I have trouble sleeping and getting to sleep, It has to be dark and quiet, does meditation help?

do you know of any other methods to aid sleep, any ideas and cures would be welcome, thanks.

If i use earplugs i can hear or feel my heart beating

Some people are very sensitive to even the light coming through their eyelids and need it to be very dark to sleep well.

If you are talking transcedental meditation, I would say instead to meditate on the word of God. TM uses the names of hundreds of different gods from another religion. Instead of chanting the name of one of those gods, try praying in the name of Jesus Christ to God the Father to give you sweet sleep and deliverance from any anxiety.

Magnesium and Calcium
These are two minerals necessary for proper sleep. Magnesium is not in the foods in adequate supply today because the soil is depleted. It is the mineral American men are found to be the most deficient in. You can find it in Magnesium Oxide tablets at health counters in grocery stores or supplement sections at drug stores. It comes in 400 mg tablets that are 100% daily requirement. 250 mg tablets also available at 62.5 % daily requirement. I take 250 mg per day. Low levels of magnesium in the body are related to heart attack, panic attacks, toxic shock syndrome, insomnia.

Calcium can be found in milk but is even more easily available to the body in broccoli. Supplements are available. If you supplement with calcium, it is important to also take magnesium. It has been called calcium's policeman and will cause it to behave properly in the body. Many women are advised to take 500mg of magnesium to 1000 mg of calcium.
Magnesium helps prevent bone spurs and calcium deposits within the blood vessels.

Seratonin and Melatonin

These are two chemicals produced in the brain. Seratonin is produced by indirect sunlight getting into the eyes during the day. Melatonin starts being produced in the brain about an half hour after it gets dark. Melatonin can be purchased at health food supplement counters. It usually comes in 3 mg tablets but 1 mg tablets taken before bedtime have been shown to be just as effective in promoting sleep with less problems with drowsiness during the day.

make sure bed comfortable, no meditation, as you are still using brain to think. If body comfortable, imagine you're slipping a piece of paper or cardboard into head , between back of eyes and brain, slowely letting all noise and smells all sensations, drift away, not allowing anything to interupte you, I've suffered stress for years, this beats any pillls, relaxing music etc., ive tried the lot, with practice, this works, you shut the door on the world for the night, It works for me, and I've had many years of difficult nights with no sleep, it does take time. You do have to clear mind, then slowly slip in the imaginary card, to block all out, till you drift off. good luck, from a previous sufferer, of sleeples nights.

This is really weird....but it works for me. I have to think of a thought that isn't going to keep me awake. It's kinda meditation, but not like the "om" kind. For instance, sometimes I picture that I am a rabbit in a rabbit hole with lots of other rabbits, and I make myself really warm and snuggly. I think of snuggling up and sleeping next to the other rabbits and it makes me really sleepy. Sometimes I think of sex, and picture an encounter with my mate going on and that makes me sleepy (or sometimes something else and then I'm really sleepy afterward heh).

You have to think of thoughts that work for you, that don't keep you awake, like work or family or whatever is bothering you. Eating something that isn't heavy like a bowl of cereal also helps. The milk makes you fall asleep better -scientifically proven.