Insomnia

[LaurenSian]

Hi, looking for any advice or experience of others. My 15 month old had a really bad sleep regression 2 months ago that lasted 2 weeks and I honestly think it’s broken me. Now he’s once again sleeping through the night but I can neither get to sleep nor stay asleep. I can literally lie wide awake the entire night and my mental health has gone down the pan. I tried a drowsy antihistamine which worked for a week then stopped. I asked the doctor for some sleeping tablets but because I’m a single mum she was very reluctant to give my any but eventually gave me 7 zolpidem 5mg tablets. I slept for 2 hours then was awake the rest of the night. I got another drowsy histamine and this is working but I still feel exhausted daily and I know I’m days away from it stopping working. I’ve tried everything; meditation, mindfulness, the autogenic method, breathing methods, pillow sprays, lavender diffusers, reading, colouring, relaxing music, cbd oil… I feel like I’m broken and I’ll never sleep again naturally. Please help, I’m desperate 😭😭😭

I've suffered with this for years on and off. First of all, you say you've tried all these things but for how long? Meditation wont make you fall asleep, however it rewires your brain so you have to do it all the time. You sound like you're in a cycle of subconsciously believing you wont sleep so you don't.
Go to bed late, so you feel tired and get up early, keep the same bed times even if you're exhausted. Eventually you will form a sleep pattern.
There is probably an underlying reason for your lack of sleep so think about what is really stressing you.
Don't scroll on your phone late at night and if you watch tv, get blue blocking glasses, Amazon have them.
Take Magnesium, L-theanine and Ashwagandha at night also 5htp might help.

You probably have a routine for your baby , so adopt one for yourself also . Strong light effects sleep so dim lights , preferably turn off your t.v. by 9.30 for bed at 10.30 ( or an hour before bed ) no screens , get ready for bed , put on pjs , or dressing gown if sleep naked , go back to your main room read a gentle book for 15 mins , then sit back and try your meditation, close eyes for 10 mins . Then go to bed . Basically wind down.