Insomnia - what do you take for it?

[Nellymay]

Bl*dy insomnia is driving me mad!! I've had it on and off since childhood. It follows a pattern- I go to sleep then wake up with a start and can't get back to sleep, can't relax my breathing seems to race - I count sheep, play alphabet games, get up and walk about, read.

It's been bad since we put our house on the market in May and are now in a new house and doing lots of work on it- we've had workmen since September. I get it for all kinds of reasons stress, worry, something I've eaten or drunk - I seem to have problems with highly flavoured foods or processed foods.

I've tried antihistamines, valerian and various over then counter tablets

I need to break the pattern - I'm edgy nauseous tired short tempered miserable etc etc
Please help me, tell me what works for you. A
Thanks

Nytol non-herbal when really bad.
Kalms when mild.

Lavender. Warm Bath. Making sure you are in right condition for sleep for you ie I have to be warm with no cold bits!
Mindfulness
Journal write down concerns and worries

Download an app if you have smartphone , tablet etc and listen to it each night.

Good luck it's horrid xx

Thanks earthy I went to holland and Barrett today to see what they could recommend - I need something to break the cycle- and they gave me 5 htp I'll add them to my nighttime collection of valerian, Kalms and lavender and see what happens. :)

I am now on Prozac which has helped a lot and zopiclone if I really need it.

See your GP and get a small supply of proper sleeping pillssafer than combining over the counter stuff. I've had as few as two pills at a time prescribed and find just their presence in my bedside table drawer a comfortit's a psychological trick.

Try to stop worrying about not sleeping--makes it worse. Hard, I know.

I also found I Can Make You Sleep by Paul Mckenna helpful. His mantra is that sleep is a habit that needs relearned sometimes. Not sleeping is habitual too.

I buy Kirkland (Costco) tablets off amazon for when I need it.

Struggling this week as I had horrific flu'y cold for last couple of weeks and was having night nurse which was great but now going cold turkey. Last night I managed a few hours sleep. Desperate not to have a tablet as want to give blood next week ....

Another vote to see your doctor, I have zopiclone for when I struggle but only takes a couple of nights to break the cycle. With me insomnia has preceded bouts of anxiety when I have ended up on ADs. Like snakeoil says just knowing I could take something that will make me sleep helps.
Hope you get some relief soon!

I have a packet of zopiclone in my cupboard, i haven't taken any yet - knowing they are there means that i generally get to sleep. They are addictive though so not for longterm use.

My emergency packet is diamazepam (I think I've managed to convince my GP I'm not an addict by now, as it takes me 1-2 years to get through a pack of 2mg pills!). It works for me as, like many on this thread, I find insomnia and anxiety are linked.

I also have Kirkland (Costco) tablets off amazon called Sleep Aid, they are brilliant.

usually insomnia is a symptom of something else such as anxiety/depression/pain I think GP's should concentrate on treating the cause not just the symptoms?

Well, i took 5htp last night and slept tip 9 this morning . my first good nights sleep for ages!!

What a htp? Am suffering too. Can I just buy it over the counter?