[jbrendon]

I have had insomnia for 2 months. Tried sleeping pills and they don't help. I am exhausted. Any tips?

[Martin Reed]

Welcome to the forums.

You'll find plenty of tips and advice here – just take a look around, dive in and get involved. Typically, the more you put into the community the more you'll get out of it.

What sleeping pills have you tried?

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[owl2020]

I also have had insomnia for a little over 2 months and there is no easy solution. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has some techniques that can help improve your sleep environment and sleep techniques but it is not a cure all for insomnia (that is my experience). You might also want to look into foods, vitamins that help sleep,increase exercise, get adequate sunlight (melatonin cycle). I have started acupuncture but it is too early to tell if it will have an effect.

It is hard to give you more tips without knowing more about what you tried. As Martin asks, what sleeping pills have you used and how long did you take them? Have you tried other things to help sleep? Do you have any idea what may have caused your insomnia? People can provide more info for you when they have a better idea as to what your insomnia experience has been to date. Remember we know the awful exhaustion you feel from this malady like no one else – we have had to live with it.

[sleeplessinchicago]

The two most important things I can tell you is 1) Address this problem head on before it goes spiraling out of control like mine did. I am now going on eight years battling insomnia and it destroyed my quality of life to the point where I was suicidal. Make this as important as if you had any another illness. Do Martin's course, research sleep, use proper “sleep hygiene” and you will be able to beat this.

2) The process will be slow and sometimes while you try different approaches, you will have a set back and your insomnia will be worse when you try something new. DO NOT DESPAIR. This is very much trial and error. What works for some people battling insomnia will not work for you and vice versa. Ambien made me worse and more tired but for many it is a very successful drug. Lastly, if things do get worse and it seems hopeless, remember that at minimum you must at least have the courage, the hopefulness and the perspective of 13-yr old cancer patient Talia Castellano who recently lost her battle with cancer (if you don't know her story, look it up). She once told someone when they asked her how she could be so happy when she has cancer and she said “What do you want me to do? Be depressed? A little fishy once told me, 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming'.”

So, just keep swimming.

[Author]

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