How do you sleep N's?

[Members Only]

Do any other N's, have an innate ability to be completely UNable to sleep, while simultaneously being able to sleep for days on end?

I find it nearly impossible to shut my mind off to go to sleep, but when it is shut off, it is OFF. I then hate getting up again unless I have had a very lengthy sleep (At least 8 hours).

I've been thinking, could this possibly be an N trait? The S's in my life all seem able too:

1) Go to sleep faster.

2) Get up easier with less sleep. In fact, in general they appear to need less sleep than me to function effectively.

As N's (Especially IN's) live more in their heads compared with S's, does this in the long run, take a tole on how much we need to recharge with sleep?

EDIT: My INTP friend also suffers from this, which made me wonder about its causes. In MBTI terms anyhow.

[Antisocial one]

Yes, N can do that to people.

I don't have the time for full reply.

[substitute]

yes, all the N's I know have difficulty sleeping. Well, all bar two, but one of those does a very exhausting job (physically and mentally) and works very long hours, so that's probably why he sleeps easy. If I absolutely exhaust myself then I can sleep easily too, but it's very difficult to wear myself out enough because no matter how much I do, come 11pm I'm bright and bushy tailed again.

[Silently Honest]

On my side.

[heart]

Unisom (Doxylamine Succinate). It's also very good at suppressing overnight vertigo and I don't get sleep paralysis like I used to.

[Little Linguist]

I'm going to sleep right now. Night! :D

Dude, yeah, I have periods of insomnia and periods where I sleep a lot (probably to recover?). Yeah which is why I need to go to bed now when I feel tired. :))) Night (for real now!!!)

[Members Only]

Unisom. It's also very good at suppressing overnight vertigo and I don't get sleep paralysis like I used to.

I heard sleeping drugs do not produce 'good' sleep, that's what I heard anyway.

Generally I try to not take prescription drugs; maybe they are worth a try, hmmmm....

I'm going to sleep right now. Night! :D


Jealous. I have work tomorrow too.

[Jeffster]

I've been thinking, could this possibly be an N trait? The S's in my life all seem able too:

1) Go to sleep faster.

2) Get up easier with less sleep. In fact, in general they appear to need less sleep than me to function effectively.
.

Heh. Are they SJ's maybe? I have loads of trouble getting to sleep (and waking up), so does my little brother and my son (all SPs.)

It's just a different kind of restlessness I think. While you say you have trouble shutting off your mind, I have trouble shutting off my body.

My mom (INFJ) can go to sleep instantly, but she wakes up a lot throughout the night, whereas I'm awake until I pass out, but once I'm out, I'm dead until I'm yanked out of it by the cruel morning.

[Members Only]

Heh. Are they SJ's maybe? I have loads of trouble getting to sleep (and waking up), so does my little brother and my son (all SPs.)

It's just a different kind of restlessness I think. While you say you have trouble shutting off your mind, I have trouble shutting off my body.

My mom (INFJ) can go to sleep instantly, but she wakes up a lot throughout the night, whereas I'm awake until I pass out, but once I'm out, I'm dead until I'm yanked out of it by the cruel morning.

Interesting. My parents are both J's, and they do have a 'normal' time to go to bed. In fact, one thing they often say to me is "Why do you not go to bed at a normal time". I think the J's are very much more organized in their sleeping habits than us P's.

The last sentence is also true: my mom and dad wake up throughout the night, where as when I'm out, I'm out, till my alarm goes off anyway - then I'm pissed if I haven't had enough sleep. I think this may have something to do with J's forcing themselves to go to sleep, even if they are not tired, just because it is the 'normal' time to go to sleep; P's will sleep when they are ready to sleep, and not just because it is the 'normal' time to sleep. Therefore J's will wake up, and P's will be stone cold out. P's however, may regret their actions the next day, when they are stumbling around their lives sleepy. :coffee:

[prplchknz]

I usually won't sleep for long periods of time. and when I do I go to bed really late and wake up really earlier. It's especially fun when the paranoia sets in and hearing things. then the closet gets mistaken for a giraffe. That's when I give in and take benedryl.

[disregard]

These are some things that help me sleep:

1. Not having any electronics in my bedroom.
2. Having a comfortable bed with clean linens.
3. Having a clean, organised room.
4. Having exercised that day.
5. Having only consumed a moderate amount of caffeine.

[heart]

I heard sleeping drugs do not produce 'good' sleep, that's what I heard anyway.

Generally I try to not take prescription drugs; maybe they are worth a try, hmmmm....

