Thank you for this information! This video has helped me, with my insomnia. I started to listen to some soft quiet music, when I go to sleep and it helped a lot. I love your other videos, as well. There are a few things that I have forgotten since high school, such as health and science topics, and your discussions have jogged my memory. Thank you!
Glad you found an answer to your insomnia, rockryan100.
Interestingly, there are now more suggestions for dealing with insomnia in the comments than in the video. Which makes this URL a crowdsourcing project, I suppose.
Some cases, I'm sure, remain out of reach for amateur solutions. We'll leave those to the medical profession. For the rest of us, self-help is cheap, it works for many, and getting adequate sleep is great for health.
@TheMultiFirestarter - The whispering community also aids with their unique method of voicing, or more accurately whispering, hypnosis and relaxation techniques. I've found such users like WhisperingLife, WanderingWhisper, and sundewdew to have excellent videos that can easily slip you into a drowsy state.
urgelt, when are you gonna make some more videos? this may sound weird but i have to admit, your voice is so soothing, i have been using this video for the last 3 years to help me get to sleep whenever i'm suffering from insomnia..! heh. make some more videos! i love hearing your advice and your voice is just really calming, i think everyone can agree with that!
It seems my pattern is to go 2 nights with many wake ups and one decent night sleep.. I drink coffee in the morning but its 10 hurs away from night. By the way I visited the ahwanie hotel in Yosemite; it was built for WW2 PTS soldiers to recover.. so beautiful-- your advice on parks and natural areas is great!
Your sleep problem could have any of a number of causes, some of which probably haven't been discovered.
I'll suggest you have yourself evaluated by a sleep center, if you can afford it. You might have sleep apneas. If so, they can easily diagnose it, and there is a treatment for the most common apneas that's successful with many (not all) patients.
If it's something else causing it, a sleep center might discover that, too.
Google "sleep apneas" and *sleep disorders* for more information.
hey Urgelt... i have a question tho.. let say sumone like me.. because i usually stayup late in the night... willing to, i mean i can sleep, but im willing not to, but sumtimes as well i dnt feel sleepy, but after i go to bed even stying long hours in the night and sleep lets say for about 6-7hrs, like a good "night" sleep lol... is that still considered as insomnia?
Since having child insomnia I can say a few things about this too: 1. EXERCISE! Most important 2. Avoid stimulant foods/drinks (-smoking, - coffee) 3. Write or voice those annoying thoughts if that be an issue. 4. Drink water throughout day. 5. drink lactose drink at night. 6. Try chamomile tea before bed or Bach Remedy. Meditate; quantum meditation the best. 7. Adorn room with aromotherapy oils. 8. Dress your room comfortably. 9. Take a bath. 10. And having exhausted all of this try stilnox!
Thank you for your insight and suggestions, MH1974.
Far as I am aware, lactose - milk sugar - is not in itself of value to insomniacs. But a comforting routine before bedtime - warm milk or herbal tea, or bedtime reading - may have immense psychological value in calming you and prepping for sleep.
Still, what works for one may not for someone else. For that reason, I'm delighted when people add their ideas. It adds up to more things insomniacs can try. :-)
@Urgelt There is one other technique to aid the sleep process, only I am not sure its entirely healthy..but, in cooler weather I would suggest implenting a heater in the room as the warmth relaxes and the deprivation of oxygen in the air, via a small heater, makes one sleepy.
An electric heater will not deplete oxygen in the room.
A combustion-based heater will. You do not want to operate a combustion-based heater in a closed room; you can die.
Anything that deprives your body of oxygen to induce sleep is a bad idea and should not be pursued.
I'll go along with the idea that warmth helps with sleep. Any kind of electric heater might help, and so might a hot water bottle or microwavable beanbag (heat it up and take it to bed with you).
@Urgelt Your right about that - I only do this when I'm desperate...to the point where there is sufficent oxygen to induce sleep. And, I always leave window partially open as precaution. But, thanks...didn't know those heaters were combustion ones.
Wow it's like everything you said that causes insomnia my brother does, and that's why he has it. But he won't listen to me or our father when we told him smoking keeps him awake..
I think our objective must be to inform, not to control behavior.
The language we use is important. Don't say "you should do this or quit doing that." Say "this symptom could be caused by these foods, beverages, drugs or behaviors." Point him to information sources.
If he still won't listen, that, too, is a choice - a choice he is entitled to make for himself. It's his life, after all.
What he does not need is your disapproval. It won't help. Accept his decisions.
And also, you must have proper shoes for running / jogging. This is, very, important. Your shoes can make the difference between comfortable jogging and painful jogging...
I'm not a big fan of jogging. It's hard on knee joints, which simply do not heal. Many joggers are looking at arthroscopic surgery, eventually.
Aside from that quibble, I agree with you. Exercise contributes to health and well-being in countless ways, and it can be part of the answer to insomnia.
Oh, I wasn't excactly advicing you, since it seems like you don't need any more advice on this subject. :-)
It was just a random thought. And about that joint pain... I think it goes something like this: The older you are when you start jogging, the more joint pains you will have. Basically if you start exercising young enough, and remember to do strength exercises on your thighs (this also strengthens your knees a lot), you shouldn't have much joint pain.
Only to a point. Strengthening muscles can help keep a knee joint's working parts in the right places and prevent injury.
But I'll stand by my comment. Jogging, especially on pavement, puts joints under repeated high-impact stresses which accelerate wear and tear. Since the joint itself cannot heal, the damage is cumulative over time.
You'll have need of your knees for a lifetime. Don't use 'em up early.
I have found if you stay up late and continue to push your body to stay up late it will begin to train itself to stay up. soon you will find yourself wide awake at 2am and the only way to get back in my opinion is force your body to fall asleep a little earlier each time.
I've always found it difficult to force sleep at a particular hour. Either my body is ready for it, or it isn't - and no amount of forcing really helps me.
But people are not all the same, and your advice might very well work for someone. So I'm grateful you posted your suggestion. Thank you!
In addition to Urgelt's suggestions try instituting an excersize program. Doesn't have to be the gym. Could be tai-chi or chi kung for instance. Stretching is very good as well. Consider yoga.
One prime example of relaxing audio for me has beed Urgelt's voice; not only does it serve as medium for wisdom, but it has been a great tool to help me get to sleep the past couple of nights. The best video for me so far has been his caffeine addiction one. Thank you Urgelt!
I'm glad you've found something to value in my videos, LN2of2.
You might try listening to "The Old Apple Tree." This, alone of my videos, was specifically made as a relaxation track for insomniacs. It doesn't work for everyone, but a few 'tubers have said it works for them.
2 months ago, I was taking over the counter sleep medication on a daily basis. It stopped working. I quit, which resulted in a few nights insomnia. Now I don't take anything for sleep. I rarely drink coffee in the afternoon and never in the evening. At bedtime, I listen to a CD called 'Entering Dreamtime' by Inlakesh & Soulfood. I am not promoting the CD, but the chanting in the CD clears any racing thoughts and puts me out. The pharmaceutical industry wants a drug addicted society. Just say no.
hi urgelt , i have aquestion but it has nothing to to with insomnia , well i work 8 hours a day driving cars around town , its a big town i live in and alote of other drivers that slow me down working , at the end of the day my head feals tight and it gets me in a bad mood , my girlfriend dosent like that at all ;) do you have any advice for me how to stay relaxed ?
Not easy to address a problem like this without more information (and more room than a comment), but I'll try.
I think the place to start is when you are driving. You've got to find a way to reduce your tension and go with the flow. Road rage is dangerous and will wear you down.
Use music that relaxes you. Avoid music that excites. Remind yourself that your goal is not to beat the other guy, but to arrive safely.
