I used to use brain gym to help me get to sleep. It is especially helpful if he stays awake because his mind is going over and over things. Once I use it I am usually asleep within 5 mins.
Start by putting your hands together like you are praying except only your finger tips are touching. Move your fingers in and out and concentrate on trying to balance them so each finger tip is touching their 'friend' from the other hand equally and balanced (ITMS). Do that for about 30 seconds. Then put your hands together like praying again except flat against each other (palm to palm). Then have the hands grasp each other and you fold them through. Hard to describe so see a link with a picture here: Mirasol Newsletter | April 2006
The lady under the heading brain gym a total workout for your mind. While your hands are folded over, look closely at the fingers and how they interlock and how each hand is connecting. Do this for 30 secs. Then repeat both exercises again.
I find it really effective and easy but hard to describe so I hope this made sense and can help him.
Does he exercise, so he's physically tired? But not too close to bed time
Go to bed at the same times each night
Try to sleep for around 7-8 hours each night
No caffiene several hours before bed, I aim for about 3 oclock to stop having tea/coffee/coke ect...
Have some soothing herbal tea, like camomile about half hour or so before bed
Burn some relaxing oils in your house/ bedroom for a while before bed
Take a pen and paper to bed and have it next to him so he can write any thoughts down to address in the morning
There are natural herbal things like valerian you can take to help, though make sure if he's on any medication that they won't affect it, they can be quite potent.
Valerian Root can help aide sleep, as can a SINGLE drop of lavender. (Use more and it will have the opposite effect).
There are also sleep inductions you should be able to find some to download on the net.
Not being able to get to sleep sucks, hope he can find some things that work for him.
I've suffered with insomnia for 15 years and one sure way for me to get sleepy enough to fall asleep is to start scrubbing the bathroom tiles. I know it sounds crazy, but once you've gone without sleep for a year or two, you'll try anything! I've taken all the natural stuff and a couple of non-natural stuffs and scrubbing the tiles has always worked.
Oh, and the pen and paper that lilias suggested works well too
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