Help! I can't sleep without taking Nytol

[schnapps]

I've always had problems sleeping but I recently seem to have gotten myself into a cycle of constantly relying on Nytol tablets to get to sleep. I literally can't sleep unless I have one. At the weekend I ran out of them but thought that I'd try without them because for the last few weeks I'd had one nearly every night. But as soon as I went to bed I was worrying about not getting any sleep and how I would manage to get up/function the next day that I was literally lying awake all night thinking about it. I eventually drifted off at about 6am and had to get up at 7am. I've been rushed off my feet all day and because of work I just haven't had the chance to go to the chemist and buy some more tablets. I'm absolutely worn out but I just know that I'll be lying awake all night thinking that if only I had some Nytol I'd be able to get to sleep and worrying about the fact that I'll be so tired tomorrow I'll be no good at work.

I know this is completely in my head but how on earth can I get out of this cycle?? Is it really bad to take these tablets regularly?

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Schnapps, have you tried Camomille tea last thing at night?

I hadn't thought about trying half a tablet, it's worth a try. Doesn't help me tonight though because I haven't got any and I've already convinced myself I wont be able to get to sleep. I tried all the usual tricks for inducing sleep: camomile tea, warm milky drink, horlicks, exercise, no exercise, cutting out caffeine etc and nothing seems to help. If I drink alcohol then I can generally get to sleep initially but it's very disturbed and I wake up several times during the night. I've spoken to my doctor a few times but he doesn't really see it as a problem and is obviously not keen to prescribe sleeping tablets.

I used to have sleeping problems, never slept with anything, someone bought me a hypnosis deep sleep cd, i played it before bed every night and after a few nights I was sleeping through. Might be worth a try, I know some people are selling them for a few quid on ebay.

Dont take them! You might have a horrid few nights but gradually your sleep will improve. Nytol really aren't that strong - I promise you this is more a psychological addiction than anything else. I had chronic insomnia for a while and believe me Nytol wouldn't have touched it - even prescription sleeping pills didnt work that well!

You WILL survive with little sleep for a few nights!