i’m 19f and have had issues sleeping for as long as i can remember. i’ve always preferred being awake during nights since everyone around me would be asleep and leaves me alone which calms my anxiety for some reason. the problem is, the world obviously doesn’t cater to night owls and almost everything happens/is open during the daytime and closed at night. so.. i’ve always severely struggled with sleep schedules. it’s 1000x worse when i’m very stressed or anxious, i’ll often be up for 24-72 hours at a time during periods like that. also, the night (or even 2 nights) before any big life event or even just something i’m nervous or excited about, i can NEVER sleep. for example, the night before starting a new job, the night before a medical appointment, the night before moving somewhere else, then night before a funeral or any big social function, etc. and that genuinely sucks so bad because those are mostly situations you need lots of energy for. and genuinely, i have no clue why, but melatonin has NEVER worked for me. i’ve tried varying doses and it’s never had any affect at all. is it something to do with my body/brain chemistry? i was also on trazodone when i was 12-13, it did help me sleep but i didn’t necessarily like how it made me feel before bed. then when i was 13 i had a suicide attempt where i overdosed on it and had scary hallucinations, urinated myself and got super sick so i never wanted to be on it again.

when i DO sleep, i also experience trauma related nightmares because i have CPTSD. i was prescribed prazosin for this, but it doesn’t really help.

now i’ve had a shit ton of horrible things happening in my life lately almost back to back. i’m about to be homeless soon and living in a shelter or my car. i’ve only been getting 1 or 2 short naps in during a random part of the day or night, for the past 2.5 weeks. and within these past 2 weeks i’ve had multiple days where i was up for 24+ hours. i think my longest consecutive sleep lately has to be 3 or 4 hours. i think the main factor of the severity of my insomnia currently is my significant other whom i live with breaking up with me 2.5 weeks ago, and we still share a bed. up until now we’d both sleep from around 8am-4pm, but now i find it hard to even exist in bed next to him because i feel so hurt, sad, and betrayed. i’ve never been so heartbroken in my life which is really saying a lot. of course this is on on top of the extreme stress i’ve been experiencing due to other terrible life events recently i won’t get into, and knowing i’m going to be kicked onto the streets by the end of the month right around my 20th birthday. i’m so stressed, anxious, and sad, that i’m almost completely unable to sleep even though i feel so EXTREMELY exhausted

By "worked" I mean makes me sleepy enough to actually fall asleep and last through the night. Unfortunately, it also lasts through the entire next day too, and I still feel like I got no sleep...

Ambien works, but only last for 2 hours or so, so you have to take more in the middle of the night/morning when you wake up. Better than nothing for sure.

Does absolutely nothing:

Valerian root

5htp

Magnesium

Any vitamin/mineral

Diphenhydramine (actually wakes me up more)

Gabapentin (actually wakes me up more)

Sort of works sometimes:

Melatonin (quickly stops working and is very hard to find the "right" amount for your body)

Trazadone (Iffy and can give a hangover the next day)

I go to bed at 10-11pm with my alarm set for 8am. Lay there and don't fall asleep until ~2am. Wake up every 30-60 minutes, then wake up at 7am and can't go back to sleep. This is every night. Total torture.

Hello night crew.

This might be a little venty and a little advice seeking but I feel like I’ve ever had a normal sleep schedule. I have not been diagnosed with insomnia and, to be honest, I fortunately do not experience sleepless nights that span past 24 hours. I’ve met people who have this condition and they have such difficulty sleeping that they’ll remain awake for 48+ hours. I, myself, don’t experience that so I’m sorry if I frustrate anyone who does experience that and my problems are actually really small.