Well, I had a lot of problems either feeling like I was spinning while trying to go to sleep or waking up with veritgo or having sleep interrupted with sleep paralysis and it helped me, but hey I am certainly not trying to advise anyone else about what to do, just saying what helped me. May the doxylamine succinate doesn't produce "good sleep", but it certainly produces a better sleep than what I was getting and the side effects are minimal which I can't say for the No-Goes the doctor put me on two years ago! :eek:

[Members Only]

Well, I had a lot of problems either feeling like I was spinning while trying to go to sleep or waking up with veritgo or having sleep interrupted with sleep paralysis and it helped me, but hey I am certainly not trying to advise anyone else about what to do, just saying what helped me. May the doxylamine succinate doesn't produce good sleep, but it certainly produces a better sleep than what I was getting and the side effects are minimal which I can't say for the No-Goes the doctor put me on two years ago! :eek:

In that case, yes I can see how they would help. :)

These are some things that help me sleep:

1. Not having any electronics in my bedroom.
2. Having a comfortable bed with clean linens.
3. Having a clean, organised room.
4. Having exercised that day.
5. Having only consumed a moderate amount of caffeine.

Thanks. I try to do most of those, caffeine kicks my ass though. I like to drink coffee whilst writing, and then I mostly write at night = bad combination.

[prplchknz]

Well, I had a lot of problems either feeling like I was spinning while trying to go to sleep or waking up with veritgo or having sleep interrupted with sleep paralysis and it helped me, but hey I am certainly not trying to advise anyone else about what to do, just saying what helped me. May the doxylamine succinate doesn't produce "good sleep", but it certainly produces a better sleep than what I was getting and the side effects are minimal which I can't say for the No-Goes the doctor put me on two years ago! :eek:does it ever feel like the wall and the floor are switching places?

[The_Liquid_Laser]

I used to have trouble going to sleep when I was younger. Now I pretty much fall asleep a minute (or less) after my head hits the pillow. I guess I just get worn out by normal life now. I also exercise fairly regularly and don't drink much caffeine, neither of which was true when I was younger.

[disregard]

Thanks. I try to do most of those, caffeine kicks my ass though. I like to drink coffee whilst writing, and then I mostly write at night = bad combination.

Yes, caffeine is probably the issue here.

I only allow myself 2 cups of tea per day. Feeling tranquil sure beats feeling like you're coked up.

[heart]

does it ever feel like the wall and the floor are switching places?

That's more like objective vertigo.

I get subjective vertigo where I feel like I am the one spinning.

[prplchknz]

That's more like objective vertigo.

I get subjective vertigo where I feel like I am the one spinning.
yeah I never feel myself spinning just whatever I'm on.

[Members Only]

Feeling tranquil sure beats feeling like you're coked up.

Does it. :shocking:

Cold turkey time for Caffeine methinks.

That's more like objective vertigo.

I get subjective vertigo where I feel like I am the one spinning.

I've had the objective kind too. It sucked. Mostly when drunk mind.

[heart]

Caffiene does make it easier to get Ne going for writing and such.

[Snail]

1)Valerian root can help with mild insomnia but isn't potent enough to be reliable.
2)Melatonin tablets are good for more severe insomnia but are slightly more risky since melatonin is something naturally produced by your pineal gland, and taking supplements may alter your natural chemical balance.
3)A single puff of marijuana right before lying down is reliable and effective for preventing insomnia, nightmares and sleep paralysis. This can also be used in the middle of the night after there has already been a problem to prevent recurrance of nightmares and sleep paralysis attacks. I'm not sure if it's the same for others, but for me, such things usually happen in clusters, and it is extremely comforting to have a small amount somewhere near your bed where it can be reached easily in case of emergencies. (This seems to be the ideal cure, but it's expensive, illegal, and isn't always available. It's also hard on the lungs, so if you are going to try this treatment, I recommend investing in a small water bong to minimize the discomfort, especially if you aren't used to smoking anything.)

I might have to try what Heart recommended to see if it's more effective, although my tendency is to prefer natural remedies whenever possible because I am always somewhat concerned about the health risks and side-effects of man-made drugs.

[Maabus1999]

Do any other N's, have an innate ability to be completely UNable to sleep, while simultaneously being able to sleep for days on end?

I find it nearly impossible to shut my mind off to go to sleep, but when it is shut off, it is OFF. I then hate getting up again unless I have had a very lengthy sleep (At least 8 hours).

I've been thinking, could this possibly be an N trait? The S's in my life all seem able too:

1) Go to sleep faster.

