Sleeping aids when mind just can't stop working

You know those nights when you just can't shut your brain off? It happens to me when I have a fight with my loved ones, when I'm excited about some new idea, or when I've spent all day working hard trying to solve some problem and it's still not quite done.

Anyhow, I usually sleep pretty well. I'm organized in terms of going to bed at the same time, and my wake up time is quite consistent too.

But going to bed doesn't always mean falling asleep. Some days I just can't fall asleep.

Once I tried taking NyQuil syrup and it was like magic! Hubby came to bed later that evening and tried to tell me something, but I was totally out and just made some non-human sounds and went back to sleep. I was also very well rested in the morning and felt great.

It's all good, but I don't think NyQuil is good for you on any kind of regular basis. So I heard about ZzzQuil from people here. After some research I found out that it's the same active ingredient as Bendryl, which I buy dirt cheap from Costco (their home brand) - oh joy! Last night both me and my hubby took some Bendryl and hit the pillows.

The good part - it did knock us out.
The bad part - it knocked us out around 4am, so when my alarm went off at 7:30am, I was still very much out. I spent all morning dropping things and it's 4pm now, and I'm still not fully here.

Now, what else can I use to get NyQuil effect without too much side effect damage?

I heard of Melatonin, but I also heard that if you take too much (or take it at the same time as your body produces a lot of it), you can end up with psychosis. I think I did take it a couple of time to fight jet lag, and always ended up with a head ache in the morning (although it might have been due the jet lag itself, and not the pills).

I also used to drink a cup of hot milk on the nights when I couldn't fall asleep. But I'm wearing invisalign braces now and taking them out to drink milk and having to brush my teeth again to put them back isn't the most convenient option.

Anyone here has a secret sleep remedy they use?

Thanks!

I would suggest not going the drug route unless it's medically prescribed sleeping aids under the care of your doctor.
It sounds like we have a similar problem; normally sleep well, but once in awhile just can't do it.
I tossed and turned and couldn't shut down the brain and lost a lot of good time sleeping until I discovered this: What I do now when I discover it's liable to be one of those nights is I immediately get out of bed, go to my computer, and write about it. If it's emotional, I talk to my computer. If it's a brainstorm, I explore every angle I can think of. If it's a worry, I write down the "what ifs". No matter which it is, it generally takes just 20 to 30 minutes and I go back to bed and fall right asleep. I find that lingering in bed just hoping to fall asleep doesn't work for me. Get up, confront your brain, and get it under control by writing it to sleep.
Hope this helps some. Insomnia is awful!

I have a couple of prescription sleep aids that I take every now and then. I find that Ambien is useful if I haven't slept well in a few days and I really want to catch up on sleep-- it'll knock me out for a good eight hours. I have to take a half-dose, though, because a full one will leave me zombielike for the first few hours I'm awake.

Sonata works well when I just can't get to sleep-- it helps me turn my brain off.

I have prescriptions for both of these from my doctor, and I tend to refill them about once every year to year and a half.

I do have sleeping problems...and I do have some prescription sleeping tablets, but if you are looking for something that is over the counter then I would suggest phenergan...it's technically an antihistamine but is also used as a sleep aid for both adults and children. Best to take an hour or two before you want to sleep. I have also tried Melatonin, but don't actually remember it doing anything at all.

For me it takes different things on different occasions to fall asleep sometimes. Often it's as easy as eating a small bowl of cocoa wheats or a cup of tea (something warm and making me feel full but not too heavy) listening to something relaxing, and maybe taking a hot shower before I lay down. I suffer from insomnia. I have looked to cannabis in a medicinal way for it in the past and it helped me because a lot of my sleep trouble revolves around what you said originally, not being able to shut my mind off, that constant buzzing of stress and anxiety seems to cease with it and considering it has no harmful effects like NyQuil and it isn't damaging to your bodies own natural productive of melatonin, it's pretty safe across the board. But if you don't live in a medicinal state and you live near an organics store/or a nice grocery store with a specialties section you can find these herbal tea/juice drinks with trace amounts of Melatonin and Valerian Root and Passion Flower. They will help too. I don't know, I definitely wouldn't take NyQuil or Benedryl just to sleep though! The Melatonin would be MUCH better for you to take in place of those things.

Melatonin is pretty natural and comes in various doses. I have taken it on an off now for a couple of years and for me it helps me to stay asleep the whole night and I wake up feeling refreshed (rather than drowsy like when I take NyQuil). It doesn't knock me out as quick as NyQuil, but seems to help me fall asleep more naturally. It's suggested not to take melatonin for prolonged periods of time (not more than a week or 2 without breaks). I will usually take it only a couple days in row. I have had no side effects and I take the 5mg dose, but it also comes in 3mg doses if you are concerned with side affects.

You may want to consult with a doctor to get advice catered to your health needs, but melatonin gets a thumbs up in my book.

I had the same problem and here's a drug free solution that worked for me. If you have a droid or iphone, you can download a free app called Relax Melodies. On it you can play sounds such as the ocean crashing, birds, thunder, meditation music, chimes, wind and the list goes on. I turn it on when I go to bed at night and set the timer for 30 minutes when it automatically shuts itself off. I've yet to make it to the 30 minutes... Worth a try and it's free!!

Oooh, I will have to download that sound app, I think it would be great!

Sometimes what works for me is trying to just relax my whole body, starting at my toes and working my way up to my head. I mean, focus *really* hard on visualizing and relaxing each and every part slowly and completely. Toes, heels, ankles, calves, knees, thighs.... As soon as your mind starts to wander, you have to start back over with your toes.

Tart cherry extract promotes the production of melatonin in your brain. It's a natural product. For me, though, I have a bath or hot shower just before I crash, and drink a large glass of water. My brain is most active in the p.m., which is isn't ace for my 9-5 job. If I'm really tired and hyped up, I have a really light early dinner, like at 5:30pm, and then take some 5-htp and turn the light off at 9:30. It might take an hour or so to go to sleep, and the dreams can be pretty wacky, but it definitely helps. That's partially because my sleeplessness (and often night terrors) is caused by the blues, and 5-HTP promotes seratonin production, which calms and balances me.

Thanks for all the advises! I really like the ideas of how to use your own brain to relax and let go of the busy thoughts.

Try hypnosis. There are lots of free relaxation recordings out there you can use.