to ask if insomnia ever ends?

[Errrrrrr]

In my teens and 20s I was always a champion sleeper, it wasn't just something that happened, it was something I loved.

Since having two kids who were dreadful sleepers as babies and small toddlers it's just all gone to pot. I know I'm not alone, friends say they have the same, but I'm so depressed and fed up by it. DC are now sleeping pretty well but I am broken - I think I've had maybe 2-3 full nights sleep without taking nytol in the last year or so. Otherwise I'm awake for anything from 1.5-3 hours around 2am. I've tried baths, bananas, deep breathing and meditation, number and letter games, no screens in the evening, sleep masks etc but it doesn't seem to help - my brain is just fizzing over at that time of night and I can't switch off.

Is this me forever now? Has anyone beaten long term insomnia and if so, how???? AIBU to beg for help?

Hopeful bump - I guess maybe there is not much that helps?!

I went through quite a long period of insomnia after a traumatic event. I did two things, one was medication (not sleeping pills but an anti depressant that induces sleep) but I would imagine you don't want to go down that route. The other thing I found very helpful was to read "The Sleep Book" by Guy Meadows. Apparently he runs a sleep clinic and the book was really helpful in looking at insomnia in a different way and I definitely slept better.

Wow thanks - the reviews are excellent! Have downloaded it and ordered a hard copy too. Fingers crossed it helps!

Hi op,
Would you consider using crystals?simply place under your pillow or wear as jewellery.
Try;Amethyst,Hematite,Lapis Lazuli,Sapphire,Topaz,Rose Quartz.
When you buy your crystal cleanse it in clear running water for a few minutes.
Hold on your hands and say you want this crystal to aid my sleep,or however you wish to phrase it.
Try it,it will help.

Thanks KarmaStar. Crystals aren't really my bag but I can see how having a mental talisman to help sleep might help me so thanks for the suggestion and I will look into it!

It's a really good book, like I say it helped me a lot. Hope it works for you!

I had insomnia for around a year when I was younger (early 20s). I was on medication for it (temazipan and zopiclone) not advising you to have these just trying to give you a picture of how severe it was. I weaned myself off by using herbal sleeping tablets and gradually cutting them down. So I can tell you it definitely can get better even if it seems hopeless at the moment. Sending I know how hard it is.

I went through about 7 years of repeated waking, with every 2-3 nights not being able to get back to sleep for about 3 hours. It's settled by itself so that now I'm about half and half sleep through/get up once for loo and go back to sleep straight away. So there is hope.

Sometimes I wake about 2am with mind fizzing - usually when I'm worried about something. Then I try slow breathing and count to 200 - if I get to 200 in one go and am still awake, then I get up and do something quiet but useful so that it's not such wasted time. Going back to bed I find warm feet help.

My experience is that insomnia gets worse the more you worry about ir.

I've had this for years, I've just learned go go with it and not stress, it does get to me sometimes but I do tend to cope better thinking oh well it's not the end of the world if I don't sleep
I may be unusual though in that I don't generally feel tired through the day if I don't sleep, I found valerian helps a bit, and also the sleep hypnosis videos on YouTube

Oh thank you! Feelingsad thanks for the ray of hope, good to know it can improve. Mere I like the idea of setting a deadline then getting up - i tend to lie there for the whole time and I know it doesn't help. tccat I do feel tired unfortunately but DH is good at letting me sleep on a bit longer when the kids get up. Trying to stay calm about it but it's definitely a vicious circle!

I suffer from it too. Like last night, I was so tired from fractured sleep all week, I actually went to bed at 8.30pm and nodded off for 45 mins. Then could not get back to sleep until 2.30am. Woke up at 3.30am.. Woke up at 4.30am. Woke up at 5.30am... woken by alarm at 6am. ARGH!!!! And I don't even have any kids!

I’ve always been a terrible sleeper, there are several insomniacs on my dads side of the family and unfortunately I inherited the trait. For a couple of years (until I fell pregnant) I took amitriptine (spelling!!) before bed and it definitely helped me have a more restful, full nights sleep. It’s an antidepressant but I took it purely for my sleep issue.

I have tried hypnotherapy, massage oils, night lights, music, white noise, etc over the years and everything works for a short while then I go back to not sleeping.

It’s hell and I really sympathise. Good luck x