Insomnia...someone help!

[LookWhosInTheRejectBin]

Does anyone have any tips for me?

For the past month or so, I go to bed around 11 feeling really tired but then just lie there unable to nod off until about 3am, sometimes later. It's like my brain won't switch off.

I'm hoping I don't have to resort to sleeping tablets, but my under eyes are so dark they look bruised! I'm at my wits end.

I'm in a completely blacked out room, no light or distraction at all. I do suffer depression, but not taking medication for it, so don't know if this is a factor.

If anyone has any useful advise I'd really appreciate it. Thank you :)

The best over the counter medication you can buy for insomnia is called Sominex. There is a herbal version too, but I don't suppose it would work as well.

Failing that - how about using Night Nurse for maybe 2 or 3 nights?

There's no prize for not using medication - why not try something and see how you go?

I second night nurse

The downside is you'll probably feel a bit dopey the next day 🤦🏻‍♀️. But will help in the short term by giving you a full nights sleep

I'm not sleeping well atm
. It's sucks doesn't it

I have chronic insomnia. White noise helps me and I have found the Calm app useful, specifically the sleep stories. I take magnesium in the evening and vitamin D in the morning. I have experimented with melatonin previously, brought back from the US, and found it OK. I struggled with the dosage and then felt that the efficacy was reducing so am not taking it at all at the moment.

I'm sure you know all the advice about blue light etc before bed but it does help. Also a routine - bath or shower etc, can help retrain your body. I find timing my meals quite important too.

My GP was very reluctant to give me medication and in the end gave me 4 days of sleeping pills. I didn't like taking them (the taste in my mouth plus the grogginess) and can't given my job so that's a non starter for me. However I suffer with staying asleep rather than falling asleep problems so your experience may differ.

I have chronic insomnia. I use Phenergan occasionally, every few weeks, when I get desperate

Makes you groggy thr next day though

I am the repeat early waking type. (1am, 3am then awake for rest of night). No trouble actually getting to sleep.

Nothing useful but you have my sympathy. I have had periods of insomnia.

Listening to an audio book helps me sometime. Usually a text book type or similar. 50 Philosophy Greats currently sends me off quite well!

I've had zopiclone in the past but I only get a few hours and feel shit the next day.

Have you had any help with the depression?

Really obvious but cutting caffeine down has I think helped me very recently.

I am an early waker. Think magnesium at bedtime might be helping.

Have you read about CBD oil?

I haven't got experience but I have been reading about it for anxiety and back trouble. Apparently it's just a few drops under your tongue and it's a life changer.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/a25854145/cbd-oil-sleep/

Thanks guys :)

You're right, I think medication is the only way. I don't know why I feel apprehensive about it, but I'll give it a shot.

Yeah Sapphire, its torture. :(

Hope tonight brings some rest op X

I cured my insomnia without medication. Don't go down that path - have a look on iPlayer for a documentary about insomnia. Sleeping pills are addictive and they won't help (from documentary).

They have so many good ideas in that documentary that I have used for years and do really work.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00055rx

Urgh just found the link and it's not available. Posting this anyway, because you might be able to watch it in your region.

AnyFucker
Makes you groggy thr next day though

I don't mind grogginess. I'll take it if I can get some good rest at night time. Thanks for the suggestion.

Mmmm
Have you had any help with the depression?

I've been having CBT, mainly concentrating on anxiety though.

I struggle with both falling asleep and staying asleep. I tried sleeping pills years ago but they didn't really help me. I even tried them with alcohol and they still didn't work.

These days I manage my sleep reasonably well by a combination of daily exercise combined with various herbal supplements to help me sleep (I change these every month so my body doesn't get too used to them).

I've had a lot of success taking Valerian Root (450mg) before bed. It gave me quite possibly the best sleep I've had in years!! But it's recommended to take a break from Valerian Root after one month so I'm currently on my break and have switched to taking Melatonin (5mg) before bed instead. Melatonin helps me fall asleep more quickly but it wears off after a few hours so I still wake up during the night but can usually get back to sleep. I am getting better quality deep sleep though despite the waking. I do have some 10mg Melatonin but I only use that when I'm absolutely desperate (or have jet lag) as it makes me feel groggy the next morning.

I also use drowsy anti-histamines (U.S. bought Benadryl really hits the spot) but again I believe the body can get used to these so you can't take them continuously.

I've tried Magnesium but it didn't help me. Poliquin does a Magnesium and L-Tryptothan combined supplement and that has helped me sleep in the past although it takes a few days for it to kick in. The Valerian Root works better for me.

I've always been a terrible sleeper since being a child. Too much whirring round in my brain. I feel like it takes an elephant tranquilliser to knock me out. I envy those people who drop off to sleep straight away and stay asleep all night. What heaven that must be!

Some ideas:

• absolutely NO napping during the day, no matter what.
• no exercise in the evenings, as that 'gears' your body up, better to exercise in mornings.
• lots of sunlight during the day, every day. At least 30 min
• don't go to bed when you think you should, go half an hour before you currently ARE falling asleep. So you don't have hours of lying in bed awake
• don't go to bed earlier and sleep in later because that will compound the problem.
• lie ins are not good. try to regulate sleep patterns so they're consistent.
• stay away from caffeine

There's a podcast called Sleep with me, an American rambling about random things, I haven't even listened to a whole episode cause it sends me to sleep after about 15 minutes! Give it a go!

Then occasional Phenergan might suit you. Talk to your GP.

Slow release melatonin is good for both falling asleep and staying asleep. We buy from i-herb.

My periods of insomnia definitely correlate with general anxiety. Hope the CBT helps.

Phenergan is great for dropping of, but not staying asleep. You can buy Phenergan OTC, melatonin has to be sent here. OH swears by it.

I struggle with sleep - I heard about CBT-I for insomnia.

You can do it by downloading the app ‘night owl’ sleep coach. It assesses your sleep and designs a sleep programme for you. First you aim to go to bed later than normal and work backwards.

I found it a MASSIVE help. It also de-bunks a lot of the myths around sleep.

Taking 2 Benadryl works for me, the one with acrivastine in it, I've tried to find phenergan over the counter but have always been told its prescription only, is it under a different brand name?

I think a bit groggy the next day is a small price to pay for 7 or 8 hours sleep. You get desperate ...

How long do you guys recommend OP use the drugs for?
Doesn't sound like a sustainable solution.