I think, and I am in no way making lite of the situation and realize it must be miserable, yes I think you should no longer try and sleep and instead try and stay up all long as possible. Good luck with figuring this out.
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Mental Health I need somebody to find a creative way to help with my insomnia...
- Thread starter gloeek
- Start date
pofacedhoe
Bluelight Crew
sometimes improving sleep is about what you cut out of your intake as opposed to what you add on. Sugar/hydrogenated fats/caffeine/tobacco/amphetamine etc.
melatonin is only really effective for making me sleepy in conjunction with beer
also i watch beavis and butthead in bed <snip> and the easy plots and constant meaningless giggling puts me right off to sleep in about 5 minutes
melatonin is only really effective for making me sleepy in conjunction with beer
also i watch beavis and butthead in bed <snip> and the easy plots and constant meaningless giggling puts me right off to sleep in about 5 minutes
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fairnymph
Ex-Bluelighter
Eek, sounds a bit like me. I developed tolerances to all the non benzo meds used for insomnia, including those you mentioned. I have delayed phase sleep syndrome, so I can't sleep at night without taking benzos. Do you just have trouble sleeping at night or is it at any time?
You said you exercise 1-2 hours a day, but not all forms of exercise are equally exhausting. I like running bc it really tires me as little else can. What's your routine consist of, what have you tried exercise-wise?
If you have a tendency towards mania on SSRIs, Paxil is the least stimulating. Remeron is very sedating AD that isn't an SSRI and to my knowledge doesn't carry the possibility of mania. Consider the options with your Dr; switching from Zoloft could help.
IME, the longer insomnia goes untreated the worse it gets and the harder it is to treat. Yes, benzos can be addictive but it's possible to use them without becoming dependent.
Edit: I saw you stopped taking the Zoloft, did it help at all? I would still consider Remeron for both AD and sleep.
You said you exercise 1-2 hours a day, but not all forms of exercise are equally exhausting. I like running bc it really tires me as little else can. What's your routine consist of, what have you tried exercise-wise?
If you have a tendency towards mania on SSRIs, Paxil is the least stimulating. Remeron is very sedating AD that isn't an SSRI and to my knowledge doesn't carry the possibility of mania. Consider the options with your Dr; switching from Zoloft could help.
IME, the longer insomnia goes untreated the worse it gets and the harder it is to treat. Yes, benzos can be addictive but it's possible to use them without becoming dependent.
Edit: I saw you stopped taking the Zoloft, did it help at all? I would still consider Remeron for both AD and sleep.
exists
Bluelighter
As already mentioned, light can play a role in how well you sleep. Try using red lights at night, avoiding monitors, television screens and fluorescent bulbs a few hours before bedtime. Here's an article from Harvard relevant to the issue.
You might also try meditation techniques instead of letting your mind obsess on things. Just let thoughts pass; don't attach yourself to them. Make yourself as comfortable as possible and stop constantly moving about. I don't know if any of the drugs you take are painkillers or not, but not being in pain makes not readjusting your sleeping position much easier.
Best of luck to you
You might also try meditation techniques instead of letting your mind obsess on things. Just let thoughts pass; don't attach yourself to them. Make yourself as comfortable as possible and stop constantly moving about. I don't know if any of the drugs you take are painkillers or not, but not being in pain makes not readjusting your sleeping position much easier.
Best of luck to you
spork
Bluelight Crew
^Ohmygosh, the title of that article is way too perfect 
Captain.Heroin
Bluelight Crew
I'd try out a white noise machine, or some ambient/drone. I've fallen asleep to drone music and noise music before, it's very relaxing.
Then again maybe some soft/soothing music would be better for you.
Either way, music is a huge plus when it's quiet and relaxing.
Then again maybe some soft/soothing music would be better for you.
Either way, music is a huge plus when it's quiet and relaxing.
HarrytheHead
Bluelighter
Get chamomile tea - drink it before bed
Warm up milk - drink it before bed
Meditate 10 min the 1st night, 20 min 2nd night, 30min 3rd
You will pass out.
Warm up milk - drink it before bed
Meditate 10 min the 1st night, 20 min 2nd night, 30min 3rd
You will pass out.
Sepher
Bluelight Crew
^Ohmygosh, the title of that article is way too perfect
Hahahaha! Ain't it just! Uncanny.
And here is an app designed to address that very thing changing the colour temperature of the screen at night for those of us who insist on being online later than is good for us cos it's the only human company we get of an evening, and those who are joined at the hip to their shiny, shiny, fondle slabs who insist on taking them to bed with them. Jury's still out for me as to how effective it is, but I think it's been of some use for me.
