My life in Korea, take two, is developing slowly but surely. Thus far, it has, in all ways except one, far exceeded expectations. I'm happy, and generally very satisfied.
There is one big issue, though, that I just don't know how to deal with. I can't sleep, hardly at all. My work schedule allows me to sleep in past noon most days if I want, but if I haven't had any alcohol, I just lie awake in bed for hours and hours. It doesn't matter what I've done that day- if I went running to the point of exhaustion, if I've had coffee or not, if I've worked out or been busy all day long or whatever. I just can't sleep.
My alcohol consumption worries me now and then so I don't drink much- I try to keep it to light, social drinking no more than twice a week, a goal I've for the most part maintained. It usually affects my sleep cycles as well, and I want to develop something natural and more habit-based.
But I don't know how to do it. I feel pretty satisfied with the progress I've made lately, and even seem to have stumbled on some potential friends. I work and enjoy it, I study and I enjoy it, and I work out and enjoy it. I have a lot of leisure time and can daily enjoy my beloved Korean food.
So why can't I sleep? Once again, I sat in bed wishing for sleep for hours last night before finally getting out of bed frustrated. This is the third night this week that I couldn't sleep a wink, and today I'm teaching. My body is growing exhausted, and I am taking a break from the exercises to keep from stringing myself out too much.
What am I doing wrong? I just want to sleep.
Comments (10)
I suggest a Doctor of Traditional Medicine as we call them here. I work for one who had a patient with the same problem - no sleep. I am sure they would be able to help you.
sorry to hear. this is another distraction but does food help? i guess food coma specifically might be a potential solution
Do you have to drink so much that you pass out before you sleep? If not, I think it's fine to have one drink before bedtime. Maybe couple it with some super-boring reading?
I do fall asleep when I have nights like these - usually around 2 or 3 in the morning. I've gotten a lot of suggestions: melatonin, warm glass of milk, meditation, exercising regularly (you already do this), a nice calm bedroom free from distractions (too many books, notes, clutter...) and soothing sounds. Some literature suggested avoiding working on your laptop / monitor late into the night as the brightness will interfere with sleeping.
It may also be some issues you are wrestling with internally.
Read a book or news paper in a different language (that you can understand fairly well) other than your mother tongue. Try to empty your mind of all the clutter of the day and focus only on the words on paper. If this doesn't help, get out of bed, go to another room and read some text that's not very interesting. Usually this will help you. Good luck.
i got a feeling you are suffering from what i had suffered. too much thinking. there were times when i couldn't switch off that thinking engine in my head and ended up tossing around for hours 'till the break of dawn. i even tried yoga and meditation to help me with my sleep problem. i don't know what to suggest to you, considering you have tried exercising (and please don't stop), and tried booze. just try to stay away from coffee and continue to exercise regularly. i'm sensing that your mind still in USA time and you also worry too much, like me. worrying can get the mind restless but won't leave you in peace, even when it's bed time. try reading, as ZSA_MD suggested. hope you can get your sleep cycle back. hugs.
Meditation?
@Fatcat723 - I'm quite low on money right now, unfortunately, and this has been a life long problem. What do they differently in traditional medicine from western? In the states, they always just tried drugging me.
@alchemystfury - Eating aton of food before bed unsettles me, I try not to consume anything past 9 pm unless I'm out socializing.
@TutelageOfTheMundane - Usually it's about 2-3 beers worth, but even that makes me uncomfortable. Chemical dependency is a big fear of mine.
@ElusiveWords - I suspect it's internal things. Sometimes at night, I feel like there are four or five radios and a few TVs all turned out and blaring inside my head.
@ZSA_MD - I use to do that a lot, but unfortunately I live in one tiny little room! They say that the heat and monsoons here cause even the natives to sleep poorly in the summer. How did you deal with it in India, before AC?
@rudyhou - I need to find something boring to read, I guess. I don't have many books here so I usually have to read on the computer- and that means I'm inadvertently stressing out about my email, getting messages and texts, etc etc. I'm going to try getting an ebook reader so I can read in a more relaxed, unplugged fashion.
@christao408 - I've started that back up this week. I do hope that it helps, but I need to be patient enough to let it's full effects sink in (as in try it for longer than 3 days... -.-)
@yang1815 - Yes, it's a bad habit to drink just to fall asleep. It is a symptom of alcoholism, isn't it?