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Original poster

I want to put my head through a window!

61 replies

Canwedoit4 · 21/02/2023 00:09

I'm so fed up with insomnia. It's ruining my life. I am not anxious or depressed, I have no reason to not be getting any sleep but here we are again yet another night where I can't sleep. I've managed 6hrs in 3 days. I can't see me being able to continue to work I just feel absolutely wiped out.
The doctors don't give a shit, keep fobbing me off with antihistamines which don't work! They don't want to prescribe anything else in case I become addicted but right now I would rather be addicted to tablets that be lead here so frustrated again that I want to smack my head against something to knock me out.
Night time routine is perfect for a calm relaxing night, no TV, no caffeine, no alcohol, no phone, cool room filled with essential oils but it doesn't matter. I'm currently lead listening to sounds of the sea which is just making me get up more to go to the bloody toilet!
How can I get somebody to take me seriously, sleep deprivation is no joke.

OP posts:
Hawkins003 · 21/02/2023 00:20

I only have to sit sometimes and it's lights out, what are your activities to use energy ? Surly your body cannot keep going before if fizzes out?

Bookegg · 21/02/2023 00:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request

Original poster
Canwedoit4 · 21/02/2023 00:23

I don't do much in the way of exercising granted but I have 3 children, work quite a stressful job and am always on the go. I can't keep going like this but if I call the doctors tomorrow they will say its not an emergency and give me an appointment a couple of weeks away but I feel ill with it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Canwedoit4 · 21/02/2023 00:25

I'm not uncomfortable, I have a thermometer in the room it's 16degrees. I'm lead on a £90 pillow because I will desperately try anything and I thought about the comfiness of the bed. Don't but £90 pillows by the way, they don't help you sleep.

OP posts:
BritInAus · 21/02/2023 00:26

Have you tried melatonin?

Original poster
Canwedoit4 · 21/02/2023 00:28

No I haven't because honestly I don't know what I should be looking for. I take magnesium daily as that's meant to help with sleep. I have always suffered with not sleeping well but I'm having a really bad bout at the minute. The only thing I've ever tried which has really given me a good solid 5-6hrs a night is zopiclone but the doctors will do just about anything to get out of prescribing it.

OP posts:
BritInAus · 21/02/2023 00:30

I'd honestly try melatonin. Lots of people swear by it for sleep, and for use with jetlag and adjusting to new time zones. Unsure of the suggested dose so you will need to research that.

Original poster
Canwedoit4 · 21/02/2023 00:39

Can you just order it online? Is it a medicine you take at bedtime?
I feel stupid because it's just a simple thing, I just want to sleep.

OP posts:
Mojoyoyo · 21/02/2023 00:43

I know you’ve probably tried this but sometimes I find sleeping with a bedside lamp on helps.
I’m following re the melatonin.

Fentylipgloss · 21/02/2023 00:44

Call the crisis line, explain that it's causing you to feel depressed and you'll
have to get assessed by the access and assessment team.

I'm waiting for them to change my meds but like you I'm coming up against some resistance due to addiction, but I've been severely mentally ill for 25 years, I'd rather have an addiction that be like this for another 25!!!!!

Original poster
Canwedoit4 · 21/02/2023 00:51

@Fentylipgloss I agree with you. It's not worth the negative impact on your mental health for the chance that you might have to keep taking tablets because right now I wouldn't give a shit if I had to give a pint of blood every day if it meant I slept.

OP posts:
Return2thebasic · 21/02/2023 00:55

Just saw this. No harm to give it a try?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64580342.amp

Ruthy45 · 21/02/2023 01:03

I'm the same with sleep, It's shocking. Once I'm asleep I'm fine but getting to sleep is another story. I'm in discomfort with acid reflux right now as well which is just adding to the problem. Sometimes I literally can't fall asleep till 6/7am. Most if the time about 3/4am. Now I have anxiety around bedtime thinking I'm going to be exhausted. I usually have to wait until I literally can't keep my eyes open before even trying.

Fentylipgloss · 21/02/2023 03:03

@Canwedoit4

I do empathise though, I'm lucky to get 2/3 hours a night. 2 is normal, 3 is a good night!

awakeAgains · 21/02/2023 03:20

I've had insomnia on and off for a few years, generally awake for 2-4 of the small hours. The only things I've found that help are exercising and avoiding naps/early nights. I know it's hard with kids but for the price of a £90 pillow you could get a second hand exercise bike or les mills base annual subscription and exercise once the kids are in bed. I found it was hard getting started when tired but totally paid off. They say evening exercise can keep you awake, but I find once I do get off the sleep is much better quality and I sleep through without waking. Good luck, hope you find something that works for you,

awakeAgains · 21/02/2023 03:21

Ps I'm currently away from home and haven't been able to exercise which is why I'm awake right now!

Izzy24 · 21/02/2023 03:37

I’ve had insomnia since I had covid 2 years ago. I can usually get off to sleep but then wake up after an hour, sometimes 2 or on a good night 3….then that’s it. I tell myself that at least I’m resting my body even if my mind is awake. I really feel for you OP.

BritInAus · 21/02/2023 03:40

Sorry, not sure where you'd get the melatonin. I'm not in the UK so not sure if you can just buy it there. In Australia you can't buy it in stores, so people here tend to order online from US sites. I think you might be able to buy it in Boots etc.

SlaveToTheVibe · 21/02/2023 03:41

This is what worries me about it my son actually.

he takes melatonin - you can order online from a place called piping rock because if you order from uk pharmacies they will only give you two weeks supply tops. - honestly it saved my sanity in the wake of my mothers death. I honestly credit good sleep management for the fact that I am nowhere near falling apart like everybody thought I’d be.

also helpful: Tesco’s stress relief. Not the sleeping tablet - it’s much more effective and you don’t wake groggy.

other things that help:
banana before bed
exercise before bed
limited screen
joirnalljng

wandawaves · 21/02/2023 03:43

Definitely try melatonin. Like a PP I'm in Australia and you can buy it over the counter at the chemist, but it's significantly cheaper from a US website called iherb. They ship to Australia, so maybe check if they ship to the UK too.

wandawaves · 21/02/2023 03:48

Forgot to add- yes you take it at bedtime. Melatonin is the stuff that your body usually makes naturally, that tells your body it's night time and to go to sleep. (You should also try getting some morning sunshine as that also stimulates your melatonin production). So yes you get ready for bed, take a melatonin and go lie down, so that in 30mins or so when it kicks in, you should hopefully just fall asleep because you're in bed and ready. If you take it and get distracted and are still up, then you might miss when it kicks in and then it won't work. That's what my daughter's sleep specialist said anyway.

Oblomov23 · 21/02/2023 03:57

Why won't your Gp give you a sleeping pill to try for a month?
Have you bought nytol?

SuffolkUnicorn · 21/02/2023 05:04

I have chronic insomnia I used to take panadol night I stopped taking it because it gave me restless legs. Dr gave me two weeks supply of sleeping tablets and said these are addictive do they not understand I can’t function on no sleep. I had 30 mins sleep on Sunday night and an hour last night

America12 · 21/02/2023 06:19

I'm the same it's soul destroying. Sometimes I can go to sleep but wake up after 2 hours (even 1 sometimes)

Or I lie there awake all night.
It affects my whole life.
Tried melatonin- nothing.
Even tablets from the Dr didn't help although they'd only give me 7 🙄

Standbyguest · 21/02/2023 06:32

You can buy OTC sleeping tablets from boots or superdrug, boots do one called sleepeaze. Or a dose of night nurse, makes you feel a bit groggy the next morning but saves my sanity when having a bout of insomnia