2) Get up easier with less sleep. In fact, in general they appear to need less sleep than me to function effectively.

As N's (Especially IN's) live more in their heads compared with S's, does this in the long run, take a tole on how much we need to recharge with sleep?

EDIT: My INTP friend also suffers from this, which made me wonder about its causes. In MBTI terms anyhow.

Yes it is an N trait. However when relaxed and I choose to go to sleep, I can go out quickly.

I normally run on 4-5 hours of sleep.

[whatever]

I usually go in cycles of 2 weeks with very little sleep at all followed by a week of sleeping like I'm drugged AND napping on top of that :doh:

I'm in a not sleeping phase at the moment.

It's not that I'm not tired or anything then- it's just that I get distracted by interesting things and feel the need to research them further and then it's something like 3 am by the time I realize what time it is :blush:

The best sleep I get is when my internet is down :doh:

[animenagai]

yep, N could be a bitch to deal with at night. just can't get your mind off stuff, especially if you're Ne dominant.

'go to sleep, go to sleep... i like kingdom hearts... go to sleep... locke's property right theory does not take account for... i wonder if she likes me.. go to sleep... stop thinking about going to sleep...







go to sleep...'

[Enyo]

Do any other N's, have an innate ability to be completely UNable to sleep, while simultaneously being able to sleep for days on end?

I find it nearly impossible to shut my mind off to go to sleep, but when it is shut off, it is OFF. I then hate getting up again unless I have had a very lengthy sleep (At least 8 hours).

I've been thinking, could this possibly be an N trait? The S's in my life all seem able too:

1) Go to sleep faster.

2) Get up easier with less sleep. In fact, in general they appear to need less sleep than me to function effectively.

I'm not sure how much of this is an age thing, but...

I sleep badly. I've slept badly since I moved to this country, and that was over six years ago. I don't sleep the whole night straight through.

In order to fall asleep, I have to have the TV on CNN headline news. (Something about Nancy Grace's southern accent and self-righteousness just puts me to sleep like a light.) Other things will work for falling asleep, but I can't have silence.

I need something to drown out the constant noise in my head.

However, I still need 8 hours of sleep, and it has to be time asleep, not just in bed. So that means that I'm basically in bed for 9 or 10 hours a night, because when I wake up in the middle of the night, I'm awake for up to two hours.

But when I was younger (high school/university age), I could get by with little or no sleep for days. And if I did get to sleep for a regular night, I could sleep straight through.

[Enyo]

Does it. :shocking:

Cold turkey time for Caffeine methinks.

*looks for a face that conveys the level of horror*

*fails*

Nope, I couldn't do it. I tried, and lasted three days with the most miserable headache known to mankind.

I think I'd be mainlining my caffeine if I could figure out a way to do it. :P

Funny thing about the "coked up" comment, though.... I get the vast majority of my caffeine from coke. :)

[Jeffster]

You N's trying to claim something that's universal again. Just like that daydreaming thread.

I'LL INSOMNIA ANY OF YOU UNDER THE TABLE ANY NIGHT! :rock:

[EvanTheClown]

To help me get to sleep: Tv, Lay there for long periods of time, Smoke Pot

How I sleep once I do go out: Moving around constantly, doing the running man parallel to the bed in a very slow fashion, probably hugging the nearest person/pillow to me as I throw the covers off violently. No joke.
Or if I'm really tired, I don't even move a muscle. But that only happens after like 2 days being awake, or a really physically taxing day

[Lateralus]

I rarely have any problems sleeping. If I do have a problem, it's caused by either a crappy bed or emotional distress.

I've experienced insomnia only once in my life (January of this year, went on for over a week), and it was horrible!

[scantilyclad]

I've had trouble sleeping since i was about 10. Like Heart, i've also suffered from sleep paralysis. It's interrupted many, many nights of sleep for me. I also can't turn my brain off. Sometimes i go days without sleep, and it really gets to me.

[iluvstellacat]

I love my sleep... I have to have 8 hours a night. But it takes me FOREVER to get there. I have to have some ambient noise, such as fans, but TV or music will just keep me up. I have to plan ahead at least for a couple of hours each night.

And if I'm worked up over something? Well, I can just forget about getting more than a couple of hours sleep that night...

[runvardh]

If I didn't have to worry about it every day, I'd sleep between 12 and 16 hours. This of course would be because I'd finally have time to do all my thinking instead of it infecting my sleep time!!! :steam:

[01011010]

Do any other N's, have an innate ability to be completely UNable to sleep, while simultaneously being able to sleep for days on end?

