I try to sleep as much as I can because I know it’s important for recovery, but I have a lot of trouble. I sleep as much or more than all my friends but I never actually feel rested. I tend to wake up very early in the morning and not be able to fall back asleep. That means I’m tired throughout the day and ready to pass out by 9-930.
I have read everything I can find and tried countless techniques: pitch black room, white noise, reading, stretching, all that stuff you see recommended in every sleep article. I’ve also tried some supplements:
ZMA gave me vivid dreams and helped me fall back asleep in the morning, but it stopped working after a while. 5-HTP gave me 11 hours of blissful sleep the first night and then never worked again. Melatonin did nothing. My doctor won’t see me, because sleep issues “aren’t a medical condition”. I’ve followed all the conventional advice and am still at a loss for what could be causing this. All advice is welcome, whether it’s what works for you or maybe something I could be doing wrong?
In the past 9 months I’ve gone up from 135 lbs to 157. Before that I spent 5 years going slowly up from 135 to 150 and then back down again. I was skinny fat the whole time. If it matters, I’m 19.
Are you stressed out?? School, relationships, caffeine, ‘overly hyping’/overdoing your CNS during training, dieting, cardio, distractions during the night and other factors can really add up and affect sleep greatly.
Especially during finals week, with the added training and dieting down for a show; I’m not only extremely irritable at times, but have the worst nights sleeping. I’ll have trouble going to sleep, wake up earlier than normal, have trouble going back to sleep, won’t get enough sleep, and overall just have trouble calming my CNS. The brain is constantly on ‘high-alert’ when you’re constantly being stressed by something.
Since I finished undergrad a few weeks ago, moved back home, my sleep quality has GREATLY improved with the reduced stress. School-related stress is gone, personal issues improved, night distractions (roommates, loud neighbors) are gone, and other factors that add to improving mood contributed. I’ve recovered so much better and my body comp. greatly improved. Just being taken out of a stressful environment and being put into a positive care-free one has done wonders for my dieting and training.
[quote]NowhereMan wrote:
My doctor won’t see me, because sleep issues “aren’t a medical condition”. [/quote]
I am having a real hard time believing the following happened:
“Hello, Doc, I am having trouble sleeping”
“We don’t see patients for that because sleep issues aren’t a medical condition!!!” phone hangs up
That makes no logical sense and I have learned to not believe most of what people say when it comes to what they supposedly heard from a medical clinic.
I have had patients walk 5 feet away from me and tell someone else that I just told them something that never came out of my mouth.
Prof. X
Fair enough, I didn’t talk to my doctor, just his assistant. She said they are booked for the next couple months and don’t want me to come in unless it’s pretty serious. They obviously don’t think it is, although maybe I failed to convey how important it is. The point is, he doesn’t take it seriously. I wasn’t trying to imply that he personally said those exact words, although I guess then I shouldn’t have used quotes.
Why would I make this up? If my doctor was actually willing and able to help, do you really think I’d be getting advice on the internet? Just because you’re competent and reasonable, doesn’t mean that all doctors are.
Everyone Else
Thanks for the advice. I do drink coffee, although only small amounts early in the morning. I guess it can’t hurt to cut it out. The rest of my life is pretty low stress, despite being a college student. I have some relationship issues I should sort out, although I never thought they were major enough to screw with my sleep. I’ll try fixing those things and if that fails, I’ll try to see a sleep specialist or something.
[quote]NowhereMan wrote:
Prof. X
Fair enough, I didn’t talk to my doctor, just his assistant. She said they are booked for the next couple months and don’t want me to come in unless it’s pretty serious. They obviously don’t think it is, although maybe I failed to convey how important it is. The point is, he doesn’t take it seriously. I wasn’t trying to imply that he personally said those exact words, although I guess then I shouldn’t have used quotes.
Why would I make this up? If my doctor was actually willing and able to help, do you really think I’d be getting advice on the internet? Just because you’re competent and reasonable, doesn’t mean that all doctors are.[/quote]
Yeah, like I thought.
The people who answer phones at clinics are NOT doctors and are NOT assistants. They are simply “people who answer the phones”. It sounds like all she did was tell you they were booked. You didn’t actually speak to anyone with a medical degree…meaning your comment before was bogus and you took the words of a lay person, attached them directly to a doctor, and then assumed you would get better medical advice over the internet.
I don’t think anyone else in this thread has a degree like that either making it strange that they are the ones you would listen to.
Go see a freaking doctor if this is an issue not directly related to the use of stimulants.
Be CLEAR in what is bothering you.
I am pretty sure what actually happened was more like:
“Hello, I am having sleep problems”
“Sir, we’re booked out for the next two months. Are you sure this is a serious medical issue?”
“Nope, not serious at all. Thanks!”
Hangs up and logs on T-Nation claiming the doctor doesn’t care about him.
im surprised nobody mentioned anything about your diet. i know this sort of discussion is like voodoo around here but i had the same problem as you until i eliminated grains and gluten from my diet. just sayin’.
Have you tried going to sleep when youre tired. At 9 30? It sounds like you fight the urge to go to sleep and try to stay up later.
Do you have a shitty mattress? Shitty pillow?
I will never sleep on anything but a tempurpedic pillow after starting to use one about 6 months ago. I have never had any trouble sleeping or waking when desired though. But I do know that a bad mattress can lead to bad sleep.
To be honest I feel more rested on 6-7 hours of sleep than 9+…
Things that keep me up at night…well the only thing that keeps me up at night is stress…If something is stressing me out big time, my sleep is broken, or I just can’t fall alseep.
I’ve taken tryptophan (got them in tablet form from the local ‘health’ shop) before when I had sleeping difficulties that were caused either by stress or SSRI medication. Worked really well for me, had some great dreams and the only time I’d wake up during the night would be for a midnight quickie with the missus [fantastic because I can roll over and go back to sleep straight after with no complaints!]
Roommate says I don’t snore, my bed is really comfortable, and my diet is pretty solid. I don’t do well with grains and gluten so I usually don’t eat them anyway.
I have been trying to fight it, but even when I give up, pass out at 930, and get a full nights sleep I’m still tired. Sounds like I really do just need to see a doctor.