late night tv.....means no sleep

I cant go to sleep with out the tv on and have got into a really bad sleeping pattern: going to sleep at about 3am and having to get up about 4 hours later. I am chronically sleep deprived but cant fall asleep any earlier even if I try. And only manage to sleep with the tv on in the background- strange.

Any suggestions to get out of this habitat, bearing in mind I've tried removing the tv from my bedroom, going to bed really early and tiring myself out with hours of exercise. But all to no avail. I just don’t feel tired at night, but exhausted in the morning.

Reply 1

Champagne-Dahling

10

pop a sleeping pill for one night? (But ONLY one night, dont get dependent on the things).

Reply 2

Hullabaloo

OP

1

Champagne-Dahling

pop a sleeping pill for one night? (But ONLY one night, dont get dependent on the things).

Ah the old sleeping pills, hadn’t thought of that :wink:

. Can you buy them in a pharmacy or are they prescription only??

Reply 3

Champagne-Dahling

10

Can buy them in boots v easily.

http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1046125&classificationid=1026771&slmRefer=000

Reply 4

c0co

12

Sleeping pills are good but only for short term. They're an artificial response to real reason behind your insomia. It might be an idea to see a professional about it to talk about why you do it and how you can stop. There might be exercises you can try like switching to a recording instead of the TV and going to bed an hour earlier each night or something.

Reply 5

Kyri

15

For years I've always found it easier to sleep when I had the radio on in the background. I'd normally listen for half an hour or so and then begin drifting off. Maybe you could try switching your tv for a radio. You'll still have the background noise, but you can keep your eyes shut and try to sleep as you won't be tempted to open them like you would if you hear something good on the tv.

Reply 6

beach surf babe

14

Get used to sleeping without the tv on-switch it off and try and sleep without.

Reply 7

TrentEnd

2

I know the feeling...I've become strangely addicted to The Mint on ITV1...sat up til 3 this morning watching it and didn't feel tired...felt like crap at 7 when i had to get up though!

Reply 8

Psycho Gerbil

11

The Mint, a whole new reason to stay up to ridiculous hours. It's not even particuarly viewing, but I still watch it well up to 2 in the morning... and regret it like crazy five hours later! :redface:

Reply 9

lskdgjsj

10

Well the problem now is that watching television has become part of your routine; many humans are naturally creatures of habit, and if you alter your habits in any way, your body can take rather a long time to catch up. Make sure you're avoiding stimulants (such as caffeine) during the day, and that you're not doing anything mentally exciting before sleeping, such as reading something very involved. Be careful also not to exercise too close to the time at which you want to sleep.

Over the counter sleeping pills will make you feel a little more relaxed, though they'll hardly knock you out. If they fail, prescription sleeping pills are available, if your doctor is convinced that it is a genuine problem. They aren't, however, given out very freely; and some have quite a high potential for abuse and addiction (such as temazepam, which is a class A drug, and chloral hydrate).

Best advice is to begin by examining your day: look for anything that might be interfering with your sleep: diet, routine, stimulants, &c. If that fails, try an over the counter sleeping drug. If that fails, speak to your doctor for advice.

Reply 10

Hullabaloo

OP

1

svidrigailov

Well the problem now is that watching television has become part of your routine; many humans are naturally creatures of habit, and if you alter your habits in any way, your body can take rather a long time to catch up. Make sure you're avoiding stimulants (such as caffeine) during the day, and that you're not doing anything mentally exciting before sleeping, such as reading something very involved. Be careful also not to exercise too close to the time at which you want to sleep.

Over the counter sleeping pills will make you feel a little more relaxed, though they'll hardly knock you out. If they fail, prescription sleeping pills are available, if your doctor is convinced that it is a genuine problem. They aren't, however, given out very freely; and some have quite a high potential for abuse and addiction (such as temazepam, which is a class A drug, and chloral hydrate).

Best advice is to begin by examining your day: look for anything that might be interfering with your sleep: diet, routine, stimulants, &c. If that fails, try an over the counter sleeping drug. If that fails, speak to your doctor for advice.

Good advice, I agree TV has became part of my routine- way too much a part of it!!!

Reply 11

quadruple_twist

2

Try pulling an all nighter and then going to sleep at a normal hour the next day. Don't bother with Nytol - it's a complete waste of money. My friend insists on a glass of brandy before bedtime to induce sleep but that's probably not too healthy a habit to get into.

Temazepam is actually a class C drug without prescription, not class A, but I wouldn't bother trying to get any if I were you, lol

Reply 12

lskdgjsj

10

quadruple_twist

Temazepam is actually a class C drug without prescription, not class A, but I wouldn't bother trying to get any if I were you, lol

Oh, we're both wrong; the law has changed. Most benzodiazepines are schedule four; temazepam (and flunitrazepam -- rohypnol) are schedule three, so it's illegal to possess them without a prescription.

Temazepam isn't bad for mild to moderate insomnia; but as I said to the original poster, there are better things to try first; prescription sedatives should be a last resort for the more severe cases.

Reply 13

Schroedinger's Pandora

13

Lucyj

Any suggestions to get out of this habitat

Surely you meant "habbit"??

or even habit? lol

lack of tv licence..means no tv for me :frown:

Reply 16

Hullabaloo

OP

1

little_red_sox

Surely you meant "habbit"??

sophisti_kate

or even habit? lol

lol, yes.
I could blame it on being very tried, but I am rubbish at spelling at the best of times. :smile:

Reply 17

stuey

xXMessedUpXx

lack of tv licence..means no tv for me :frown:

dont worry bout that, wen we were at our student accomodation we got away wiv it for 6 months. they send about a million letters telling u to get one, then after around 6 months they send one saying that they r gonna send someone round to check. a week later we moved out anyway and they still hadnt been around lol "suckers!"

Reply 18

quadruple_twist

2

svidrigailov

Oh, we're both wrong; the law has changed. Most benzodiazepines are schedule four; temazepam (and flunitrazepam -- rohypnol) are schedule three, so it's illegal to possess them without a prescription.

Temazepam isn't bad for mild to moderate insomnia; but as I said to the original poster, there are better things to try first; prescription sedatives should be a last resort for the more severe cases.

Isn't the whole 'schedule III/IV' stuff the American system? I don't understand the American classification system at all...isn't cannabis in the same category as heroin?!

Reply 19

lskdgjsj

10

quadruple_twist

Isn't the whole 'schedule III/IV' stuff the American system? I don't understand the American classification system at all...isn't cannabis in the same category as heroin?!

Americans use schedules too. Britain has a bizarre dual classification system; classes A, B, and C, which, in principle, rank drugs by their putative dangerousness or what have you, and which come from the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and then schedules one to five, which come from the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985. The schedules (probably the more logical of the two systems) divide things up according to medical practice, and in that respect they're more like the classification systems of most other countries.

late night tv.....means no sleep

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