Yes. Story of my life until the last few years.

I use to forget to eat and didn't exercise. I realized I functioned better when I ate everyday and exercised a few times a week. My sleep and energy levels overall, became more stable. I still have insomnia sometimes when I'm thinking too much or have a project to complete. Otherwise, I'm good.

[Edahn]

Do any other N's, have an innate ability to be completely UNable to sleep, while simultaneously being able to sleep for days on end?

I find it nearly impossible to shut my mind off to go to sleep, but when it is shut off, it is OFF. I then hate getting up again unless I have had a very lengthy sleep (At least 8 hours).

I've been thinking, could this possibly be an N trait? The S's in my life all seem able too:

1) Go to sleep faster.

2) Get up easier with less sleep. In fact, in general they appear to need less sleep than me to function effectively.

As N's (Especially IN's) live more in their heads compared with S's, does this in the long run, take a tole on how much we need to recharge with sleep?

EDIT: My INTP friend also suffers from this, which made me wonder about its causes. In MBTI terms anyhow.

I usually get to sleep pretty fast (<1 min) unless I've got something on my mind or am expecting to have trouble or am forcing myself to sleep in preparation for the next day. I also wake up right away. *shrug*

[Kyrielle]

I usually spend 30-45 minutes thinking on a good night before I actually fall asleep. Lately it's taken 1-2 hours to actually sleep and quiet my mind. I find when I'm able to control my thoughts enough to where I can daydream while lying there, my mind naturally meshes the stage 1 sleep images with the daydream and I start to fall asleep.

I know I have a terrible time sleeping when there's a light on. Figured that out my sophmore year of college with a roommate who would leave the light on in the room all night. Would annoy me to no end, because I just couldn't make my mind rest will all those little sounds she'd make in addition to the light. Eventually, I started trying to hypnotise myself into sleeping. As in, sitting there thinking, "I'm relaxed. Every muscle is relaxed. I cannot move I am so relaxed. Now I'm tired. My thoughts are sluggish. I'm falling asleep....and so on..." It helped because it made me focus more on relaxing and less on how much I wished I could bash my roommate's lamp.

[cafe]

Like Jeff, I'm usually okay once I get to sleep and I sleep soundly, but getting to sleep is the hard part. Right now a very small dose of melatonin and an audiobook via headphones seem to do the trick.

[ajblaise]

I don't try to keep myself from thinking in order to fall asleep, but I'll think about whatever and at the same time make an effort to try and "see" with my eyes closed, it's kind of like looking at the back of your eyelids. I will see soft colors and vague shapes floating by.

I will feel myself drifting and will all of the sudden see realistic imagery that usually has something to do with what I was thinking about, this might happen a couple times, then I drift off for the night, or at least a few hours. It works for me. And smoking a little weed helps too, I read it increases or does something with melatonin.

[Little Linguist]

Heh. Are they SJ's maybe? I have loads of trouble getting to sleep (and waking up), so does my little brother and my son (all SPs.)

It's just a different kind of restlessness I think. While you say you have trouble shutting off your mind, I have trouble shutting off my body.

My mom (INFJ) can go to sleep instantly, but she wakes up a lot throughout the night, whereas I'm awake until I pass out, but once I'm out, I'm dead until I'm yanked out of it by the cruel morning.

Dude, yeah, grrr!!! I totally went to sleep at, well, whenever I did - like 1 am. And I kept waking up and going back to sleep and waking up and going back to sleep then I woke up at 6 am and couldn't get back to sleep. WTF?!

Ahhh well, that's okay because tonight I'll probably pass out and HOPEFULLY sleep the night through. :rolleyes:

[LostInNerSpace]

Do any other N's, have an innate ability to be completely UNable to sleep, while simultaneously being able to sleep for days on end?

I find it nearly impossible to shut my mind off to go to sleep, but when it is shut off, it is OFF. I then hate getting up again unless I have had a very lengthy sleep (At least 8 hours).


You can hypnotize yourself to sleep. Close your eyes and imagine base diving into a sink hole somewhere in the Amazon. In your mind you want to keep falling and falling. Focus your attention either on an imaginary third eye or on counting down from 100. You want to keep your mind clear apart from that imagry of falling. Try not to fall asleep--you will fall asleep. It's perfectly safe. You do pretty much that without realizing it (without the imagry) every night. With enough practice you will actually reach quite a deep state of hypnosis without falling asleep. When you get to that stage you can simply tell yourself to fall into a deep peaceful sleep and wake refreshed at 8:00am or whatever time you like. You'll be surprised at how you are able to wake at precisely that time without an alarm clock.

