how to cope with lack of sleep.?
438647
I can tell you because I did it.\nOne of the first things that happened were the hallucinations, the started for me only on the second night, then your body starts to swell up, I dont know why, but your hands and fingers get really fat.  More than half of the guys got very bad heart burn, someone told me it is because the valve that keeps acid in your stomach relaxes and lets it up into your throat or something.  Violent mood swings, one of my friends just broke down crying one time, everybody wondered what the hell was up with him, it happened to me the next day and then towards the end again.  Hallucinations get more realistic the furthur in you get and you can have a conversation with someone and neither of you will know what you said.\n\nInstant REM sleep, as soon as the let you sleep everybody snores up a storm and convulses, its pretty funny actually.  The 4 hours sleep is more torture than anything, after you wake up you feel absolutely awful, 100x worse than before you slept, so it really hurts you more than helps you psychologically.\n\nAs far as permanant side effects, I dont think there is any, I found it easier and more frequent to halucinate while tired for a couple of years afterwards, but not anymore.\n\nit is good training, It teaches a level of dicipline that you cant get unless you experience it, its the need to perform mentally and physically under those conditions where the true benifit comes.
349454
I feel your pain!\nHere are some things that have worked for me-\nTry doing the same routine every night before you go to sleep- do a few yoga streches, take a shower and have a cup of tea (I recommend chamomile mango- Bigelow I think...) and THEN climb into bed.  \nTry an eye pillow- it blocks out the light and keeps you from staring around at you furniture while you curse yourself for not being asleep already :)\nTry doing some sort of exercise during the day- it makes you more tired- like running up and down some steps a few times.\nTry to go to sleep and get up at the same time each day.  I know it sounds nuts- who want to get up at seven on a weekend!?  But it seems to help me- it gives your body a schedule.\nTry not to do work on your bed- that way you can associate your bed with sleep adn relaxation only.  \nIf you're lying there for over 30 minutes, try getting up and walking around.  Go sit in the living room and just chill- no TV though.\nIf you're worrying about something- school. work, life- sit in your living room or somewhere other that your bedroom and let yourself think about it and obsess about it for maybe 20 minutes- whatever.  Maybe try to work out a solution.  And then say to yourself, ok! I'm done thinking about that- mean it! and then climb into bed.\nGOOD LUCK!!! I'm not saying that these always always always work for me but they're worth a try.\nZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.......... :)
169860
Actually, warm tea is a great soothing agent. A hot bath works well too! A REALLY BAD book always puts me to sleep. *grin* Seriously though, physicians recommend keeping a routine, no matter how poorly you sleep. Wake up at the SAME time each morning. Do NOT take naps during the day. Eat balanced meals and go to bed at the same time each night. If you can't sleep, get up and do something for 30 minutes or until you feel tired again and lay down. It takes a few weeks for this to work, but it will getyou into a sleep routine.
892342
Relax, calm yourself down, if you can't sleep do something to take your attention off yourself, anything at all.\n\nRead a book or magazine, listen to some comforting or relaxing music, watch t.v. if you aren't up to the previous 2 activities, but not for 2 long and don't watch anything that is overly stimulating or really intense, just an educational show or the news.\n\nThe key for someone like yourself is to stop thinking about yourself.\n\nJust slow your breathing, stop thinking about all of the bad things in your life, focus on all the good things and people in your life, focus on your goals in life, or things you are interested in, and most of all, be comforted and at peace by reflecting on how much God loves you, even if you don't feel it, believe me, He's there by your side.\n\nPlease read and reflect on this poem about God's presence in all of our lives: http://www.explorelove.co.uk/footprints_sand_poem.htm
856019
you need to stay up late always.. and don't take a rest/sleep during the day..also, expose youself to all kinds of stress
440468
1. dont have any caffeine 6 hours before bedtime..including coffee, chocolate, tea.\n2. go for a 30 min walk 2 hours before bedtime...works off and stress by releasing the antistress hormone. plus gives u time to think and "figure things out", so ur not doing it in bed.\n3. try playing some soft intrumental music or meditation in while in bed.\n4. possibly try the herb called "melatonin" from GNC 0.5mg..instructions are on the label. this is the hormone needed for us to sleep..u may lack it.\n5.  if all else fails talk to ur doctor, maybe its just temporary and he needs to prescribe a mild sleep aid.
