Having sleeping issues and troubles

[William]

I am having trouble getting to sleep at night. I have since I was like 13 or 14 years old.

If I was 21 I would drink Alcohol (just a little) to get me to sleep.

See right now my time is messed up (turned backwards), because I stay up too late. Once that happens I can't get to sleep the next night until real late.

I also have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, and sleep right through alarm clocks. I sleep probably 12-14 hours when my time is really messed up.

So if I go to bed at 2:00 in the morning, I won't get up until 2-4:00 P.M. in the afternoon. That's how bad it gets.

I did purchase some "Sublingual Melatonin" a while back and have like a eight months supply to last me. I stopped taking it though because I found out our bodies already make "Melatonin". I know we will go through tribulations, but I am not sure I see this as such. Its mostly from me causing my own problems from it, or its just my body is not functioning correctly.

If I can't get good sleep each night that is less time to go witness, read my Bible, pray, etc. I am just wasting away hours doing nothing.

Its also a sin, because I am being "lazy" and "sluggard" in a sense. Even though I can't help it.

There is nothing to do around this house, and no work to be done that would tire me out. Also not much employment opportunity in my area as I have checked a lot of them out in the past.

If anyone has advice let me know. I need to get this fixed and under control.

[Christian40]

It sounds like you have a medical problem in that you cant rest at night. I would recommend that you take sleeping tablets but i'm not a doctor and i wouldn't want to recommend something that had side effects. Could you work anywhere with no pay, i mean like as a volunteer? The reason being that if people see you working for free, they will ask you why you do that? and you can tell them that you are working for the Lord and that you love people and people will be moved by that and they might find you a paid job. Otherwise you could go to http://www.fellowshiptractleague.org/ and print out Christian tracts and give them to people. The Lord will reward you for that. I mean i know you think your position is bad, but is it really? You are saved and going to Heaven and it is the Lord that you work for, not people. You could be just where God wants you to be. He could be teaching you things from here and how to trust Him for provisions. Joseph in the Bible was in prison for many years but he didn't complain and then the Lord rewarded him by promoting him to Prime Minister of Egypt. I'm not sure alcohol will help you, it is just another drug and has its own problems. You could also study the Bible really well and listen to sermons, and get knowledge, i mean some people spend there whole lives learning things. Proverbs says to get knowledge many times. There is no limit to what you could know. And if you have great knowledge people will notice and you could become famous. But if you could connect with Christians more they will help you and give you solutions. If you want more friends be friendly and the friends will come. In all read the Bible and pray to God for an answer, we all go through tough times in the valley but then God has planned for us mountain top experiences. In any case you can look forward to a great future, being patient is hard but you will be glad one day, besides this is only earth and Heaven is the real home for the Christian.

[nuclearnuttery]

blue light = insomnia; computer monitors
i heard benadryl can really help
any antihistamine? is that correct?

reading, soft music, limiting computer use is a big one

praying for rest?
massage could help  =(

i think fighting habit with better habit is a strong approach i have not tried

[Kilika]

You say you're having a problem with sleep, but I don't see that. If there is any problems, I think it is in not understanding how God made our bodies to work. Personally, I believe that a major part of our learning is done when we sleep. the Spirit works in us and to give rest to the temporal flesh, which just can't keep up with the Spirit.

While scripture does address being slothful, I don't believe that's your situation at all.

You've been maybe too diligent in your study and that is wearing on you. Consider how a person can eat only so much before they are full, and if they try to eat even more, that's gluttony and excess. I think that applies spiritually to study. Remember that we should pray to be moderate in all things.

One can study too much, thus the Spirit needs more time to give you understanding and let the body rest from taking in all that Bread of Life. The truth wears on the corrupted flesh, it gets tired! Some people can even get sick to the stomach if they hear too much scripture. This is where I believe that in part we are to be gentle, not only with others but ourselves too.

"Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it." Proverbs 25:16 (KJB)

"[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep." Proverbs 127:2 (KJB)

A person doesn't get tired and desire sleep just because of physical activity. Mental fatigue can be and most likely is the issue. Basically put, I believe you're experiencing exhaustion from stressing, which the world calls depression and anxiety, and all of that is mental. It's about how you're thinking and handling things you think of. A sign of a lack of peace and resolve within yourself, which you have already made known your struggling with some things.

Consider this also...

"And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh." Ecclesiastes 12:12 (KJB)

"Peace [be] to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 6:23 (KJB)

[2BeNoticed]

To me this sounds like sleep apnea with insomnia because of the eventual sleep lasting over 9 hours with out satisfaction of rest.

http://www.bodylogicmd.com/for-men/sleep-apnea

[Psalm 51:17]

For the most part, stay away from electronic eye stimulunts like tv, and even the PC at nights.

Pretty much the only tv I watch is sports games, and the NBA playoffs is going on now, so I catch the games playing at night over the last month or so. However, I can honestly say that not only it affects my sleep at night, but it just makes it that much harder to get up in the mornings to worship. I'm not making excuses for my lack of worship in these mornings, but when I don't watch tv at night, there's a huge difference.

I just got back from my brother's house over the weekend - not only my brother doesn't have cable, but he lives in a small town where he doesn't even get all of the basic channels(so have no chance to keep up with much of anything), which is actually a good thing b/c my nights are more peaceful, and my mornings are even more peaceful.

So ultimately, even if you can't get to sleep right away at night, don't feel discouraged.

[Kilika]

Early on God showed me a verse that has helped me to "unwind" by bedtime...

"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" Ephesians 4:26 (KJB)

I also pray for peace to the brethren...

"Peace [be] to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 6:23 (KJB)

and...

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." Psalm 122:6 (KJB)