I hate relying on medication, even OTC stuff... I trust herbal stuff a bit more, and have found L-theanine to help with my sleep and the anxiety as well. Two of the L-theanine (I think that's the one, I can double check to be sure if anyone is interested) and I am OUT!
Developing a ritual will help too... like taking a warm bath, or doing something relaxing, having a cup of decaf tea, going to bed at the same time each night, etc... I know they say it's best to not sleep with lights on, but I feel I HAVE to have at least a dim glow from my computer and/or a nightlight. Without these, I get more stressed and the PTSD symptoms get worse in the complete dark.
What I have found to help me the most though, has been these meditation podcasts. I think if you google Meditation Oasis, you should be able to find the site where you can download free podcasts. My therapist gave me the site, and it was truely a lifesaver. I put one of the podcasts on, and I am completely out usually within just five minutes- the fastest I've EVER fallen asleep. I feel more refreshed the next morning too, and have found that if I play the podcasts through the night, it decreases the night terrors and nightmares that I typically have. I wake up feeling better, my mood improves, my anxiety decreases... they have worked better than ANY medication I have tried. I was skeptical at first and reluctant to try. Now it has become part of my overall bedtime routine, for the most part... some nights I've skipped, but I try to stick with it, or else I start having the problems with sleep again. As long as I stick with it on a regular basis, not only does it seem to always work, but my overall mood and how I feel physically and mentally seem to improve as well.
