Takes on to know one
I am seeking a cure that doesn't require a trip to the doctor.
I am a night owl with bad habits = insomnia. Insomnia in itself is not the problem, the problem is that the rest of the world doesn't run on night time schedule nor does work or school or friends and family smile fondly upon people who look like lazy ass mofos who are always late and groggy.
I get tired around 6pm-10 pm and get my 2nd wind which pushes me to 6am bedtimes. I don't need as much sleep as when I was in my late teens/early 20s, but still not good for the mind or body.
My tips?
If you seriously don't want insomnia -- work out. A LOT.
I lost 25 pounds this year (to be discussed in another forum) and when I was working out 2-3 hours a day and forcing myself not to nap during the day --
1) I thougt I seriously was going to die the first few weeks.
2) Eventually my body got on its own NORMAL rhythm and I went to bed by 10:30pm every night and woke up by 8am at the latest.
For the first time in basically EVER I consistently had energy during the day and felt very awake and alive and WITH the rest of the world.
It was wonderful.
Now months later and it's 3am my time, I've gained back about 6 pounds, and my schedule and bad time managament skills push me back into insomnia.
The truth is, as much as I like being witih the world and awake from 9am-5am, I love even more the familiarity of the night. I like how quiet and surreal it is and I can study/work/rant/play in peace. Especially since the weekends are meant for binging on drink/dance/parties/socializing till the break of dawn...
So...I don't even pretend that I'm trying to NOT be an insomniac anymore.
If you are what you are, just embrace it. Because fighting insomnia when you aren't serious is like constantly complaining about being fat and yo-yo dieting. You will waste the time you are awake complaining and focusing on a problem we both know you will not fix.
But -- if you ARE serious, again -- take the plunge and work out. Force yourself not to nap. Make yourself wake up 10 minutes earlier every week until you are up when you are supposed to.
Insomnia is like breaking any other bad habit and making a fundamental change in the way you live your life. It is HARD man and you have to commit and be disciplined. That is the ONLY way short of medication to fix it.
Hope this rant helps.
From one insomniac to another.