I remember distinctly feeling so exhausted when my DD was this age and not sleeping and used to spend ages reading threads about other people's experiences / baby sleep problems, those posters saying their DCs sleep improved with time made me feel so much better - so I'm posting my own 'light at the end of the tunnel' thread.
DD was always a pretty bad sleeper, as other babies seemed to start doing 4-5 hour stretches of sleep around 5-6 months she was still doing 2 hours, 3 if we were lucky.(I know there's 'worse' sleepers out there). I remember 7/8/9 months being so hard. Wake-ups previously, although frequent had been fairly calm with a feed back to sleep. At this age she's be awake for ages, didn't always want feeding, sometime just wide awaking and rolling around her cot. Months of sleep deprivation were taking their toll on me. I spent so long reading about various sleep training methods. What frustrated me was that she could fall asleep fine by herself - and the books said this was the main thing to crack - but the middle of the night was a different story. She was awake and wanted me.
The thing that really helped - time! I think all kids just have different sleep patterns and needs and I'm in the camp of we can try and create good sleep habits but they'll generally sleep better when they're ready.
By 13ish months DD (and a few other crap sleeping babies I know) were all starting to sleep through (not every night I should add). I know that's not everyone's experience and some people struggle with toddlers who are still sleeping terribly, but for me any others I knew it did improve. So if you're struggling right now but don't want to implement any sort of training you're not comfortable with - hang on in there! It will get better. There's a sleep regression, developmental stuff, teething - so much going on at that age - and you're so so so tired but it's not forever. You're doing brilliantly - sleep deprivation is awful and it may not feel like it but you ARE coping.
DISCLAIMER: DD is now nearly 3 and is going through a bad patch with sleep - she hasn't slept through for a while (recent potty training, sibling on the way, who knows?!) but it is nothing compared to the pre-1 year old exhaustion. I'm not claiming she's a great sleeper or I have all the answers!
Sorry for rambling on - I hope this helps someone who's struggling as I was.