Can

[colin_in7]

Please help me. I play paintball and do many tournaments. The night before the tournament I allow myself 6 or more hours to sleep but I usually cannot sleep for 5 or more of those and I

[LunaRufina]

I was thinking of staying up all through the night of the day before I need to sleep so I can "pass out" for the night of the tournament. Is that a good idea or safe idea?

It's a bad idea to skip sleep two nights before. Even though it may mean you sleep fully through the night before, the lack of sleep will still effect you days later, which means it will effect your performance the day of the tournament.

I am not sure what to suggest, but here are some things that have always been suggested to me from doctors and such- you can try relaxing throughout the day and dedicating some time to yourself specifically for worrying that isn't bedtime. If you have a certain time to yourself that you can go over the anxieties and try to work them out you may have less of them when you try to go to sleep. You could try getting some excercise in during the day, but not anywhere near bedtime, and not eating anywhere near bedtime either. [Not anytime closer than two hours] Avoid caffeine alcohol and tobacco and any lights in your room- including digital clocks [put it under your bed].

Sometimes if you can't sleep after 20-30 minutes, it might help to get up and try something else low-key, like reading then try again. If you do have to get up in the middle of the night from sleeping, try to avoid white light.

Here is an example of some relaxation techniques that you could try.

I would talk to your doctor and see if they know of any deep breathing excercises or other relaxation techniques.

Good luck.

LR

[AirMarshall]

Hi Colin, welcome!

No, that doesn't sound like a good idea. It's better to keep to the most level sleep schedule possible. If you stay up one nite you kind of bend the brain, starving it of sleep. Sleeping longer the next night is merely trying to make up for *part* of the missed sleep. In that case sleeping longer through the night does not mean sleeping better. It isn't possible to make up for lost sleep in big batches. Missing just one nites sleep has mental effects that last days afterwards, including mood irritibilaty, decreased mental speed, memory difficulty.

It sounds like the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming battles are what is making you restless and losing sleep. Not uncommon at all. Try to do things that will lower your anxiety level the nite before. Have all your preparations done early the day before, equipment packed, clothes layed out, etc. Do a little light exercise like walking, biking, short jog that will burn off some excess energy. Eliminate any caffiene within 12 hours of bedtime (thats how long it takes to get out of the system). Plan for a relaxing dinner and evening that takes your mind off the next days activity. Take a hot shower to relax all those muscles. If you really must, you can try an OTC sleep aid like Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Don't use anything like Tylenol PM that has acetomeniphen. Since it can make you rather dopey the next morning, test it out on a non-game night first.

Good luck and good shooting!

a.m.

[lemonflavor]

I have read and experienced myself that when you are sleep deprived for one night, you can feel it more the second day after than the day after. For people with depression, the lack of sleep can actually elevate mood for a day. So I think you may be setting yourself up to feel worse the day of the tournament if you do this.

[wyatt1244]

I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to stay up the night before, but I think it would be better to cognitively restructure your thoughts to get to the root of the problem. Read these boards for some solutions and see what works best for you. I really don't like the idea of purposely jacking with your sleep without getting to the cause of your sleep problems--your thoughts. Probably if you want sleep properly I think you should go for Derma Sleep Patch to be applied on specified body part. It is drug free. I think their site name is Dermasleep.

All the best.