5 replies to this topic

[jroseland]

Especially during the summer, I wake up too early, can't get back to sleep, and am underslept half the time. My sleep issue is not with getting to sleep, I fall asleep easily in the evenings. The problem is that I usually wake up after about 6-7 hours of sleep. Not enough for me, I feel dead in the mornings until I have done breathwork, gotten some sun, had a strong coffee, and a hit of nicotine USP solution. And then I really run out of gas in the late afternoon. During the colder, darker seasons, my sleep is a lot better.

 

This is frustrating as I am pretty good about sleep hygiene...

Wear blue blockers
Wear a sleep mask

No work after dinner
I don't eat or snack before bed

No bright screens within 2 hours of bed

Wifi gets turned off an hour before bed
Listen to soothing music before bed and while falling asleep

I'm not a voracious consumer of caffeine - one strong coffee in the morning

 

I've tried a couple of different things to address this...

I quit my glass or two of red wine with dinner habit, this hasn't helped much

I put thick drapes up over our windows - these help some I think

Doing meditation before bed

Red light therapy before bed
I tried the "ocean's breath" breathwork technique - did nothing for me

Melatonin 4-12 milligrams

Magnesium

Phenibut

Tried a few sleep stacks - they were all crap!

 

But still, my mind/body just insists on me being awake at the crack of dawn when I know I should be getting sleep. And I know what you're going to suggest: stop worrying about the coming day. Do meditation. Quite your mind and go back sleep.

This is the thing, I don't think it's anxiety and "thoughts running through my head" that's waking me up in the morning. I just lay there in bed reminiscing or thinking about totally boring things, free of worries, and I still cannot get back to sleep. Eventually, I get frustrated, lose hope in falling back to sleep, and drag my underslept ass out of bed to start the day.

To compensate for being underslept, I manage to stay somewhat productive doing Nootropics, I did Modafinil yesterday (75mg of Armodafinil - and had a pretty good day), taking cold showers, and I take hits of Nicotine throughout the day - although I don't wake up craving Nicotine. I'm using stimulants throughout the day, but I don't see why this would make me wake up early.

 

I'm 39 and otherwise in very good health. My wife and I are night people, we like to talk, read, or make love in the evenings and then go to bed around midnight. Making my bedtime 10AM would be logistically challenging in our household, what I'd really like is to go to bed at midnight and wake up at 9 AM like my wife!

 

I would REALLY appreciate any sleephacks you might suggest! Maybe there's another breathwork technique or sleep supplement that helps specifically with staying asleep...

[Galaxyshock]

Melatonin 4-12 milligrams

 

 

Is this instant release? You could try time-release melatonin, perhaps that would prevent the early waking up.

 

Then there's Bacopa which for me caused me to sleep actually too much, like up to 11-12 hours. Worth a shot maybe.

 

 

 

I'm using stimulants throughout the day, but I don't see why this would make me wake up early.

 

Hmm stimulants can increase cortisol levels? Which could perhaps induce disruptions of sleep, not sure about this though.

[Nobrainer]

My initial thought, poor sleep quality. It may be caused by overstimulation from the nootropics. I have used them too but they caused me to sleep very lightly and wake up early. The brain just stays powered on and not resting enough during sleep.
Or perhaps a sleep issue like apnea, restless legs, narcolepsy, etc.
If the light wakes you up, get proper curtains, window blinds, whatever to keep your room pitch black dark. Traffic or other noise might also be an issue.
If you want to try meds, amitriptyline is like anti-caffeine. It stops the overstimulation even at low dosage, at least for me and a friend.

[jroseland]

Yeah, would like to get my hands on some time release melatonin

My initial thought, poor sleep quality. It may be caused by overstimulation from the nootropics. 

Hmm... shouldn't overstimulation from nootropics cause problems getting to sleep? I have the opposite problem

[Nobrainer]

Yeah, would like to get my hands on some time release melatonin

Hmm... shouldn't overstimulation from nootropics cause problems getting to sleep? I have the opposite problem

 

Using nootropics does not give you free energy. It makes you spend reserves and creates more brain fatigue in the long run. At least that is how it works for me. It made me crash to sleep, then wake up way too early yet not relaxed. Nootropics also gave me tinnitus which was a sign to quit.

 

I consider melatonin a temporary fix. My wife used time release melatonin for over 5 years. After some psychological issues had been addressed she tapered off and now sleeps like a baby. Another person I knew who was on melatonin was at some point diagnosed with silent reflux. When that was addressed he got off the melatonin and slept normally for the first time since two decades.

[jroseland]

Using nootropics does not give you free energy. It makes you spend reserves and creates more brain fatigue in the long run. At least that is how it works for me. It made me crash to sleep, then wake up way too early yet not relaxed. Nootropics also gave me tinnitus which was a sign to quit.

 

I consider melatonin a temporary fix. My wife used time release melatonin for over 5 years. After some psychological issues had been addressed she tapered off and now sleeps like a baby. Another person I knew who was on melatonin was at some point diagnosed with silent reflux. When that was addressed he got off the melatonin and slept normally for the first time since two decades.

Good points. In my case sleep issues are highly seasonal, I'm sleeping better already now in the early fall.