THREE more attempting to QUIT SMOKING!!!!!

[tedsingingfox]

Apr 29, 2008, 6:54pm, squids wrote:Quitting smoking causes insomnia (I jes learnt dat in school! ) . Unfortunately I'm only cutting down so I guess I'm jes a sleepless freak. first, let me say, that might explain why --even this much after the fact-- I'm still waking up at 4 am every morning, and it takes me 2+ hours to fall back asleep. Wish I had known this when I could still afford to stock up on Tylenol P.M.'sSECONDLY, there is NOTHING freaky about you, my sweet. Not even your squid lips. And finally, I am SO THRILLED to hear you're cutting down. I can hardly wait until I get to be YOUR southern style cheerleader...Go Squiddie, Go Squiddie, Go Squiddie....

[squids]

Hey swee'pea, yep, I shoulda shared the insomnia thing with the whole class here. I'm sorry, it jes slipped my mind! Stupid finals, they're sucking the life outta me. Or maybe it's the lack of continuous nicotine in my system. The insomnia thing takes a while to get over. They suggested if you're having trouble to practice meditation (unless you're biting the heads off bats in sheer aggravation, in which case you might could use something a lil stronger), exercise doing cardio and see a doc about it too. It can last a few months, long enough to be a bit risky in regard to driving, things like that. Dangerous.

[tedsingingfox]

Wow. Earlier I was sorta trying to make light of it. But the symptoms are for REAL, and after reading your post, I really SHOULD talk to somebody about it.I've been going for lengthy walks every morning (after being told that could help my sleep patterns), and it has made NO difference whatsoever...yet.Hhmmm... I'll keep working on this side-effect. This very unexpected side-effect, and will let you know what I hear and what I can find to help (besides drinking myself to sleep every night ).thanks, honey.Ted

[walter327]

Smoking what?!! Only reason Maryjane's illegal is cause Uncle Sam ain't getting a big bite out of it for his pocket.As far as cig's, I'm with ya. That's one industry that should be kicked of the planet. Puttin' enough nicotine in 'em to addict a rhino!! That's just dirty and They should be illegal.Okay. Let me put my soapbox away .

[squids]

Go WALT!

[squids]

Hey Ted,You might could try otc melatonin or Valerian. Valerian has the added benefit of being an excellent muscle relaxer, which helps when you haven't had proper rest. Muscles get tight with strain after awhile, easily injured. (REM sleep is so necessary for good health.) You can get either thing at a health food store. Maybe even a drugstore or walmart. They're not addictive, as far as anyone is saying. Equally, they're in the herbal supplement area, which the FDA doesn't regulate. That doesn't say much, the FDA has been known to okay drugs that needed far more scrutiny, imho. It's one thing to hasten the approval of drugs for life-threatening conditions ala HIV, AIDs, cancers, quite another to okay something like an anti-inflammatory only to find out it causes kidney shutdown.

[hummingbird]

Re: Middle Insomnia - #- try calcium suppliments. Take 500 mgs about half an hour before bed. When you wake up in the middle of the night, take another one. Calcium is a natural sedative and it's good for you too.# - try evening pages. Write 1 to 3 pages of stream of consciousness before you go to bed. Get the concerns of the day out of your mind and make a list of anything you need to remember for tomorrow. Keep a pad & pencil by your bed too in case you think of something you need to remember. Part of insomnia is playing back the day, worrying about tomorrow, stuff like that. Writing it out helps calm the mind.# - turn off anything 'stimulating' like tv or radio or whatever at least 30 minutes before bed, after you've written your evening page, meditate a little.# after you turn off the lights and lay down, practice conscious awareness of your breath, and take your mind through your body, relaxing each joint as you go. Do this again if you wake up in the middle of the night, after you've taken your calcium.# go for a walk after dinner & don't eat too close to bedtime.# don't nap in the middle of the day, or if you do, keep it to 30 minutes tops.just some thoughts from me. I used to really really suffer from Middle Insomnia.

[Casey H]

Hi TedI feel for you. I've had some horrible bouts of insomnia in my life. There has already been some good advice here. As Vikki said, not doing anything stimulating close to bedtime (for me at least 1 hour works best) is important.Easier said than done but the worst thing for it is get overly worried and/or obsessive about it. (Been there)... If you start worrying and go to bed each night with the anxiety of "will I sleep tonight?", you will have a harder time. It becomes a "performance anxiety", so to speak.If you wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep, conventional wisdom is to not stay in bed thinking about it. Get up and do something. I've written or finished some songs in the middle of the night. Watching TV, reading, or doing other things are good too. If you don't already know, alcohol at bedtime is not a good sleep aid. It can be stimulating as well as sedating.... more likely you would fall asleep for a few hours and then wake up.Try the herbal remedies that Squids suggested. Valerian Root is (somewhat) similar chemically to Valium and is calming. (It is a myth however that Valium is made from Valerian).If after trying everything, you are missing many nights of sleep and finding yourself getting depressed, I would consult your doctor. You might need to use a prescription drug for 1-2 weeks to get your pattern back. As much as many of us would prefer to avoid prescription drugs, the depression would be a far worse threat to your health. I've seen what can happen to one's mental state after many sleepless nights. Good luck! Sleep well! Casey

[milfus]

there used to be some tea that always put me down, not sure if you got a super market round there, matter of fact I am gonna find that sutff for myself,http://www.clarksnutrition.com/shop/prod....vate_produc t=0thats the stuff, smells wonderful, and its more calming than sedating, like you can fight it off and stay up, but most times it just idles me right to sleep, even with milk and sugar, which is how i take my tea, but its really great stuff, thats the cheapest i could find it, i checked a bunch of places

[squids]

Milf! Aww, you like Celestial Seasonings. I don't do herbal teas (jes Lipton's hot) but I love their boxes with the sayings on them. Totally makes me wanna go meditate or do yoga or hug my neighbor. Even if I don't know them. I think they make the world a better place and this is coming from someone who isn't sleeping but two hours a night right now. Normally by this time, I grow get two lil bumps on my head where the horns usually grow......