How to get better sleep as someone with ASD?

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LittleLemon
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30 Dec 2016, 10:12 pm

It got so bad for me that I eventually had to go to a therapist. Through a very strict sleep/wake routine which I stuck to for years and cognitive behavioral therapy for my anxiety, I can finally go to sleep relatively easy. I still have trouble sleeping somewhere other than my own bed and the anxiety at having to be somewhere earlier than normal, but it's a LOT better. Oh, and a weighted blanket helps too. If my husband starts snoring, I just pop in some soft ear plugs.



DancingCorpse
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30 Dec 2016, 11:54 pm

Prescription meds and accepting my sleep cycle is never going to be fixed because I tried that for over 15 years with only misery raining down, finally got a doctor who gave a hoot about insomnia actually impairing my life since I was a kid and allowed me to trial and error with psyches. At least these days I can get knocked out half the week and get some peace, the other half where the turbulence jangles is rough but nothing I've never experienced before, sure beats going days with no sleep and roaming the woods like a wildman with eyes like a crackfiend.



Skceb182
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01 Jan 2017, 5:55 am

I was in this exact situation a few years ago (eczema included). I developed several routines which helped me deal with the itchiness at night. Exercise in the evening to tire me out. This was hard initially because sweating made my eczema worse but after a few weeks my eczema actually started to settle down and I was less itchy at night.
Listening to quiet music as I fell asleep (catered to my fixation on music however this sometimes lead to sensory overload). I've also adopted the habit of rocking side to side as I fall asleep, I found i focused more on that than my speical interest and it also helped with the itchiness. Antihistamines before bed help with the itching too!



friedmacguffins
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02 Jan 2017, 10:28 pm

Although side effects are reported, for some, ibuprofen has been used as a sleep aid, and helps me sleep.

It may interrupt the formation of painful memories, and is apparently based on a plant, used as a sleep aid.