chronic insomnia getting worse

[oldgran]

Hi,
I've never been a great sleeper, but over the last few years my ability to sleep has been getting worse and worse. Since having my two dcs (who sleep really well!) it's got worse again. Sometimes I get to sleep easily, but then wake up in the night and can't get back to sleep (sometimes for several hours) and sometimes I just can't get to sleep at all. If we go away anywhere, I don't usually get to sleep until around 3/4am.
I can't lie in - and even if I could I wouldn't be able to because of dcs getting up around 7am.
Needless to say, I am chronically exhausted. DH doesn't sleep well either, so he is, shall we say, not that sympathetic, but I don't want to be like this ANY MORE.
On nights (like tonight) when I can't sleep it literally feels like torture - I am so so tired and my eyes sting because they are so weary, but simply cannot get to sleep.
I don't want to be on sleeping tablets continually - I've tried Sominex but it leaves me feeling utterly groggy the next day.
I don't know what I am asking really, but it is 3.15am and I am desperate to hear that someone else goes through this! I am young, but I feel like I look awful and old because of this. Anyone out there?

I had insomnia for about eight months last year. It was hellish. I went to the doctor when I couldn't take it any more. She talked to me about why I thought it was happening and prescribed me sleeping pills.

I only took them for a couple of weeks because they they made me groggy and I was so hungry. But it did break the cycle.

Talking to her helped so much as though my problems were not at the front of my mind, they were what was causing it in the first place. Counsiling would have really helped me I think.

I found listening to my dc's baby classical music CDs helped me clear my mind when I was in bed too.

Thanks - I suppose the reason I don't want to go to the gp is that I don't want to be put on sleeping pills long term, so it's interesting that they broke the cycle for you. But myy mum has a similar problem to me and has been on tablets for about 15 years. She has tried refelxology, hypnotherapy and all sorts of other things, and nothing helps long term. I don't want to end up like her for the rest of my life. I worry that constant lack of sleep will make me ill.
The whole thing is already making me depressed - I feel and look awful and I can't see a way of things improving. I am jumpy, irrational and irritable. Sometimes I feel like I can't cope, and I just think if only I could sort this out then my life would be so different.

I heard if you put all your thoughts on paper before bed in a diary of sorts you are less likely to stay awake. I do hate not being able to sleep, you have my sympathy.