Going to Sleep

Don't die yet. If you were meant to die, you'd catch COVID-19 and die.

I've got problems with sleep lately too, although it is more like inability to relax - not as extreme as yours. I do get some sleep, just not enough - I go to bed late (while the normal would be in fact early for me), but wake up early, and can't go back to sleep. Also, I wake up several times at night for years already, even when sleeping time was normal otherwise.

The weather is shit lately and isolation fucking kills, I've abandoned planning and now just have fun with games. The only thing that allows to experience me fun.

One of the reasons I can't fall asleep lately, by the way, is that it is cold out there, and yet it is already past the season where they heat up your house. And they also switched off hot water delivery, too - they are on schedule, it is a planned work (it is not presumed for it to be safe to be on all year in Russia, they have to check it, replace something, and that takes two weeks, and you are without hot water for all that time, you have to boil it yourself), they do it every year. So it is fucking cold at night and in the morning and I keep and old computer up at night, which does warm the house a bit, but is making noise and makes sleeping worse. Also they do not permit you to go the street here, thanks to COVID-19, with few exceptions (you are going to nearest store to buy something). So I am locked in a freezing house as if I was under arrest.

Here is one tip I used to fall asleep:
- Switch off computer or at least go off the internet one hour before you plan to sleep. All the self-care duties like brushing your teeth should also be scheduled before that hour. Actually, if your problems are extreme, perhaps consider switching off all disturbances (mobile phones) that would keep you hooked to something, so you don't have the temptation to check them. If you think you might miss something, that maybe those thoughts that prevent you to getting asleep, or contribute to it anyway.

Well, unfortunately, I stopped doing that, and the fact that now I have to keep computer up at night to get at least some warmth doesn't help.

P.S. The thing with depression, for example, is that every episode actually has an end, but to know it you'll have to experience it many times. It is possible for a man to fight it without medication if they are able to learn from experience. Some people manage to snuff themselves out before learning from that experience, unfortunately. Also the reason not to try is that if you fail killing yourself, your life may become even more miserable, you may get admitted to an institution or something. That would totally suck.

You could try to do some testing feedback on current DBP in meanwhile. Maps keep coming right now and they could use more testers.

I know you said you've taken pills but I'll throw some suggestions out anyway. Melatonin, diphenhydramine, and doxylamine are typically effective OTC sleep aids. For something more "hard hitting" but addictive you could try looking into phenibut or of course alcohol.

Also addictive but prescription (or obtained by other means) only include benzodiazepines. There *are* "grey market" options such as etizolam or clonazolam but this class of drug is highly addictive both physically and psychologically and can become dangerous very quickly.

Other prescription drugs which aid in sleep but are less likely to become problematic include trazodone, quetiapine, hydroxyzine, zolpidem, and clonidine.

A technique that I use to induce sleep is to gradually relax every part of my body sequentially starting from the bottom then working my way up. If you do it right, there's a sensation of being "strapped" to the earth. Also, let the mind wander but try not to "hold" on to your thoughts.

Sleep is hit and miss a lot of times. Sometimes I can sleep within a few minutes, other times i cant sleep for hours.

You've probably heard this before but you might simply have insomnia as many people do. I recommend dmdr's suggestion of getting away from screens for at least an hour or two before a particular bed time. (backlit screens trick the brain into believing its still daytime) I also recommend sticking to a specific eating schedule instead of just eating when you're hungry. I've heard its good to stop eating 12 hours before the time you intend to wake up in the morning and that has worked very well for me (this is harder to do recently when responsibilities are few and far between.) And/or some sort of physical activity for 30 minutes to an hour sometime each day.

If you don't already do these things and it's depression related, I understand the struggle of having to will yourself into doing it.

Hmm, don't you get like really hungry right before going to bed? I can't imagine falling asleep comfortably while craving food.

May I ask what medication they prescribed you for sleep? Mostly just curious.

Pot. Smoke some pot. All it's ever done to me is knock me the fuck out. But I'm an American so you can walk down to the corner and get it.

Wait, what the hell happened to war on drugs in America? Won't the war on terrorism end up this way, too? I recall there was a picture on the internets where there was a comparison of war on drugs and war on terrorism. One dude was talking on the phone to another, and it ended like: "Damn, if only the war on drugs was not such a success! I could really smoke some fucking marijuana right now".

Do an intense cardio workout almost every day, and at night you will fall asleep like a baby.

awooga awooga conspiracy theory alert

it's not a coincidence that heroin production in Afghanistan ramped up massively after the American invasion, which was timed rather suspiciously after the Taliban had almost eradicated poppy production. Also not a coincidence that deaths from the opiate epidemic in the US ramped up after the invasion. Three is no war on drugs, the laws are not enforced because the gov't wants you to take drugs (see also: Air America regarding the US gov'ts love of drugs, or if you prefer, Eliot Ness for an example of what happens when laws are enforced), it makes you easier to control.

This is the correct answer.  Honestly most insomnia is a first-world problem.  Exercise vigorously, either in your profession or in a workout and you'll sleep well.  Also, go to sleep at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.

Sleep hygiene is often a reflection of how healthy you are in general.  Eat a healthy diet of unprocessed foods, high protein, good fats, moderate carbs.  Exercise daily.  Be productive.  Get the fuck off of social media and internet as often as possible.  Minimize or eliminate stress.  Sleep is very important, good luck to you!

The pharmaceutical industry.

I agree, I would feel like garbage physically (and spiritually), if I didn't get at least 30-40 mins of exercise in, almost everyday. I've also eliminated drinking for the most part, other than an occasional drink for a celebration. I keep carbs to a minimum, and eat lot of fruits, vegetables, and meat. I mostly have fish for dinner, with a side salad. Nevertheless, my body can metabolize carbs and alcohol pretty well.