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Comments

• [1] Marie from Sea Cliff, NY May 17, 2007 - 11:17AM

  I suffer from insomnia about 3-4 times a year and it will last roughly a month or so. I've tried Ambien occassionaly and it does nothing for me. I prefer not to take these pills. I have tried everything Alan has tried and would love to hear some alternative ideas. During my periods of insomnia my life becomes quite miserable due to afternoon fatigue and overall crankyness.

  
  
• [2] Joan Rosenfelt from New York May 17, 2007 - 11:21AM

  I am a filmmaker, also - and a sometime insomniac and I have a website devoted to helping people with insomnia: www.iSleepless.Com - which covers much of the territory of what you can do to get to sleep.

  One item that Alan didn't mention that is significant is EXERCISE! You've got to MOVE THE BODY during the day - and MAKE YOURSELF TIRED - to get a good night's sleep!

  Also - as to medication - I have found the best is the OTC Diphenhydramine that is available in generic form for very little money. It is the same as the main ingredient in Benedryl - but you can get it for pennies by purchasing generic sleep-aid pills OR (and usually cheaper!) allergy pills! I just bought a bottle at WalMart the other day - Less than $5.00 for 100 pills.

  Also - the other issue that I also address on the website is ANXIETY! Many people suffer from this and I am very strongly in favor of psycho-therapy for this condition - I write about this on the webiste: www.iSleepless.Com.

  Good luck to Alan! Doc sounds interesting.

  Joan in New York.

  
  
• [3] Yoanna from New Rochelle May 17, 2007 - 11:22AM

  Listening to the topic of your show at this hour, I cannot contain my incredible experience with CBT- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in regards to sleep deprivation.

  For over a year I have suffered with insomnia- never having had problems with sleep before. I got married, left two jobs, lost a few friends, and moved to another state. I came to a complete identity crisis and as a result developed anxiety that was taking over my life. I did everything I could to help myslef to get out of this rut- I tried most things your guest mentions. Finally two months ago I took a low dose of Cymbalta, an anti-depressant and began Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have only had 7 sessions on a weekly basis and am off sleep meds and sleeping on my own. My Cymblata dose was lowered by 33% and the goal is to be completely off by end of June. CBT is helping me face my anxiety and use breathing and relaxation techniques to relax my body. As my anxiety about sleep has decreased, I have finally begun to sleep like a normal person.

  The April 2007 Forbes issue covers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I wonder if your guest has tried CBT, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing techniques?

  
  
• [4] bill from west village May 17, 2007 - 11:24AM

  i've suffered for years with insomnia. i now take trazodone, technically an anti-depressant, which has as a side-effect drowsiness. it helps me immensely and although i would rather not take meds, the tradeoff of sleeplessness is just not worth it. i would be curious to know, though, if this is a dangerous thing.

  
  
• [5] ernie fritz from UWS May 17, 2007 - 11:25AM

  Why can't Alan sleep ? Is it becouse he is a worried documentary fillmmaker who worries all night how he is going to pay the bills?

  Why is this film on HBO ?

  BTW I loved Nobodies Business - a film about Alan and his father

  
  
• [6] june from nwe york city May 17, 2007 - 11:31AM

  I don't have HBO. How do I get access to the documentation?

  
  
• [7] Alex from NYC May 17, 2007 - 11:32AM

  There is no better solution than a tiny joint ;)

  
  
• [8] Vika from New York City May 17, 2007 - 11:34AM

  The documentary will also be playing this Saturday, May 19 at Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center. There are two shows, at 6 and at 11 PM.

  Vika

  
  
• [9] Marc Andrews from Manhattan May 17, 2007 - 11:34AM

  Brian, hope you read these during the show...

  Please have Mr. Berliner talk about the side effect of Ambien: people waking up in the middle of the night to eat! Even to the extent of preparing meals, or ordering take-out. But having no memory of having done any of this.

  Thankfully, the side-effect completely stop when stop taking the pills.

  
  
• [10] Michael Krondl from NYC May 17, 2007 - 11:35AM

  nutmeg...about 1/3 a nutmeg ground in a glass of warm milk will act as a soporific...larger amounts, about 3-4 whole nutmegs will act as a hallucinogen (not recommended)

  
  
• [11] Paul G from Manhattan May 17, 2007 - 11:36AM

  My simple sleep solution: A speaker under my pillow connected to a radio tuned to WNYC-AM. That's not to be taken as an insult! Listening to the BBC or other late night programming is informative and instructive but also gets my mind off my own problems, lulling me right to sleep...

  
  
• [12] Susan from Yorktown Heights NY May 17, 2007 - 11:38AM

  When I was a child I would listen to the broadcast of Jean Sheperd on WOR every night when I went to bed. Now that we are able to download his old broadcasts, I find I cannot listen without getting sleepy. I'm sure this would not make Mr. Sheperd too happy.

  All these years later, my 11 year old daughter listens to Jean Sheperd to go to sleep.

  Don't be surprised if someday, someone IS listening to Brian Lehrer to relax and go to sleep.

  
  
• [13] Alex from NYC May 17, 2007 - 11:43AM

  Thanks Brian!

  I love your show and WNYC.

  
  
• [14] Jackie from Elizabeth, NJ May 17, 2007 - 11:44AM

  I use 5-HTP, Valerian root, Xanax and Pamelor all prescribed and work great!

  
  
• [15] Virginia Kelly from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY May 17, 2007 - 11:46AM

  I highly recomend acupuncture, is the only non-drug method that would actually work!!!

  
  
• [16] J. Lacerda from NYC May 17, 2007 - 03:59PM

  Insomnic:

  Brian,

  love this show... as a creative being, a visual artist, i'm a victim of sleeplessness. I hate but have grown to love it... it's my most creative time sometimes: I can't sleep so I paint, I write ideas down... I smack myself to sleep in the wee hours of the morning... I use various methods to make myself fall asleep. I wonder if the filmmaker agress that most creative beings are insomniacs?

  cheers and thanks.