I don't recall ever having a good nights sleep. For the last 20 years I have taken Ambien and Xanax to sleep, and even then it was not a good nights sleep. Two months ago I decided to wean off the medications for sleeping and I lowered the dose until it was safe to stop taking. One month ago I completely stopped taking anything, and now it is 0300 to 0500 before my body allows sleep and this lasts no longer than four hours. I waited until summer to do this as school is out and I can have time to adjust and it won't affect my working. I went to the doctor last week for my routine check up and told him I haven't slept in quite a while. He thinks my body will adjust, but to me it seems like it should have adjusted by now.
Any suggestions that work for you to sleep. I've tried over the counter sleep aides and melatonin.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rtquig,

Tried exercise? Wear yourself out, then try to read a book in bed.

Ever tried Benadryl?

Every once in a while I get "insomniactic" where I sleep so lightly, it is really just barely a doze, and I am aware I am not fully alseep.

It can go on for weeks, so I found that one Banadryl each night for about a week or two will "reset my sleeper" and then I can stop.

Last time needed was over a year ago.

The only "side effect" I have is being a bit slow and sluggish in the morning (wich is not normal for me). I usually wake and am 100% in .000356291 seconds, give or take a nano.

I also found that it kicks in about 30 minutes after taking, so I take it the same time and get in bed in the 30 minute slot, and then, ZZZzzzzzzzzzz.......

(Equate brand from Walmart.)

I've been having issues with sleep too. I'm on vacation on the Oregon coast ring now and getting 10 + hours of sleep per night!

It just takes a 2 week vacation away from home.

Good luck I know how bad lack of sleep is.

I used to have very similar issues.

A friend turned me onto the "Calm" app. It contains meditation, sleep exercises, etc. I pay for it as a monthly subscription and have found it to be worth every. single. penny.

https://www.calm.com/

Available on the App Store.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Ever tried Benadryl?

Every once in a while I get "insomniactic" where I sleep so lightly, it is really just barely a doze, and I am aware I am not fully alseep.

It can go on for weeks, so I found that one Banadryl each night for about a week or two will "reset my sleeper" and then I can stop.

Last time needed was over a year ago.

The only "side effect" I have is being a bit slow and sluggish in the morning (wich is not normal for me). I usually wake and am 100% in .000356291 seconds, give or take a nano.

I also found that it kicks in about 30 minutes after taking, so I take it the same time and get in bed in the 30 minute slot, and then, ZZZzzzzzzzzzz.......

(Equate brand from Walmart.)

Thanks, do you use the pill or liquid form?

I have tried staying up later, meditation and moderate exercise. I have found out from my Judo days that strenuous exercise a few hours before bedtime keeps my awake.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
I used to have very similar issues.

A friend turned me onto the "Calm" app. It contains meditation, sleep exercises, etc. I pay for it as a monthly subscription and have found it to be worth every. single. penny.

https://www.calm.com/

Available on the App Store.

I just installed the app. I will try anything at this point to sleep.

quote:

Originally posted by rtquig:...
Thanks, do you use the pill or liquid form?

The little pink pill, not the capsule.

And going to sleep the same time and getting up the same time, even on weekends is a good habit to start.



Good luck!

quote:

don't recall ever having a good nights sleep. For the last 20 years I have taken Ambien and Xanax to sleep, and even then it was not a good nights sleep. Two months ago I decided to wean off the medications for sleeping and I lowered the dose until it was safe to stop taking. One month ago I completely stopped taking anything, and now it is 0300 to 0500 before my body allows sleep and this lasts no longer than four hours. I waited until summer to do this as school is out and I can have time to adjust and it won't affect my working. I went to the doctor last week for my routine check up and told him I haven't slept in quite a while. He thinks my body will adjust, but to me it seems like it should have adjusted by now.
Any suggestions that work for you to sleep. I've tried over the counter sleep aides and melatonin.

See a physician who specializes in sleep disorders, and get a proper evaluation. It is clear to me that has not happened as yet.

Benadryl pink pill works for me too. I usually take mine about an hour before I sleep. If I take it too late, I end up really groggy and cranky for the first couple hours in the morning.

Benadryl also induces vivid and strange dreams for me.

Thanks for the responses guys.
I'm going to try the Benadryl, the "Calm" ap and going to bed the same time every night and getting up same time every morning.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

don't recall ever having a good nights sleep. For the last 20 years I have taken Ambien and Xanax to sleep, and even then it was not a good nights sleep. Two months ago I decided to wean off the medications for sleeping and I lowered the dose until it was safe to stop taking. One month ago I completely stopped taking anything, and now it is 0300 to 0500 before my body allows sleep and this lasts no longer than four hours. I waited until summer to do this as school is out and I can have time to adjust and it won't affect my working. I went to the doctor last week for my routine check up and told him I haven't slept in quite a while. He thinks my body will adjust, but to me it seems like it should have adjusted by now.
Any suggestions that work for you to sleep. I've tried over the counter sleep aides and melatonin.

See a physician who specializes in sleep disorders, and get a proper evaluation. It is clear to me that has not happened as yet.

I will do a sleep study this time. I know I have a sleep disorder. This time around my main problem is initially falling asleep.

Let us know the results of the study. Drug therapy is generally not the best approach without a careful assessment of the problem.

I've had 2 sleep studies to see if I had sleep apnea. Good luck getting sleep with all the wires attached to you. I had miserable nights. Only positive thing was no sleep apnea.

My friend, I too suffer from chronic insomnia.

I also stopped taking the sleep-inducing medications (Ambien in my case) every night. I am hoping to work my way down to taking no medications of any kind. I'm just fucking tired of having a dependency on any drug, even those that are minor in the great scheme of things.

Mind you, I've also made some huge changes in diet (i.e., > 1500 calories/day, almost no dairy, less than 20 grams of carbs, very low gluten (ideally none), way less caffeine, and zero sodas) that have me feeling way better.

Now, with my doctors' agreement, I only use a sleep-inducing medication when I have either:

(1) Gotten less than nine hours of sleep in 96 hours or four day/night cycles;

(2) No slept at all in 48 hours or two day/night cycles;

(3) Had KIP 8+ cluster headaches for more than three consecutive nights; or

(4) My blood pressure rises well above average.

I've been here before - that is before my doctors decided my lack of "sleep" was having a serious effect on my health and put me on Seconal, then Ambien.

After all, I've suffered from insomnia since I was 17 and I almost 60 now. It sucks rancid, sweaty, camel balls, but I've given up fighting it.

I think I now understand a bit of the dilemma faced by people with a terminal disease. Take the treatment and suffer the consequences or not and suffer the other consequences.

Look at it this way: if you aren't sleeping you can read every page of the Donald Trump is a first-rate ass clown, but..., The Trump Presidency, You Will Buy a Glock, and most important of all, the Enough with the cat pictures threads.

Hang in there.

quote:

I just installed the app. I will try anything at this point to sleep.

I recommend going to:

Meditate > Deep Sleep > 20 Minutes

20 Minutes is my favorite. I've worked my way up to the 10 minute and am going to try the 5 minute next week. Never thought this would happen for me.

+1 on calm. Good app. I no longer require it and workin 13 hour days makes sleep just hittin the pillow.

Every so often sleep will elude me.

A shot of nyquil usually does the trick.

It's a little after 0200, listened to calm and had a hard time concentrating on the story. I didn't get out to pick up Benadryl, Friday for sure. Sitting here with 3oz of Bourbon. It won't work but I had to try.