking) and fall asleep without even trying to sleep. Hope this helps.

  • hi Hope - same here, no point just lying there or dozing + waking up all the time.  Haven't gone to bed before 1am for about 4 yrs.  Don't mind being up late unless something's stopping me sleeping such as a worry.  I don't think caffeine has much effect on me, but know it can be different for others.  If you haven't already maybe you could google tips for getting off to sleep!  bw - hope you can sleep soon.