Korean Job Discussion Forums

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

After being in Korea for a few months, I developed a severe case of insomnia. Probably because my sleep schedule was (and still is) screwed up. On the weekdays, I go to bed really late because I find it hard to go right to bed when I get home at 9 p.m. I still have all my energy from work, so I end up going to bed at 3 a.m. and getting up at 11 a.m. Yet on the weekends I tend to go to bed and wake up at a reasonable hour unless I've been drinking the night before. After a few months of that, my body apparently decided to never sleep. I'd be up until 5, 6 in the morning.

The best way to take care of insomnia is to get a regular sleeping schedule and force yourself to stick to it. Don't use your bed for anything other than sleeping (no reading/watching TV in bed), so your brain associates your bed with sleeping. It's also sometimes helpful to have some sort of ritual before you go to bed that you ALWAYS do, which tells your mind that it's time to sleep. Acupuncture has also helped me, but the effects "wear off" after a while, so I need a new session every so often.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

Cliffhanger · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Location: Anyang

I just generally toss and turn, punch my pillow and yell out " WHY THE FUG CANT I FUGIN FALL ASLEEP?!? Twisted Evil

Seriously.

Happens almost everynight.

I really hate not being able to sleep at night especially since I'm always tired and have no problem sleeping during the day. I swear I was born nocturnal.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

Xerxes · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

Can't say I really liked Tibby and was the reason I left this place for a half year leave (Otherwise my count would be higher). I found his humor to be somewhat moody as if the fella were bi-polar.

Flotsam was cool, and I'm sorry for misspelling your name, JongroGuru. It is a bit testy to spell. billybrobby always had me laughing quite a bit.

I just downed my jujubee extract and will lie down to bed. It's good for headaches too.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Melatonin if I really can't sleep - I don't use it regularly because don't want to 'wear it out'.

Or I just play online games for awhile.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

Read philosopht, preferably something european - heidegger, hegel always work for me. I'm asleep before two pages.

safeblad · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

The problem is when sleep becomes an issue. The cure for insomnia is to stop sleep becoming an issue in your mind... which is pretty damn hard when you have insomnia!

You know how some people can fall asleep anywhere? I cant.... I'm crap at sleeping. I often wonder if i would be able to fall asleep on buses, trains, planes etc if I didn't tell myself that I couldn't. I need to get hypnosis for that shit.

Sunday nights are difficult after weekend late nights and lie-ins. I find that I sleep much better if its not an issue in my head and tell myself... 'whatever happens, im going to be tired anyway' that sort of thing... Smile

If you seriously cant sleep though get up and do something. If you lie awake in bed you are training yourself to stay awake.

Things like drinking warm milk are good but only if sleep isnt a massive issue in your brain. I hear that warm milk contains chemicals which make you drowsy but I wonder if the process of doing something doesnt also help.

Did you ever notice how when you really cant sleep you eventually get to sleep at some ridiculous hour in the morning when you stop giving a fuck?

Its all in the mind...though i hear melatonin is also good Wink

this doesnt work when you have a screaming baby either Wink

beachbumNC · Joined: 30 May 2007 Location: Gumi

yawarakaijin · Joined: 08 Aug 2006

Rubbing one off usually puts me right. Wink

diver · Joined: 16 Jun 2003

sojourner1 · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject:

I have this sleep issue too where I prefer to sleep from 3 am to 11 am, but can't except on days like today, so I get really exhausted by Thursday. Despite becoming really exhausted, I still stay up late. I think it's anxiety over being homesick or just a yearning to move on in life. This is where you constantly need more of something in your life, be it money, travel, love, friends, or stepping up on the career ladder to a more rewarding position. These are the things I can't take my attention off of each night. I do understand that getting exercise and a sense of having accomplished enough is very important in falling asleep on any given night.

I only sleep well and regularly when I am satisfied with my lifestyle, career, and financial situation and that is not very often to be honest. I miss being a kid as you are happier and sleep well when you don't know much about anything or have all these responsibilities. Not knowing too much is why the old folks say people were happier years ago and could sleep well. Going to college with high expectations for a high flying career has led me down a path of insomnia over financial, economic, and job market reality reasons. Nothing adds up significantly enough these days, except costs.

Anyone know how to get an adequate supply of Lunesta or Ambien? I went to the doctor here a few times and got only a 3 day supply of something very much like American over the counter sleep aid which was too weak and in too limited supply. I tried to go while in the states recently, but would had to wait 2 more weeks for the doctor appointment by which time I am already back in Korea.

yawarakaijin · Joined: 08 Aug 2006

The Bobster · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Chocolate. Raises the blood sugar level for a short time, then it drops sharply. Then you are mellow, and sleep happens.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam