Any positive insomnia stories?

Hi there:  I have been going through the exact same thing and it has been torture!  One night I did not sleep a wink...literally...not one wink!  My doctor gave me an anti depressant and a drug called lorazapem, as she felt that I was depressed over some events that have occurred in my life the last 6 months.  To some degree she was correct, yet though I was anxious, I was not depressed.  Anyways, that being said, I stopped both of those medications and looked for more natural solutions.  I have since been drinking herbal tea at night (I cut out caffeine completely...very difficult but so worth it) and have taken a small amount of melatonin.  I also read a book called the Effortless Sleep Solution.  One of the main things that the author said is to relax about going to bed as the fear of not sleeping could cause you to stay awake.  I think that has been the case with me.  Last night I found it helpful to read a book before bed and then I took a small amount of melatonin.  I also did not go to bed until I really felt tired.  Though I still woke up after only 4 hours of sleep, at least I did fall back to sleep and got another 4 hours, which for me was a miracle.  I don't have any real solutions for you other to perhaps discuss this with your doctor.  My doctor is very quick to prescribe medication.  I regret that I took it as the withdrawal was not fun, however everyone is different.  If you have no underlying medical or psychological reasons for the insomnia, perhaps you could have a sleep study done.  I wish you the best of luck as I know how grueling this can be.  We all need sleep.  Personally, I do not function without it.

?Good luck.

Hi, how long has it been going on? Do you think anything going on in your life may be contributing? I've been dealing with it since Oct, but I believe several factors in my life are the cause, getting into see a psychiatrist in Mar, seems to take for ever to get in. I hope he can shed some light for me. I would definitely talk to your Dr, especially if no sleep is affecting your daily life. I'm on some sleep meds, but hope to get off them at some point. Exercise has helped me some, I have a bad knee so it's a bit hard, if your healthy I'd definitely get more cardio...

I started with insomnia in September, in the week before it I was having some stress so maybe this is what kick started it, before my insomnia started I went to bed and was asleep in ten mins and would stay asleep for 8 hours, I was such a great sleeper.

Then one night in September it took me a couple of hours to get to sleep and the next night was a bit worse, the next day I started to worry and on that night I got no sleep at all, then I think I developed sleep anxiety, I used to look forward to going to bed but began to dread it.

Each night was a real struggle to get to sleep, about 3 times a week I resorted to drinking a lot of alcohol to knock me out, it worked and I felt relieved the next morning that I got to sleep quickly, alcohol relaxed me so much that I was asleep within 5 minutes of going to bed instead of tossing and turning most of the night or all night.

Some nights I tried taking a sedating antihistamine like phenergan but sometimes I was so anxious it didn't work, lying down my heart would race and I would begin to sweat. I was a nervous wreck. But eventually I started to get better from late November, so much so that I haven't had a completely sleepless night since then, I have managed between 2 and 8 hours sleep from then until now each night, obviously some nights are better than others but I am doing alot better than between September and Late November.

I just learned to relax and and try to reduce stress as much as I can and it has worked, I started not to worry how much sleep I got so I became less anxious about it. I don't need to drink to the point of passing out either. A couple of supplements I take which I think have also helped has been Vitamin C 1000mg per day (reduces cortisol stress hormone)

And also I take Magnesium Citrate 500mg per day which relaxes the muscles and nerves.

Hope you all feel better soon insomnia is awful, people who always sleep well don't know how lucky they are.

Simple Tips to Improve your Sleep

Falling asleep may seem like an impossible dream when you’re awake at 3 a.m., but good sleep is more under your control than you might think. Following healthy sleep habits can make the difference between restlessness and restful slumber. Researchers have identified a variety of practices and habits—known as “sleep hygiene"—that can help anyone maximize the hours they spend sleeping, even those whose sleep is affected by insomnia, jet lag, or shift work.

Here are some simple tips for making the sleep of your dreams a nightly reality:

1. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and other chemicals that interfere with sleep

2. Turn your bedroom into a sleep-inducing environment

3. Establish a soothing pre-sleep routine

4. Go to sleep when you’re truly tired

5. Don’t be a nighttime clock-watcher

6. Use light to your advantage

7. Keep your internal clock set with a consistent sleep schedule

8. Nap early—or not at all

9. Lighten up on evening meals

10. Balance fluid intake

11. Exercise early

12. Follow through

If you stick with these tips, your chances of achieving restful sleep will improve. That said, not all sleep problems are so easily treated and could signify the presence of a sleep disorder such as apnea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, or another clinical sleep problem.

Although many problems with sleep can be dealt with through simple changes in routines or in the sleep environment, sometimes a change in behavior is not enough. If you are having a particular problem with sleep that goes on for a period of time, you might want to consult with a sleep specialist.