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A short time ago I was getting a good sleep (6 hours) for a few nights in a row. Then it all went sour. I either wake up time and time again all night fretting about one thing or another. Or I wake up at 4:30am and can't get back to sleep. This doesn't seem to be related to my job (which it has in the past big time!) but it started when I started a volunteer job helping out at a little farm/horse stable. I'm getting more exercise and fresh air than I was for a while, but this doesn't seem to be the major factor in my latest sleep problem. I'm getting into the being afraid to go to bed thing again. I take 3 different sleeping pills and with the lousy sleep I get even with the pills I don't see going off them any time soon. What I don't understand is how can doing an activity that I really want to do, getting fresh air and more exercise make my sleep worse? Any ideas would help.
'Caers' wrote on '07:Not weird. I've been jealous of people who can sleep well for most of my life. Damn them! *shakes tired angry fist*
Yeah, don't you love it when you mention you've had insomnia for ages and people try to offer all those suggestions? Because you're NEVER thought of those simple remedies before! Oh fancy that, maybe setting a schedule will work! Maybe talking to a doctor about it is the right course of action! Because we are all stupid and sleep-deprivation addled and cannot think of those things ourselves. 😀
Anyway. HI! Welcome!
Caers,
I feel angry at people who can drop off at a moment's notice too. I haven't been able to do that for years and years.
'mdoss' wrote on '07:Hello my name is Meredith and I am new. I don’t know really what to say about myself. My dad died when I was 15 and I took care of my mom till she died in 2007. I have had insomnia for as long as I can remember. I am married and my husband can fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. That really drives me crazy and it may sound weird but I am jealous of him. I played tennis in college and love sports. I think I might be nocturnal because it seems that the later in the day the more awake I get. So by bed time I am wide awake. I am really happy I found this forum because I am so sick of talking to people who have never dealt with insomnia. All I hear is why don’t you just set your alarm clock for the same time every day and then eventually your body will adjust. 😮 Or even better when I am told just to lay in bed, close my eyes and relax. 😡 I mean it really is amazing that I have never thought of these things. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! 😀
mdoss,
Welcome to our forum. I'm on a pretty good track right now. I take 3 sleep meds (Temazepam, Ativan and Seroquel). I've tried taking more of this and that, but for right now I'm just taking these 3 every night.
'pfield' wrote on '24:Hi all – found this fantastic website last November and my first post explained that my GP had decided to “wean me off Temazepam” after 20 years “for my own benefit”, which caused me an inordinate amount of stress and worry because Temazepam had always worked really well for me. I ended up seeing a specialist doctor who explained about the day after effects of these older style tablets (which I had never had a problem with i have to say) and said that newer drugs had a shorter half life (so basically were less inclined to cause side effects the next day). Anyway, he prescribed a half dose of Temazepam and a half dose of Zopiclone (also called Imovane or Zimovane in other countries) for 1 month, and I have now switched to 7.5mg of Zopiclone and cut out the Temazepam altogether, and it is working fine for me so far (2 weeks in). I have always suffered from early awakening at 1am – 3am, so having one of these helps me get back to sleep and feel completely normal the next day. I have a new GP now who has been really understanding and has issued me with a repeat prescription and said “see you in 6 months”. He seems happy to keep me on this new medication indefinately, so long as it is working for me. I can't tell you all how releived I am to have to have resolved this issue and found a solution that works. I had to write a letter/statement about my history and the effects that insomnia had had on my wellbeing before being originally prescribed sleepers 20 years ago to get my point across to the doctors. I also came off sleepers for 2 weeks and kept a day/night sleep diary recording how I had slept and the effects that it had on me the next day, which also helped give the doctors some insight into the life of an insomniac – it was also strangely theraputic to write it all down – it made me feel like I had some “proof” to show people to help them understand the effects insomnia can have on a person and all aspects of their personal and professional life (you all know what it feels like but the wider world really doesn't have a clue). It really helped my wife understand how it affected me and changed her perspective on things completely (she was actually sympathetic for once!!) Fingers crossed this continues to work and good luck to you all with finding something which can help you manage your own issues. Best wishes from (rainy) London.
I have been taking Temazepam, Seroquel and Ativan for about 5 years now. I recently tried going off Ativan (only 2mgs) and had disastrous results. I'm just so tired (no pun intended) even thinking about my chronic insomnia.