When you get home, try a nice hot bath. Not a shower. Soak for a while.
mhm well the problem is the more i drive the more money i make so going with the flow isnt easy but i drive slower then at the beginning becouse i realized that it dosent help me at all if im always in a hurry , ill try the bath thow that sounds good =)
thx urgelt
ps , wher do your name come frome ? never herd it before ?
Here`s a tip and dont laugh it`s scientific .About half an hour before retiring sit in a darkened room ,light a candle and stare at the flame for say 15 minutes..What does that do i hear you say .Well scientist `s studying people who have been meditating for years have found out that this practice has the effect of releasing MELATONIN which helps with regulating sleep cycles ,what have you got to loose by giving it a try?i wont loose any sleep over posting it
Hello, I have issues sleeping and saw that you mentioned Tryptophan as a source to help for sleep, I have seen Tryptophan sold on a few websites in 500 mg, but this is usually not FDA approved, would you recommend this or not really? They claim no prescription is needed.
Tryptophan is just an amino acid. Amino acids are foods.
If you buy tryptophan as a nutritional supplement, you will probably be getting some other chemicals with it. Filler, preservatives, contaminants. It will also be expensive, compared to just eating a food that's rich in tryptophan when you feel you need its benefits.
Go with tryptophan-rich foods, it's cheaper and probably healthier.
First question: maybe. Drugs can alter brain biochemistry in long-lasting ways. Unfortunately, not that much is known about the specifics. You can't ask an animal how it feels... and it's unethical to experiment on humans to learn about the destructive effects of drugs.
Second question: I really, really think you should be looking at every possible solution short of drugs of any kind. Like I said, drugs alter brain chemistry in ways we do not fully understand, and that includes marijuana.
Here's a fresh suggestion, for those who actually read the comments searching for ideas.
Grab or make a cotton sack. Fill it with 3 lbs of organic dried beans - I used a mix of navy, lentil and pinto. Wet one side of the bag. Pop it in the microwave and heat it for 3-4 minutes until very warm (but not too hot to handle with your hands without burning yourself).
Take it to bed with you.
It's reusable, just remember to wet the sack before each use. Don't drench, just wet one side.
I think it helps for these reasons: - A cold bed is a sleepless bed. The quicker it's warmed up, the quicker you can relax into sleep. - We are programmed from infancy to equate warmth with comfort and safety. It's a stress reliever.
It should also be useful as a heat pack for muscle injuries and arthritis.
Unlike a hot water bottle, there's no danger of a leak.
Wetting one side will prevent any risk of a fire in the microwave, and keep the beans from becoming too dry to hold heat.
Oh, and I recommend organic beans because they are less likely to contain fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. You don't want to breath vapors from microwaved beans which contain those chemicals.
I swear by my 2" thick memory foam pad. It's a great help.
Thicker pads, I have found, mess up my spine. 2" is just right to cushion the pressure points.
To combat insomnia, there are lots of things you can try. But if you aren't getting relief from the suggestions you see here or elsewhere on the net, please see a doctor. Some cases are impossible to deal with on your own.
-Yoga Nidra has helped me enormously (Google it to find out the difference).
-The only thing NeuroDevelopment did help me with is sleep.
-Progressive muscle relaxation has helped me shut my body down. (Breathe in for a count of 4, hold for 3, out for 4, hold 3, and again for 10 or so minutes. Then, breathe in, tense your feet, hold it while you count to three, relax your feet, breathe out. Imagine a switch above your feet, turn it off. Continue up body.)
There are so many comments that it'd take me forever to check and see if this has been mentioned before.
It may sound silly, but as opposed to imagining a galloping sheep trying to hurtle itself over a fence, I find just by focusing (but not intensely, just calmly) on imagining animals the wrong colors (like a purple and blue chicken, or a red and green dog) sometimes helps me fall asleep. I actually found this technique online, too. So it's not just me, and it might help others too!
I have been amazed at the number of ideas commenters have contributed - far exceeding those in the video itself.
It's all to the good. A full understanding of sleep thus far has eluded science. Trial and error is all we have, so it's helpful for insomniacs to have lots of suggestions to try.
Your suggestions seem to be addressed to anxiety-produced insomnia (probably one of the more common forms).
Depending on an addictive substance for a physiological effect every night might lead to a very bad place.
That's particularly true with alcohol because of habituation. If you use it every night, gradually the effect of a given dose will decrease. It will take more to get the same sedative effect.
Finally, alcohol reduces REM sleep, and nobody in science thinks that's a good thing.
Thanks for the tips, Urgelt. Your videos are very interesting so I hope I will sleep well this night to have the energy to watch them all! Because of insomnia, I tired my eyes at the level of getting myopia too! Life sure is meaningless if you don't sleep well.
There are many more suggestions to investigate in the comments. If you have insomnia, it won't hurt to read through them.
Likely none of them will be much use in severe cases, though. If nothing you try works, I'd recommend seeing a doctor. The price of insomnia is higher than mere tiredness; unresolved, it can wreck your health.
Well I managed to sleep better last night and although I don't feel completely refreshed, it's a lot much better. Besides your tips, I tried EFT and self-hypnosis so insomniacs might give them a try too. Just google them and you'll find out what you need to know.
Hi Urgelt. Peppermint tea is fantastic for digestion. Science doesn't seem to care too much for investigating herbs it appears. I'm not going to wait for them to catch up.
For insomnia, chamomile or valerian tea is wonderful.
I have found that when you go for so long without sleep, your body actually forgets what it feels like. My doctor gave me an anti-anxiety drug called cerax(oxapam), to take at bedtime for sleep. I used it for about 5 mnths. My body now remembers sleep and I do it quite well on my own. It's worth a try for anyone who suffers from this disorder.
hello ive noticed that at night i tink more. I even seem to draw better. I wonder why it is that i cant think this way during the day. Maybe due t distractions?
A lot of my teachers think wikipedia is a bad place for information. They say not to use it at all. But its really a good way to start research on something.
Hey i have a sleeping problem and finally dicovered the secret on how to get sleep, I SWEAR TO GOD THIS IS TRUE, you have trouble sleeping b-cuz you been in the same city for too long, simple move to another city and your sleep methods will returd to normal, just take a 1 week vacation and you will see...Me i still dont sleep well b-cuz i cant afford moving/vacation, but i've gone and it has worked but i got a even bigger problem than sleep,
Rain is helpful to me, too. Alas, I have no power to command the heavens.
White noise has a similar effect for many people. It's especially useful for drowning out unwelcome sounds beyond our control - traffic noises, for example. You can buy a white noise generator, or tune a radio between stations, or just run a fan.
Have you ever tried simulated rain sounds from the computer? I don't know if would have the same effect and thanks for the white noise tip I will try it.
Sure, you could coax rain sounds out of a computer. Sounds like that exist in the Creative Commons, free to use. If you need a tip about where to find them, drop me a note.
You could also purchase a commercial CD of rain sounds. Or record a few rainstorms yourself, if you have a microphone.
Dehydration can interfere with all sorts of metabolic functions, not least the workings of the brain, which is heavily involved in sleep.
Personally, I think I sleep better if I'm hydrated, even if it means rising in the night to relieve my bladder. I fall asleep again quickly. But there's no guarantee it will help a particular person with a sleeping problem.
It is a good idea to sleep with your head aligned to MAGNETIC NORTH . This way your body is in harmony with the EARTHS magnetic currents this has helped many people including me
the polynesian herb Kava kava is very good at relaxing all the muscles of the body as a prepiratory to sleep as is VALERIAN, HOPS, CHAMOMILE TEA, and CALIFORNIA POPPY hope this helps
There's no telling which remedy might produce benefit in which sufferer of insomnia, and so a scattershot approach makes sense. The more alternatives people have to try, the more likely some will find relief.
