I realize this subject has been done to death, however, whenever I fly overseas, I contract about as severe a form of “jet-lag” as one could imagine. The problem is I have never been able to sleep on an airplane. Whenever I begin to doze off, my subconscious takes over and convinces me I am falling asleep behind the wheel of an automobile (this actually happened to me twenty-seven years ago and, apparently, I have never gotten over it). The result of this affliction is that I am almost instantly jarred awake within seconds of having dozed, and either gasp loudly, begin choking or—and this is the worst—scream out loud. Needless to say it can be quite worrisome to other sleeping passengers to be suddenly awakened by the sounds of screams at 3:00am (and 40,000 feet over the Atlantic).<BR><BR>I have tried avoiding coffee, chocolate and everything else that contains caffeine for days before I fly. I have tried avoiding alcohol and drinking too much alcohol (which was far more fun!) but to no avail. I have tried every OTC drug available and virtually every prescription sleep aid as well—including Ambien: Still no luck.<BR><BR>Having said all that, I thought it might be fun to read about some of the NON-traditional methods of avoiding jet-lag (or inducing sleep under stressful conditions) that my fellow Fodorites might have come across in their various travels. As you can well imagine, at this point I am willing to try just about anything! <BR><BR>So, it’s time to reach back into your memories, consult your local shaman, bring back those old wives tales and generally raid whatever fonts of information you may have on this timeworn subject. By the way, if you come across the suggestion of concentrating on “seven bald-headed men”, don’t bother listing it—it was already suggested to me by an elderly Italian woman on my last trip and it didn’t work:~).<BR><BR>Let the games begin!<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Strive

Strive,<BR><BR>I am EXACTLY the same (with the exception of the screaming thing...and I hope I never have to sit next to you!) There's only one thing to do; give in to it! Just accept the idea that you're going to be awake from 1 am to 5 am the first 5 days of your trip. And plan your trip accordingly. If it's a 5 day business trip, just give up the notion of sleeping more than 2 or 3 hours a night.<BR><BR>Cheers!

I have that problem also. I take Ambien for a few days to help. I also use melatonin. How well do you sleep at home? I have even tried changing my schedule the week before I travel to be on UK time. Didn't help much. Haven't tried flying First Class where I'd have more room to stretch out. $$$. Could you posibly have sleep apnea? The dryness of the air in the aircraft irritates your nasal passages causing difficulty breathing when you relax. Being a pilot this is my problem. Good luck. Sweet Dreams.

The most important part of day one of every European trip for us is sitting in the sun for as long as possible - yes I know that this is complicated when the weather isn't cooperative, but it really does help. An hour in the late day sun on a park bench has done us wonders many a time. We also try to grab a nap upon arrival and then force ourselves to get up and do some walking (and sunning!), eat dinner as late as we can hold out and then stay up to a more or less adult bedtime (10 pm or so). By day two we have usually made the time adjustment and are raring to go.

<BR>My wife and I finally got over our European jet lag, by &quot;breaking the rules.&quot; Most of what we read and were told indicated that we should stay awake until 10 pm or so, regardless of how tired we were. This works when we travel to Asia, because we arrive about 2 or 3 pm. With Europe, however, we arrive at 8 am and have already been awake for 20 hours or so. We started taking a nap for four or five hours, getting up no later than 4 or 5 pm. Then we would go to sleep at our normal time. Although we are a little tired for the next day or two, this approach has made a noticeable improvement.

Also can't sleep on trans-Atlantic flights, and it was caused by the same thing. But fortunately I don't scream.<BR><BR>You should consider Hypnosis. Contact a Hypnosis specialist well in advance of your trip. They will be able to give you the tools needed to sleep on a flight. You will most likely never have a sleeping problem again.

&lt;&lt;Whenever I begin to doze off... I am almost instantly jarred awake within seconds of having dozed, and either gasp loudly, begin choking or... scream out loud.&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>I believe that you may be able to benefit from a consultation with a physician who specializes in sleep medicine. Whether this happens only when you are on an airplane or at other times as well, it certainly sounds like a description of sleep-associated airway obstruction, which may or may not be related to sleep apnea. There may be medications that could prove helpful to you, but I can NOT advise a &quot;try this, try that&quot; approach with this description you have given. I won't hazard a guess as to which (or how many different) medication(s) might help you with this problem, but I'd be willing to guess that there are an even greater number of medications that might make you worse.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>

Strive,<BR>someone near and dear to me has this sort of thing-falling asleep and then starting to choke...actually, trying to pull air INTO his lungs, since his throat seems to close for no good reason. The resulting terror filled moments waiting for his throat to open or for him to keep over, make ME stay awake on flights when we should be sleeping! <BR>I just can't sleep sitting up. <BR>So-what we do is, go to sleep early every night the week before the flight, and bring cds and books and just stay awake for the flight. <BR>By the time we land, we are both slightly goofy but this is how we have managed so far. <BR>Of course, the big challenge will be when we fly to Japan later this year~

Because I am always in too much of a hurry to have my say, I don't proof read!<BR>So that is supposed to say<BR>&quot;waiting for his throat to open or for him to KEEL over&quot;<BR

