• H&R Moderators: streaM Freak

Insomnia! *MEGA-thread*

^ It didn't come off as rude - no worries! <3

Anyway- I go through bouts of insomnia and right now is one of those times. I've tried SO much.. Benzos, Z drugs, diphenhydramine, sleep hygiene, relaxation....but nothing is helping me. I'm used to going to sleep at 11pm and waking up around 7am so I stick to that. But I've been up for almost over 48 hours straight now (not drug induced). I have an awful migraine coupled with the nausea from it too.

I guess my question is this: Has anyone tried almost everything for insomnia but still unable to sleep? I do opiates & benzos but that's it. I just don't know what gives...
8hrs may be more than ideal given your age/body/activity levels. you may just not need 8, not everyone does.. how often are these bouts? like every couple weeks, or couple months? and yes of course opiates/benzo's can disrupt sleep a ton in many different ways especially the benzo's (dosage dependent)
 
It's usually every 2-3 weeks or so. I may try sleeping less, it's just so frustrating.
 
Haven't found a solution other than just deal with it...

You could go to your doctor and ask for just a few days worth of a sleeping medication each month, specifically just for the days where you're having hormone-related insomina - which IMO is totally understandable. Some chicks get percocet to deal with cramps, why not restoril for insomnia? Seems fair IMO. Especially as a guy who doesn't have monthly hormonal fluctuations but has had a restoril prescription in the past for insomnia.

Or they may prescribe a whole 30 count month supply and expect it to last you many months, which would also work.

I frankly get insomnia pretty bad still especially from PTSD. :(
 
You could go to your doctor and ask for just a few days worth of a sleeping medication each month, specifically just for the days where you're having hormone-related insomina - which IMO is totally understandable. Some chicks get percocet to deal with cramps, why not restoril for insomnia? Seems fair IMO. Especially as a guy who doesn't have monthly hormonal fluctuations but has had a restoril prescription in the past for insomnia.

Or they may prescribe a whole 30 count month supply and expect it to last you many months, which would also work.

I frankly get insomnia pretty bad still especially from PTSD. :(

sorry to hear that :/ noted improvements over time i hope?


Restoril(temazepam) is crazy-strong, that will work guaranteed lol. that is right up there w/ seroquel in the "strongest knockout" product category i've ever experienced. VERY habit forming though, and extremely quick tolerance buildup. incredibly effective, but a last resort for sure.

every 2-3weeks with that sober/non-caffeine-etc-induced insomnia period, typically followed by full reversion to regular sleep schedule, is something i've had happen many many times. it is almost always something wherein i can look back and see i was 'too rested' (usually from combo of my regular sleep sched being used while non-training. this actually happened to me about a month ago when injury had me go from superman-level daily exertion, to couch-potato. I didn't alter my sleep times, and actually it may have been 2X that i ran into that insomnia episode b4 realizing i was eat/sleeping at my training levels despite no training..)
 
You could go to your doctor and ask for just a few days worth of a sleeping medication each month, specifically just for the days where you're having hormone-related insomina - which IMO is totally understandable. Some chicks get percocet to deal with cramps, why not restoril for insomnia? Seems fair IMO. Especially as a guy who doesn't have monthly hormonal fluctuations but has had a restoril prescription in the past for insomnia.

Or they may prescribe a whole 30 count month supply and expect it to last you many months, which would also work.

I frankly get insomnia pretty bad still especially from PTSD. :(
Thanks for the idea. I'm going to use it but in another way... Have worse issues than not sleeping when it comes to hormonal shifts... :(
 
full moons and fucked up sleep.

so, my dad always blames the full moon for his insomnia, but it's harder for me to pinpoint because mine is sporadic and i don't chart it or anything.

i can't sleep tonight, and it's a full moon.

are there actually any *scientific links between the lunar cycle and the sleep cycle?
 
I always have trouble sleeping properly around full moons. I live in the pacific northwest where it's always cloudy so before people tell me it's just a placebo, it's not. I often don't even know what phase of the moon is in until I start experiencing symptoms and then look it up.

A good friend of mine works in the ER and she says that no one wants to work the night shift that the moon is full on because it's always "crazy people time".
 
So... I had no idea there was a full moon last night... I've been awake since about 1a (went to bed around 9:30p). I've been thinking the insomnia I experience was linked to my menstrual cycle but now you got me thinking about this... 'Cause I have noticed a few times when I've awoke in the wee hours that it was awfully bright outside... Tough to tell in my new place though since it's almost always light outside the window... /rambling
 
I've started training students on the truck (against my will, at that) and have found it difficult to fall asleep many nights unless the truck is pulled over... The stress of having someone brand new drive a truck when I'm not is almost enough to drive me bananas.