'AliDeal' wrote on '31:Hi, my name is Alli,
I am from South Africa, and at the grand age of 51 decided it was time for a new adventure, so I re-located to the UK, us insomniacs tend to have a lot of thinking time on our hands, usually between 11:00p.m. and 5:00a.m., when we eventually fall asleep, only to be woken up by the alarm, so my decision to move across the ocean was probably made anytime time between these hours. Anyway, I digress, I am a media strategist by profession, publisher, writer and fund-raising specialist (in my opinion anyway), I have a bit of a quirky sense of humour, which probably has more of an American influence than English, in South Africa we are brought up on American television, so my humour sometimes goes straight over the heads of the British humour, I also had a Scottish grandmother so it can get a little wicked from time to time.
I have been an insomniac for nearly 30 years, so for the first 21 years I slept like a baby, then things went a bit crazy. I have used sleeping tablets for all of these years, except for a brief period around 10 years ago, to add to this little problem, I also suffer from temporaral lobe elipsey and addding the creative mind, well, who is surprised I don't sleep.
Most of the time, I manage my own medication, in consultation with doctors, I then research them and combine to reach maximum benefit – if one can call it that – but as time has gone by my body has become use to the drugs and now I am at a stage that I need to take some more serious action.
Why have I joined this site, because i am tired of people – who sleep like babies – telling me how bad medication is to sleep – I know this!!Many have recommended a few glasses of wine before bed, well alcohol stimulates my brain – and I do enjoy a glass of wine. So I now come to the authorities, others like me, we don't sleep much, do we? In South Africa our sleeping tablets are branded or generics, but the generics are also branded, so we can find what works and not, but in the UK the generics are just that, each time you get new meds, they are different, and I react with headaches and hangovers in the morning, not a good thing for someone who needs the mind to create. So, after two nights of using different meds, one of which gave me a bad headache and the other, nausea, headaches and nightmares, I am now here, so any help would be appreciated.
I received this morning from a homeopath a remedy called Coffea, based on the coffee bean, let me see if that works tonight, must confess I am feeling a little ragged today, I think I accidently overdosed on the one set of meds last night, I took my usual two, but, big but, they were of a high milligram. Thrown those out this morning.
So, that is a little (I am a writer) introduction. Looking forward to meeting all.
Alli
Alli,
I have a similar insomnia pattern. I slept like a baby (actually slept soundly in Grand Central Station in NY when I was 18). My Insomnia started in my 30ies and has gotten progressively worse. I depend on mediations for sleep. I know that there are so many people out there who say how terrible that is, but is that worse than having no sleep at all? I've decided that having no sleep at all is MUCH WORSE. So for now sleep meds it is. Working definitely is a factor. I can't take the medications (4 in all) that give me a good rest the night before work so I can only take 3 of the 4. I also am anxious about going to work the next day and this makes my already bad sleep worse. I plan to cut my work from 3 days/week to 2 days per week in the new year. I'm 68 and deserve to improve my life if I can.
'Martin' wrote on '27:Have you tried meditation or relaxation exercises? They can help focus your brain away from worries and help you relax.
Martin,
I've never had any success at meditation of any kind. My brain just won't cooperate. I've also tried relaxation exercises years ago and they didn't work either. I can't concentrate on things like that. All I can do is repeat some sort of mantra like, stop thinking,
'Rubensdad' wrote on '27:Thanks for the tip! I am headed to Walmart or Target, tomorrow, in search of time release melatonin!
Margaret and Stephen,
Lucky that you can use Melatonin.
Melatonin has never had any affect on me and I'm forced to go to the much “harder” drugs. Good luck with the “time release Melatonin”.
'Rubensdad' wrote on '25:Hi, I am Stephen. I'm 44, single, and I live in downtown Jersey City, near Manhattan. I have dealt with sleep issues since about the age of 38, which were initially triggered by a bad relationship breakup situation. Rather than deal with taking anti-anxiety medication, I opted to take sleep medication to remedy my acute insomnia. So, I took Lunesta (3 mg) every night – EVERY NIGHT – for the better part of three years. Guess what? It stopped working! Big surprise to everyone on here, I am sure (not!). So after a couple of desperate months of little sleep, I went to an Acupuncturist. While the actual acupuncture wasn't a big hit with me, his holistic homeopathic remedies were. He basically recommended that I take Magnesium with melatonin in addition to continuing with the acupuncture, with the intent of weening myself off the melatonin over a month or so. Well, I hated the acupuncture, but was thrilled that the melatonin/magnesium seemed to work. SO, I took THAT for the better part of two years, which is where I am today. Now, the melatonin doesn't work so great. I take four 3-mg tablets each night (had stopped taking the magnesium, but just started, again this week because I do notice a difference in the amount of sleep I get when I take them together) and then usually sleep about 4 hours, and then the rest of the night, it's sporadic dream-sleep (with some crazy-ass dreams) until I get up, for good. I guess my tolerance for a bad night's sleep has increased over the years because, once I get going, I am relatively functional, but I would LOVE to hear if anyone has any other remedies, or anecdotes that can relate to mine.
