Solutions for insomnia?

[PopeBeanieModerator]

I rarely have insomnia any more (except after waking up too early). My solution has been to listen to podcasts when it’s time to sleep. Over the past few years or so I listen to This Week in Virology, which I’ve been doing for a couple, even more so after covid’s hit the scene… now it’s coming out two or even three times a week, in episodes as small as one half hour to as large as almost three hours.

Here’s the key, for me. (YMMV) It has to be both interesting, but also largely incomprehensible. I pick up on about ten to forty percent of what these virologists, epidemiologists, and immunologists are talking about, which makes my brain work pretty hard… and that’s what makes me sleepy. I comprehend or remember about where my brain finally shut off, and that’s rarely beyond thirty minutes. I usually fall asleep within ten or fifteen minutes, so I’m always rewinding approximately back to that point the next night… one episode can last me a week. But it’s hard to resist hearing all the latest science on covid, so I’m rarely making it through a whole episode before moving on to the next. Plus there are other podcasts to choose from — particularly at microbe.tv.

When it comes to waking up too early, these days, sometimes a podcast works if I’m feeling tired enough, but more often I just get up and start the day early, committing to a nap sometime mid-day.

I know, those who have partner(s) in bed have more options to choose from. (OK, so technically, all of us always have a partner on hand.) I suppose I’m challenging people here to mention other, unique ways to defeat insomnia. Whatever works for you.

[_Robert_Participant]

Sam Harris can put me out in 5 minutes, LOL

[jakelafortParticipant]

From age 6 to 17 i read every night before bed-a soporific ritual. Never had any insomnia to that point.

Apart from reading i recommend either marijuana edibles or a tincture for sleep. I dream like a mad monkey. Unlike ambien i wake without feeling strange…maybe just slightly high. For an occasional sleep aid it is dope.

[—Participant]

I’m neurotic, my mind constantly craves a level of stimulation it can’t readily get, I’ve had decades of suppressed anger because the better part of the last two and a half decades have been spent trying to cope with the fact that being a part of civilization (for the sake of my own survival) is an exercise in endless cognitive dissonance, and on top of lifelong bouts of dysthymia, over the past few years I’ve been flirty with anxiety.

I’ve spent the last half year trying to undo a lot of shit, and things are getting better, but there are still many nights where I can’t shut off for various reasons. Throughout my life, I’ve tried many things, but the reality is I need to properly manage my stress and frustration. Unfortunately, poor sleep contributes to that stress, so spiralling is really easy to do. Sometimes things like mindfulness meditation help, but ultimately, if the stress is there beneath the surface, I may go to sleep feeling great, but in two hours my brain will shake me awake with an obnoxious ‘fuck naw’.

Long term, I need to work through this sort of existential crisis I’ve been stuck in since I was ten. Short term, I find audio helps. It’s not about the specific audio. Sometimes I’ll put on sitcoms, or stand up comedy, or asmr, or hypnosis, or ‘binaural beats’, or music. On the down side, I don’t likely get much REM sleep. None of those things put me to sleep, really. But they do seem to occupy my brain without taxing it, which stops me from spiralling too hard into anxious or depressive feedback loops. I get more rest and eventually do get some deep sleep, which is better than nothing. From there I have to spend the rest of the week chipping away at what is stressing me most or spend time just trying to feel productive so I can avoid a pattern where stress begets more stress.

Or maybe I should just take drugs. I don’t know. Even if it was part of the solution, I am skeptical it is even half of the solution.

[jakelafortParticipant]

Kristina, ketamine, tried it or considered it?

Handicapping horse races may be the missing stimulation. It is endlessly engrossing and requires analysis that is a nearly complete diversion for me.

Ode to sleep.
Need to sleep
Am in deep
Psyche to reap
Sustenance of sleep.

