Insomnia and jet lag

[bluestripedtop]

I suffer badly with insomnia. Some nights I get to sleep, but when I wake up I can't get back to sleep. Other nights I can't get to sleep. Some nights I sleep okay. I've tried everything and have just accepted it's me.

I am flying long haul soon and return overnight, losing six hours. Very unlikely I will get any sleep on the plane. We get home early morning so plan on keeping busy all day then a very early night.

I have done this sort of flight before, once suffered from jet lag really badly, once had an hour after getting home and then an early night and was ok, the other I had hallucinations the first night, but was ok after that I think. With all of this I wasn't suffering from insomnia.

I'm just wondering if sufferers can share their experiences. I know everybody is different, but there may be a pattern so I have an idea what to expect. Thanks

I don't sleep on planes, so I either have a strict nap of an hour after getting home (don't all nap at the same time!) and then go to bed about my normal time and that usually helps a lot. If you struggle to sleep, melatonin can help. I haven't tried it myself, but I usually sleep like a log. Or try one of the herbal sleep remedies to help on that first night back.

I've suffered from insomnia for years too and never sleep on planes either. I once flew to Australia which was 30 hours (with 2 stops) and was awake for the entire thing. I agree with your plan to stay awake when you get there and then have early night. Don't do too much though. The biggest thing is to stay off your phone. I swear my insomnia developed when I got my first smartphone!