Thanks!!
Stephen
I'm in the same situation. My insomnia started in my 30ies (I'm 68 now). I had a nervous breakdown from super anxiety and complete lack of sleep. My doctor put me on 3 meds Temazepam, Ativan and Seroquel. They worked find for years but in the past year I've had to try all sorts of other things that were suppose to restore my sleep. So far no real success. I have 5 days off work (what a blessing) so here I am once again trying to find some combo to get a good rest. I'm getting upset and scared right now just posting this. the only sure way for me to have a good long sleep is to take 60mg of Temazepam but then all the next day I'm really groggy. I take only the original pills before work as I drive a truck and can't afford to have an accident. Like you my body has adjusted to the lack of sleep and I can function pretty well with little sleep. But my life is awful being tired all the time. right now I feel OK and I woke up at 3am.
'BobbyP' wrote on '26:I am very glad to have found this website. I have felt so alone in my struggles with insomnia. I hope to find others who feel as I do, especially, well, this feeling of just waiting and waiting and WAITING for sleep to arrive in those dark hours. And you wonder “Where is it? Why can't I have it?” So I will look forward to others' feelings about this and what tricks they have discovered that might work for me too — besides counting sheep!
I'm thinking about trying the counting sheep thing. One of my problems is not being able to turn my brain off.
A man that I work with has Sleep Apnea and uses a mask. He says that it worked much better when he started using it than it does now. Odd how this problem is the same for sleeping pills. They work sometimes in the beginning and then stop working after a while.
'BobbyP' wrote on '18:Do you think insomniacs are typically introverts or extroverts? Martin, have there ever been any studies done on this? Including myself, all the other insomniacs that I have known personally have been introverts. Would love to hear others' opinions! 😐
I'm an Introvert (according to Myers-Briggs) and I have terrible sleep issues.
'Jane' wrote on '09:For when your awake when you want to be asleep, here are some funny fury felines to keep you happy. The face in this first one is priceless. 😆
Just something to make you smile. 😆
Thanks for the cat photos.
Right now I don't feel like smiling. I've been having financial troubles and I thought that this was what was contributing to my chronic insomnia. Well, my financial troubles are better now an I still had a crappy sleep last night. Maybe it's unrealistic to think that all will be roses (sleep better, etc.) when this huge and persistent worry (money) gets better. But the two things don't seem to be connected. So I'm trying other sleep inducing things.
I took a bike ride this morning – I haven't done this for months because I've been so worried about these financial things, and I'm taking a long bus trip today – one that I've taken before but always enjoy. Then I'll try yet another combination of sleeping pills tonight and see if it helps.
'Jane' wrote on '06:Hi everyone.
My name is Jane, I live in the Uk, and I joined this forum in desperation. I need some tips/ideas on how to get to sleep when my brain won't shut up. I wake up several times in the night and it takes me ages to go back to sleep again. So of course in the morning when I need to get up I don't want too.
This looks like a really friendly forum and I look forward to getting to know you all. Of course I already know one person………yooohoooo Tommy. 😆
I can sure identify with your brain not being able to shut up. People seem to be divided into 2 catagories: those who can sleep (naturally and regularly) and those who can't. I sure belong to the 2nd group.
'sleepy wrote on '06:So, I often dream I'm a persona in one of the books I've read. So here is my question to you.
If you could choose, which persona would you be.
Since it's hard to make a choice, you can make a top-3.
So here it goes:
1. Georgina Kincaid, my all-time favourite succubus. (written by Richelle Mead)
Shapeshifting, great sex and in the end the love of your life. What's not to love?
2. Stephanie Plum (written by Janet Evanovich)
She's funny, clumsy and her adventures are totally unpredictable. Did I mention the fun?
3. Eric Northman (written by Charlaine Harris)
Why not be a man for once. Even a bad guy. Must be fun loads of fun if you don't have a conscience. And you get to be a vampire 😉
I'd be any person who can sleep naturally and regularly.
'BobbyP' wrote on '04:Has anyone else ever noticed how often the news media comes out with “the latest study” on how VERY important it is that we all get enough sleep?? Whenever I see yet another serious, worried-looking doctor on tv, or hear about it on the radio, or see it on the internet, where they are telling us that we all need more sleep, I want to scream at them, “Yes, yes, I'm trying!!” Why do they have to make us even more paranoid over something we are already stressed about? 😡
Right on! And to follow it up – why on earth hasn't someone actually come up with a viable, long term solution to this serious and wide-spread problem??
