[Meganb]

Hi there,

Just looking for some guidance. I’ve been struggling on and off with insomnia for years. Has become a massive issue since having a baby, I was put on medication which helped me for a year and then doctor stopped me cold turkey off it which caused really bad insomnia and psychological issues from the lack of sleep. I was prescribed ambien and I managed to wean myself off early this year and was all going great.
2 months ago I had a triggering incident happen, doctor prescribed me Prozac which was way too overactive for my body… sleeping tablets didn’t even help me get to sleep. Fast forward to now I’m taking ambien but finding it’s not working every second night.
I’d like to know which course is right for me or see if this isn’t the right approach for me? I feel so mentally drained and exhausted.

[hiker]

Hi Meganb, sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. I haven’t raised a baby, so I can’t speak to that issue. I wonder if touching base with other moms could help.

But it sounds like you were struggling with insomnia even earlier, and that having a baby, plus the incident two months ago, are additional triggers which keep the insomnia going. It also sounds like you realize that insomnia can take on a life of its own, independent of triggering events.

I sympathize with your wanting to find a sleep med which will make the insomnia go away. I tried many. Unfortunately there is no cure-all med. If there were, people would be lined up for miles. The doctors will write this or that Rx which might work for a little while, but that’s about it. And M.D.s in particular are generally not very skilled or interested in exploring the emotional aspects of what is disrupting your sleep.

I hope you explore this website. If you read the forum posts, both success stories and accounts of people still struggling, you will see some common themes. One is that most of us get overwhelmed at times by our thoughts. They are so powerful, they must be true, right? (not necessarily at all). Another is that insomnia is something the problem-solving aspect of our brains can process and churn out a solution, much like building a piece of furniture. Wrong, but a lot of us have still spent a lot of time trying to do just that. You will see you are nowhere near alone in all this.

All the forums are free. There is also Martin’s course, which goes into more detail about e.g. how to slow down and observe, rather than race to solve.

Easier said than done when you’re hammered from insomnia. Try not to take on too much, just check out what other people are saying here. Wishing you the best: even if you might feel strongly sometimes that you are condemned to a lifetime of exhaustion, you’re not.

[Martin Reed]

Hello @Meganb and welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear about your ongoing struggle with insomnia. It sounds as though your experience is telling you that medication isn’t a long-term solution for you — and that’s something many people can relate to.

When medication doesn’t seem to work we can feel we are completely out of options because we don’t know of an alternative option or an alternative approach. We can also feel really lost if alternative approaches we tried in the past didn’t work out.

This doesn’t mean we are broken or that our insomnia is unusual or unique. All it means is that we haven’t found the approach that’s right for us.

My six-week online course offers a new approach and since it is based on action — something you can always control — medication use is not of much relevance. Action is what matters.

Do you feel ready, willing, and able to make changes? If so, I think you’ll find my six-week online course helpful.

Does this answer your question?

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If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

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