To be at the end of my rope.....

[Supermanspants]

.... because I have had my 6th night in 9 where i have not slept even one minute. Tried everything. Feel very tearful. Is there any point in going to see my GP.... will they just suggest a hot bath and warm drink? Have had major issues with sleep the last few years but it seems to be getting worse.
Just ground down with it all now

Cut out using phone/ipad/laptop for a couple of hours before you head to bed (if you are). The blue light they emit is terrible for disrupting your brain's sleep patterns. If you really can't then you can you get a screen filter to cut down on the blue light it emits.
Orange/amber based light is better for resting the brain. This is based on 3 years of trying to battle sleep deprivation with a child, but I found I was getting insomnia as my brain wasn't switching off. I changed his nightlight to an amber coloured one and that has made a difference to both of us.

If you use lavender then only a couple of drops, as too much has the opposite effect and stimulates the brain.

Herbal teas are an acquired taste but an hour before I go to bed I have a cup of Pukka Night Time tea, which I find does help me relax.

And as someone else said....keep a diary, and please do go to your GP. I would always rather try alternative methods first, but sometimes you reach a point where something from the GP is necessary.

Hope you find a resolution. The last 3 years of my life have taught me how truly, utterly, destroying lack of sleep is.

Pre-pregnancy I did yoga in London with a teacher named Lisa Sanfilippo who is wonderful. In recent years she's been running what I hear are fantastic sleep workshops. If you're in or near London you could try one. If not she has videos online. This is a subscription site but you can get a free trial and it's not expensive if you do sign up. They're on movementformodernlife.com/profile/lisasanfilippo (on phone so can't remember how to link properly but cut and paste link)

My DB has this. He hallucinates from lack of sleep, and when he does sleep he sleepwalks amd gets in all sorts of trouble. He had a really nasty accident while sleepwalking for example, but they couldnt operate immediaely because he was too agitated and still hallucinating at hospital.

I can tell you that sleeping pills don't work for him, nor anything that has been suggested on this thread. He has done a night in hospital specifically for monotoring this (i think this was after he took some devive home for monitoring for a few days). They have called him back for a second night and are now taking it all very seriously because until he was monitored they really didn't believe that he goes for days and days without sleep.

OP, id suggest you go to GP but instead of asking for pills, ask to be referred for sleep apnea investigation. FWIW my DB finds it easier to not bother going to bed. He has a reclinier thing in his living room, turns light down and has tv on. He sleeps more this way than going to bed where he tosses and turns all night.

Have you tried a simple anti histamine before bed? Piriton will do.

Side effect is drowsiness, i found it works really well for me. I used to work nights and it made a huge difference. Some of my colleagues preferred nytol but i found piriton suited me far better.

op is there anything else happening in your life that may be causing this? Gp can be very reluctant to prescribe medication because the body quickly comes to rely on it, instead it is better to eliminate other causes such as stress, depression.

If you can afford it hypnotherapy is worth trying and tends to have good results.

You need some sleeping tablets. My DD has terrible insomnia and she's tried almost everything mentioned on this thread.nothing touched it so I made her a Drs appt, she is only given a small number and so has to go back for morethis is so the Dr can monitor her.

Did is now receiving counselling for the thing she is very anxious about, so it will take a while but hopefully she'll get there. Are you worried about something OP?

You poor thing. I've had insomnia on and off over the years. I find it is working and worrying about being able to function at work on little sleep is one of the major things that keeps me awake. Not looking at the clock before I go to bed other during the night helps with this as I am not keeping check of how long I haven't slept for. Yours sounds very severe and I do suggest that you go back to the doctor and make sure you act as bad as you feel in front of them. If they can see how much you are suffering they are more likely to do something. They should be investigating whether you are anxious or depressed and suggesting anti depressants as well as sleeping tablets if this is the cause. As someone else suggests, ask about being referred to a sleep clinic so they realise that you see this as a serious ongoing problem. In the meantime perhaps try not going to bed. Stay up and watch tv. You might find you fall asleep on the sofa. Good luck

I was in this position this time last year and it is utterly soul destroying and made me ridiculously anxious and unable to cope too. You have my sympathies. The only thing that worked for me was a low dose old style sedating anti depressant - Dosulepin. It acts to totally change your sleep architecture. It's been amazing and v few side effects (slight weight gain). I have been weaning off them since October with no issues and no rebound insomnia. I also use the This works deep sleep spray and mousturisers, eye mask and ear plugs and avoid caffeine after midday. I hope this helps and that you find something to help you out.

If I was sleeping that little I would ask to be seen by the sleep clinic.

I have had hallucinating levels of insomnia but was still getting a lot more sleep than you say you are.

