Insomnia - does anything work?

[ValancyRedfern]

Feeling completely at the end of my tether. Can anyone recommend anything they've done which has actually helped with insomnia?

Sleeping tablets are useful in the short term. Longer term, you need to work on what is causing the insomnia.
So if you can't sleep because you can't switch off even though you're tired, find ways to help you relax at night.
If it's because you are worried about a particular thing, find a way to fix it or to help you worry less.
Or if its (like me) because you just aren't tired and don't need to sleep, I recommend just not trying to force it, find things to occupy you at night, and remember that when you need to sleep you will and will probably go too far the other way and need to sleep all the time

Thanks. I've never slept well since I was a child. Sleeping pills do absolutely nothing for me now as I think I've used them too much.

My DD had genetic testing which showed a mutation in the gene that converts serotonin to melatonin which explained why she never slept well from birth. She has various medical conditions now and is under various private consultants, including an endocrinologist and a psychiatrist. At night she takes melatonin 3mg (the immediate one), one Nytol because she also has histamine intolerance so this helps with the histamine dump at 3am, and Quetiapine 50mg to help her relax. The combination of these help enormously. I doubt you'd get them on the NHS though.

I just honestly feel I can't last another day on one hour's sleep

@ValancyRedfern

Download the

“Stuff you should know”podcast and listen to it . Put iPhone on timer with stops playing as the ring tone

Works and treat plus you learn stuff too.

They guys will put you to sleep for certain.

Melatonin does work. I used to buy it from pharmacy in USA where it’s just on shelf. So you can prob still get it on eBay. I wouldn’t say it’s addictive, but you can build up a tolerance to where tapering off it is hard for a few days.

Do you practice good sleep hygiene?

You could try Sleepstation, you can get your GP to refer you on the NHS.

I don't think it will work that well if it is stress related however. Have you identified the triggers?

I also listen to “Stuff you should know”. Both the guys have really relaxing voices and help me drift off. Interesting topics discussed in a light hearted manner.

It's definitely worse when I'm stressed, but I'm also more stressed when I haven't slept so it's a vicious circle. Right now I'm incredibly stressed by work, but I know I could cope fine if I were sleeping, but as it is I'm falling apart.

I use amitriptyline and if that doesn't send me to sleep, green version CBD oil from the original alternative website. Also check your mattress. It never occurred to me that it might have an effect. I sleep much better now we have a memory foam one. I also listen to radio. LBC is good.

This may sound stupid, but how much caffeine do you drink in a day? Even if you think your intake is quite low, some people have lower tolerance than others. I only have one tea and one coffee, both in the morning, but when I'm really struggling to sleep I go cold turkey and have a few weeks of amazing sleep before the effect wears off.

You need some serious drugs if it's been going on for so long.

Quetiapine, Mirtazapine, amitryptiline all options. They don't work in the same ways as sleeping pills.

I bet if one more person says "have you tried lavender on your pillow?" You might lamp them

Sleeping tablets have never worked long for me. A few night they send me to sleep for a couple hours, then they stop working, or I just get used to them. I'm actually starting on melatonin tomorrow as the doctor wants my sleep to improve. I'm actually not that bothered as I don't feel tired ever on little or even no sleep for days at a time.

All the Dr gave me was anti histamines, the same as over the counter sominex. They don't do anything even though I often take more than the dose (I know I shouldn't but I'm desperate)

I'm on prescribed mirtazapine and dh buys melatonin from Biovea online. Both have helped us respectively.

If youre really struggling I would get signed off and get some space from work to focus on your sleep.
It's sooo important you need to break the cycle. Also speak to your gp who can give you some meds to kick start your sleep for short term.

I have occasional insomnia.

I take Phenergan but it's for occasional use only. Same thing as yours I think!

I listen to ASMR, I have a favourite hair brushing one.

A well fitting sleep eye mask helps as I feel tension around my head and it feels like my temples are being held as well - hard to explain!

Orgasm - I manage that myself.

The sleep app with the music by Max Richter

Best of all, tapping therapy which I use from the Tapping Solution app. It's worked miracles on one of my DC too for anxiety.

ASMR on YouTube, thousands of them on there. Some not up my street at all, all weird noises.

Lizzi is favourite. Also Latte and Gibi.

They do personal attention ASMR.

I was also going to suggest the tapping solution....

Mirtazipine!!! It'll make you gain a lot of weight but I didn't sleep for 9 days in total (not at all) and sleeping tablets and antihistamines didn't work. Mirtazipine did within an hour!!

Now I've gone down a Internet web looking at solutions .... you can't buy heated eye masks and weighted ones too!

What about a weighted blanket?

Do you have anxiety?
My sleep was terrible before I started on Sertraline. If anxiety is causing the insomnia then you need to sort the anxiety.

Hot shower or bath before bed.

Exercise after work to tire you out.

Lavender oil.

Black out curtains.

Ear plugs.

No caffeine after lunchtime.

I do all this but it doesn't always work. Sometimes I just toss and turn all night.

I had insommnia for years linked to undiagnosed anxiety. I've done a course of cbt, been on a sleep workshop with talkworks, upped my exercise and been on anti-depressants for nearly a year and touch wood, my sleep is the best bit has been for years.

I know that's not a quick fix but it has worked so much better than the zopliclone, nytol, caffeine and pushing through that I did for years.

Hello fellow insomniacs, just reporting in, just in case any of this is useful

I have a fan on all night for white noise and to be cooled down. I sleep best in a cold room, under a weighted blanket
But I ALSO listen to an audible book all night. It has to be one I know really well, so it doesn’t matter when I fall asleep and miss some.
(Just need to say here, we have been very happily married for 33 years and DH snores terribly. We have separate bedrooms!)
I take an ibuprofen tablet every night, because I have arthritis, and it stops the pain that prevents sleep
Valerian root is like knockout drops! I don’t take it every night, but in an emergency it works brilliantly. You can brew it from the herb as a tea, but NYTOL herbal is basically valerian root.

There is a reason why they use sleep deprivation as a torture, it prevents you from functioning or even thinking straight.

You have my sympathy and complete understanding.