Hi gloeek,
There is some great advice above, especially from spork and herbavore. I've suffered almost constantly from insomnia for about 20 years. At times medications or drug use has contributed and I've been on many of the medications you are taking at some stage, although not as many at once.
Trying to fix insomnia has been a big contributor to problems I've had with alcohol and benzos as well as, ironically amphetamines so my advice would not be to try and resolve this via further medication, they clearly aren't helping at the moment.
I'm not going to be able to give great advice on sleep hygiene or meditation but for me the most valuable thing has been to stop fighting it as much as possible. I often just get up and go downstairs watch TV, do some work etc. oddly watching TV downstairs often send me to sleep, although I'm not recommending that as many claim TV keeps you awake.
I've managed these last few years on an average of 4-5 hours a night, for me the worst aspect is the anxiety of not being able to sleep rather than tiredness and fatigue which seems to bear no relationship to the number of hours of sleep for me.
There is some great advice above, especially from spork and herbavore. I've suffered almost constantly from insomnia for about 20 years. At times medications or drug use has contributed and I've been on many of the medications you are taking at some stage, although not as many at once.
Trying to fix insomnia has been a big contributor to problems I've had with alcohol and benzos as well as, ironically amphetamines so my advice would not be to try and resolve this via further medication, they clearly aren't helping at the moment.
I'm not going to be able to give great advice on sleep hygiene or meditation but for me the most valuable thing has been to stop fighting it as much as possible. I often just get up and go downstairs watch TV, do some work etc. oddly watching TV downstairs often send me to sleep, although I'm not recommending that as many claim TV keeps you awake.
I've managed these last few years on an average of 4-5 hours a night, for me the worst aspect is the anxiety of not being able to sleep rather than tiredness and fatigue which seems to bear no relationship to the number of hours of sleep for me.
diet
drugs
activity
sleep environment
mental health (stress)
here are the 5 groups of things that affect my sleep (and likely the sleep of others)
I would evaluate those, and see what improvements you can make and monitor how they effect your sleep patterns.
drugs
activity
sleep environment
mental health (stress)
here are the 5 groups of things that affect my sleep (and likely the sleep of others)
I would evaluate those, and see what improvements you can make and monitor how they effect your sleep patterns.
velmwend
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2012
- Messages
- 806
I'm currently trying zinc and magnesium supplements an hour before bed. Only my second night so I don't have results yet - going to give it a week. I mean, etizolam is a life saver when it comes to sleep, but I can only take it once a week (I want to avoid tolerance/addiction). It helps mid-week when I'm about to go crazy from sleep deficit, lol...gives me that deep, refreshing sleep that I need, to make it through the end of the week. I've tried all the others (warm milk, teas, bananas, showers, exercise) to no avail.
Good luck
Good luck
aguythatlikessmoke
Bluelighter
Shit, I am going through this same crap. My sleeping problems are induced by stimulant usage ( Coke and Amphetamine) Seems that even if I use once a week the next few nights I have a hard time getting to bed, I will fall asleep but I will get nightly awakenings and end up sleeping 5 hours or so . Other inducers are stress. I find that exercise helps a lot with sleeping problems but its not a cure all it eases the time it takes to fall asleep& improves sleep quality and energizes me (so even if I sleep less I feel more functional) Have other insomniacs noted this effect that when exercising everday 20 minutes cardio and weight training ( 1hour workout) that even if your lacking on sleep your still functional????( cause sometimes even if I workout I have insomnia issues but it eases it somewhat ) exercise helps and I eat something before bed it also helps me fall asleep something small though not a full meal.
Herbs when it comes to herbs I actually have some to recommend for Insomnia they are Valeriana radix, for me it worked I am gonna brew a tea tonight make sure to get good root that is stinky.
Kava kava good tea or Kava kava extract .Kava does wonders for stress induced or anxiety induced insomnia I only have 7 tea bags left which sucks. But Kava kava is very good for insomnia I would say about 20-40 Percent better than Valeriana.
Another less known herb that has a moderate to strong sedative and Anxiolytic properties it is the bark of a tree it is known as Erythrina mulungu( it originated from Brazil it has been used there for a long time in cases of insomnia, bronchitis asthma and as a sedative its from the amazon ) . It will knock you out and your sleep will be deep. It is subtle like it takes some time to hit you but then your sleeping deep, you'll fall asleep without realizing it . Only thing that sucks it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes to brew the tea you have to put the bark into water and boil the water and it is a hassle and constantly replace the water as it evaporates off you have to boil the bark for 30 to 60 minutes I woulds say 45 min is good its effective, I've only used it once.