Thanks to all for your concerns and for your good suggestions. <BR><BR>Grasshopper: although I have basically &quot;given in to it&quot; I keep hoping for a cure.<BR><BR>Chrisp: I've tried melatonin (and Ambien) but with no success. I don't have sleep apnea, the reason I begin choking is that when I come awake from &quot;the Dream&quot;, I tend to gasp and inhale a tremendous amount of air in a short time--like when you become startled. By the way, I sleep normally at home.<BR><BR>Elston: Have done your whole list and actually find it to work the best for me, so far. Still, I hope to solve the &quot;plane&quot; problem.<BR><BR>Smueller (is this Ferris?): Like with Elston, I have found parts of this to be helpful.<BR><BR>Jor: Have not tried Hypnosis. Am seriously considering it.<BR><BR>Rex: Have consulted with a physician (that's how I got the different meds) but he concluded that, since my problem ONLY occurs on planes it is most likely not related to a sleep-associated airway obstruction. I should have mentioned in my original posting that this only occurs on planes. Still (as always) you gave good advice.<BR><BR>Scarlett: The &quot;goofy&quot; feeling I can relate to--you should have seen me after a fifteen hour flight to Micronesia:~/<BR><BR>Again, thanks for all your suggestions. Anyone have any less conventional ideas?<BR><BR>Strive

I think I have your less conventional idea, Strive!!<BR><BR>Disclaimer: it might be a really dumb idea, but seems very obvious to me.<BR><BR>I do the same thing as you on planes, and sometimes even as a passenger in a car on longer drives. I doze off, then jump awake with a gasp, and the first thought flashing through my mind is &quot;Gee, I hope I'm not driving&quot;. LOL<BR><BR>Strive, I think getting yourself as horizontal as possible on the plane MIGHT solve your problem. If you can afford Bus. Class or 1st, or whatever class has seats that let you lie all the way down (I wouldn't know) you should go for it. If not, try to always travel with someone who loves you enough to not mind your pillow (and head) on his/her lap. Even getting a window seat and leaning your head sideways against the wall might make a difference (that's what I do, and it does help me).<BR><BR>It's that upright position, IMO. Your're sitting in the same position you sit in when you drive a car, sitting in a seat that is very similar to a car seat. So it could be that that's why your subconscious mind thinks you're driving. Anything you can do to get the upper half (at least) of your body less vertical MAY be an answer.<BR><BR><BR>Good luck!!!

I have the same problem (with no screaming, thank goodness). I was very fortunate the last time from the UK, we were bumped to bus. class. I was practically vertical and fell into a light sleep. BUT I was enjoying bus class so much, I did not want to sleep! Go figure!

In can't sleep on planes either - and Ambien only makes me more miserable (heavily sedated and unable to sleep), melatonin causes nightmares, etc. I bring something to do on the plane and just stay awake.<BR><BR>Anyhow - what works for me is to stay awake until 8:00pm when I arrive. (10:00pm would be impossible). No naps. Try to be active, eat dinner, no alcohol, and crash. Often I wake up the next day completely on schedule with the local time zone. From that point on I have to avoid naps and falling back into my home time zone schedule (which, since I live in Hawaii is 12 hours different from Europe). <BR>

Have you tried Xanax? Takes away the anxiety (which would calm your subconscious). <BR>You can take a heavier dose to sleep, or just add an ambien.<BR>Works like a charm.

When we travel from Australia for 23 hours ( and you people complain about 8 overnight hours!), we arrive at 5, 6, or 7am! We deposit our bags at the hotel, and hope we can get in our room and have a shower. Then we walk around (stagger) seeing what sights we can, just by walking - best not to negotiate buses, trains etc that require thoughts about money, language etc, until we are about to drop - usually 5pm, have dinner and fall into bed after taking a sleeping tablet about 7.30 or 8pm. You are a bit tired the next day, but not so much after that. I once woke in Hong Kong about 3am their time to find my husband reading a &quot;heavy&quot; text book trying to bore himself to sleep! It didn't work! It's easier to arrive at about 5pm then you just have dinner and go to bed as usual, even though you're very sleep deprived and on a different time zone. We are lucky to get 3 hours sleep on planes. My sympathies!

This is probably something that most people here would not agree with, but if I had the problems with flying and sleeping that you do, I woud never fly.<BR><BR> I strive (no pun intended) to live a joyous, peaceful, calm, heathy life. These things are of the highest priority for me....remember I'm conservative...in all things.<BR><BR>Thank goodness flying and sleeping are no problem for me... otherwise I would be totally grounded.

Hi Strive,<BR> The best cure for suffering from severe &quot;Circadian Dysrhythmia&quot; is to stay away from Circadians.<BR>

I can't sleep on planes either, and have learned to just not worry about it. I watch every available movie, read<BR>(but feel guilty keeping the light on), so then just close my eyes for awhile, and wait for that beautiful dawn to come thru the windows! On arrival at the hotel room I usually unpack, get organized, then go out walking. When in Paris, I like to go to the Luxembourg Gardens, near my hotel, and just enjoy the beauty of it. I take melatonin, but try to stay up 'til 10:00, not always possible. I'm usually OK the next day. I think the excitement of all the wonderful things to do helps!

Maybe you should try to fly during the day. There are some flight that leave for London in the morning. When you get there it will be evening. And next day try to be as much as possible outside in the sun during daylight hours. Else talk to a doctor who specializes in this.

Before our trip to Hawaii I bought some &quot;No Jet Lag&quot; pills at the dive shop. The owners, who travel a lot, swore by them. I was skeptical, but decided to give them a try. We had no jet lag going or coming back. Still had some left and used them for our recent trip to Europe. Again, no jet lag. Perhaps it was the placebo effect, but I will buy some more for our next trip anyway. Another thing that is helpful to me is setting my watch by my destination time as soon as we get underway. It helps me mentally adjust to the new time zone. Even if we have missed a night's sleep we try to wait to go to bed until that evening. By the next day, we feel refreshed and adjusted to the new schedule. I do think avoiding alcohol on the plane is important - drink lots of water instead to stay hydrated.