These all look like good things to try. Thanks for contributing!
I won't pretend to know everything about ZMA or its health implications, but I do know that it contains zinc, magnesium and vitamin B-6. Out of the three nutrients, American diets tend to be most lacking in magnesium.
Correcting nutritional deficiencies may help with sleep, particularly in the case of magnesium, which is important in neurological functioning. So... good one!
why not try this insomnia remedy Two teaspoons of cider vinegar and Two teaspoons of honey into a glass of warm water and drink before retiring tastes excellent
That combination is *old.* Roman soldiers drank vast quantities of the stuff. I think the primary perceived benefit was making water safe for human consumption, but I agree, it tastes pretty good, too.
I haven't read any studies showing efficacy in treating insomnia, but as with most folk remedies, it will not hurt to try it.
why not try a banana milk shake .Sounds crazy dosent it but bananas and milk are high in the amino acid TRYPTOPHAN which is a natural sleep inducer.Give it a whirl
banana's also seem to have a calming effect on the stomach. however be careful with milk - once in your stomach milk curdles and this can cause stomach upsets or just general stomach grumbling during your sleep that may cause you not to feel rested when you wake up.
Hrm, yes... milk can also lead to gas. It's not really an easy food to digest.
I think it may be one of those things where "your mileage may vary." Some may be able to tolerate it and get the benefit of the tryptophan in milk; others may not.
Bananas are a good suggestion to add to our list of possible things to try, methinks.
I was put on dex amphetamine as a teenager for ADHD and then began taking meth amphetamine, I took both meth and dex amphetamine for 20 years and would regularly go for very long periods without sleep. I have been off amphetamines for 3 years now but suffer from chronic isomnia. Doctors have prescribed various benzodiazapenes and other sedative drugs but they only work temporarily. I follow a sleep hygiene program like the one you describe but still cant sleep. I am at my wits end.
What I would like to know is whether I will eventually be able to sleep normally again or will I just have to live with insomnia and the occaisional couple of weeks of sedative aided sleep. Due to chronic sleep deprivation I am now on anti-psychotic medication which has only made me gain weight and hasn't helped me to sleep at all.
The tip-swapping in the video and in the comments here may be helpful for mild cases of insomnia. I would not expect them to be of much use for a severe case like yours, though it wouldn't hurt to try them. Don't skip the comments, there are more ideas in them.
Treating cases like yours is not science; we don't really know enough about how the brain works. It's an art, and like any art, practice and talent are important.
If the results you are obtaining aren't satisfactory, consider trying a doc with more experience in the field and a better track record of results.
Thanks Urgelt I will read thruogh alhe comments. I actually have an appointment to go to a sleep clinic and see a specialist, hopefully that will bring me some relief.
My gut tells me it will be a struggle, but you should not give up. Keep trying things. There are a *lot* of things to try, and a few of them might help.
By the way, a sleep doc might not talk to you at all about diet and exercise. Not his specialty. Don't presume that because he does not, they aren't important, ok?
Also - physical problems can contribute to insomnia, such as an injury to your throat (which can produce apneas) or a disease like hypothyroidism. Some of these things a sleep doc might catch, others he might not.
A thorough physical and blood work-up by your general practitioner will complement your sleep doc's investigations. You could also have your throat scoped for abnormalities.
i believe stress is the major cause of insomnia ,it locks into all the muscle groups of the body and makes you feel tired most of the time and my solution is FRACTIONAL RELAXATION .This method involves tensing and relaxing all the muscle groups of the body starting at the feet and working up to the legs ,then the arms,the butt ,the shoulders,the face and scalp .Try this before going to bed and you will have a great nights sleep perhaps the best in years
i have found that a large handful of raisins or currents helpful as they have a high vitamin b content which has a calming effect on the nervous system which facilitates sleep and best of all they are dirt cheap in the supermarkets
A friend of mine takes Melatonin supplements to help her sleep and has had success with it. However, I'm not certain if I should reccomend that as I have no personal experience with it. Maybe that could help someone who's really struggling, though.
1.) Let your mind go as you lay down, let it drift far away into a deep thought subconsciously. Don't allow any conscious thoughts to happen. Just let go...
2.) Take some slow, deep breaths as you're laying down in the dark.
3.) Have a fan on, it helps me a LOT. I couldn't imagine sleeping without a fan blowing on me, and the sound of the motor clearing my thoughts.
4.) Make sure the temperature of the room you're in is comfortable. Too much heat or too little heat can cause you to feel uncomfortable. Not to mention the sweat off of too much heat can cause a huge sleeping problem.
5.) Shower or bath every day and make sure you always have clean sheets and pillows. If you're too dirty or the area you're sleeping in is too dirty, it can greatly cause a sleeping problem.
6.) If you have lice, or if you have animals with flees, make sure you get rid of them no matter what it takes. Scratching your head constantly or your body while trying to sleep and while sleeping can make going to sleep harder, and greatly reduce the quality of your sleep.
i had trouble going to sleep a few years ago then i realized when it was time to sleep ,i would think '' im think im going to try and go sleep''. once i realized i was doing this i decided to tell myself im going to sleep .i decided to go to sleep instead of trying to go to sleep . it worked . also a good wank/diddle before you sleep always helps too
Advice on TV is the same for long periods ifront of the PC. I understand both involve a lack of body movement with little brain activity, compared to prolonged studying/reading which can reduce energy levels causing tiredness to kick in.
I went without food for a day and I still had the same results, I did everything you said to do but I still cant sleep. Thank you though for the suggestion Ive had my problems for years and no matter what I do I never get good results.
My advice, and the ideas in the comments here, are mostly of use to people with mild or temporary insomnia, which is very common. Extreme insomnia is a whole other ballgame.
I hope you're seeing a doctor about it. There might be something she can do - though it's not a well-understood disorder, and some patients simply can't be treated successfully.
I'm a bit of a fellow vampire myself, at times. I don't know why, but I seem to do some of my best thinking at night these days. But it's voluntary; insomnia doesn't strike often, fortunately.
Let me know if you have questions about the dietary advice I've provided on YouTube.
i like your voice. and words. and beard. and glasses.
I read that it is wise not to spend time in bed during the day, like eating or watching tv, as the body can condition to the wakestate in bed. many people i know, spend much time in bed during the day because of poor living arrangements. so maybe this can be taken into consideration as well...
I'm gonna go with ratchet causin here. Urgelt deffiently needs to go into voice acting..he's got that "sleep to voice" if your not a grandpa thats incredibly unfortunet urgelt.
I can't recommend that approach, alas. Smoke from burning organic materials contains carcinogens. Breathing them is a bad idea, whatever the source. I'd rather not trade a good sleep now for cancer later.
Run! When I couldn't sleep, I'd put on my jogging sneakers and just ran. The key is to run and not to stop. If (when) you do stop, you'll know it's time for bed. Running is a mind-clearer, and also you burn energy. Altogether: is a healthy sleeping pill.
I'm interested in what you would have to say about meth and it's effects on chemicals in the brain. I guess what i'm asking is, Will I ever be the same.
Science doesn't really know everything about brain chemistry. Thousands of variables are in play, involving other drugs, exposure to toxins, hormonal variations, genetics, pathogens. Even predicting what will happen in a healthy brain is impossible.
Brains do attempt to repair themselves over time. But they change, too. No-one ever goes completely back to the way they were.
Loving your voice... just a small pointer if you move your head up less we wont be able to see that you are clearly reading off a screan even just being aware of this will cut down the amount of times we see the screan in your glasses... I am perfectionist when it comes to vids... you may not mind...
