I’m on my knees exhausted with Insomnia and I don’t know what to do

[IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece]

When I get stressed, I get insomnia.

It was hanging around about six weeks ago, 3/4 times a week I’d only sleep 1-3h and 6-7 the rest of the time but 3 weeks ago I lost my job and am averaging between 1-3.5 (sometimes broken) every night for the last 3w

I am exhausted, on my knees exhausted. The next doctors appointment for some sleeping tablets is in 4.5 weeks. I cannot do this for that much longer.

I feel like over the years I’ve tried everything but I will take any and all suggestions please

I think take antihistamines for hay fever which don’t make me drowsy but still find that the Nytol high dose do really help with staying asleep and drifting back if I wake too early.

OP, you absolutely cannot wait for a GP appt you must be feeling horrific.

I also have periods of insomnia (not as bad as yours ) and as ridiculous as it sounds I find rocking myself to sleep helps.

Have you tried magnesium?

I believe that if you are registered with a London GP, you get access to sleepio - it’s a programme that cost £300 but is evidence based. Not sure about other areas but might be worth asking your GP about.

I found the My Sleep Button app very helpful. It's written by sleep scientists and you have the option to send feedback for their research. It works by triggering unrelated ideas which kind of confuses your brain to sleep iyswim. Apparently research supports this works.

The Little Elephant who wants to go to Sleep works on DS and DP...

Good luck and empathy re sleep deprivation (different reason)

From what I can work out that book is basically founded on principles of sleep hygiene & a programme called 'sleep restriction' (I call it "performance sleep" & "torture", but SR is the formal name).

SR works for some people, but I think you'll decide you're already living sleep restriction.

I know being out of work is stressful, but most unemployed people don't stop sleeping completely. Why are you especially stressed about the lack of job?

I put in a fake postcode to register for free with Sleepio.

Honestly it's just sleep restriction & good 'sleep hygiene'. You can read about them everywhere.

I had insomnia for years. The only thing that helped was sleep meditation. I tried it once in an act of desperation after a week on no more than 5 hours sleep, and it changed my life.

I specifically used Tracks to Relax- Guided Sleep Meditation. You can find it on Spotify or YouTube. Taught me some really good techniques which I can now use myself without the tracks playing.

Try using a sleep mask as well. The darker the room the better quality sleep you get.

I find reading helps, I had years of 2 hours or less sleep then I stopped trying to sleep. Went to bed with my book and its night and day. I now sleep well, between 5 and 8 hours a night

Highly recommend guided meditation/mindfulness. I listen to Jason Stephenson on YouTube. Even if I don't get any more hours sleep I feel more rested.

A weighted blanket changed my life!!!

I was prescribed Xanax for flights and it works like a dream but is extremely addictive so please take great caution. At low doses it reduces anxiety but a slightly higher dose knocks you out. It feels like waking from a very deep & restful sleep however I find I'm quite groggy for a few hours afterwards.

May be worth considering as an absolute emergency measure if you are so desperate for 1 nights sleep that you can't function or think straight anymore.

Try certrizine hydrochloride antihistamines. 2, 20 mins before bed. Helped me with those nights where I stared at the ceiling for 8 hours

Are you working OP? You mention losing your job. Can you go back to bed during the day? Is the worry of finding a new job and money keeping you awake? Understandable.

The military sleep training method works for me. Google it.

I sympathise I managed on 2 to 3 hrs sleep for years. It was sheer hell. Nothing quite as bleak. For me it was a mix of CBT and dealing with previous trauma and antidepressants.

Can’t your doctors give you a same day emergency appointment. Once you have slept a bit you can look at supportive treatments and ideas to help. But in. My experience you need to get to a certain level of energy in order to find other things to help

Sorry, that sounded cold. I should of said.. I hope things get better for you soon

I can fully relate to what you are saying. I sleep really badly - sometimes as little as three hours of broken sleep a night.
I have a fan, which helps. It’s not the cooling aspect which helps (that pisses my oh and the dog off!) but the white noise from it. It’s on a timer, so if I do fall asleep I know it’s not on all night. I also have a remote control for it, so I can turn it on again if I need to without getting out of bed.

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Melatonin?

I go through these phases too. Zanax or a sleeping tablet is obviously best but a really good massage is extremely helpful.

Xanax, not Zanax. I'm an idiot.

Antidepressants did it for me. An old style one that made me gain weight - but I didn't care. That's how bad it was, that I didn't care about gaining weight.

I do think there are underlying issues going on when insomnia becomes a problem. For me it was an abusive marriage - once I left the marriage I had a lot of therapy over many years. That and antidepressants worked. I now sleep like an absolute log and have done for years. Thank you thank you thank you god.

You have my heartfelt compassion and I sincerely hope you find a way through this and out the other side. Beat a path to your GP: 4.5 weeks is NOT acceptable. This is an emergency. Ask demand to be referred to a sleep clinic.

🌺🏵️🌹💐💮

I'm autistic & it has really affected my sleep over the last few years, I was prescribed Mirtazapine by my doctor, I also take Phenergan which I buy from the pharmacy. I take magnesium as well & always try to read for at least an hour before I try to go to sleep.

I watch parliament tv.

It doesn't always work, but it has worked