Exercise helps insomnia, but not right away, study says (gym, treadmill, vs)

[phoenixmike11]

Exercise helps insomnia, but not right away, study says

Exercise not a quick fix for sleep disorders, study says - The Washington Post


Looks like exercise helps with people who suffer from insomnia but it takes some time for the effects to be apparent.

[Pikake]

I workout 5x a week and I still battle insomnia. I've been working out for years and it has not touched my insomnia; I get more wound up.

I finally turned to drugs, the legal kind, to help me sleep.

[jade408]

I find that it takes a few weeks for exercise to help me with sleep quality. It does help on the whole.

[jrsydevil82]

It's never helped me either. Ambien works.

I want to copy the comment someone made on the second article. This is SPOT on & most people don't realize that insomniacs won't sleep even if they are exhausted. Being tired & sleepy are two completely different things for us:

"Let me tell you this. Exercise does not do the trick. If you suffer from true insomnia, you can think about all the beautiful things on the face of the earth, exercise like a maniac....it just doesn't work. It's nice that people who do not have a clue about insomnia think they have the answer. Trust me, I wish they did., Friends/family/strangers/doctors always ask the same questions. Do you take naps? Are you drinking caffeine? Have you ever tried melatonin? On and on... I have come to the conclusion it's just the way a person is wired. A realistic person must accept it. I have! Not saying I like it, but it is what it is. One of the downsides is being awake so many hours...becomes very boring at times. There are not enough characters to explain the life of an person suffering from Insomnia. Hope this doesn't come across grouchy but remember I never get any sleep." (Comment by Sleepless on the site)

[locolobo13]

Turn the TV on. Lay down in bed. Wake up in morning to infomercials.

[caligirlz]

The study abstract quoted only talks about walking on a treadmill several times a week. It doesn't give the duration or intensity, only that it takes 4 months for the benefits to kick in.

I've had insomnia and CFS/MFPS for years and have taken Lunesta (Ambien doesn't work for me) for about 4 years. I could always bypass the medication affect.

However, the workouts I'm doing these days kicks my ass (much more than walking on a treadmill!) and I'm getting sleepy earlier, much earlier...Sometime as early as 9 pm. I can no longer keep "owl" hours. Many nights I'm not even interested rested in dinner if I can't eat by 830 (I get home from the gym at 8). The new & improved sleepy time is 1030 vs midnight and beyond.

[skel1977]

Originally Posted by Pikake

I workout 5x a week and I still battle insomnia. I've been working out for years and it has not touched my insomnia; I get more wound up.

I finally turned to drugs, the legal kind, to help me sleep.

same here. I sleep like sh8t. Especially when working out at night. Metabolism has a part to play in this i assume

[skel1977]

Someone asked me if my sleeping issues have been resolved. It has not, no.

[sleepsite]

Exercise helps me but I must workout 4-5 times a week. When I stop for a day or two I can have trouble sleeping. I use brain wave sounds and it has worked wonders. Sometimes I think my insomnia is cured.

[slingshot]

Exercise does not work for me and neither does Valium. I was taking them for years. They help for me to go asleep but not to stay asleep. I stopped taking them altogether last month. I would rather live with insomnia than the long term side effects from Valium.