I want to put my head through a window!

[Canwedoit4]

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.

Might be worth looking at sleep restriction therapy.

Life long insomniac here
These things have helped me immensely over the years:

1. Doing deep relaxation every day (Google yoga Nidra).
2. Cardio exercise at least 4 times a week. Walking everyday.
3. No screens (esp phones) in bedroom. Read books in the night.
4. Accepting some nights I won't sleep well. This was a game changer. Acceptance of some bad nights sleep ended up with lots more sleep. The more I got fucked off the less I slept so I turned it around and ignored it. Like a badly behaved child it worked!
5. When open my eyes if they stay wide open I get up and do bedtime routine again after 20 mins, if hard to keep open will drift off.
6. Practice mindfulness during the day.

I'll probably get slated for this but I take nytol and double what it tells me to and then I can sleep. Try that. For a short time obvs

There's a number of videos about sleep related issues here;

https://www.youtube.com/@TimBoxMindCoach/search?query=sleep

I have suffered the same . I downloaded the Beeethe app last year and honestly my sleep and my life have improved so much. It has mediations to help you relax and sleep at bedtime . Am generally calmer in the day too, snacking less. Try it. It’s 3€ a week for full app but genuinely worth it.

Same here only 7

Are you aged 40yrs+, could you be perimenopausal?
Re melatonin, the Biovea brand of time release melatonin from the Biovea website is very reliable.
The dose for each person varies from 1mg to 10mg per night. If you buy a bottle of 2mg and 3mg you will have every available combination. Take when in bed, when you feel tired approx 20 mins before turning light out. Its totally non addictive.
Ive used nightly for past 6+ months with no change in effectiveness.
It doesn’t “knock you out“ like sleeping pills.

@America12 have you gone up to 10mg slow release melatonin nightly for a full 2 weeks?

No. But I will try that, thank you.

@SuffolkUnicorn the thing is , if they worked , how is 7 going to help ? Just be back to square one.

As a fellow insomniac, the exercise might be your issue. I know it's hard to hear when you have a busy life... but I've learned that in order to sleep properly, I have to tired my body out. and I mean really tire it out, properly, which involves deliberate exercise above and beyond the usual busy-ness of the day.

Just a thought, I know it's hard work, but can you fit any more movement in to your routine at all? Even just doing a half hour workout three or four times a week can make a difference (as long as you get properly out of breath).

If you are not anxious/ stressed at all, and have a good routine, then probably what's happening is your body is telling you that it's simply not tired.

I would be really tempted to try tiring yourself out more, before you try sleeping pills, as you really don't want to become dependent on them.

Do you know anyone in America OP? Or who is going soon? I've had insomnia such as yours since I was 17 (now 43) and I've tried EVERYTHING. The only things that have worked are Diazepam (but you can only ever get a two week supply and usually only when the insomnia is also combined with another terrible
Life event that the dr deems needs it) and American over the counter sleeping tablets. (They are much stronger there). Luckily I have a brother in Texas who brings me over my 'Texan helpers' when he comes) I ration them to one a week or so as I'm scared they will begin to be ineffective with over use. They also make me feel a bit slow in the morning after taking. However I happily accept that for one decent (but which I mean about 6.5 hours) nights sleep a week.

It's a half life being so exhausted all the time. People that don't have it just can't understand it properly

I'm going to make more effort to exercise and try and source the melatonin. My husband tries to be helpful but doesn't understand so makes suggestions such as "have a hot bath" or "think about being on holiday" ... I don't mind these in the cold light of day but at 4am I find these suggestions infuriating!
It's sad to see so many people suffering when it's THE most basic human need.

You can buy something over the counter called Promethazine . Not sure of the brand name but it was the same medicine I was given to help me sleep whilst in a mental health hospital.

Also look at ways to relax your Vagus nerve .Yoga is one way .

You need a low dose sedating anti depressant. You can take them every day,

Amitryptiline
Mirtazapine
Trazadone.

30 year plus sufferer here. It absolutely infuriated me that GP's will not help people who are at the end of the road with a few Zopiclone to help them sleep and/or function. I am so lucky to have mine. An intelligent person will understand they cannot have them indefinitely or they will become addicted. I've used them ad-hoc over 30 years and have never been addicted whatsoever. I know if I take them too often, they will simply stop working. Also I have to be fairly chilled for an hour after taking or they don't' work.
I'd happily sign a disclaimer if they tried to take them away. Sleep deprivation has caused me to have palpitations through the roof, extreme anxiety, many breakdowns, potentially lose my job, destroyed two marriages and at times made me feel suicidal. I could have easily became an alcoholic as I was relying on red wine to sedate me to sleep, however it doesn't keep you asleep and you there for miss the deep/REM sleep you need so as to not go insane. I can only go on holiday if I have a tablet, too.
Phenergen (promethazine) are a strong antihistamine and did work for me. Melatonin - no effect. Magnesium - didn't help. Mirtazepine - helps but nobody seems to escape the weight gain that comes with it which is awful. I was referred to a sleep clinic (found myself no help from my GP) and put on Pregabalin (very expensive), Didn't help. Of all the drugs I've tried, Diazepam for anxiety and the odd 7.5mg Zopiclone keep me sane, plus listening to Podcasts during the night. I still waken two to five times for the loo, but Podcasts/LBC radio help me stay calm if I'm 'hyper' from panicking about lack of sleep.

Promethazine really upsets my tummy, I have quite bad IBS and when I have taken that I seem to be up all night on the toilet. Same with other over the counter meds ive tried for helping with sleep. I do also have some amitryptiline but apparently I can't take them as I'm on a low dose of sertraline and you can't take them together?
I just don't feel the doctors take it seriously enough, the damage it causes to people's every day lives is awful and they just don't realise the impact it has on whole families.
I have suffered for as long as I can remember but have been able to manage this by not working and sleeping as and when I can, it has affected my whole life. Luckily I have a husband who has been happy to support me and although he doesn't understand how I feel he will do what he can to help me.

few suggestions that work well here

1. weighted blanket
2. do 3 rounds of Wim Hof Breathing daily - have a google. I always sleep well after this (although I do it during the day time not before bed, wouldn't recommend before bedtime) - seems to make a big difference to how I sleep.
3. morning sunlight as early as you can on your face for 10 mins while you drink your coffee on the doorstep.

I feel you. I was awake for 9 days and had to be put to sleep in a hospital! With a huge sedative thing that you need to be impatient for. I was hallucinating and all sorts

I got out on long term Zopiclone and the drs hate it. Fortunately it doesn't get questioned.

Crap reply. Doesn't really help. Just wanted you to know I've been there and it's fucking horrible

Oh. I buy melatonin online! PM me if you'd like to know x

I’m on Venlafaxine and Amitryptiline together. Both low doses.

I've taken Zopiclone every day for over 25 years. Only thing that worked for me. Though they won't prescribe that daily now

Get a fish tank

Weighted blanket

Hypnotherapy- honestly it can work like a dream

Change your bedroom around Feng shui your bedroom or whole house if possible

Ban sugar late afternoon onwards

Breathing excercises

Hynotherapy or sleep audios to sleep too

Blackout curtains