[bendiyogi]

Among the many symptoms I'm experiencing from my concussion/accident 5 weeks ago, I have delayed onset of sleep. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get sleep rhythms back to normal?
My pattern is that by about 9/10pm I am so awake and energized and then super wide awake by midnight. No matter what time I go to bed I will lie there for hours unable to sleep, be it 9pm or 2am. 2 nights ago I finally passed out at 6:30am. I usually get to sleep at about 1/2am. My wake up time is the same every day: 11:30am.
My natural rhythm used to be asleep by 10/10:30pm and up between 5-6am.
I am always wide awake at night now and then absolutely exhausted all morning til midday. But wake up time is always 11:30am exactly - no alarm clock!
I have taken generic sleeping tablets and natropathic sleeping tablets, neither of which work or even make me feel drowsy, and Melatonin which gives me vivid nightmares. I've tried going to bed earlier but just lie there for hours feeling restless and frustrated.
I will be needing to go back to work soon which usually starts at 6/7am. I have no idea how I'm going to be able to do that. Any suggestions please?

[Mark in Idaho]

bendiyogi,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. You are likely struggling with a mind that can not shut off the outside world while you are healing. A trick that helps many of us is to find a boring stimulus that occupies your visual and auditory senses with no need for you to cognitively respond. I use TV and videos. I can find lots of things online at Crackle, Hulu, etc.

I go to bed with my laptop playing the program on ear buds and let my mind just relax. I turn the volume down as low as possible. I only get about 6 hours of sleep a night. have for a decade. But, the relaxed time I spend zoned out appears to allow me to get good sleep.

Repeats of shows or movies work good because your brain is less stimulated since there is a familiarity. Try to not listen to or watch new material. It can cause the brain to pay more attention and be in suspense to see the end.

It also helps me to be very comfortable in my sleeping cloths and bedding. This removes all of the distractions the injured brain tends to want to focus on.

Hope it works for you.

My best to you.

[Arty]

IMO - I find that drinking a cup of tart cherry juice and applying couple drops of magnesium lotion on my under hands, before bedtime puts me to sleep.

[bendiyogi]

Thanks Mark, I find that watching TV or being on my computer/iPad at night makes it worse - seems to stimulate my nervous system more.
I am a yoga teacher so have breathing and meditation exercises that calm my mind. I don't lie there thinking, as I'm quite good at noticing when my mind is running amuck with thoughts, and can slow it down, or stop it alltogether quite easily.

Instead it is a sensation of just being wide awake and energized instead of feeling tired, as one usually does at the end of the day. There is a sensation almost of electricity crackling in my head at night. My body usually feels quite energized as well. Some nights I listen to really calming music and will lie there for a few hours in the dark just listening, not even thinking much, hoping to drift off. But that doesn't happen. The exhaustion usually comes in the morning from about sunrise.
My sister has suggested just staying up all night and then not sleeping in the day/morning, untill I'm so exhausted I can't help but fall asleep the next night. I tried that yesterday and it was still difficult getting to sleep last night. I think I will keep trying that though.

I'm really glad this forum is here, just to share, so that I don't feel crazy!

[Mark in Idaho]

I have taken gabapentin for over a decade. It helps my mind and body settle down. You could also try L-Tryptophan, 500 to 1000 mgs an hour before bed. L-Theanine may also help. GABA is the relax amino acid / neurotransmitter. L-Theanine can help with low GABA. GABA supplements do not get effectively used so L-Theanine is better.