Sleep is very important for gaining muscle and losing bodyfat, but I have a big problem, I have autism, and a lot of autistic people have sleeping problems, and I'm one of them.
Sometimes I simply cannot sleep, no matter what, I will be up all night, and I can't do anything about it. I do not take any kind of stimulants and I do all the things you're supposed to do to attempt to sleep properly, but the autism takes over, and sleep becomes impossible, no matter how tired I am.
I have been this way my entire life, so the question is, how can I get around this? The advice I've been given by my Psychologist about sleep hygiene helps only a little, but it doesn't do much at all when the autism kicks in and my body simply will not sleep.
That's absurd. What is it specifically about autism that causes you to not sleep?
Brody Wright
I will be tired, ready to sleep, I get into bed, and for some reason my brain is going at 1000km/hour thinking about some random facts or dates, and despite being exhausted I will be well awake and unable to shut off.
Xavier Cook
Look into melanin. I've heard other aspies having good experiences with it. Maybe try something like playing repetitive sounds like waves, or music. Focus on those sounds before you try to sleep. I know an aspie that plays an audio book to help her sleep.
It's pretty common to have sleep and other nervous disorders with autism.
Landon Barnes
Melatonin×× sorry. Not melanin.
Jose Wright
whew here goes, wall of text.
Sleep hygiene top tips:
1. set an alarm for bedtime and wake time. 8 hours inbetween. Every day man, no weekend lay-ins. 2. one hour before your sleep time cut out strong light sources, specifically blue LED light from TVs, computers etc. 3. Make sure the temperature in your bedroom is right for sleeping, somewhere around 17C. 4. If you're struggling to sleep for more than 15 minutes, get up and repeat 2).
2) is the one people don't want to do for some reason. Here's some stuff you can do in that time that doesn't need a screen; read, listen to music, audiobooks, fapping to printed out porn, whatever you get the idea. No screens or bright lights.
Never adjust your bedtime/wake time unless you have to. If you have a bad night, nap a small amount during the day (not after 3PM - this might interfere with your nighttime sleep).
If you're still struggling to get to sleep after a month of following this RELIGIOUSLY it's time to go to the doctor -- CBT is effective for sleep-onset insomnia and won't create a sleeping pill addiction
Eli Moore
I was diagnosed with Autism at a young age. What I've found that actually helps is I've been on a strict diet of taco salads. I'm losing 5-6 pounds per week, and I feel great. I substitute ground turkey for fattier ground beef.
Colton Jackson
We don't know, but sleeping disorders are very prevalent among people with some kind of mental/cognitive problems, including autism
Jason Williams
I have issues with falling asleep at times. What I've found that helps is to put an audiobook on and lie in the darkness until you find yourself not taking in any of the information due to sleepiness, then take your headphones and sleep.
Isaiah Moore
Weed
Jaxson Jones
this smacks of too much bright/blue light before bed delaying melatonin release
Joseph Garcia
Potentially yes, but sometimes I'm rushing to get shit done before bed and don't have the opportunity to turn everything off an hour before, I do use blue light blockers on an aggressive setting though.
Ryder Anderson
Fellow sperg here. I second melatonin. I used to be unable to sleep before 3am, now with a rather generous dosage of that i cat sut mysel off at midnight. Couple that to a proper sleep scjedule and it works wonders
Joseph Russell
I also have mild autism and ADD and as the other user said, it makes your brain not want to shut off, regardless of how tired you are. Very frustrating, but I personally fix it by sleeping when I actually can, not when my schedule says so.
Too much cortisol. Keeping you up. Cortisol blocks melatonin and kills appetite. It also blocks test. If i knew how to get rid of this i would tell you, but i also have it. My mother has it so i get that from her i guess.
Even if my life is going perfectly well, something can trigger it like a loud sound or remembering a shitty breakup. After that i go into quiet panic mode (some people literally can tell since apparently its written on my eyes) and my heart rate goes up for hours, i sweat, and shake/stutter everything. All while having a huge memory block and narrow train of thought.
I'm trying to find a cure too, so far L-Theanine and Mmmm-uhh (cant remember how this is spelled, its a mineral that starts with M) and Calcium should help by like 10%. Also a high dose of Vitamin C, like 5g.
There is something like Kratom too that makes me super relaxed when i'm in panic mode, but you have to be careful because it also has stimulant properties. I wouldnt use it every day because it can be like coffee.
Dominic Jenkins
Magnesium*
Jack Peterson
>no mention of experimenting with fructose hmmm
Mason Lopez
Try meditation. Learning how to ignore/let pass thoughts by may help in falling asleep.
I've been awake all night. Did a heavy workout last night. Went to bed at maybe 2ish, it's now 11:09 and I've been laying in bed since. I've tried taking melatonin, wearing a sleep mask, now I'm just bouncing between watching episodes of Punisher and Gundam Zeta. Question is, should I just give up on trying to sleep today, skip the gym and crash tonight, or try and pass out and just go to the gym at like 3 AM.
Jaxson Long
Op here
It’s 3:17am here and I was tired at 11pm but I’m still wide awake in bed
This is what I mean, I had my phone outside of my room aswell