I'm not trying to hide that I am reading from a screen, Zakgott. Creating an illusion isn't what I'm trying to do with these videos at all.
I suppose we've become so accustomed to TV production values, whose objective is to distort, that it comes as a shock when they are eliminated. But that's exactly what I set out to do here, for good or ill.
Fair call Urgelt... I see where you are coming from. Please try not to see my comments as any sort of attack... alas, i watch and comment on your movies, and am indeed a huge fan. I just wasn't sure if you had realised, and in realising did you choose to leave it or was your response just that... meerely a response and not a preconception...
He said 'text box' and it reminded me of a time when the doobly-doo was to the right of the screen. Ah, the good old days.
jilloplo 7 months ago
Thank you for this information! This video has helped me, with my insomnia. I started to listen to some soft quiet music, when I go to sleep and it helped a lot. I love your other videos, as well. There are a few things that I have forgotten since high school, such as health and science topics, and your discussions have jogged my memory. Thank you!
rockryan100 1 year ago
Glad you found an answer to your insomnia, rockryan100.
Interestingly, there are now more suggestions for dealing with insomnia in the comments than in the video. Which makes this URL a crowdsourcing project, I suppose.
Some cases, I'm sure, remain out of reach for amateur solutions. We'll leave those to the medical profession. For the rest of us, self-help is cheap, it works for many, and getting adequate sleep is great for health.
Urgelt 1 year ago
there are plenty of hypnosis videos on youtube that will put you into a deep sleep in 10 mins, look at Eddini 's channel he is a great hypnotherapist
TheMultiFirestarter 1 year ago
Might work for some, and so it's a very welcome suggestion. Thanks for adding to our discussion.
Urgelt 1 year ago
@TheMultiFirestarter - The whispering community also aids with their unique method of voicing, or more accurately whispering, hypnosis and relaxation techniques. I've found such users like WhisperingLife, WanderingWhisper, and sundewdew to have excellent videos that can easily slip you into a drowsy state.
Urgelt, your knowledge is greatly appreciated. :)
shadowmalpractice 1 year ago
urgelt, when are you gonna make some more videos? this may sound weird but i have to admit, your voice is so soothing, i have been using this video for the last 3 years to help me get to sleep whenever i'm suffering from insomnia..! heh. make some more videos! i love hearing your advice and your voice is just really calming, i think everyone can agree with that!
itsumonihon 1 year ago
"i cant get no sleep"
scottymyman 1 year ago
It seems my pattern is to go 2 nights with many wake ups and one decent night sleep.. I drink coffee in the morning but its 10 hurs away from night. By the way I visited the ahwanie hotel in Yosemite; it was built for WW2 PTS soldiers to recover.. so beautiful-- your advice on parks and natural areas is great!
kurtnils 1 year ago
Your sleep problem could have any of a number of causes, some of which probably haven't been discovered.
I'll suggest you have yourself evaluated by a sleep center, if you can afford it. You might have sleep apneas. If so, they can easily diagnose it, and there is a treatment for the most common apneas that's successful with many (not all) patients.
If it's something else causing it, a sleep center might discover that, too.
Google "sleep apneas" and *sleep disorders* for more information.
Urgelt 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Hey Urgelt, I just wanted to let you know this video was very useful in helping me get back on a regular sleep cycle. I hope all is well for you. :)
austinsurge 1 year ago
Hey, Urgelt, I just wanted to let you know this video was very useful in helping me get back on a regular sleep cycle.I hope all is well for you. :)
austinsurge 1 year ago
hey Urgelt... i have a question tho.. let say sumone like me.. because i usually stayup late in the night... willing to, i mean i can sleep, but im willing not to, but sumtimes as well i dnt feel sleepy, but after i go to bed even stying long hours in the night and sleep lets say for about 6-7hrs, like a good "night" sleep lol... is that still considered as insomnia?
wily4 1 year ago
Insomnia is a medical condition, and I'm not a doctor, so I'm really not qualified to say yes or no, Wily4.
Take the question to your doctor; or use the net to read up on it and form your own conclusions.
I found the article on Insomnia at Wikipedia to be helpful.
Urgelt 1 year ago
@Urgelt oh alright.. thanks urgelt.
wily4 1 year ago
thank you so much for this video. i haven't slept for days,because i'm working at night and studying at daytime..so my body kind of got used to that.
most things you say sound really helpfull,and i will try them tonight.
also a big thank you for your poems. i love them. and i love them being read by you.
you're a really good person.
(excuse my english - I'm german)
Wasserradio 1 year ago
urgelt your the man!!
CHIP08081993 1 year ago
Since having child insomnia I can say a few things about this too: 1. EXERCISE! Most important 2. Avoid stimulant foods/drinks (-smoking, - coffee) 3. Write or voice those annoying thoughts if that be an issue. 4. Drink water throughout day. 5. drink lactose drink at night. 6. Try chamomile tea before bed or Bach Remedy. Meditate; quantum meditation the best. 7. Adorn room with aromotherapy oils. 8. Dress your room comfortably. 9. Take a bath. 10. And having exhausted all of this try stilnox!
misshumanoid1974 1 year ago
Thank you for your insight and suggestions, MH1974.
Far as I am aware, lactose - milk sugar - is not in itself of value to insomniacs. But a comforting routine before bedtime - warm milk or herbal tea, or bedtime reading - may have immense psychological value in calming you and prepping for sleep.
Still, what works for one may not for someone else. For that reason, I'm delighted when people add their ideas. It adds up to more things insomniacs can try. :-)
Urgelt 1 year ago
@Urgelt There is one other technique to aid the sleep process, only I am not sure its entirely healthy..but, in cooler weather I would suggest implenting a heater in the room as the warmth relaxes and the deprivation of oxygen in the air, via a small heater, makes one sleepy.
misshumanoid1974 1 year ago
Got to be careful here.
An electric heater will not deplete oxygen in the room.
A combustion-based heater will. You do not want to operate a combustion-based heater in a closed room; you can die.
Anything that deprives your body of oxygen to induce sleep is a bad idea and should not be pursued.
I'll go along with the idea that warmth helps with sleep. Any kind of electric heater might help, and so might a hot water bottle or microwavable beanbag (heat it up and take it to bed with you).
Urgelt 1 year ago
@Urgelt Your right about that - I only do this when I'm desperate...to the point where there is sufficent oxygen to induce sleep. And, I always leave window partially open as precaution. But, thanks...didn't know those heaters were combustion ones.
misshumanoid1974 1 year ago
We miss you a great deal Urgelt--
kurtnils 1 year ago
Wow it's like everything you said that causes insomnia my brother does, and that's why he has it. But he won't listen to me or our father when we told him smoking keeps him awake..
patrickthecrow9 1 year ago
I think our objective must be to inform, not to control behavior.
The language we use is important. Don't say "you should do this or quit doing that." Say "this symptom could be caused by these foods, beverages, drugs or behaviors." Point him to information sources.
If he still won't listen, that, too, is a choice - a choice he is entitled to make for himself. It's his life, after all.
What he does not need is your disapproval. It won't help. Accept his decisions.
Urgelt 1 year ago
Thank you my friend you are a great man. thanks for helping us here.
dewitubeX1 2 years ago
Nope, I've not touched this video since posting it.
Flash has been updated a couple of times, though, so I'm not sure if the appearance is the same.
Urgelt 2 years ago
Hi Urgelt :)
Did you do this video again since 2006 ?.I could have sworn it was a dark setting before. It looks different to me.