[DavisModerator]

I sort of do the same thing Pope. I read the wikipedia articles on obscure languages (there are thousands of them so it’s unlikely I will run out). As I had taken a couple classes on linguistics I know the bare basics about phonology and grammar and language families. So it is “MILDLY” interesting as you say. If it is completely unengaging it doesn’t work. If it is too stimulating it also doesn’t work. But yeah these articles do the trick. I’m asleep within ten minutes. I had previously tried with scientific articles like the elements but the problem was a few articles like on gold or oxygen are detailed and very interesting. Articles on obscure and rare elements were so uncompelling it was just drudgery rather than calming. I had a similar effect reading articles on small American counties (like Jefferson County Colorado) only the articles can be really short so you have to go through quite a few. Things that never ever worked for me were podcasts or radio because listening to another person talk was always super engaging even if the content was dry. I also have to put the night filter on (it reduces so called “blue light” and puts the brightness to the minimum level that is legible).

[—Participant]

jakelafort wrote:

Kristina, ketamine, tried it or considered it?
Handicapping horse races may be the missing stimulation. It is endlessly engrossing and requires analysis that is a nearly complete diversion for me.

It might be worth a shot (possibly literally), but I’m more of an enabler type personality.

[PopeBeanieModerator]

_Robert_ wrote:

Sam Harris can put me out in 5 minutes, LOL

Haha, me too! One of the few podcasts “exciting” enough to stay awake longer to was when his wife was the guest.

[jakelafortParticipant]

Kristina, you are more an enabler? And that has a bearing on how or whether ketamine is efficacious? I plead ignorance. Please enlighten.

[—Participant]

jakelafort wrote:

Kristina, you are more an enabler? And that has a bearing on how or whether ketamine is efficacious? I plead ignorance. Please enlighten.

Handicapping horse races. I thought ketamine would result in a performance reduction, not enhancement.

[jakelafortParticipant]

Now i see where the train went off of the tracks, Kristina.

I meant ketamine for treatment resistant depression. In case you are not aware here is one link https://www.massgeneral.org/wellness/news/ketamine-and-treatment-resistant-depression
I have had a few bouts of depression and perhaps flirted with anxiety and for those who have never experienced it i don’t think words can do it justice. So i can only imagine the prospect of relief, even temporary would make it very tempting to try.

In regards to illegally doping horses it is a major major issue in contemporary horse racing. There are so many drastic improvements in past performances (form reversals) that are presumably caused by drugs that are hidden with masking agents that handicapping races without knowledge of trainers is an exercise in fuck naw. I looked up ketamine for horses and you are right. It is apparently deadly for horses.

[—Participant]

Ah, I thought you were making a sly sort of joke. I was aware ketamine had some possible psychiatric applications, but I’ve never really looked into it. I mostly know of it as it’s used in veterinary practice and as a recreational drug (which I learned about through the power of music!)

I have no clue if I would fit under the category of treatment resistant. I have things I need to be tested for. One of the possibilities would be ADD, but I refuse to get a diagnosis now that it’s all classified as ADHD since I don’t have the H, and that’s just poorly managed terminology. (Really though, it’s just been more difficult to find a suitable professional since I moved to a smaller town, and covid isn’t making it easier, and, predictably, I haven’t been very motivated about it).

Apparently my neighbour was a drug dealer, so maybe he could have hooked me up, but it seems he abandoned his apartment and skipped out on rent owed. I don’t know if I could trust someone who couldn’t make dealing drugs profitable, or could yet still decided to stiff the landlord (who seems alright for the most part). What’s the world coming to?

[jakelafortParticipant]

Kristina there is increasing prevalence of psychiatrists prescribing ketamine. If memory serves you are in Canada. Here is a link.

Canada Leads in Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Severe Depression

[UnseenParticipant]

If other methods fail, masturbate. An orgasm releases a hormone that relaxes one and makes one sleepy. Especially if you are male. Just ask any woman frustrated by her male partner’s tendency to roll over and go to sleep after sex.

If that doesn’t work, at least you experienced something pleasant for a while.

[—Participant]

I don’t recall that ever making me sleepy; however, it does briefly clear stuffy sinuses. While the effect doesn’t last that long, used strategically, it can provide much needed relief.

[Author]

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