[Donnorcavila]

Okay I am a 20 year old guy and I’ve had sleeping problems for 2 years now when it first started out tho it was so bad I stayed awake for 3/4 days straight without any sleep at all and that actually continued for another year and still happened sometimes recently I’m doing better now I slept the past two nights well but I don’t feel any better. I used to be a very smart person and always feel mentally sharp but since this happened I feel like I’m turning into a vegetable. I guess my question is will I ever be the same again or is it too late for me :/ or is 2 days just not enough time to determine

[Deb]

You need CBT-I, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. It is a very specialized type of therapy and there is an explanation of it on this site. It’s not easy to do though, so it’s best to hire a therapist trained in this or Martin Reed, who created this website. He’s worked with people who have had insomnia for up to 30 years. My insomnia started last October and after two months I couldn’t take it any longer and hired Martin. I’m starting to get better now. I was scared like you, too. Insomnia is very scary because it feels like you have no control over it and it’s taking over your life. It’s extremely lonely too when you’re awake late at night knowing that everyone else is sleeping.

After trying several different things to try to get some sleep (sleeping pills, relaxation CDs, hypnotism, sleeping in different rooms, etc.)  I finally learned that insomnia is caused by anxiety/fear. It is a learned condition, where we learn to associate going to bed with anxiety/fear. Therefore, insomnia needs to be unlearned and cognitive behavior therapy focuses on this.

Here’s a couple of good books to help you get started on educating yourself about insomnia and what can be done about it:

The Effortless Sleep Method by Sasha Stephens

End the Insomnia Struggle by Colleen Ehrnstrom

There’s hope for your struggle and it’s definitely not too late! Educate yourself and then please get the help that you need. This will give you back your life.

[Donnorcavila]

I don’t feel any anxiety when I go to bed though and I never get that drowsy feeling to fall asleep I’ve read the effortless sleep method also. When I don’t sleep I don’t fall asleep at all like I stay awake the entire night so I stay up for days at a time a lot do u think cbt will help w something so severe cause when I tell people how little I sleep nobody ever even comes close. Thanks

[Deb]

I don’t know. Maybe ask Martin Reed. He should know since he’s worked with a lot of people. You can email him and ask him if he’s worked with any people like you.

Would definitely be worth a try though, don’t you think? Rather than staying like this the rest of your life.

[Davy]

you are not alone every night is a battle will i sleep or not and with sleep I mean when I get 3 hours I am grateful it’s better than nothing the tried so many sleeping drugs on me nothing helps the only thing that worked was drinking myself to sleep I can not turn my mind off now the put me on a new drug zyprexa ist not normally prescribe for insomnia more for people with psychosis it blocks your dopamine it gives your mind some rest you gain weight with this you feel drowsy in the day but sometimes i get 5 hours of sleep with it i don’t take this every day only when i am awake again for a couple of days it’s me last resort  the recovery can be compared with people with a burn-out it can thake months our years

• This reply was modified 5 years, 11 months ago by Davy.

[Deb]

I really hope you guys can hire Martin or someone to help you do CBT-I. I’ve been on his program now for a few weeks and I’m getting so much better. Out of 18 days, I only have had 4 bad nights. Much better than before I started the program when most of the nights were bad with an occasional reprieve of a day or two now and then. Drugs or alcohol aren’t the answer. You don’t have to continue to suffer, but you will if you don’t get help. Bite the bullet and spend the $70 per week to start recovering and getting your life back.

[Martin Reed]

Welcome to the forum, donnorcavila. You mentioned that you don’t feel any anxiety when you go to bed and you never get that drowsy feeling to fall asleep. Does this mean that if you don’t sleep for a long period of time (for example, zero minutes of sleep for three or four days) then you don’t feel drowsy or sleepy?

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