You could also try meditation which is basically the same as what I described, except the goal is to keep your mind clear. I think of meditation as defragging short term memory. Your short term memory gets full of all sorts of crap (overwhelmed) which causes stress.

[FDG]

I sleep well. Max 8 hours, min 7 hours, rarely above or below. I exercise daily for at least one hour and 15 minutes, I both go to school and work. Perhaps that's enough to consume my energy.

Whenever I have nothing to do, my reaction is to become bored and more sleepy rather than less.

[CharmedFantasy]

Do any other N's, have an innate ability to be completely UNable to sleep, while simultaneously being able to sleep for days on end?

I find it nearly impossible to shut my mind off to go to sleep, but when it is shut off, it is OFF. I then hate getting up again unless I have had a very lengthy sleep (At least 8 hours).

I've been thinking, could this possibly be an N trait? The S's in my life all seem able too:

1) Go to sleep faster.

2) Get up easier with less sleep. In fact, in general they appear to need less sleep than me to function effectively.

As N's (Especially IN's) live more in their heads compared with S's, does this in the long run, take a tole on how much we need to recharge with sleep?

EDIT: My INTP friend also suffers from this, which made me wonder about its causes. In MBTI terms anyhow.

lol.. I think it doesn't just depend on type. Stress could play a role in trouble sleeping too. and everyone get's stressed out! I have trouble sleeping sometimes if I've just had an intense argument with someone(my thoughts will keep replaying in my mind) ooor if I'm occupied/stressed out about certain things I will keep thinking about them and can't sleep. I think everyone else is like that too, not just on type.

[Eldanen]

I use homeopathic remedies. They seem to be somewhat more effective than herbs and without the side-effects of prescription drugs. I've had a bit more trouble sleeping lately because I've been working through some life issues, but things have been getting better. Two nights this week I actually slept during somewhat normal periods of time: 8 PM to 6 AM. Or somewhere thereabouts. I've noticed that focusing on my physical environment helps me get out of my head long enough to drift off into sleep.

[booya moon]

Sleep is a waste of time ;)

I have periods of insomnia since ages 4 or 5. As a young child I called them "thinking nights".
When not in sleepless phase, I go to sleep immediately, but I don`t need much sleep (6 hours per night is optimal).
Sleep is supposedly good for you, but recent studies on hibernating animals revealed that they had higher incidence of Alzheimer-like conditions, compared to non-hibernating animals. So, if you sleep too much, you have an increased risk of getting Alzheimer disease? :shock::D

[mlittrell]

i fall asleep extremely quickly but sleep extremely lightly. i am almost completely aware of what is happening around me. almost seems like that would be more of an Sensing (Se more then Si) trait

[nolla]

Thinking keeps me up too. I have tried to empty my mind and so on, but it works only partially: I don't sleep, but after being "empty" all night I will feel rested (plus, the time flies).

I think every type can have insomnia, but the reasons might vary. The Ns might be awake mostly for thinking stuff. The S might be awake for remembering stuff that happened that day. Just a hunch.

[Dwigie]

I sleep little, no interruptions, ocassional nightmares.
Do not touch with a ten foot pole the next morning until 9 am or moodiness,aggressiveness and critical/nonsense storms occur for the rest of the day..stopping around 7pm.

[Alpha Prime]

Call me an N, or an S, but I have discovered a very effective way to shut down my brain when it goes mach 10 while attempting to sleep: I take a few deeeep breathes, slowly. This forces the mind into the 'now' and sleep is only a few minutes away.

Either that, or if you are a man, read a couple of sentences in a romance novel. I guarantee you'll be sleeping like a baby (tried and true method). Use at own risk though; you might end up in a coma..

[Kyrielle]

You can hypnotize yourself to sleep. Close your eyes and imagine base diving into a sink hole somewhere in the Amazon. In your mind you want to keep falling and falling. Focus your attention either on an imaginary third eye or on counting down from 100. You want to keep your mind clear apart from that imagry of falling. Try not to fall asleep--you will fall asleep. It's perfectly safe. You do pretty much that without realizing it (without the imagry) every night. With enough practice you will actually reach quite a deep state of hypnosis without falling asleep. When you get to that stage you can simply tell yourself to fall into a deep peaceful sleep and wake refreshed at 8:00am or whatever time you like. You'll be surprised at how you are able to wake at precisely that time without an alarm clock.

I tried that and it worked brilliantly. Thank you.