Good thing about Kava kava and Valeriana they are ease to produce.
Oh yea Kanna ( Sceletium Tortuosum) I use this herb on daily basis it has anxiolytic properties moderate to strong ones, Mood lifting capabilites, Empathogenic effects and slight Psychedelic effect. It is stimulant/Sedative and a PDE4 inhibitor as well as a very potent herbal Antidepressant comparable in effect to Pharmaceutical grade Antidepressants . It is ironic because Kanna though it lifts my mood sometimes it eases Insomnia very much because stress is reduced other times this herb contributed to some of my insomnia as it acts on Serotonin and you can get some side effects such as body tension, racing heart etc. Though due to its Pde4 inhibitor effect it can reduce some of the effects of Sleep deprivation and it can enhance cognitive abilities as well as ease Depression.
I use herbals a lot......
Btw a few questions I wanted to ask....
How does Phenibut work on Insomnia like Moderate level Insomnia??? How does Kratom effect Insomnia and Anxiety? Do you recommend I use Kratom for a week or 2 to ease Insomnia??? How can I use Kratom for Insomnia. Peace
Herbs when it comes to herbs I actually have some to recommend for Insomnia they are Valeriana radix, for me it worked I am gonna brew a tea tonight make sure to get good root that is stinky.
Kava kava good tea or Kava kava extract .Kava does wonders for stress induced or anxiety induced insomnia I only have 7 tea bags left which sucks. But Kava kava is very good for insomnia I would say about 20-40 Percent better than Valeriana.
Another less known herb that has a moderate to strong sedative and Anxiolytic properties it is the bark of a tree it is known as Erythrina mulungu( it originated from Brazil it has been used there for a long time in cases of insomnia, bronchitis asthma and as a sedative its from the amazon ) . It will knock you out and your sleep will be deep. It is subtle like it takes some time to hit you but then your sleeping deep, you'll fall asleep without realizing it . Only thing that sucks it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes to brew the tea you have to put the bark into water and boil the water and it is a hassle and constantly replace the water as it evaporates off you have to boil the bark for 30 to 60 minutes I woulds say 45 min is good its effective, I've only used it once.
Good thing about Kava kava and Valeriana they are ease to produce.
Oh yea Kanna ( Sceletium Tortuosum) I use this herb on daily basis it has anxiolytic properties moderate to strong ones, Mood lifting capabilites, Empathogenic effects and slight Psychedelic effect. It is stimulant/Sedative and a PDE4 inhibitor as well as a very potent herbal Antidepressant comparable in effect to Pharmaceutical grade Antidepressants . It is ironic because Kanna though it lifts my mood sometimes it eases Insomnia very much because stress is reduced other times this herb contributed to some of my insomnia as it acts on Serotonin and you can get some side effects such as body tension, racing heart etc. Though due to its Pde4 inhibitor effect it can reduce some of the effects of Sleep deprivation and it can enhance cognitive abilities as well as ease Depression.
I use herbals a lot......
Btw a few questions I wanted to ask....
How does Phenibut work on Insomnia like Moderate level Insomnia??? How does Kratom effect Insomnia and Anxiety? Do you recommend I use Kratom for a week or 2 to ease Insomnia??? How can I use Kratom for Insomnia. Peace
aguythatlikessmoke
Bluelighter
<snip>. What I do know is that I spoke with a psychiatrist and we talked about Benzodiazepines most of them impair sleep quality but the psychiatrist told me that is true but on the other hand its better to get some sleep than no sleep at all... Though me after taking a benzo for sleep I dont wake up 100 percent fresh or something but i wake up feeling ok better than after insomnia,.....
<snip>
<snip>
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I have tried everything otu there , such as valerian, skullcap, kava, kava, b12, warm milk, over the counter sleeping meds. And the natural stuff that's all over the internet. My problem is, I just can't seem to turn my brain off wen I go to bed. Any help would be much appreciated, as I would really like to stop taking klonopin, xanax, nitrazepam. And many other prescription med's. I have to admit, when I do take them, I sleep like a baby. And I wake up feeling so rested.
It's so very easy to order them, and keep telling myself that this will be the last time. But I just can't seem to fine anything natural out there that will work. I only get about 3 hours of sleep, and that's if I'm lucky, if I don't take something for it.
In other words
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
It's so very easy to order them, and keep telling myself that this will be the last time. But I just can't seem to fine anything natural out there that will work. I only get about 3 hours of sleep, and that's if I'm lucky, if I don't take something for it.
In other words
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!