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[JoshuaFH]

So I have real trouble sleeping. I usually can't get to sleep without some sort of aid, like sleeping pills. This is because my mind and body just don't... want.. to.. RELAX!

This is very bothersome to me, as without a sleep aid I can just lie awake for upwards of 5-8 hours, then morning hits, and I just have to get up and tough it out, because even though I can't sleep, I'm dead tired all the time.

I've just recently ran out of my preferred aid, so I thought I'd try going natural for a bit. Bad idea, my health is now in shambles. Back to square one, I guess.

Does anyone else suffer like this?

[TheNewerMartianEmperor]

Yes, it's terrible and I've just managed to live with it for as long as I can remember.

[Neruz]

If you have sleeping issues, the first question to ask is "are you fat?" No i don't mean offence, what i mean is that one of the things obesity does (among other general fuck-your-health-up problems) is cause serious sleeping issues.

If not, see a doctor, preferably two, possibly even a psychiatrist.

[TheNewerMartianEmperor]

Of all the things that I could be described as, fat is pretty far away from reality.

[JoshuaFH]

Same here. I'm not lean, but I'm far from fat.

I'm not sure. What's the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

[TheNewerMartianEmperor]

A psychiatrist is a doctor, and they are more about using medications and things of that nature, whereas a psychologist is a scientist, and deal in therapy and more direct research into the human mind.

[Neruz]

Same here. I'm not lean, but I'm far from fat.

I'm not sure. What's the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

A psychiatrist has a medical degree. A psychologist doesn't.

Practically what it means is that a psychiatrist can perscribe drugs to help with your therapy, while a psychologist can only recommend you take drugs and refer you to a doctor.

[TheNewerMartianEmperor]

Psychologists have a scientific degree. A psychologist does therapy, and actually concerns themself with how the human mind works and develops. Psychiatry is half-way between psychology, which does not usually use drugs, and Neurology, which concerns itself strictly with the biological aspect of the human mind.

[Neruz]

Maybe in America, dunno, down heah being a Psychologist requires a degree is Psychology, to quote Wikupediar;

The title 'psychologist' is restricted by law. Registration as a psychologist is governed by State and Territory Psychology Registration Board. The minimum requirements for registration as a psychologist is an approved four year bachelors degree majoring in psychology and either two years of further accredited study and/or two years of work supervised by a registered psychologist. In Western Australia, specialist title registration distinguishes between registered psychologists (i.e., four year trained), and specialist psychologists (i.e., with an approved Masters degree). Membership with Australian Psychological Society (APS) differs from registration as a psychologist. Full membership (MAPS) of the APS requires six years postgraduate study. Associate memberships and student subscriptions are available. Restrictions apply to all who want to use the title 'psychologist' in any form in all states and territories of Australia. However, the terms 'psychotherapist', 'social worker', and 'counselor' is currently self-regulated with several organizations campaigning for government regulation.

Psychiatrists on the other hand, have medical degrees and get more training in relation to that, my personal experience has shown Psychiatrists to be more useful than Psychologists, as they can order medical scans and perscribe drugs and soforth, something whith Psychologists cannot do, which can be incredibly annoying at times.

[Vector]

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[Neruz]

Stress has definitely been known to cause insomnia. If you're currently in a high-stress environment it may well be worthwhile to take a break; drugs are rarely a long-term solution to stress.

[Mr Tk]

I know a couple of good way to relax your body and your mind. It can't vouch they'll work for you but they've worked for me. (And please excuse me they sound a little, uh, new age. I don't mean to come off like that.)

The one for getting the body to rest is to get into a comfy position (or as comfy as you can) and then think about your feet. Imagine that they are getting rub by an invisible pair of hands slowly working their way up towards your ankles. Once your feet start to relax then work your way up your legs then the body, and arms and head.

The second, and not so abstract, is to count backwards. Just concentrate on count back from 100. Whether you imagine the numbers or verbalise them in your mind it doesn't matter. Just count backwards towards 0. Don't worry if you miss numbers, and don't worry if you lose your place or your mind starts to wander. Just start counting from roughly the last one you can remember counting. If you hit zero just start again from 100 and count down age.

The first one I've haven't done in a while but the second method generally gets me to sleep. I find that if my mind is relaxed that the body tends to follow on it's own accord. I've only had to start a second 100 once.

Given them a go, you've got nothing to lose because they're both free and natural! If they don't work, it's fine, then we'll just have to find something else that does.

[Vector]

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[Muz]

I've been through insomnia. Generally accepted advice that works is simply "sleep at night". If you're tired at all, you're not getting enough sleep at the right time. Your body's just adjusted to staying awake at night. A trick would to somehow get yourself sleepy at night (even with pills, physical activity, staying awake in the day, starving yourself), then stay wide awake in the day.

Otherwise, your body would be pulling off microsleep throughout the day. You still get your bits of sleep, but not much of it, and uncomfortably. Forget late night work, games, TV, try to get yourself to do that stuff in the early morning, rather than late night.

Caffiene doesn't really have an effect once you're used to it. In fact, my dad uses coffee to fall asleep.

[ChairmanPoo]

Caffiene doesn't really have an effect once you're used to it. In fact, my dad uses coffee to fall asleep.

  More likely he falls asleep despite it.