Chronic Insomnia

[Readingandrighting]

Anyone else?

What to do?

I’ve tried everything I can think of: guided meditations, sleep tea, magnesium at night, no caffeine in the evening, breathing techniques.... it’s starting to feel hellish.

Anyone tried anything that worked?

Thanks

@dogsdinnerlady

I agree. A doctor asked me all about my personal life once as an alternative to giving me sleeping pills.

@goingtosnow

I never heard of taking paracetamol for insomnia. I suppose painkillers probably have calming effects on the body.

[quote Readingandrighting]@AwkwardSquad
I pay for private counselling but I don't think she realises just how bad the insomnia is. I think I need to be a bit clearer on my counselling needs from now on because sometimes I find I could talk about everything from an annoying colleague to a repressed childhood memory! I do have repetitive negative thought patterns and it can be quite debilitating. I'm going to address those with her in our next session as I'm starting back up soon.[/quote]
Yes - to identify what the root problem is, and what are ‘just’ the symptoms.

Not wanting to be voice of doom, but zopiclone didn’t help me. Didn’t really help me sleep but still left me feeling rubbish in the morning, muddle-headed and dizzy. And I developed a weird contrary reaction to valerian, it worked for a while then made me quite restless and unable to sleep. Which was a bit of a blow.

Best things for me = very little caffeine, no alcohol, exercise to reduce stress hormones, getting further through peri, yoga, audio books, deep breathing, counselling. I generally get between 5 to 7 hours a night now although my sleep window could be better as I go to sleep early and wake up really fucking early.

@AwkwardSquad
I’m 40. I’m childless & on some (unrealistic?) level, I hold out hope for the possibility of meeting someone & having a child! So I don’t like thinking about peri-menopause. What age did it start for you?

Interesting about the symptoms as I have had mixed reactions to valerian and the other night Nytol made me feel jazzed up and restless but awake; so meds aren’t always the best option for some of us, I know.

Thanks for your input. I’m going to drink this weekend as I’ve some nice wine in but I’m going to ditch the booze from Monday. I’ve a feeling it’ll help all right.

My insomnia is related to mental health issues, particularly anxiety. So most of what I do to try to improve my sleep is about managing the anxiety.

The perimenopause insomnia was a fresh layer of hell. It started at about the average age but seems to have improved now I’m nearly through it and out the other side. I thought HRT might help, tried it, couldn’t tolerate it (severe headaches) and the insomnia when I came off it was almost the worst it’s been but that didn’t last long, thank goodness.

The absolute best drug I’ve had for insomnia was temazepam but it’s a benzo and addictive, and I can quite see why! So I only had one short course when I was desperate and probably not too far off needing to be admitted.

Honestly the most important thing to do is tackle the negative thought cycles and ruminating. It will get better

I've also suffered on and off for much of my life. What turned it around was a book I randomly picked up from the library that advocated supercalis method above - basically stopping all rituals and "training" which is a really unhelpful way of aiding a natural process. I still stick to good sleep basic habits but have stopped all the anxiety and over thinking that used to accompany them. It's been phenomenal - I'm basically a pretty good sleeper now. Can also sleep when away from home which is amazing for me!

I also have a calming audio book with no loud bits. I listen to the same book over and over. It's especially good if I wake in the night - pop in the ear piece and back to sleep in minutes usually. So good luck looking for a solution. I do think that if I can sleep quite well now anyone can!!

Honestly the most important thing to do is tackle the negative thought cycles and ruminating. It will get better

Thanks @AwkwardSquad although I am not sure how to break a lifetime of habits!

@dumpling23

Thanks! You make it sound so simple! Some day 🤞🏾

Temazepam is notoriously addictive, too much paracetamol can damage your liver. Zop is safer. I do think docs should treat their patients as intelligent adults who are able to make a reasoned decision.

@dogsdinnerlady

Thanks. I’ll be interested in seeing what the GP says.

I slept last night! Not until 2am but still. I had two glasses of wine, did yoga, watched some funny videos, listened to an audio book & then slept solidly! Now all I have to do is help this sleep to start earlier and last longer. 🤞🏾

@dogsdinnerlady

Temazepam is notoriously addictive, too much paracetamol can damage your liver. Zop is safer. I do think docs should treat their patients as intelligent adults who are able to make a reasoned decision.

Yes. I should have expressed myself more firmly in my post - I was prescribed it once by my GP as I had not slept for so long, and I have never requested it since because I could see why it was so addictive. Benzos are dangerous and I do not recommend them!

But as mentioned, Zopiclone doesn’t work for everyone. I find Phenergan much better if I really need chemical assistance.

And great that you’ve had a good sleep, OP! It makes such a difference.

It does ... it wasn’t near enough obviously from 2am but it’s a start. This thread is great - it makes me realise I’m not alone as most people I know sleep well.

The insomnia rages on!

I skied last night (exhaustion from barely sleeping the night before) and today I felt more positive, energetic, proactive, effective and above all else happy than I have in ages!

I still haven’t seen the GP. They asked if it was urgent & considering people are dying of Covid-19, I said no.

I’ve offered a book and I just took a nytol.

It’s my head! Right now I’m remembering a truly frustrating thing one friend did, a lie another friend said to my face, a mean thing another friend said .... zzzzzzz (yet not!)

Yes I skied last night! I mean, I slept

*ordered

CBD oil is really good for getting to sleep.

Skied last night

@ExtraSettings

Yeah I took off to a fancy ski resort despite lockdown & had the time of my life! Never mind sleep, skiing is where it’s at!

@Bandino

I’ve got a lot of recommendations for CBD oil. I must buy some.

When did life get so bloody difficult that just falling asleep took effort?

Skiing might help. I'm also awake. Just read thread and made a note of all the suggestions. For me definitely peri plus anxiety triggered by a massive trauma . good to know I'm not alone though dad for all of us on this situation. 🌺🌷🌻🌼

Sad not dad.😁

Try to get some zoplicone from the Drs. That helps you go off