637091
sleep! you have to get plenty of rest, proper diet also, it all ties in together
1127815
If you haven't already, see a sleep specialist.  In my experience, many insomniacs have an underlying sleep disorder causing the problem.  \n\nAlso, practice good sleep hygiene-\n\nDon't try to sleep if you don't feel tired.  Start with loose goals, like trying to get to sleep before midnight.  Forcing yourself to sleep and watching the clock only increases anxiety.\n\nTry and avoid napping in the late afternoon and evening, and keep naps short.\n\nNo nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol within six hours of bedtime, no large meals prior to bedtime (but do have a light snack, an empty stomach can be just as disruptive).\n\nExcercise regularly, but complete your excercises at least four hours before bedtime.\n\nDon't stare at the clock- it is better to get up and do something boring until you feel sleepy than to lie in bed tossing and turning.\n\nDon't use your bed for things like watching TV and reading, you want your body and mind to equate lying in bed with sleeping.  With one obvious exception :) you should only use your bed for sleeping.\n\nYour ultimate aim should be to get a sleep schedule that works for you and stick with it!  One of the worst things we all do is having different sleep/wake times on weekends.  You have to make sleep a priority, and in today's world, that's remarkably hard to do.\n\nAnd lastly, much easier said than done- find a way to clear your mind before you get in bed.  If you need to, see someone about your anxiety issues as well.  On the bright side, if you're successful at getting regular sleep, that will be a huge help to your mood and general health.\n\nBest of luck!!!
1020429
for the sake of better sleep: \n\n1. Keep regular hours. The best way to ensure perfect nights is to stick to a regular schedule. If you sleep late one morning and rise before dawn the next, you can come down with a home-bound version of jet lag. To keep your biological clock in sync, get up at the same time, regardless of how much or how little you've slept. \nTry to stick close to your usual sleep schedule on weekends and holidays as well as workdays. If you stay up late on Friday and Saturday nights and sleep-in the following mornings you may give yourself a case of "Sunday-night insomnia": You get to bed early to be bright eyed on Monday morning and try to sleep, but you can't. The harder you try, the more wakeful you feel. When travel or work throws of your routine, try to maintain some semblance of regularity. Eat your meals at the same times you normally do. Try to get some sleep during your usual bedtime hours. And return to your normal schedule as soon as you can. \n\n2. Exercise regularly. Exercise enhances sleep by burning off the tensions that accumulate during the day, allowing both the body and mind to unwind. While the fit seem to sleep better and deeper than the flabby, you don't have to push to utter exhaustion. A 20 to 30 minute walk, jog, swim or bicycle ride at least three days a week--the minimum for cardiovascular benefits--should be your goal. \nBut don't wait too late in the day to exercise. In the evening, you should be concentrating on winding down rather than working up a sweat. And don't expect early-morning exercise to have any impact on the tensions that build up during the day. The ideal exercise time is late afternoon or early evening, when your workout can help you shift gears from daytime pressures to evening pleasures. \n3. Cut down on stimulants. North Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee a day and get extra doses in tea, cola drinks (including diet colas) and chocolate. Some people seem sensitive to even small amounts; others build up a tolerance. \nIf you're a coffee lover, have your last cup of the day no later than six to eight hours before your bedtime. Its stimulating effects will peak for two to four hours later, although they'll linger for several hours more. Late-evening caffeine can make it harder for you to fall asleep, diminish deep sleep and increase nighttime awakening. \n\nCaffeine isn't the only dietary sleep-robber. Tyrosine, a substance found in chocolate, Chianti and cheddar cheese can trigger heart palpitations in the night. Diet pills contain stimulants that can keep you awake. Other drugstore drug interactions can also disrupt you nights. If you're taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, ask your doctor whether they may affect your sleep. \n\n4. Sleep on a good bed. A good night's sleep starts from the bottom up. You're less likely to get deep, solid, restful sleep on a bed that's too small, too soft, too hard or just plain too old. Unfortunately, we tend to get used to our old mattresses and box springs--just like a broken-down pair of old running shoes--and may not realize they've gradually been losing their comfort and support. If your bed is older than eight to ten years, use our on-line bed check to determine if it is ready for retirement. In selecting a new sleep set, follow Goldilocks' rule: Try a variety of mattresses and choose the one that feels just right for you. \n5. Don't smoke. Nicotine is an even stronger stimulant than caffeine. According to several studies, heavy smokers take longer to fall asleep, awaken more often and spend less time in REM and deep NREM sleep. Because nicotine withdrawal can start two to three hours after their last puff, some smokers wake in the night craving a cigarette. When smokers break their nicotine habit, their sleep improves dramatically. In one study, two-pack-a-day smokers who quit cut the time they lay awake in bed by almost half. \n6.
71277
1. A warm bath with lavendar salts. Lavendar is very calming. Try it. \n2. Warm milk. \n3. Have a bedtime routine an hour before bed. Do these same things each day, at the same time. The body will adjust and start expecting sleep then. Eg. A bath, some milk, a light read or some passive activity where you don't have to think much, brushing etc. etc. \n4. Think of good things, stay hopeful and positive and you will feel relaxed.\n\nGoodluck!