What about buying a fitbit or similar that monitors your sleep? Then you and the GP will be able to see how much sleep you are really getting, and your heart rate.

Also write a list to take with you showing everything you have tried.

Ive read about two things that are supposed to help, it could be bollocks but I guess you will try anything at this stage.

The first is lettuce sandwiches, something to do with the bread and the lettuce reacting to make you sleepy.

The second one was cherry juice, no idea why.

God, I feel for you. All of the home remedies tend to only work in mild cases, which yours is not. Please get an appointment with your GP and ask for a referral to a sleepover clinic. Tell them exactly what you've tried, how desperate you feel and describe the hallucinations. Don't move until you have their assurance that a referral will be made. If tablets are offered, take them. Do you work?

Do you know anyone in France or Spain? That can send you donormyl, which are over the counter doxylamine sleeping pills that work very well. Also generic versions too. Old type of anti-histamine.

They've changed my life. About €2.70 for 10. 1/2 per night. No limit on the number of pots you can buy. I bring them over for my step father.

wally are they addictive?

My DH asked me if I am worrying about anything and I'm really not. He has taken to sleeping downstairs on the sofa bed so as not to disturb me. When I go to bed I make sure I am not thinking about anything that could lead to hours of turning things over in my head. I just feel like a freak. I usually get up and go downstairs for a short while then try again but it just doesn't work. I work in a very stressful job and it is a half hour drive away so I usually have the air conditioning on blasting my face. I know that my job is not affecting me because I just shut off from it when Im at home..... Ive got very good at doing that.
I will make an appointment on Monday and see what they say

Thank you again for all of the responses...... sometimes it can feel like you are the only one dealing with this shit when its 3am and you are wide awake.

Maybe worth asking your GP to do blood tests as well, in case it's something like an overactive thyroid causing the problem

Another fellow sufferer, mine was brought on by family difficulties and after the 5th night I was getting dizzy & having hallucinations.
GP have me 1 weeks supply of sleeping tablets ( Zopiclor, I think they were called)
They did make me sleep for 7+ hours, BUT it wasn't "refreshing" sleep IYSWIM.
I was then diagnosed with depression and anxiety and after starting medication my sleep problems resolved.

Might be a long shot, but a local clinic does fb posts occasionally. One was on sleep and linked to an article about pink Himalayan salt, mixed with honey. A few people commented that it had worked for them. If you're interested, I think there will be health articles on Google.

Can you get the train instead of driving while so tired?

Also - you say you switch off from the stressful job but could your dp let you do a "how my day has been" chat? To let you talk out your day - perhaps you are not switching off from it as much as you think?

I had some painkillers with codiene in for a sprained ankle.

They knocked me out cold!

Probably not the best solution.

Have you any idea what is keeping ou awake?

Stress? Worries? Jet-lag? Snoring dp?

My severe insomnia was actually stress and anxiety too. I didn't really realise just how stressed I was at the time though. I moved away and suddenly started sleeping much better!
It came back after I had DD1, but I was much more aware that it was the past stress haunting me, so I asked to be referred for cbt therapy. Which I found really helpful.
Part of my personal good sleep hygiene is now to check all the doors/windows are locked. This helps me feel safe enough to sleep. Not having a clock or any tech in the bedroom is also a big factor for me.

Just a suggestion but how about hypnotherapy? I've used it to great effect (not on sleeping) but I do remember having a sleep problem years ago and it was anxiety based, even though I felt in control and could rationalise it. I did however dread bed time as I knew sub consciously that it was going to be a disaster even though I'd done all the calming rituals mentioned in this thread, which only serve to reinforce that you have a 'sleep problem' IYSWIM.

Valerian root tablets were good too and I would suggest taking them as a bed time supplement rather than as a 'sleeping pill'. Trick your brain that you don't have a sleep problem?

I'm sorry op that's awful. I am a poor sleeper and suffer from insomnia regularly. Go to the GP and explain how bad it is- there are things they can give you to help.

Also try acupuncture. Honestly I go regularly and it really helps.

Take sleeping tablets, get some rest and then when you feel better you'll be in a position to deal with the insomnia without medication.

I have struggled with insomnia for about 17 years, and I've tried quite a lot of the very good suggestions mentioned.

The stuff that sometimes works for me is the warm bath with Epsom salts before bed, and the white noise and or ear plugs.

I find Piriton helps occasionally, but I'm immune to melatonin :(

Lastly, after a couple of bad nights, I convince myself that my body is so, so tired, that IT WILL SLEEP. it usually works!

(As an aside, if I get up and start doing stuff - usually the ironing - that I am beside myself with exhaustion soon after lunch. If I cannot sleep, I console myself with the fact that I am still resting...)