Razwell 2 years ago
And also, you must have proper shoes for running / jogging. This is, very, important. Your shoes can make the difference between comfortable jogging and painful jogging...
valtttu 2 years ago
I'll agree with you there, valtttu, good point.
Urgelt 2 years ago
The Excercise part is really important. If you start jogging, for example, it should help you sleep a lot better. Helps for me at least.
valtttu 2 years ago
I'm not a big fan of jogging. It's hard on knee joints, which simply do not heal. Many joggers are looking at arthroscopic surgery, eventually.
Aside from that quibble, I agree with you. Exercise contributes to health and well-being in countless ways, and it can be part of the answer to insomnia.
Thanks for your thoughts, valtttu.
Urgelt 2 years ago
Oh, I wasn't excactly advicing you, since it seems like you don't need any more advice on this subject. :-)
It was just a random thought. And about that joint pain... I think it goes something like this: The older you are when you start jogging, the more joint pains you will have. Basically if you start exercising young enough, and remember to do strength exercises on your thighs (this also strengthens your knees a lot), you shouldn't have much joint pain.
valtttu 2 years ago
Only to a point. Strengthening muscles can help keep a knee joint's working parts in the right places and prevent injury.
But I'll stand by my comment. Jogging, especially on pavement, puts joints under repeated high-impact stresses which accelerate wear and tear. Since the joint itself cannot heal, the damage is cumulative over time.
You'll have need of your knees for a lifetime. Don't use 'em up early.
Urgelt 2 years ago
I have found that waking up atthe same time every morning is more important than going to bed at the same time every night..
kurtnils 2 years ago
That's a good point.
Naps, too, can interfere with normal sleep at night.
Urgelt 2 years ago
I have found if you stay up late and continue to push your body to stay up late it will begin to train itself to stay up. soon you will find yourself wide awake at 2am and the only way to get back in my opinion is force your body to fall asleep a little earlier each time.
manice08 2 years ago
I've always found it difficult to force sleep at a particular hour. Either my body is ready for it, or it isn't - and no amount of forcing really helps me.
But people are not all the same, and your advice might very well work for someone. So I'm grateful you posted your suggestion. Thank you!
Urgelt 2 years ago
welcome :)
manice08 2 years ago
Nice beard love it, could use a Braid maybe I don't know you tell me
BozznoQ 2 years ago
I'm mystified by the importance people ascribe to hair growing where hair grows.
If there is a more trivial way to evaluate a person, I can't think of it off of the top of my head.
Urgelt 2 years ago
In addition to Urgelt's suggestions try instituting an excersize program. Doesn't have to be the gym. Could be tai-chi or chi kung for instance. Stretching is very good as well. Consider yoga.
bstagy 2 years ago
Excellent point, bstagy. Thank you for contributing to our discussion.
Urgelt 2 years ago
One prime example of relaxing audio for me has beed Urgelt's voice; not only does it serve as medium for wisdom, but it has been a great tool to help me get to sleep the past couple of nights. The best video for me so far has been his caffeine addiction one. Thank you Urgelt!
losername2of2 2 years ago 6
I'm glad you've found something to value in my videos, LN2of2.
You might try listening to "The Old Apple Tree." This, alone of my videos, was specifically made as a relaxation track for insomniacs. It doesn't work for everyone, but a few 'tubers have said it works for them.
Urgelt 2 years ago
@losername2of2 i watch that same vid when i cant sleep!
JakeStrangeFishing 7 months ago
2 months ago, I was taking over the counter sleep medication on a daily basis. It stopped working. I quit, which resulted in a few nights insomnia. Now I don't take anything for sleep. I rarely drink coffee in the afternoon and never in the evening. At bedtime, I listen to a CD called 'Entering Dreamtime' by Inlakesh & Soulfood. I am not promoting the CD, but the chanting in the CD clears any racing thoughts and puts me out. The pharmaceutical industry wants a drug addicted society. Just say no.
BSMC86 2 years ago
I'm glad you found a solution that works for you, BSMC86. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Urgelt 2 years ago
hi urgelt , i have aquestion but it has nothing to to with insomnia , well i work 8 hours a day driving cars around town , its a big town i live in and alote of other drivers that slow me down working , at the end of the day my head feals tight and it gets me in a bad mood , my girlfriend dosent like that at all ;) do you have any advice for me how to stay relaxed ?
thank you urgelt
reedeema 2 years ago
Not easy to address a problem like this without more information (and more room than a comment), but I'll try.
I think the place to start is when you are driving. You've got to find a way to reduce your tension and go with the flow. Road rage is dangerous and will wear you down.
Use music that relaxes you. Avoid music that excites. Remind yourself that your goal is not to beat the other guy, but to arrive safely.
When you get home, try a nice hot bath. Not a shower. Soak for a while.
Urgelt 2 years ago
mhm well the problem is the more i drive the more money i make so going with the flow isnt easy but i drive slower then at the beginning becouse i realized that it dosent help me at all if im always in a hurry , ill try the bath thow that sounds good =)
thx urgelt
ps , wher do your name come frome ? never herd it before ?
greetz steve
reedeema 2 years ago
here`s a new one for you can`t sleep try Cherries they contain significant amount `sof MELATONIN which as you know is a sleep inducer
celticbhoy14 2 years ago
I had not been paying much attention to food sources of melatonin, but there are a few, and cherries is one of them.
I'd go easy on them, though, because they also will tend to boost your blood sugar, and that gets in the way of sleeping.
Urgelt 2 years ago
Here`s a tip and dont laugh it`s scientific .About half an hour before retiring sit in a darkened room ,light a candle and stare at the flame for say 15 minutes..What does that do i hear you say .Well scientist `s studying people who have been meditating for years have found out that this practice has the effect of releasing MELATONIN which helps with regulating sleep cycles ,what have you got to loose by giving it a try?i wont loose any sleep over posting it
celticbhoy14 2 years ago
That is the spirit in which all of the suggestions here are offered. They're all just ideas to try.
Thanks for adding to the stack, CB14.
Urgelt 2 years ago
Hello, I have issues sleeping and saw that you mentioned Tryptophan as a source to help for sleep, I have seen Tryptophan sold on a few websites in 500 mg, but this is usually not FDA approved, would you recommend this or not really? They claim no prescription is needed.
PILMAN 2 years ago
Tryptophan is just an amino acid. Amino acids are foods.
If you buy tryptophan as a nutritional supplement, you will probably be getting some other chemicals with it. Filler, preservatives, contaminants. It will also be expensive, compared to just eating a food that's rich in tryptophan when you feel you need its benefits.
Go with tryptophan-rich foods, it's cheaper and probably healthier.
Urgelt 2 years ago
I know this may be a bit offtopic, but i was wondering, can my current insomnia be a result of my drug-use, few years ago( crystal meth)
And does cannabis help you to sleep etc..etc
Thnx
Skibbaaa 3 years ago
First question: maybe. Drugs can alter brain biochemistry in long-lasting ways. Unfortunately, not that much is known about the specifics. You can't ask an animal how it feels... and it's unethical to experiment on humans to learn about the destructive effects of drugs.
Second question: I really, really think you should be looking at every possible solution short of drugs of any kind. Like I said, drugs alter brain chemistry in ways we do not fully understand, and that includes marijuana.
Urgelt 3 years ago
Here's a fresh suggestion, for those who actually read the comments searching for ideas.
Grab or make a cotton sack. Fill it with 3 lbs of organic dried beans - I used a mix of navy, lentil and pinto. Wet one side of the bag. Pop it in the microwave and heat it for 3-4 minutes until very warm (but not too hot to handle with your hands without burning yourself).
Take it to bed with you.
It's reusable, just remember to wet the sack before each use. Don't drench, just wet one side.
