[Pufferpunk]

I've suffered from insomnia for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I remember my mom putting me to bed at 9pm. I heard the TV from their bedroom at the end of the hallway. I heard the news & then Johnny Carson, saying goodnight. IDK how long I'd lay awake after that but I do remember mom always having a hard time waking me in the mornings. I started self-medicating with pot at the age of 17 & slept like a baby for 20 years (actually, missed the entire 20…). Got clean at the age of 38 & I thought the insomnia was a rebound from stopping the pot. Then I remembered Johnny Carson. I started taking melatonin, valerian root & KaKava (until I learned KavaKava caused liver damage) & it worked fairly well, for about 9 years. Then it stopped working & I started seeing sleep specialists. They told me I have chronic insomnia & tossed lots of different meds at me. What I found that worked finally, was Lunesta but I still have to take it with the melatonin & a LOT of valerian root, but at least I get about 7 hours sleep now, thank God! I've been on that for the past 5 years or so. I read yio're only supposed to take Lunesta for 2 weeks but every sleep specialist I see just tells me to keep taking it.

[Martin Reed]

Yikes – you've certainly been through the wars with your sleep history. I hope you'll share your wealth of experience in the forums by contributing to discussions and questions that relate to all the remedies and treatments you've tried.

About the only obvious thing I didn't spot in your list was CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). Have you looked into this, or given it a try?

At the very least, please know that you aren't alone – we're here to support one another and we know what you're going through.

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[Pufferpunk]

I have had years of CBT but it was for clinical depression. I have rarely had a depressive episode, since I got clean & started working the 12 Steps.

[Author]

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