Don't know how to sleep - problem unkown

i am 30 years older than you and 2 years ago i started doing exactly what you doing. .. i have not found a solution either... i am also brain fogged fatigued and headachy doing day... my body is exhausted. i will be checking in here to see if someone has any great ideas...... i hope you find a cure soon while you young its harder to combat when you get older..... good luck...

also you maybe stressed or maybe hormonal imbalance is playing a part...try not to take sleeping pills and that includes the prescription ones.. they are extremely addictive and v hard to stop and withdraw from.......they can be life damaging......

I had the same problem all my life, even starting in childhood. Never completely cracked it till I retired from paid employment at age 66. Then I suddenly started sleeping like a baby. (Says something about the world of work, doesn't it?)

I'm assuming you've already tried all the usual "sleep hygiene" measures - no coffee after midday (tea too if that affects you), no computer, phone etc. use after 9pm, get enough exercise during the day, avoid indigestible foods late at night. I have to say it never made much difference for me.

I found the older type of antihistamine helped. That's something like Phenergan (promethazine), Benadryl (diphenhydramine), or Piriton (chlorphenamine). Phenergan worked best for me. The new generation of antihistamines are no good for sleep problems, as they're designed not to make you to sleepy.

I used to find a small dose of Phenergan worked best, but only if taken at least an hour before going to bed. This is important. Antihistamines won't knock you out, so if you wait till bedtime before taking them you'll still be awake an hour later wondering why you haven't fallen asleep, and the resulting anxiety will keep you awake all night again!

However, even antihistamines should be treated with caution as you can develop tolerance for them too, just like sleeping pills. I only ever took Phenergan after I'd had a couple of bad nights. I would then take it for two or three nights to reset the clock. You should never take antihistamines every single night or they'll stop working after a couple of weeks, just like conventional sleeping pills. Start with a very small dose too, as they can leave you feeling a bit groggy the next morning.

You both have all my sympathy, I know just what it's like. But it won't necessarily have an impact on your overall health. I'm in my 70s now and in very good form apart from a minor auto-immune condition, which may or may not be connected with years of sleeplessness.

Try this. If you wear Sunglasses during the day. STOP doing that. Stay in sublight for 2-3 hours a day, starting with 30 in or so. Dont wear cap or anything, just plain sunlight. Gradually increase time. And see if it works.

If this doesn't work. Get Organic German Chamomile dried raw flowers. One tbsp tea 1 hr before bedtime.

If that doesn't work, add valerian to it. 

I've had the same for years. I can't work it would be dangerous. Some nights eg last night no sleep at all quater to six now and I will get up soon.

I've tried all medications the benzodiazapines worked the best but now not worth taking because after a while they no longer work.

Valerian root 900mg is the closest natural thing I've found. Unfortunately it no longer agrees with me.

Magnesium helped for a while and so did vitamin d3. They no longer work for me but I have had some success with them.

I've tried melatonin also 5htp but they don't do anything to help me but they work for some people. So could be worth a try for you.

Chamomile tea I find relaxing but not really sleep inducing. I can be totally shattered after being awake for 24 hours or so and even then not be able to sleep.

These days I sleep when I can but entering REM sleep as soon as I sleep which often wakes me up.

At the moment I'm awaiting having a sleep study done, after 10 years I'm not holding out much hope of getting help though.