... Why can't I just drive a truck on my own?!
 
errr, get some sleep. money /= happiness, but broke = unhappy, and $ = many basic/entry-level types of happiness (and is almost a requirement for true happiness. yes, i understand that's not a rule the way, say, gravity is. but wrt sociology/culture, it may as well be)
[edit: i mean earned-$. $ from lottery, theft, inheritance, dealing drugs, etc etc etc, doesn't work that way]

/never stop looking beyond. that is the point we become worthless.
 
Drug or technique to fall asleep fast, on demand?

Are there any OTC drugs that would *reliably* get me drowsy / knock me out so I can pass out quickly, but without nasty side effects the next day?

I have delayed sleep cycle syndrome (often go to sleep at 5am and wake up at noon), and I almost always get fewer than 7 hours of sleep. The later I go to sleep, the less sleep I get, but I don't feel more tired. However, I want to get 8+ hours per night to me sharper, improve acne, put on muscle etc, shed fat. Problem is that if I go to sleep and I'm not super tired, I can't pass out.

What I've tried:
  • melatonin, from 3mg to 9mg. Rarely I get drowsy, but most often I don't feel anything and still go to sleep at 5am after I take melatonin at midnight.
  • Klonopin (Clonazepam). Took 1/4 pill severl days in a row. Nothing.
  • Tylenol Simply Sleep. Didn't do anything for me.

I live in the US and can't afford health insurance yet (weird sleep schedule = can't show up for normal work hours, or I'm a zombie). I've searched for "fall asleep fast" techniques but they all seem highly unreliable (showers actually awaken me, milk doesn't do much etc.). I'm looking for something strong, maybe an off-label use of some other medicine, or larger dose of something.

Any OTC stuff I can get to help me pass out quickly at any time I choose?
 
^ For the past month or so I've been smoking a tiny bit of dried damiana leaf around bedtime, and it knocks me out like a charm. Might work for you, might not. The reasons for insomnia are complicated.
 
Didn't sleep at all last night. Tips for sleeping easier / sleep anxiety?

Hey everyone,

I wanted to ask if people had any good tips or suggestions for me when it comes to sleep.

I was withdrawing two days ago so I couldn't sleep.. but last night I was fine and I got drunk at the bar and I COULDNT fall asleep. I didn't sleep at all.

I have a lot of trouble sleeping because my mind tends to race and I think about a bunch of things, then I have anxiety with thinking "I need to get up by X.. its already Y,.. that means I only have so long to sleep if I fall asleep now... and I get anxious.

My heart seems to beat louder and keeps me up with that. I like can't seem to get my focus off of my heartbeat and thinking. I have had trouble sleeping ever since I stopped smoking weed 3 years ago, I would be put to sleep easy with opiates though. But without anything I need to take like 200mg or more of Diphenhydramin (I did that last night and STILL didn't sleep) and I take about 12mg of Melatonin.

I always stay up because I don't like just like stopping whatever I am doing and go to sleep.. it is hard for me. I love to sleep but hate going to sleep. I know I need to force myself, but it's tough.

What are suggestions to help sleep and fall asleep? I can NEVER sleep all the way through a night, I always wake up once or twice.. usually to pee or something.


So how can I help calm down and relax easier while in bed, and fall asleep and not have anxiety for sleeping ? Is there something I can take a few hours prior to going to sleep to help calm down and then take when I go to sleep ? Is there something that will help me a lot that I don't know about? I am sure there are people EXACTLY like me and have found a solution to the issue.. can someone help that has a similar issue than me ?

I know I need to let my body heal and mind from opiates and stuff.. but it's a long process to get back into the swing of things. I just hate how I have so much trouble falling asleep.


WHAT I HAVE AT MY DISPOSAL:

Diphenhydramine
SOME Klonopin
Metroporol (Beta Blocker)
Chamomile (never seemed to help much)
Melatonin
and some OTC drugs that everyone has.

Thank you so much!
 
What really helps me whenever I can't sleep is meditation as this will make you practice breathing techniques that will calm you down and will take your mind off your worries and anxiety. Here is a link we have here at HL that you may be interested to read at:

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/539140-Meditation-Tips?highlight=Meditation

When I started exercising, my sleep also improved. I would suggest that you exercise at least 3 times a week as this will not only help you with your sleep but also make you recover faster from your withdrawals. Also, if you are going to eat dinner at least wait for it to digest in an hour or so as for myself, I have noticed that it I find it hard to sleep whenever I would try to sleep right away. Also, avoid sugary food or caffeine at night.
 
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