Insomniacs and ex-insomniacs - where are you?!

[GoldfishSoup]

I can’t take any more!!!

Im late 30s. My insomnia started as a young teen and has never gone away. I’ve done it all; no caffeine, exercise, calming things, no phones/tv, music, no music, hypnosis, eating banana or kiwis before bed, taking all the different types of magnesium, counselling - nothing works!!!
I even wake up when I take Nytol. The only thing that made me feel better was amitriptyline but I stopped that when I got pregnant and didn’t go back on it because I don’t want to be rely on pills, but what else can you do? I’m exhausted. I’m beyond exhausted. I read that suicide rates of insomniacs are hugely increased and I am reaching the point where I understand why. I don’t want to live like this, it affects my entire life in a negative manner. I get around 3-4 hours of sleep a night.

I’m trying to make sure my gut flora is healthy currently to see if that works; I have a good diet already but am trying to have probiotics where I can and read that prebiotics may help too.

But PLEASE if you have found something that helps, something that helps you sleep. I’m not awake stressing about things, my brain is just up there like ‘Hey, what are all the words to that 80s song that you heard once about ten years ago? I know, let’s figure them out’ or ‘why don’t humans have retractable anuses?!’

Im so miserable. I imagine my life with energy, not dreading every night and it would be a dream. Instead it’s a living nightmare.

Have you tracked your insomnia? I found it correlated with a couple of things 1) my hormonal cycle, esp ovulation 2) any kind of fight or flight emotion even putting a bid on eBay, or watching a tense movie 3) histamine which I have become sensitive to as I have aged, it’s naturally wakeful and now I eat a lot less.

I still get insomnia sometimes but now I know why it’s a bit easier to deal. Less evening excitement and histamine have genuinely cut down episodes. Good luck, it is hell and so hard to describe to others when it’s been going on a long time.

Sending you ❤️ hope you sleep soon

I tried everything. Absolutely everything. In the end, I got so sick of everyone with their “well meaning” advice. Insomnia was ruining my life.

And then I FINALLY was prescribed Mirtazapine. Bloody love the stuff, you’d have to pry it out of my dead hands now. I’ve been on it for 7 years, and I now sleep like a normal person, and my life has improved 100%.

I truly believe that for some people, insomnia is so bad, that only the drugs work. I literally wanted to kill anyone who mentioned “sleep hygiene” by the end.

I take 24mg of melatonin e dry single night. It would knock most people out, but I sleep much better now. They will take it from my cold dead hand before I stop.

I literally wanted to kill anyone who mentioned “sleep hygiene” by the end.

😂This reminds me of when I visited the doctor, years ago, to get another prescription of Zopiclone. My regular doctor knew my issues, and knew well that I'd only give in and ask for Zopiclone when I was at the end of my tether (usually after 2 weeks or so of little or no sleep.) Unfortunately he wasn't in, so I saw a locum- and she asked me if I'd tried a lavender pillow... Only my good manners stopped me from throttling her in a sleep-deprived rage.

@Shodan I relate to that only too well! “Have you tried lavender on your pillow” “have a warm milky drink” “no screens” “no caffeine after 12pm” “insomnia won’t kill you” “have you tried yoga?”

Things have been much better for me for 7 years due to Mirtazapine, but if I hear any of those phrases now it takes me right back to murderous rage!

Read 'The effortless sleep method' by Sasha stephens . It changed my life! You have to follow what she says but basically it's about changing your thinking about sleeping .