Urgelt 3 years ago
I think it helps for these reasons: - A cold bed is a sleepless bed. The quicker it's warmed up, the quicker you can relax into sleep. - We are programmed from infancy to equate warmth with comfort and safety. It's a stress reliever.
It should also be useful as a heat pack for muscle injuries and arthritis.
Unlike a hot water bottle, there's no danger of a leak.
Wetting one side will prevent any risk of a fire in the microwave, and keep the beans from becoming too dry to hold heat.
Urgelt 3 years ago
Oh, and I recommend organic beans because they are less likely to contain fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. You don't want to breath vapors from microwaved beans which contain those chemicals.
Urgelt 3 years ago
Great. I've been eating dried beans out of the bag as a high protein snack...
va3atc 2 years ago
Good advices, only I forgot a 2 advices already. So it's good to tell also to the audience to take a paper and pencil.
What's very good for having a good and natural night-rest is: Cold waterdouche, sound contradictive but it really helps me!
missbussy10 3 years ago
Uh... I'll take your word for it...
Urgelt 3 years ago
11: Listen to Urgelt reciting Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening :D
pilchy99 3 years ago
Foprgot about this one but its one I'm going to look at since my meds got increased Insomnia is a side effect I'm running into a lot.
The memory foam will probably be a good place to start for me since I have a lot of nagging pains that keep me from sleeping to easily.
I'll let ya know if it helps.
mattulmenin 3 years ago
I swear by my 2" thick memory foam pad. It's a great help.
Thicker pads, I have found, mess up my spine. 2" is just right to cushion the pressure points.
To combat insomnia, there are lots of things you can try. But if you aren't getting relief from the suggestions you see here or elsewhere on the net, please see a doctor. Some cases are impossible to deal with on your own.
Urgelt 3 years ago
Also:
-Yoga has helped me enormously.
-Yoga Nidra has helped me enormously (Google it to find out the difference).
-The only thing NeuroDevelopment did help me with is sleep.
-Progressive muscle relaxation has helped me shut my body down. (Breathe in for a count of 4, hold for 3, out for 4, hold 3, and again for 10 or so minutes. Then, breathe in, tense your feet, hold it while you count to three, relax your feet, breathe out. Imagine a switch above your feet, turn it off. Continue up body.)
Perrinpara 3 years ago
There are so many comments that it'd take me forever to check and see if this has been mentioned before.
It may sound silly, but as opposed to imagining a galloping sheep trying to hurtle itself over a fence, I find just by focusing (but not intensely, just calmly) on imagining animals the wrong colors (like a purple and blue chicken, or a red and green dog) sometimes helps me fall asleep. I actually found this technique online, too. So it's not just me, and it might help others too!
Perrinpara 3 years ago
I have been amazed at the number of ideas commenters have contributed - far exceeding those in the video itself.
It's all to the good. A full understanding of sleep thus far has eluded science. Trial and error is all we have, so it's helpful for insomniacs to have lots of suggestions to try.
Your suggestions seem to be addressed to anxiety-produced insomnia (probably one of the more common forms).
Thanks for contributing, Perrinpara.
Urgelt 3 years ago
How about a glass of wine or small alcohol beverage before going to bed?
btbking 3 years ago
Risky, I think, as a means of improving sleep.
Depending on an addictive substance for a physiological effect every night might lead to a very bad place.
That's particularly true with alcohol because of habituation. If you use it every night, gradually the effect of a given dose will decrease. It will take more to get the same sedative effect.
Finally, alcohol reduces REM sleep, and nobody in science thinks that's a good thing.
Urgelt 3 years ago
I used to drink to sleep,and that is exactly
what happened to me,in other words I became an alcoholic. 7 months sober now and sleep like a baby!
FENDIN10 3 years ago
Thanks for the tips, Urgelt. Your videos are very interesting so I hope I will sleep well this night to have the energy to watch them all! Because of insomnia, I tired my eyes at the level of getting myopia too! Life sure is meaningless if you don't sleep well.
MihaiAlexandru92 3 years ago
So true.
There are many more suggestions to investigate in the comments. If you have insomnia, it won't hurt to read through them.
Likely none of them will be much use in severe cases, though. If nothing you try works, I'd recommend seeing a doctor. The price of insomnia is higher than mere tiredness; unresolved, it can wreck your health.
Urgelt 3 years ago
Well I managed to sleep better last night and although I don't feel completely refreshed, it's a lot much better. Besides your tips, I tried EFT and self-hypnosis so insomniacs might give them a try too. Just google them and you'll find out what you need to know.
MihaiAlexandru92 3 years ago
Good suggestions, MA92, thank you.
Urgelt 3 years ago
Hi Urgelt. Peppermint tea is fantastic for digestion. Science doesn't seem to care too much for investigating herbs it appears. I'm not going to wait for them to catch up.
For insomnia, chamomile or valerian tea is wonderful.
capricious71 3 years ago
Your voice sure is soothing. Maybe I could try that too :-)
DetSonnyCrockett 3 years ago 4
Maybe you could!
We've let mainstream media do our talking for us for too long, I think.
Urgelt 3 years ago
:-)
DetSonnyCrockett 3 years ago
to help me sleep i drink some hot chocolate...really any warm or hot liquid would probably help though.
mastrauzi 3 years ago
Chocolate has caffeine, it probably alleviates caffeine withdrawal a little thus helping sleep.
maciejwrotek 3 years ago
I have found that when you go for so long without sleep, your body actually forgets what it feels like. My doctor gave me an anti-anxiety drug called cerax(oxapam), to take at bedtime for sleep. I used it for about 5 mnths. My body now remembers sleep and I do it quite well on my own. It's worth a try for anyone who suffers from this disorder.
vaginyabelle 3 years ago
hello ive noticed that at night i tink more. I even seem to draw better. I wonder why it is that i cant think this way during the day. Maybe due t distractions?
DeadVideoGamer 3 years ago
think* and to* sorry cheap keyboard.
DeadVideoGamer 3 years ago
In the absence of distractions, at night, the usual thing is to become sleepy, not more productive.
You might have a sleep disorder. The Wikipedia article on "sleep disorders" is a good place to begin informing yourself.
Urgelt 3 years ago
A lot of my teachers think wikipedia is a bad place for information. They say not to use it at all. But its really a good way to start research on something.
mastrauzi 3 years ago
Hey i have a sleeping problem and finally dicovered the secret on how to get sleep, I SWEAR TO GOD THIS IS TRUE, you have trouble sleeping b-cuz you been in the same city for too long, simple move to another city and your sleep methods will returd to normal, just take a 1 week vacation and you will see...Me i still dont sleep well b-cuz i cant afford moving/vacation, but i've gone and it has worked but i got a even bigger problem than sleep,
money lol
vaheedh 4 years ago
I wonder, could it be that physically leaving your home city equates to a reduction in stress?
If that's it, perhaps there are stress-reducing things you could do that would not be quite so expensive as moving or vacationing frequently.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I find listening to heavy rain is best.
Cloigeann 4 years ago
Rain is helpful to me, too. Alas, I have no power to command the heavens.
White noise has a similar effect for many people. It's especially useful for drowning out unwelcome sounds beyond our control - traffic noises, for example. You can buy a white noise generator, or tune a radio between stations, or just run a fan.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Have you ever tried simulated rain sounds from the computer? I don't know if would have the same effect and thanks for the white noise tip I will try it.
Cloigeann 4 years ago
Sure, you could coax rain sounds out of a computer. Sounds like that exist in the Creative Commons, free to use. If you need a tip about where to find them, drop me a note.
You could also purchase a commercial CD of rain sounds. Or record a few rainstorms yourself, if you have a microphone.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I disagree with the drinking suggestions - that's the WORST thing you can do. You just wake up when you need to pee.
