Sleeping problems

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Just curious if anyone else has a terrible time trying to fall asleep and staying asleep. It seems that I can never shut my brain off and when it is quiet, i hear every single obscure noise and i start focusing on it making it even harder to sleep. I constantly wake up in the middle of the night all the time and it is just as hard to fall asleep again. I think I have had my alarm wake me up only about 3-4 times my entire life. If this sounds like you and you have some good ideas to help me sleep, let me know!

I have this problem a lot... I listen to the White Noise station on Pandora and it really seems to help. It blocks out the sounds and gives me something to focus on besides my thoughts!
Only problem is that, unless you pay for it, you'll get really loud Home Depot ads in between the relaxing tracks.

I know what it feels like not being able to sleep when you want to, or feel like it, it's a really frustrating feeling.

I guess it sort of comes with the condition, since you'r brain because of it often are more active than what's considered as normal, over thinking things etc. This of course can lead to troubles falling asleep. I can't assure you that the below will solve you'r sleeping problem entirely, but hopefully it will at least make it a little better.


Here's a few adjustments/ideas that might help:


- Make sure the room temperature is neither to hot or to cold

- Use earplugs (this might help to block out most of the background noise)

- If the background noises are to unbearable put on a CD of some sort playing a specific playlist that you know to block it out. Your brain more easily become accustomed/adjust itself to this since it sort of knows which sounds to expect. For example you can put on a CD of your favorite musician, or if that doesn't quite help, a CD with ambient noises might help (such as the sound of rain - which is a sound that actually often has the effect of making people sleepy)

- Use a sleeping mask (To block out light. Considering to much light can cause problems sleeping)

- Make sure you feel comfortable. Are your night clothing to tight? Are your pillow to high or low? If so adjust this.

- Make sure to keep you'r eyes shut from the moment you decide to sleep. If you give up after a few minutes you will become more awake again, and your brain has to start the "time to sleep" process over again.

- Be imaginative. Make out a story or something in your head while having your eyes shut. Your brain then becomes more focused on picturing this, than the noises going on (that if of course if you focus hard enough). If done properly you'r thoughts will absorb into the story sort of, you'll end up becoming more and more relaxed and fall asleep.

- Avoid large meals before bedtime, nor go to bed hungry (Also try to cut down on sugar, caffeine or alcohol before this time of the day)

- Try not to exercise the 3 upcoming hours before going to bed, as this usually makes you feel more awake

I agree with Raven. In addition or these I sometimes also drink Sweet Dreams (Bigalow) or Sleepy Time (Celestial Seasonings) tea either hot or cold. Chamomile tea also works. If these do not work and my mind will not shut down then I take an Ativan (Lorazapam) that my doctor prescribed specifically for this problem.

It depends. Sometimes I have problems, sometimes I don't. For about a month or two I was sleeping every night 3AM - 9AM. But the last week I've been falling asleep early or later and waking up multiple times. Then falling asleep in the day time.

In short as long as my sleep is on a regular schedule, I have no problem. Once my schedule gets mess up, It takes along time to get back to normal.

Generally I just stay awake until I'm so exhausted, I can't stay awake. Then I go to bed, and usually fall asleep in 2 - 3 minutes. If I'm still awake in 10 minutes, I get up again and go back to what ever I was doing.

I have difficulty falling asleep, so I take OTC sleeping pills. However, I usually wake up once in the night and wake up between 3-4:00 AM and cannot resume sleeping. I think it is more having my alone time in the morning to prepare myself mentally for work.

I have the same problem
lately I have been taking 6mg melatonin 100mg benadryl

its been keeping me asleep

I'll try some more white noise...i have two small fans right now that help drown out a tiny bit of the noise. I've done sleeping pills, and they work for a little bit, but it seems my body gets used to them within a couple of weeks and they become useless. I can't even sleep after drinking all night (i know thats not healthy but I like to drink and it really helps out with a lot of my social anxiety).

Sleep, what’s that? Seriously, I cannot remember the last time I slept through the night. Even as a child I remember waking up in the night. Occasionally I sleepwalked and still do to this day. I run a fan for the “white noise” which helps. Sleep meds don’t really help and often make me feel drugged the following day.

Without my medicines, I don't tend to sleep very well! I have to be exhausted to sleep without them...

I'm the same way...I've never sleep walked though but I also feel like i've never been in a deep enough sleep to do something like that either haha

I'm the same way...I've never sleep walked though but I also feel like i've never been in a deep enough sleep to do something like that either haha

I have an awful time sleeping. Sometimes I can't sleep even after working 12.5 hours and being exhausted. I lay there and stare at the ceiling. My mind races. I can hear the house creaking or water dripping. Today the fan spinning was driving me crazy, but I can't sleep if I get too hot. I've tried earplugs, but the sound of my pulse beating in my ears is too much for me. We used to have a noise generated that made ocean sounds, and that really helped. It broke a few months ago. I think I'm going to go get a new one this week.

I had no idea sleeping issues were an aspie problem until last week. I've had trouble sleeping since I was 4 or 5. When I was in college, I was diagnosed with idiopathic insomnia. I've been on all sorts of meds and none have helped. I actually sleep better during the day, so 6 years ago I started working nights. It only becomes a problem when I have to flip my schedule to be up for something.

Oddly enough, the best sleep I get is after church on the couch. I’ll take my Sunday afternoon nap and slip into a deep REM sleep for a couple hours.

I’ve tried several OTC sleep aids, but they all make feel logy the following day. Someone once suggested a glass of wine before going to bed. I bought a bottle and found it tasted good. One glass led to two. Before I knew it, I had emptied the bottle and started to call people on the phone. It was not pretty. Alcohol and Asperger’s does not mix well, especially if one is a non-drinker like me.