Korean Job Discussion Forums

[em]

Emma,

I've been in exactly your position. Katydid's suggestion of white noise is a really good one - it soothes anxiety. I used to use a fan but the radio off channel is a good suggestion - or on a Korean classical music station.

A hot bath would also relax me - it was like the body relaxed and then the mind followed.

Also, placing a hot face cloth over your face after you lie down - scented with something like lavendar if you can get it - is really soothing.

I tried sleeping pills etc.. but they just made me feel like crap and sometimes wouldn't even work. I'd be bleary and exhausted and still unable to sleep. Alcohol's also NOT A GOOD SOLUTION. I tried it. I ended up managing to avoid my problems for awhile that way but I partied more than I slept and was constantly hung over.

Good luck. I know how much it sucks.

[bjonothan]

Actually I had the same problem for a while. It is really unlike me not to be able to sleep. So finally I went to a doctor and got a nice mix of tablets that I take every night and now my problem is fixed. Normally at home a GP will be able to fix it for you, but in Korea you need a 정신 의사.(Head doctor) It sounds bad, but atleast I get a great sleep now......

[bjonothan]

I had a guy mail me to find out what I get. There is a nice concoction of tablets in there. I get one valium. 2 antidepressants and 3 that I think are for my stomach. Because if your stomach is not in good order I have heard that it causes a lot of mental problems or something like that. Anyway after I have my little pack within about 15 minutes my eyes are heavy I am all dizzy and I can't even remember going to sleep. I get 14 packs every second saturday, but sometimes I pill out and try and stay awake and watch TV on Sundays. Since the pot situation in Korea is so dangerous I opt for the pill solution to get a good nights sleep.

[bjonothan]

Oh and about the other question.....It took a bit of coming around but now the doc. hands them over to me after a quick medical no problems.

[justagirl]

Emma, it sounds like more than a sleep problem and very few people have noticed that it's the thing you are worried over, rather than just simply not sleeping.

It sounds like your mind won't shut off even though you are physically exhausted. If you are so worried about something, it will constantly agitate you, causing more and more stress.

How about writing down in a journal what is bothering you? What's wrong, what you wish it could be instead, what you/someone else needs to do to solve the problem, etc.

I know writing doesn't help everyone, but it does me. Another idea would be to talk to a counselor or a good friend. Try to be pro-active about the problem, if you can. What can YOU do to absolve the situation that is causing you stress? If you can't do anything, then ask yourself, "How is worrying about this situation working for me?" If worry is causing so much stress, anxiety and lack of sleep, I'd suggest the worrying is not working for you at all. LET GO of it. Don't let it consume you.

I hope you find Peace,
justagirl

[Emma Clare]

[Emma Clare]

Addendum/Point: I am NOT being given the runaround by some military guy, hence sleepless nights. I am well versed by now in how not to get involved with a man when there are no reciprocal/greater benefits to myself.

[khyber]

maybe it's a little late for this but.

I've been in a place where i worry too; sometimes about myself or my upcoming marriage+living situations.
I've never had it so bad that i can't sleep but i have been delayed to about 7am more than a few times.

So i'll tell you what i did and still do periodically. Since i've started doing this (sometimes it takes me a few goes but it ALYWAYS works), i haven't had any real problems.
First thing you MUST do is tell yourself that you need some time to yourself, no thoughts. Now, this hasn't ever pushed my mind into a calm place, but i still need to do it.
then
Just lie down with NO music (if you live in a quiet area). arms at sides etc...
What you start by doing is, flex each appendage (first hands, arms legs feet, anything you can) as tight as you can. Till it hurts....hold if for 3-4seconds. Go through your body slowly like this.
don't try and think and certainly don't count. Try and keep your head as clear as possible. INstead of thinking about your concerns, think about what's in your fridge or if you're hungry.
Once you've flexed everything and are beginning to relax, take deep breathes. This, for me, can feel great! Breathe in through your nose and try to raise your lungs (1st time) off the bed. Then breathe out till you're comfortably "evacuated". breath in again, less this time. but let your chest fall deeper into the bed with every breath. That can feel really calming and nice. Continue that till your are breathing "normally" or what you feel as normal but, also try to totally relax the chest (by letting your back fall into the mattress you are relaxing your whole upper body).