Duchova 4 years ago
It's just something to try.
Dehydration can interfere with all sorts of metabolic functions, not least the workings of the brain, which is heavily involved in sleep.
Personally, I think I sleep better if I'm hydrated, even if it means rising in the night to relieve my bladder. I fall asleep again quickly. But there's no guarantee it will help a particular person with a sleeping problem.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I'm pretty certain I have a delayed sleep phase. It has killed my mind.
FungusFromUliJonRoth 4 years ago
An update: I am better.
FungusFromUliJonRoth 4 years ago
It is a good idea to sleep with your head aligned to MAGNETIC NORTH . This way your body is in harmony with the EARTHS magnetic currents this has helped many people including me
celticbhoy14 4 years ago
That one arouses my skeptical instincts. But as with most of the other remedies proposed in the comments here, it looks harmless to try.
Urgelt 4 years ago
the polynesian herb Kava kava is very good at relaxing all the muscles of the body as a prepiratory to sleep as is VALERIAN, HOPS, CHAMOMILE TEA, and CALIFORNIA POPPY hope this helps
celticbhoy14 4 years ago
It might.
There's no telling which remedy might produce benefit in which sufferer of insomnia, and so a scattershot approach makes sense. The more alternatives people have to try, the more likely some will find relief.
These all look like good things to try. Thanks for contributing!
Urgelt 4 years ago
I won't pretend to know everything about ZMA or its health implications, but I do know that it contains zinc, magnesium and vitamin B-6. Out of the three nutrients, American diets tend to be most lacking in magnesium.
Correcting nutritional deficiencies may help with sleep, particularly in the case of magnesium, which is important in neurological functioning. So... good one!
Urgelt 4 years ago
why not try this insomnia remedy Two teaspoons of cider vinegar and Two teaspoons of honey into a glass of warm water and drink before retiring tastes excellent
celticbhoy14 4 years ago
That combination is *old.* Roman soldiers drank vast quantities of the stuff. I think the primary perceived benefit was making water safe for human consumption, but I agree, it tastes pretty good, too.
I haven't read any studies showing efficacy in treating insomnia, but as with most folk remedies, it will not hurt to try it.
Urgelt 4 years ago
the bach flower remedy called AGRIMONY is used to treat insomnia and wont cause any side effects
celticbhoy14 4 years ago
That's a new one on me, Celticbhoy14, thanks for the tip!
Urgelt 4 years ago
why not try a banana milk shake .Sounds crazy dosent it but bananas and milk are high in the amino acid TRYPTOPHAN which is a natural sleep inducer.Give it a whirl
celticbhoy14 4 years ago
Agreed, but do it this way. Toss milk and a banana into a blender.
Naturally, this won't work for lactose-intolerant people.
If you use ice cream, you'll be getting way too much sugar; that could actually make getting to sleep more difficult.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Thanks celticbhoy I'll try a banana milkshake, sounds nice and it certainly can't hurt. C'mon the hoops by the way!!
4evadelayed71 4 years ago
banana's also seem to have a calming effect on the stomach. however be careful with milk - once in your stomach milk curdles and this can cause stomach upsets or just general stomach grumbling during your sleep that may cause you not to feel rested when you wake up.
paradoxbox1 4 years ago
Hrm, yes... milk can also lead to gas. It's not really an easy food to digest.
I think it may be one of those things where "your mileage may vary." Some may be able to tolerate it and get the benefit of the tryptophan in milk; others may not.
Bananas are a good suggestion to add to our list of possible things to try, methinks.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I was put on dex amphetamine as a teenager for ADHD and then began taking meth amphetamine, I took both meth and dex amphetamine for 20 years and would regularly go for very long periods without sleep. I have been off amphetamines for 3 years now but suffer from chronic isomnia. Doctors have prescribed various benzodiazapenes and other sedative drugs but they only work temporarily. I follow a sleep hygiene program like the one you describe but still cant sleep. I am at my wits end.
4evadelayed71 4 years ago
What I would like to know is whether I will eventually be able to sleep normally again or will I just have to live with insomnia and the occaisional couple of weeks of sedative aided sleep. Due to chronic sleep deprivation I am now on anti-psychotic medication which has only made me gain weight and hasn't helped me to sleep at all.
4evadelayed71 4 years ago
The tip-swapping in the video and in the comments here may be helpful for mild cases of insomnia. I would not expect them to be of much use for a severe case like yours, though it wouldn't hurt to try them. Don't skip the comments, there are more ideas in them.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Treating cases like yours is not science; we don't really know enough about how the brain works. It's an art, and like any art, practice and talent are important.
If the results you are obtaining aren't satisfactory, consider trying a doc with more experience in the field and a better track record of results.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Thanks Urgelt I will read thruogh alhe comments. I actually have an appointment to go to a sleep clinic and see a specialist, hopefully that will bring me some relief.
4evadelayed71 4 years ago
I hope so, too.
My gut tells me it will be a struggle, but you should not give up. Keep trying things. There are a *lot* of things to try, and a few of them might help.
By the way, a sleep doc might not talk to you at all about diet and exercise. Not his specialty. Don't presume that because he does not, they aren't important, ok?
Urgelt 4 years ago
Also - physical problems can contribute to insomnia, such as an injury to your throat (which can produce apneas) or a disease like hypothyroidism. Some of these things a sleep doc might catch, others he might not.
A thorough physical and blood work-up by your general practitioner will complement your sleep doc's investigations. You could also have your throat scoped for abnormalities.
Urgelt 4 years ago
i believe stress is the major cause of insomnia ,it locks into all the muscle groups of the body and makes you feel tired most of the time and my solution is FRACTIONAL RELAXATION .This method involves tensing and relaxing all the muscle groups of the body starting at the feet and working up to the legs ,then the arms,the butt ,the shoulders,the face and scalp .Try this before going to bed and you will have a great nights sleep perhaps the best in years
celticbhoy14 4 years ago
I'm certain in many cases of temporary insomnia, stress is indeed a major factor. Your advice is certainly worth trying. Thanks, Celticbhoy14.
Urgelt 4 years ago
i have found that a large handful of raisins or currents helpful as they have a high vitamin b content which has a calming effect on the nervous system which facilitates sleep and best of all they are dirt cheap in the supermarkets
celticbhoy14 4 years ago
That's a fresh idea, Celticbhoy14. Thanks!
Urgelt 4 years ago
A friend of mine takes Melatonin supplements to help her sleep and has had success with it. However, I'm not certain if I should reccomend that as I have no personal experience with it. Maybe that could help someone who's really struggling, though.
Vaskre 4 years ago
It's certainly a possibility. It is often used to treat jet lag and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), both of which can involve sleep disruptions.
People should talk to a doctor and get advice before taking melatonin. It's a psychoactive drug.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Here are some suggestions...
1.) Let your mind go as you lay down, let it drift far away into a deep thought subconsciously. Don't allow any conscious thoughts to happen. Just let go...
xAmosX 4 years ago
2.) Take some slow, deep breaths as you're laying down in the dark.
3.) Have a fan on, it helps me a LOT. I couldn't imagine sleeping without a fan blowing on me, and the sound of the motor clearing my thoughts.
4.) Make sure the temperature of the room you're in is comfortable. Too much heat or too little heat can cause you to feel uncomfortable. Not to mention the sweat off of too much heat can cause a huge sleeping problem.
xAmosX 4 years ago
5.) Shower or bath every day and make sure you always have clean sheets and pillows. If you're too dirty or the area you're sleeping in is too dirty, it can greatly cause a sleeping problem.