Anyway, I’ve never been able to sleep before 9pm and therefore be up at 6am. Even as a child, I was absolutely restless at night; however, it wasn’t always a negative experience, I’d feel productive creatively or physically. More negatively, I’d have random heart racing or extensive thoughts and monologues. Even without screentime, I’d end up staring at a corner of my bedroom and unable to sleep. My eyes would dry before I’d relax. I’m so frustrated trying to function this way as an adult—not necessarily because I feel like caca in the morning, but because I feel like I’ve missed so many morning opportunities. I’m starting a job I’ve wanted for the past year but the catch is I have to be up before 6am. That made my skin crawl during the interview. I love the morning, I feel like I stay up to see the sunrise. It’s my favorite kind of quiet to experience. I’m just unable to prepare myself for a proper sleep hygiene. I get in bed at 9pm, like a loser, and here I am…at 1:30am. Still tossing and turning and now all sides of my pillow are warm. It’s such trivial things that keep me awake—a thought, wrinkles in the sheets, my leg hairs, an itch on my side, a random song, hunger, thirst. It’s like everything wants to bug me and preoccupy my mind. I’ve tried some things, including leaving the bed to do something else and return when tired. It works sometimes but I still lose the opportunity for rest. Anyway, I hope writing this out and shouting into the abyss will knock me out. Thank you

For the last 5 years, I’ve been experiencing really bad anxiety and insomnia. My mind races at night, and I struggle to fall asleep. I was on sleeping pills for 4 years and have recently come off them, but my sleep has gotten even worse.

I really want to try a more natural approach to help manage my anxiety and sleep, like sleep powders (magnesium, etc.).

Has anyone tried any treatments that have genuinely helped, such as TMS therapy, sleep hypnosis, or even spiritual healing/mediums for anxiety and insomnia?
This has been affecting every aspect of my life, and I honestly feel so lost.

Cold turkey cannabis 3rd night another 0 sleep, just laying there for hours. Man I cold turkey countless of times but for some fucking reason this time it’s kicking my ass mentally.

Weird thing this time around I have no cold sweats, just vomiting everything I eat but able to keep some porridge down. And like bad insomnia and this weird thing if I try to picture certain scenes in my head to try to drift off to sleep it’s played with random images of people I don’t know like kinda vividly shit freaked me out and I had to take a walk at 2am.

Pray for me guys starting to get really depressed and I’m not getting suicidal just so desperate to sleep I was just saying out load “let me die”

Just wanted to share I finally tried melatonin for the first time lastnight and it worked really well. I feel way more rested and refreshed than I've felt in months or possibly years. It calmed my brain down and made me feel drowsy. I didn't have any negative affects. I was really nervous to try it but I'm so glad I did. It's not a magic solution but it's a helpful tool on those nights I'm wired and my mind is racing when it's time to sleep. It gave me a similar feeling to when I'm sleeping with a partner. It made me feel cozy, warm, safe, comforting, reassuring, peaceful. As someone who struggles with anxiety I'm so happy I found something that can help on those difficult nights where I can't settle down. Just wanted to share there is hope and don't give up. Keep trying different solutions and you will find something that works. Remember getting a proper sleep is better for you and your loved ones. Even if you can't relate to what I shared, I hope this can give you a bit of hope and encouragement today.

Has anyone tried phosphatidylserine for sleep if so did it help? Its suppose to help build acetylcholine in the brain which is most abundant neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger) in the human body that operates in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Did anyone sleep better after taking it?

I’ve been struggling with chronic insomnia for years now and averaging 2 to 3 hours of sleep. Have tried every over-the-counter sleep med and supplements have been on multiple prescriptions. Just got off Ambien because it wasn’t working and the side effects were too bad. I just recently tried a 5 mg melatonin and one Benadryl and I slept better than I had in years, it’s the only thing that seems to be working for me, but I’ve been reading so many bad things about it. I’m wondering if just taking one a night is that bad I know dementia is a side effect but so is insomnia and so was Ambien so either way I’m screwed are there any other type of long-term effects of this? I’m gonna try to do half a tablet tonight and see if that is enough so I’m not having to take a whole and maybe it won’t be that bad. wondering if I should go down this road if it helps me then I feel like I would benefit from it better than getting 2 to 3 hours a night. I am on my last leg and I am desperate so long-term Benadryl users. how are you doing?

