I need coping strategies to get me through this insomnia (and meds)

[Insomniaisnotfunny]

I have terrible insomnia right now. I have had it in the past, and it is usually once a year or every 2 years.

I just can't cope with it, and am going to pieces.

Wed night got 2 hours sleep, Thursday night zero, Friday night zero. I took sleepy tea on Thursday which didn't work, so took a Sleepeaze from Boots on Friday which didn't work and I am now groggy.

I've got things on my mind that are stressing me out, but I was fine with it all until my sleep was disrupted on Wednesday. Up until then I was sleeping like a log.

I've got an online GP appointment as I need something to help me sleep. In the past they have given me Amitriptyline but they don't work. Anything else I can ask for?

I advent eaten in 3 days, I feel sick.

Also, I can't function, but can't sit here all day like a zombie.

Tips please.

I have just started taking Kalms and I find they really help.

Are they Kalms night time?

I think I need something stronger than that this time to get me to sleep

Listening to audiobooks really helps me when my brain is too busy to let me sleep. I use a pillow speaker so as not to disturb dh

Do you think there was a specific trigger on Wed OP? Or is it just the stress building up?

The podcast 'nothing much happens ' really helps me with insomnia. Other things to try: magnesium, a decent eye mask, getting a walk outside in the morning

Zopiclone is the sleeping tablet I got from the GP but they're very stingy with prescribing them. You can only try

I had 2 glasses of wine, then unfortunately I had an argument with my DH. I went to bed, and woke at 1.30pm and not slept since. A poor nights sleep always knocks on into ZERO sleep.

My dad is sick, and lives 300 miles away. I need to go up there and help him out. However, I have 2 jobs, a family to deal with, and it is a lot of stress on my shoulders. I was doing ok, sleeping well, and just having a relaxing wine. The argument was about my DH going on loads of business trips over my Dads operations.

I do the following:
No screens for at least an hour before bed
Bath with lavender scented Epsom salts and a book
Magnesium supplement
Half an hour of reading before trying to sleep, unless I feel that I'm dropping off
Put on an Audible book just before I switch off the light. This must be something not too exciting that is read by one person with a nice soothing voice, put on at just loud enough to hear. Never a play or a book read by several people as there are too many changes in pitch and tempo as well as other added in noises
I have just started using a Calm Carry device which does seem to help

There are still the occasional nights when I get very little sleep - usually when I am worried or excited about something. It does help to have a notepad and pen by the bed so that I can write things down when I think of them, rather than worrying about remembering them the next day.

Sometimes I wake up hungry. It helps if I keep a (boring) snack next to the bed with a glass of water. At the moment this is a zip-lock bag with a few dry cream crackers in it - very boring but fills a gap.

If I need to get up for a wee I do not switch on any lights, as I don't want to wake myself up further.

To add to the stress, I think I need to give up job 2. It is really stressful (I regularly have to put Rescue Remedy under my tongue or take a propranolol before I get there) and it is on the days when I am not at job 1 which is a cluster of days together, which would allow me to shoot to see my dad if needed. Only thing is, job 2 will go nuts if I leave as they have invested a lot in me.

Wine in the evening usually makes me wake up at about 1am. Even though I'm more sleepy when i first go to bed. So I very rarely drink.

Also - when I really need to sleep - drowsy-making antihistamines really work for me. Cetirizine especially.

I feel like part of your brain is expecting not to sleep as you described it as a pattern - something that happens on a schedule every year or two. It might be that your brain is doing what you’re expecting of it.
Try vagus nerve reset which you can easily find on YouTube. Instead of telling yourself you have insomnia tell yourself that you sleep like a
log. Every time you think about going to bed and not being able to sleep tell yourself that your body knows when it needs to sleep and you are safe to do so.

Only thing is, job 2 will go nuts if I leave as they have invested a lot in me.

Don't get too hung up on this. If you were surplus to their requirements, they wouldn't hesitate. It's a one way loyalty.

I read How to sleep like a cave man. It's great and helped. I went to the doctor once but her mertazapine was very very hard to ween myself off. I use only herbals now, and a routine, no phone after 8pm and wind down. I no longer worry about not sleeping. It's fine. I find lavender knocks my out

I use CBD capsules from Holland and Barratt. I take one 15mg capsule before I go to bed and if I wake in the night I take another one. They have really helped me.

Promethazine really works for me and you can get it over the counter. Worked better than Zopiclone from the GP.

I recently had a virus and took boots night cold and flu relief with promethazine. Knocked me out cold. Best sleep I ever had (am menopausal and usually wake several times). Obviously only suitable for short term , has paracetamol in it. You can just buy antihistamines separately.
Longer term the only solution is to address your source of stress.

Melatonin. You can get it from a site called Biovea UK (it’s legit). Changed my life.

Oh and I didn't feel groggy next day with promethazine unlike when I tried phenergan for Insomnia which did leave me feeling sleepy next day.

Zopiclone from GP.

Phenegran online pharmacy

true crime podcasts - Past Seen Alive Works for me

You have my sympathy - I’ve had horrific insomnia for 20 years.

If there are no financial or other material penalties to leaving job 2, then leave it! It is not your problem if they are upset. They do say ‘don’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm’

On the insomnia side, my GP recommended taking night nurse - NOT the non-drowsy one! The effects lessen over time but it can help for a couple of nights to reset your sleep patterns.

I find a run of about 7 miles is enough to knock me out but not too much that I get a cortisol spike and consequent insomnia, but I realise that is not a solution for everyone.

Someone here recommended magnesium glycinate and it changed/saved my life almost immediately. I get it from Holland and Barrett, seems to work quickly with no grogginess.

Reading, a puzzle book (weirdly as you would think it would make the mind more active) or Lidl’s lavender and linden tea seem to help too.

I’m also massively stressed at the moment and have had problems sleeping.

Things that have helped me; CBD gummies, Nytol, lavender in pillow case, guided sleep meditation and then wearing ear plugs. Also, if I am awake for more than 20 mins I get up. I also take deep breaths to get me back off and tell myself it’s ok as I am resting my nervous system which is helping. I try and go to bed later (11) rather than at 9 when I am nodding so I can get to 4-5am without waking. Works most of the time.

The GP online wouldn’t give me any strong stuff and told me to get Phenergun.

If it makes me drowsy I’m not sure I want to take it as I need to drive, although I’m not driving as I’ve had no sleep.

I’m meant to be on a course next week to qualify. They’ve paid for it and I’ve signed a form saying I’ll pay it back if I leave. It’s not a lot of money. A few hundred.

This job is just too stressful though. I went in there with good intentions, something I’ve always wanted to do, but it’s chaos, safety issues and just really stressful. I’ve come close to a few panic attacks whilst there and recently I just dread going in. This is a massive part of my stress, also eats into time I can go see my dad.

I’m just eating myself up about leaving and then going mad as it will affect some of the other workers.