281246
LOVE the previous answer.\nAs for my experiences:\n1. get eight hours of sleep or at least try to wake up the same time everyday.\n2. try taking a 20 minute nap in the afternoon.\n3. Eat a light snack. Something with a bit of whole grains and some protein is best. \n4. Avoid heavy foods with lots of sugar and fat.\n5. Exercise.\n6. Take a break and do something that interests you.\n7. Aviod keeping the heat on too high. Warmth makes you drowsy.\n8. If you are at a desk for long periods of time, get up every hour to stretch and walk a bit.\n\nIf you are still having problems, see your physician as you may have sleep apnea or some sort of sleeping disorder.
582766
Sleep is the best thing for you.  It keeps you healthy and strong.  Don't reduce it.
79008
just relax and dont think about any thing ,try to have some kind of activity so you can get tired and go to sleep
1003867
Loss of sleep. Sleep when you can. No magic answer. Just do the best you can.
57658
Drink lots of water and avoid caffeine.\n\nDim the lights, don't play on the computer or watch TV.  Just turn on the radio to something relaxing and close your eyes.
1023160
I can understand from the question that you are having difficulties sleeping, you may find these tips helpful for the sake of better sleep: \n\n1. Keep regular hours. The best way to ensure perfect nights is to stick to a regular schedule. If you sleep late one morning and rise before dawn the next, you can come down with a home-bound version of jet lag. To keep your biological clock in sync, get up at the same time, regardless of how much or how little you've slept. \nTry to stick close to your usual sleep schedule on weekends and holidays as well as workdays. If you stay up late on Friday and Saturday nights and sleep-in the following mornings you may give yourself a case of "Sunday-night insomnia": You get to bed early to be bright eyed on Monday morning and try to sleep, but you can't. The harder you try, the more wakeful you feel. When travel or work throws of your routine, try to maintain some semblance of regularity. Eat your meals at the same times you normally do. Try to get some sleep during your usual bedtime hours. And return to your normal schedule as soon as you can. \n\n2. Exercise regularly. Exercise enhances sleep by burning off the tensions that accumulate during the day, allowing both the body and mind to unwind. While the fit seem to sleep better and deeper than the flabby, you don't have to push to utter exhaustion. A 20 to 30 minute walk, jog, swim or bicycle ride at least three days a week--the minimum for cardiovascular benefits--should be your goal. \nBut don't wait too late in the day to exercise. In the evening, you should be concentrating on winding down rather than working up a sweat. And don't expect early-morning exercise to have any impact on the tensions that build up during the day. The ideal exercise time is late afternoon or early evening, when your workout can help you shift gears from daytime pressures to evening pleasures. \n3. Cut down on stimulants. North Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee a day and get extra doses in tea, cola drinks (including diet colas) and chocolate. Some people seem sensitive to even small amounts; others build up a tolerance. \nIf you're a coffee lover, have your last cup of the day no later than six to eight hours before your bedtime. Its stimulating effects will peak for two to four hours later, although they'll linger for several hours more. Late-evening caffeine can make it harder for you to fall asleep, diminish deep sleep and increase nighttime awakening. \n\nCaffeine isn't the only dietary sleep-robber. Tyrosine, a substance found in chocolate, Chianti and cheddar cheese can trigger heart palpitations in the night. Diet pills contain stimulants that can keep you awake. Other drugstore drug interactions can also disrupt you nights. If you're taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, ask your doctor whether they may affect your sleep. \n\n4. Sleep on a good bed. A good night's sleep starts from the bottom up. You're less likely to get deep, solid, restful sleep on a bed that's too small, too soft, too hard or just plain too old. Unfortunately, we tend to get used to our old mattresses and box springs--just like a broken-down pair of old running shoes--and may not realize they've gradually been losing their comfort and support. If your bed is older than eight to ten years, use our on-line bed check to determine if it is ready for retirement. In selecting a new sleep set, follow Goldilocks' rule: Try a variety of mattresses and choose the one that feels just right for you. \n5. Don't smoke. Nicotine is an even stronger stimulant than caffeine. According to several studies, heavy smokers take longer to fall asleep, awaken more often and spend less time in REM and deep NREM sleep. Because nicotine withdrawal can start two to three hours after their last puff, some smokers wake in the night craving a cigarette. When smokers break their nicotine habit, their sleep improves drama
211129
it seems like worrying about sleep has become your biggest worry.  A very vicious cycle.  Try to give yourself a few days when it doesn't matter.