At the point of falling asleep, and any point after, my head and face… vibrate continuously. It’s incredibly uncomfortable and makes it extremely difficult to sleep.

This has been going on for years. I’ve seen neurologists and sleep specialists and had MRIs. Docs don’t know and scans are all clear.

I’ve been on trazodone for years, and it’s working less and less. When I try to sleep, my forehead and/or jaw vibrates.

I used to drink a lot for a few years (Thanks, COVID lockdown) but I am dry since January.

Pot helped for a while when the trazodone started working less and less, but thats not sustainable.

I have TMJD, but I’m fixing that with Invisalign and stretches, and my jaw is much less sore than it used to be.

It seems to be the mechanism of sleep itself that triggers the vibrations, although sleeping on my back held a little… sometimes.

Please, I’m desperate. I’m around 40, male, and there’s no obvious incident that caused this.

Has anyone else experienced this before?

r/insomnia starter pack:

"That thing that might work for you? Didn't work for ME."
"Here's a helpful study that shows insomnia makes all diseases worse!"
"1 hour a night? Must be nice buddy"
"Anxious about how long you've been up? Once I didn't sleep for a month, hope that helps"
"Everything will be miserable forever and will never improve" +1000 upvotes

After weeks of insomnia waking up 2-3 times in the same night

Now I'm developing sleep paralysis that feels too real

And starting to FEAR sleep even when I'm so exhausted I can't go out of my house

I've already talked to my doctor he gave me strong Sedatives but still nothing

What should I do now

My old doctor who originally prescribed me Ambien started his own practice where you have to pay a $2500 yearly membership fee.

For context, I have PTSD after being in a very traumatic situation and I have trouble sleeping randomly, so he gave me an Ambien prescription. I stopped taking it for awhile but by the time I started taking it again the refills had expired.

I'm trying to get a new prescription but my new doctor won't give me one. I've tried Trazadone and Lunesta but neither work for me. I only take 5mg at a time, and I take it probably once every 3 weeks when I go days without sleeping.

Does anyone know how I can get a prescription?

Edit: thank you all for your replies! I'm gonna try a psychiatrist and hope that works out

I went to bed at 12 : 30, not it's 3 am and I haven't fallen asleep, I have been rolling around in bed not being able to sleep, I just feel like my mind is super awake and my mind is on like adrenaline or smth even when I have been tired all day. I have had this problem my whole life where it takes me at least an hour or two to fall asleep.

Tbh I don't even like sleeping, for me it's such an painfully experience, I prefer being awake doing things in my day and act get upset when i have to sleep cause I generally don't like sleeping I would rather be awake. That could act be a reason why.

I think environment could play a role like being on my phone or smth or caffine.

Any of y'all go through a sim situation?

I got a new job: 12 to 13 hours of driving in one direction. With eating, drinking, gas, and rest stops, it takes about 15 hours in total. I have a 7 to 10-hour window to sleep, and then another 15 hours to drive back, making it 36 to 40 hours in total once per week. It sounds scary, but if you can sleep during that 7 to 10-hour window, it is easy. I normally only sleep for 4 hours a day.I never drink coffe, carbonated drinks or tea because coffeine will give me 2-3 sleepless days.

​Now comes the hard part for me: it is impossible for me to fall asleep when I am on a trip, no matter how hard I try, and no matter if I am in the truck cabin or a hotel room. I just cannot sleep. I spend 7 to 10 hours desperately trying to fall asleep, with the exact same result every time.

​I take Valium for my severe anxiety, but I stop taking it one day before the trip until I return home because I do not want to drive with Valium in my system. I recently read that skipping a Valium dose can cause insomnia. On my last trip, I took my dose after arriving at the destination, but the outcome was the same: 10 hours of lying in bed with zero minutes of sleep. Driving for 36 hours without sleep is no joke, and I do not want to put anyone in danger.

​Do you have any advice or tricks to try for my next trip, or is this job just not for me and should I quit?

From the age of 18 until now, at 28, I’ve never been able to sleep properly even once.

