Any tips to avoid stress-induced insomnia around finals? Forum

[eth3n]

I have recently been falling asleep listening to british people talking, this works suprisingly well, but I was wondering if anyone else out there had any law school cures for insomnia? My sleep quality still isn't amazing and I want to go into con law with more than a few hours.

[mac.empress]

Quit law school.

Failing that, make it caffeine induced insomnia!

[macattaq]

Melatonin. Start with a 3mg dose, and if necessary, go to 5 or 6. Advil PM also works. Melatonin gives you a more natural feeling sleep, whereas Advil PM will just make you conk out for about 8 hours. I've also used both simultaneously, because I know that a 3mg melatonin isn't going to do it, and I won't sleep long enough if I just take one or the other. This combination will have you sleeping for about 10 hours though.

Failing the above, see about a script for a sleep aid.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

masturbate furiously

[eandy]

I wish I had that problem. When I'm stressed, I need more sleep.

I like listening to audiobooks, nothing too crazy (distracting), though. There are a lot of good classics on free podcasts you can find via iTunes.

[Renzo]

Nyquil.

[lostmyname]

Be careful with sleep medications and Benedryl and the like -- I see that Advil PM doesn't contain diphenhydramine hydrochloride, but the way a lot of these sleep aids work is by slowing the rate of your brain cells firing...which means that your IQ is temporarily lowered. If you're not a big person, only take 1/2 the recommended dose or you'll get a "slowness" hangover the next morning.

Also, make sure you get your regular exercise in.

[TheBigMediocre]

A nightcap or six.

[sophie316]

Cut down on coffee? I thought I had stress induced insomnia then I didn't have coffee yesterday and I slept so much better. Of course I got no work done, so who knows which is better.

[03121202698008]

Exercise. Try not to nap. If you do, don't nap for less than 30 minutes or more than 90. (This screws with your sleep cycle.)

[solidsnake]

Ambien. Oh the miracle of modern science.

[mikeytwoshoes]

I have recently been falling asleep listening to british people talking, this works suprisingly well, but I was wondering if anyone else out there had any law school cures for insomnia? My sleep quality still isn't amazing and I want to go into con law with more than a few hours.

[2009 Prospective]

Nyquil.

credited

[mikeytwoshoes]

masturbate furiously

If you had posted directly under Macempress, this would have worked so much better.

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Two things you can try that won't mess with your body:

1) Clean up your diet. I cut processed foods, grains, beans, dairy, and excess sugar. I went from getting 1 - 3 hours of REM sleep to a solid 7 -8 hours consistently every night. I did a pretty big sweep, but you could probably see this benefit from cutting just the processed foods and grains.

2) I hear supplementing with chelated magnesium before going to bed works. A lot of people I know swear by this, but I've never tried it myself.

Sadly though, I have a feeling some people simply are more wired than others to stay awake during moments of high stress. It's part of our fight or flight mechanisms.

[apper123]

drink hard liquor til sleep

wake up feeling like crap

repeat

you're a lawyer!

[vanwinkle]

Melatonin. Start with a 3mg dose, and if necessary, go to 5 or 6. Advil PM also works. Melatonin gives you a more natural feeling sleep, whereas Advil PM will just make you conk out for about 8 hours. I've also used both simultaneously, because I know that a 3mg melatonin isn't going to do it, and I won't sleep long enough if I just take one or the other. This combination will have you sleeping for about 10 hours though.

Failing the above, see about a script for a sleep aid.

TITCR.

[Close Diamond]

http://www.pzizz.com/

And/or daily exercise (ideally both aerobic and non-aerobic eg. jogging and yoga). The aerobic will help burn off some of the excess cortisol in your body and the non will make you sexy.

Careful with the meds. This can lead to dangerous addictions, and not even the fun kinds.

[fish35]

What always helped for me is: create a routine of when you will study, exercise and eat. Wake up earlier than normal and go to sleep at a normal time, try this for two days and then return to your normal sleep cycle.

Stop stressing about the grades you get and focus on your studying. No matter how hard a subject is you should be aware that if you study smart & hard you will do well.

You made it into law school so you must be doing something right.

[IzziesGal]

I have this problem, too. I got 2 hours of sleep last night before my 8:30 civ pro final. I am still going strong, too. I definitely don't recommend this. I feel completely wasted right now, but I am too wired to close my eyes. Ahhhhhh, law school.

Edit: I normally get a normal 7-8 hrs of sleep - this phenomenon is strictly limited to "night before the exam" situations.

[apper123]

went 30 hours without sleep at one point this week. took a final around 24 into those 30 hours.

[Luis Gomez]

Nothing like a good night sleep to avoid insomnia.

[wiseowl]

i took Ambien for fall finals. didn't for this round.

was awake for pretty much the last week straight.

for whatever reason, only name brand real deal Ambien works for me...the generic makes me feel like a zombie past lunch the next day, the real deal was incredible. out like a light and up feeling refreshed.

[Knock]

Be careful with sleep medications and Benedryl and the like -- I see that Advil PM doesn't contain diphenhydramine hydrochloride, but the way a lot of these sleep aids work is by slowing the rate of your brain cells firing...which means that your IQ is temporarily lowered. If you're not a big person, only take 1/2 the recommended dose or you'll get a "slowness" hangover the next morning.

Also, make sure you get your regular exercise in.

so avoid Benadryl as a sleep aid? It's what I've used in the past, but I definitely notice feeling groggy in the morning if I take too much.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

went 30 hours without sleep at one point this week. took a final around 24 into those 30 hours.

lol I did the exact same thing, and that 30+ odd period was right after I already pulled an all nighter