Once you've relaxed like this, slowly introduce worries into your head. And i mean SLOW...you don't want to feel overwhelmed by them again, just sort of "labels" of your problems.

Here is where it may get a bit flakey and you may have to change the image to suit you, but this works for me:

Now, imagine that those labels are being put into a box. Not things, worries, just labels. And YOU aren't putting them in, they're just kinda gliding their way into it. Once all the labels are in there, i close it (a la a cardboard box) and kick it or in some other way, gently force it away.
Sometimes i may have to do this two or three times to realy get the problems away. In between "boxings", i go back to trying to relax body by getting my torso BACK down into the mattress (via the breating) as it inevitabely will rise when you feel a bit more tense.

The keys are to get your torso to relax after getting your limbs to relax. Once your whole body is down, it's a LOT easier to control your thoughts.

Just don't sell this corn short. Just try it one time with a fully open mind. If it works, right on, problem solved and you've got a tool under your belt. If it doesn't, well, it doesn't and you tried.

Now i'm sorry if this sounds corny. Most of my friends would NEVER label me as hippie or new age. I did this excercise in drama class (or a variation) and i felt SO good afterward, i started doing it just for fun now and then. I realize a couple years ago that i could use it to take care of class. tada...

[shawner88]

I'm glad I found this topic. It's hitting me now. I quit smoking over a year and a half ago and had insomnia really bad. Like an idiot, I started smoking 4 months ago when visited the Philippines (I was a nervous wreck there). That binge got me hooked for the previous 4 months. I quit again 3 weeks ago and counting and am facing the insomnia once again. I keep falling asleep around 3AM and waking up at 7AM. I used to sleep 8-10 hours no problem. I really hate Korean pharmacies. I swear every pill they have is a placebo. I went there after working out my legs too hard, the muscles were killing me, I could barely walk. He gave me some "strong" medicine that did absolutely nothing. Anyway, what I could use is Ambiem! They gave me those at the hospital when I broke my arm back in NY. Worked great.

[Starperson]

I had insomnia when I didn't have much on.
Maybe because you have so much free time, your worry is amplified.

Here's my insomnia advice:
1 / Take a pill or two - even if it doesn't calm your mind, it'll make your body more tired and you'll be more likely to fall asleep than if you didn't take it.

2/ Drink some milk - cold or hot.

3/ Get a hot water bottle - water seems to be calming.

Another thing I just remembered is this.
I saw a tv program where some psychologists were working with kids in European countries that had had brutal wars. They did an exercise - sorry can't picture exactly what they did - but basically it was some kind of physical exercise that engaged both sides of the brain for example, moving arms alternately.

The idea is that if we dwell on problems too long, they 'get stuck' on one side of the brain. Or maybe we over-exercise that particular part of the brain. This leads to an unhealthy mental state. So by exercising both sides, we somehow move things along.

So maybe do some exercise which exercises different parts of the brain. Sounds farfetched perhaps, but give it a go.

Or on one of your sleepless nights, look it up on the net!

You're not going crazy. I hate working in the evenings, throws my whole rythm out. Sucks.

Oh yeah - you saidyou get home around 10pm and fall asleep. Does this mean
a) you get home and flop on the bed in your clothes and fall into a slumber or;
b) you get home, have a shower, have a drink, eat something, clean your room then get into bed and go to sleep?

Because if it's 'a', then maybe you subconsciously know that you're not organised for bed and your day isn't finished, so you wake up. Try having a 'before bed' routine.

I seem to know too much about this.

By the way - I don't think Mr Pink was patronising you. He was trying to be helpful.
But I think if some people actually paid attention to your first post, you didn't say that your 8-11pm sleeping was a 'nap'; you just said you went to bed early, right?

How long do you expect this mysterious military base thing to be a problem?

[weened]

Just lie down with NO music (if you live in a quiet area). arms at sides etc...