Controlling my Sleep Schedule

I know i have mentioned how hard i was finding it to get my sleep schedule under control. The main problem was that i would sleep at least 10 hrs. but not be tired enough to sleep after 14 hrs of being awake. I needed to be up at least 16 hrs, which with 10 hrs of sleep makes my sleep cycle about 26 hrs long, which does not fit into one day. Even if i tried to stay up all night so i could go to sleep the next night early enough, I would either not be able to fall asleep once evening rolled around, or fall asleep at around 8 and then still sleep in until noon. None of the tricks i have used in the past were working. It didn't help that i had missed a lot of school and was anxious for my first day back. I would be so nervous when i tried to fall asleep, that i would lay awake for hours. The ironic thing was that i was anxious that i wouldn't be able to all asleep. I tried taking my anxiety medication before bed, and that eliminated the worry, but did nothing to help me sleep. I was talking to my mom on the phone, and she recommended melatonin. I had heard of it before, but didn't remember what it was called, or even really think of it for that matter. Melatonin is a chemical your brain releases to indicate that it is time to go to sleep. Taking a Melatonin supplement when your body isn't producing enough can help you sleep. You body should start to produce melatonin in the evening, with levels rising until you go to sleep.

I have been taking a 5mg tablet every night about a half hour before bed, and since then my sleep schedule has been a dream. I am still sleeping ten hours, but i am not going over that. I fall asleep at 10, and then get up at 8 the next morning. The first night i took the melatonin i woke up at 3 am, 6 hours after i had gone to sleep. That is how long the melatonin supplement actually makes me sleep for. I was able to easily fall asleep again, and then woke up for good at 6. The next night i only slept 6 hours, feeling extremely rejuvenated. The night after that i slept twelve hours, and felt a bit tired upon waking. The next night i could have slept only six hours, but was able to sleep ten. Every night since then i have slept nine to ten hours and woken up refreshed.

Basically the first couple of nights my body was getting adjusted to being on a regualr schedule again, and making up for the bad sleep i was having before. The sleep i have had since starting to take this supplement has been so much more restful then any of the sleep i got before. I always woke up tired while my sleep schedule was out of control, even if i slept 12 hrs. Now i am sleeping just the amount my body needs. I just need to be strict with my going to bed on time, which the supplement helps me be. 

For more information check out these links:

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview

 http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-940-melatonin.aspx?activeIngredientId=940&activeIngredientName=melatonin&source=1