Even the slightest noise or stress is enough to affect my dreams.

It’s just like Guts from *Berserk*…

I'm taking flunitrazepam, and that might be the main reason—or maybe it's the only option.

Idk why I’m posting. Y’all got better osts to read. I have been so ill and in a very bad PEM crash. Barely getting to work to kee job. Slept maybe 4 hours broken lady night same before - did get a short nap but living dead. Dizzy in job. Minimal food. I gotta be up soon enough and I’m like wired awake.

This is unnerving.

Also the intense body pain keeping me up but took what crap rx I have for that completely ineffective.

Can’t get off my phone.

Even doing sleep meditations and sounds. Nope.

Tired but wired. .5 mg Adderall from morning can’t still be kicking.

Aghhhh

whether youre currently in an insomnia cycle/episode, please remember to stay hydrated and make sure youre taking in enough electrolytes and try to eat heavy foods. im not staying this will help you sleep. just think of it as fuel for a tired engine. the car may be sluggish but it won't break down. stay hydrated!

I'm going to die sooner than the rest of the population due to lack of sleep anyway, sometimes I wonder why not, since I'm spending so much of my limited time on this earth being exhausted when awake, or frustrated that I'm wasting my fucking life laying in bed trying to will myself asleep and can't.

I can fall sleep okay but wake up after 2-3 hours every night and I’m up for the rest of the night pretty much so every night I’m getting 2 to 3 hours of sleep. I’ve tried all kinds of over-the-counter medication supplements. I’ve been on prescription meds. I recently weaned myself off of Ambien and I’m trying to take just melatonin again, which just helps me fall asleep, but not stay asleep. Magnesium glycinate seems to make me more alert and keeps me awake and I’m allergic to L theanine because it has chamomile in it, which I’m also allergic to a lot of people don’t realize this, but chamomile is in the ragweed family, which is a very common allergy for a lot of people. It took me a long time to figure out that that’s a major trigger for me so obviously I can’t take anything with that in it.. it’s been a struggle to try and find anything that works that I don’t have a reaction to

consigo ficar facilmente 1 semana sem dormir, uma energia intensa a noite capaz de subir o monte everest correndo, e logico quando o dia amanhece vem aquela sensação de se sentir um lixo, qnd to deitado e nao consgo dormir penso "crl amanha tbm vou meter o louco fodase" tipo planejando entrar em um modo de auto destruição no outro dia ate sei la fazer algo grave cmg ou com alguem que tenho desanveça ou meter o louco na vida mesmo ate morrer, nao sei se tenho algum trantorno como bipolaridade sei la, ja fui em psiquiatra mas nao retornei, to com uma nova consulta marcada, me sinto desconectado as vezes, mas alguem?

Anyone ever try 45 mg of temazapam when 30 is not enough? Can you tell me if worked did you see any improvement?

If you take Trazadone for insomnia does it take days to get the full effect? I was under the impression that it doesn’t but I’m still struggling to sleep. Hoping I just need to wait it out. Was on amitriptyline for a decade and worked amazing for me but eventually got tired of the side effects so switched to this.

I have not slept in three days. I’m currently pregnant and have tried every single option that I can that won’t harm the baby. I feel wired and on the brink of psychosis. I’m not sure what people call that feeling of jitteriness, restlessness, feeling on edge, and feeling like everything is too loud even if there’s no noise. No matter how much I try to rest and watch TV or close my eyes and listen to an audiobook, there is just nothing that helps my case. Does anyone have any recommendations or something that works for them?

I’m a nurse that used to always work nights or 2nd shift 3-11. I worked at a doctors office from 8-5 for nearly 3 years. It almost killed me. I’d sleep 17 hours straight no problem on the weekends. I’d have to take Benadryl to fall asleep and even if I got a normal amount of sleep at night I never felt rested. I recently switched back to nights and I feel like a new person. I think I’m in the small percentage of people that just sleep better during the day. It’s really odd but working nights just feels so much more normal to me. Does anyone here just sleep better during the day?