6.) If you have lice, or if you have animals with flees, make sure you get rid of them no matter what it takes. Scratching your head constantly or your body while trying to sleep and while sleeping can make going to sleep harder, and greatly reduce the quality of your sleep.
Hope these helped!
-Amos
xAmosX 4 years ago
To be sure! A valuable contribution to our discussion, Amos, thank you. :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
Thanks Urgelt, this helped alot!!
ScaredCrows 4 years ago
Some of the ideas work for some people; I'm glad you found them useful, ScaredCrows.
Be sure to look through the comments. Many commenters have added their own ideas, and some of them look pretty good to me.
Urgelt 4 years ago
i had trouble going to sleep a few years ago then i realized when it was time to sleep ,i would think '' im think im going to try and go sleep''. once i realized i was doing this i decided to tell myself im going to sleep .i decided to go to sleep instead of trying to go to sleep . it worked . also a good wank/diddle before you sleep always helps too
JajaJibbidyJa 4 years ago
Hmm, yes. If your mind is racing, sleep will not come. Permitting your body to enter sleep requires your mind to relax as well as your body.
In clinically anxious people, relaxing the mind awful hard, but for more normal people, an attitude adjustment might do the trick.
Thanks for your comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Thank you for posting this!!
And I agree with semiliquid123. Especially about your voice and words :] So calming, you sound like a narrator.
<33
HopefullyWild 4 years ago
Thank you, Nicole.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Advice on TV is the same for long periods ifront of the PC. I understand both involve a lack of body movement with little brain activity, compared to prolonged studying/reading which can reduce energy levels causing tiredness to kick in.
n00blyf 4 years ago
I think you're right, n00blyf. Using a PC too much could produce insomnia in some people. Thanks for bringing up this point.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I went without food for a day and I still had the same results, I did everything you said to do but I still cant sleep. Thank you though for the suggestion Ive had my problems for years and no matter what I do I never get good results.
Charlesno123 4 years ago
My advice, and the ideas in the comments here, are mostly of use to people with mild or temporary insomnia, which is very common. Extreme insomnia is a whole other ballgame.
I hope you're seeing a doctor about it. There might be something she can do - though it's not a well-understood disorder, and some patients simply can't be treated successfully.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Excellent post sir. I was beginning to think I was some kind of Vampyre. I'll check out you diet advice.
Cheers.N
Nickle0deon 4 years ago
I'm a bit of a fellow vampire myself, at times. I don't know why, but I seem to do some of my best thinking at night these days. But it's voluntary; insomnia doesn't strike often, fortunately.
Let me know if you have questions about the dietary advice I've provided on YouTube.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Thank you I enjoyed your video and I do beleive it can help other cases of mild or temporary insomnia
Charlesno123 4 years ago
i like your voice. and words. and beard. and glasses.
I read that it is wise not to spend time in bed during the day, like eating or watching tv, as the body can condition to the wakestate in bed. many people i know, spend much time in bed during the day because of poor living arrangements. so maybe this can be taken into consideration as well...
semiliquid123 4 years ago
That's a point I had not considered before, Semiliquid123, and it's a good one. Thank you for your comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
This was very interesting even though I don't have any problems with insomnia.
And seriously, you should become a voice actor.
RatchetRenegade 4 years ago
Glad you liked it, RatchetRenegade. Thank you for your comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I'm gonna go with ratchet causin here. Urgelt deffiently needs to go into voice acting..he's got that "sleep to voice" if your not a grandpa thats incredibly unfortunet urgelt.
gopherdude 4 years ago
No grandkids, alas. But at least I can share the odd poem here. Thank you for your comment, Gopherdude.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I mean no offense to anyone but, masturbating or sexual activity sometimes can cure or help be rid of sleep disorders.
VisualEyeCandy 4 years ago
I think sex has a soporific effect once's it is concluded, VisualEyeCandy. So I agree. Thank you for commenting.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I like to listen to Bob Ross or Carl Sagan. Their voices are so nice, they tend to put me to sleep.
higgism 4 years ago
That's a fresh suggestion, and is most welcome. Thank you!
Urgelt 4 years ago
Smoking a joint puts me right out.
amd2q9 4 years ago
I can't recommend that approach, alas. Smoke from burning organic materials contains carcinogens. Breathing them is a bad idea, whatever the source. I'd rather not trade a good sleep now for cancer later.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Run! When I couldn't sleep, I'd put on my jogging sneakers and just ran. The key is to run and not to stop. If (when) you do stop, you'll know it's time for bed. Running is a mind-clearer, and also you burn energy. Altogether: is a healthy sleeping pill.
D01dler 4 years ago
Yep, exercise works in many cases of insomnia. Good point, D01dler.
Urgelt 4 years ago
my bones dig into my matress. it's wierd and irritating...
anyway.
I think being on the computer a lot has the same effect as watching too much TV. If you want sleep, get off YouTube!!!
TheMo0 4 years ago
Look into a memory foam topper pad for your bed. No kidding, it will help.
I agree, the more we spend in virtual worlds, be it via traditional media or on-line, the more at risk we are of disrupting our sleep.
Urgelt 4 years ago
you are my hero bro
gordonmaloney0 4 years ago
I'm interested in what you would have to say about meth and it's effects on chemicals in the brain. I guess what i'm asking is, Will I ever be the same.
william675849 4 years ago
Science doesn't really know everything about brain chemistry. Thousands of variables are in play, involving other drugs, exposure to toxins, hormonal variations, genetics, pathogens. Even predicting what will happen in a healthy brain is impossible.
Brains do attempt to repair themselves over time. But they change, too. No-one ever goes completely back to the way they were.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Don't skip the comments, then, lots of viewer-contributed ideas to try.
Urgelt 4 years ago
can you do a segment on schizophrenia? if possible :P
prattzila 4 years ago
I tend to pick topics that I know something about, and which I think will be broadly interesting.
Schizophrenia is pretty interesting. But it's not a topic I know well at all.
Urgelt 4 years ago
im sorry, but im VERY new to you tube and need alittle help with navigation in the site and your page especially. thanks
n0ble8foldpath 4 years ago
Click on "Urgelt" in the text box to the right of the video to see my profile page, where you can find more of my videos, if you like.
Beyond that, just click around and explore. You'll catch on pretty fast.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I've seen your other videos. And they're great. :P I'll go look at some now. :P
prattzila 4 years ago
Thanks, Prattzila.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Loving your voice... just a small pointer if you move your head up less we wont be able to see that you are clearly reading off a screan even just being aware of this will cut down the amount of times we see the screan in your glasses... I am perfectionist when it comes to vids... you may not mind...
zakgott 4 years ago
I'm not trying to hide that I am reading from a screen, Zakgott. Creating an illusion isn't what I'm trying to do with these videos at all.
I suppose we've become so accustomed to TV production values, whose objective is to distort, that it comes as a shock when they are eliminated. But that's exactly what I set out to do here, for good or ill.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Fair call Urgelt... I see where you are coming from. Please try not to see my comments as any sort of attack... alas, i watch and comment on your movies, and am indeed a huge fan. I just wasn't sure if you had realised, and in realising did you choose to leave it or was your response just that... meerely a response and not a preconception...
zakgott 4 years ago
Oh, no worries, Zakgott, I didn't see it as an attack.
It's kind of usual to offer videographical advice around here, I do it too.
I've answered so many comments, in the last 24 hours, I think I'm getting rough around the edges. Sorry about that.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I want to send you blank tapes and a reading list. Your voice is really great. You should do voice work perhaps as a narrator.
SnerdWilliams 4 years ago
I kinda think I am! Right here on YouTube. :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
Thanx for this posting video! It totally cured my insomnia.
wogsland 4 years ago