[SittingStill]

Hi out there:

This forum looked like a wonderful and active place to discuss the beastly issue of insomnia, so I decided to give it a try. My story is a long one, but I'll offer a condensed version:

I'm 47 and live in Vermont. My sleep troubles started when I was 39 – I was a sound sleeper up to that point, and never had a problem despite years filled with stress, graduate school, broken relationships, and depression.

My life right now is trashed by insomnia – I live alone, it has flattened my social life, and I just barely (for now) manage to hang onto my job despite it. I've tried all sorts of approaches. I've had sleep studies, tried Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, accupuncture, all sorts of supplements.

I just about dedicate my life to “best practices”, but to little avail. I've been working out for years – I do weight training, all types of cardiovascular exercise (running, swimming, hiking, etc), yoga, tai chi. I watch my diet and minimize sugar and caffine. I don't have a TV and usually stay away from the computer screen before I head to be. I have a long-standing zen-based meditation practice (15 years). I eat right. Recently, I've been working with a naturopath (I've done all sorts of hormone and blood tests through her- she understands biochemistry really well, and has been willing to dig into this dimension with me). I've been on a gluten free diet for almost a year now, I discovered and corrected a severe vitamin D definciency. . And still I get really poor sleep.

I keep track of my sleep (at least since January) – on average, just over 5 hours, but its that pattern that kills me – two – four days of 2-4 hours, then crash for a day or two of 8 hours, then start the cycle again – my body just does not sleep normally anymore – and that is when all my best practices are in place. If I socialize, or have to travel for work to a conference or meeting, I get so overstimulated that I have no hope of sleeping.

Medication has helped in the past. I thrived with nearly normal sleep for 4 years on zoloft (25-50mg), which had a side effect for me of promoting sleep (though I did not need it emotionally). Years ago before the insomnia started I took 200mg for a year (when I needed it emotionally), and I fell asleep almost anywhere – in cars, at my desk at work, etc. I've habituated to it, and it no longer promotes sleep, so I've been off it for almost a year now. I take Lunesta on occasion, but after 4 years of 3-4x month use, I've habituated to that as well, and besides, I get really depressed the day after taking it. I just started a prescription for Restoril, but I'm wary of getting addicted, so limit myself to one every two weeks or so. I'm currently trying to get a prescription for zyrem.

There is more, but I think I've said enough for now – I've blogged a bit about it at http://distrubanceregime.blogspot.com/

If nothing else, I've learned a great deal over the past few years of struggling. But to no avail for my sleep – I'm pretty desperate.

[Martin Reed]

Welcome to Insomnia Land. You sound like you could easily become one of our resident experts since it sounds as though you have tried a huge number of treatments and therapies in a bid to improve your sleep. I hope you'll take the time to share your experiences with our members – you can then expect them to return the favor when they may have tried something you're considering.

You mention your insomnia started at the age of 39. This suggests to me that you know what triggered your sleep problems. Is that the case?

You don't need to feel alone any longer – we have a number of long-term chronic insomniacs here who know exactly what you're going through. Thank you for sharing a link to your blog, too; I am sure it will be of interest to our members.

Take care, and I look forward to reading more of your posts and getting to know you better.

—

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[SittingStill]

Thanks. I'd be happy to share any info that I have with others on the board.

I can't be sure what triggered the insomnia – but it happened during a period when I was doing a great deal of meditation practice, so as odd as it sounds, I suspect that the meditation triggered something that no one seems able to understand that kept me from sleeping normally.

I think in general, meditation helps with insomnia – my case is weird and unusual, so I would not in any way want to discourage anyone here from trying it as a way of helping with insomnia – at the time, I had been doing it for 5 years, and for three of those I did 2 hrs/day – with intensive retreats here and there. I was doing alot, and it kept me off of SSRI's, so I was getting a great deal of benefit from it, until my sleep patterns deteriorated.

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