Sleeping help needed | ADHD Information

I'm extremely curious to know this answer.  I've been diagnosed with ADD, been on Adderall for over 5 months now.  I have a regular work out schedule and am careful of what I eat..so that's all fine. However not too long ago this strange sleep pattern started. I sleep for about an hour maybe two in the night then I'm up and can't sleep until about 5 am.  I know that noise bothers me but I can sleep with my ceiling fan on so that covers that, but for some reason my mind is going in a million directions at once and no matter what I do I can't seem to slow it down to where I can go to sleep.  I have no clue how this happened or how it started.  At this rate I'm never going to find a new job either...is there anyone else who has this problem or knows how to get your mind to slow down at night?

Researching sleeping disorders may be the go.  There are also clinic set up just for these problems.  I know there are quite a few different disorders.  Just cant recall the names.

Unfortunately there are a few of us Vampires out there that shun the light - .

I cope with inability to sleep by doing my housework between 6-10pm - usually helps me fall to sleep.  Staying asleep can be a different problem all together.  But tiring yourself out physically does help a bit.

 

Sounds like you have problems with Racing Thoughts! I have that, that my mind wanders all the time, I am ADHD & Bi-Polar... but sleep is VERY important to me, because lack of sleep causes lots of problems with my manic / depression and stress levels. I think you need some help getting a anti-depressant that will help you sleep. Go back to your doctor and let them know of your sleeping problem and racing thoughts.Did your sleep problem start after you started your medication?

Good question Chazinmo.  After thinking about it, my sleeping was fine until the first week after I lost my job.  That's what my mind races about.  Everything else is fine but the job thing still gets me.  How it was done, why it was done etc, who did it, etc.  I've always believed that it was a blessing in disguise that I lost my job, I still believe that but at the sametime it was done very unfairly and it was a set up.  Even the HR Director told me that once we were outside the building and not on company "property".

 

Jazz Angel,

I would imagine that insomnia is something which affects us all in some way. Right now, because I'm feeling pretty depressed, I go to sleep fairly quickly, and spend far too long in bed. Before this, I used to be fairly restless most nights.

Putting on a CD is one thing I've found which helps - if I'm really tired, I'm out after 2-3 tracks. If I haven't gone to sleep by the end, I switch the light on, and make some notes about whatever I'm thinking about.

Bluebird,

My sister has recommended melatonin to me, but I haven't been taking it recently because I've not needed it. Do you have any problems with it, or does it work fine?

Well, that would certainly cause me to lose sleep (lose of a job and mean circumstances that would leave me feeling emotionally charged and probably insecure).

One good thing...now you can breathe. The job is gone, and so is the drama. You get to start fresh...been there.

 I have horrible insomnia, so I sort of rotate the following:

*Ambien
*Xanax
*Melatonin
*Valerian Root
*Read a book (usually weekends)

Ambien is a luxury; it really gets the job done. It knocks me out cold and I wake up around 5 or 6 (I love that time of the morning) and I'm not too groggy. I'm not an addictive person by nature, but I do notice that Ambien has become kind of a treat I look forward to. I will admit that I LOVE the way it works, but I rationally know that is not a safe way to think.  So, that's why I force myself to use a little of the natural things or go for a good book to tire myself out.

Alcohol does not work at ALL for me. It's the absolute worst possible choice I could make. I don't actually sleep and when I wake up I feel like $hit.
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Bluebird,

My sister has recommended melatonin to me, but I haven't been taking it recently because I've not needed it. Do you have any problems with it, or does it work fine?

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I swear I have tried everything there is for sleep--I hate insomnia. I hate feeling lonely and awake. Yikes. I used to hate slumber parties when I was a kid b/c I would always be awake all night listening to everyone sleep. I feel like I was "bad" somehow. The tv (Nick at Night) is one of my best friends. I like to put the TV on "sleep" and let it go off in about 1.5 hours. I like it to turn off after I'm asleep.

Melatonin makes me quite drowsy and will help me go to sleep in about 1/2 hr. - 1 hr. It makes me feel a bit tired in the morning, but I cup of green tea takes that away really easily.  I always get the type of Melatonin that melts under your tongue. Seems to work quicker than the kind you swallow.  Apparently, it's supposed to have the added benefit of aiding with anxiety. Could be, but I take Liquid B vitamins and I haven't had to take Xanax in MONTHS...even though I have gone through a breakup and work problems.

The only time I resort to a Xanax now is when I have a hassle with my mother!  What does that tell ya? HAHAHA