Insomnia... How To Cope When Coping Doesnt Work...

[Nighteyes]

11pm, 1am, 3am, 6am, time to function....
I have been dealing with insomnia for as long as I can remember. I seem to go in sperts where for weeks on end I wont rest. I'm 100% on allert 24/7. I cant close my eyes for fear of what the bleak blackness holds for me. I'm alway staring down the darkness, at the sliver of light through the door, fearful of whom may enter.
I am untreatable for this condiation with medication.... Medication works by supressing respiratory drive..something I cant aford with my shit tastick lung function.
And when I was younger(not that I am old or aged but not as young as I used to be) the insomnia didnt effect me in anyway..it was normal to be young and not sleep.
But now that I am an adult, with a family to care for the insomnia is taking a drastic toll on me.
I find I am getting short with my family, I'm more irritable then normal, my temper flares so easly and my mind is deffinitly suffering.
I have tried several things to cure this, but nothing seems to work. With my PTSD on hand, I cant seem to even begin to relax and rest. the times I finally pass out its horrable nightmares that I cant shack even when away...or should I say flashbacks intwined with nightmares...
Am I the only one who suffers like this?
Is there any ideas (other then meds) that ppl recommend?
Anything???

 

[Grace11]

If you find it, let me know....I'm on the same horrible cycle. I have recently started taking Melatonin but I can't tell any difference yet.

 

[Iron_Angel]

It sounds crazy, but I've found it to work: drink more water. LOTS more water. Most of us don't drink anywhere near the 8 x 8 oz. of water we need every day. Water does wonderful things to the brain, including boosting the serotonin and tryptophan levels, important chemicals for sleep.

You might think, well if I drink all that water, I'll have to get up six times to go to the bathroom. Yeah, but you'll wake from a nice sleep to do so. And you can wake up, relieve yourself, and fall back asleep fairly quickly. If you're worried about wetting the bed, it probably won't happen, and well, there's remedies for that. Isn't it better to get some sleep?

 

[freakofnurture]

Oh dear, I do nightmare sleep boycotts, too.
Now, do I understand you correctly that aside from the times when you're so fearful you can sleep fine?
Then maybe a door alarm could help you relax, or a door handle that can only be opened with a key from the outside.
A friend of mine had problems with nightly fear, too, and she put a canopy with thick curtains over her bed, so that she can sleep in a safe little cave.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I'm wondering what you have tried? I thought I tried a lot to help my insomnia, but it wasn't until I went to a sleep specialist that I was finally able to get my insomnia under control. Haha, don't judge. Yes, I do realize I am posting at 4am!

My sleep doctor put me on a strict sleep schedule. 11pm I take my night supplements (melatonin, etc). 1am I start my sleep routine. 3am I am in bed. 7am I am up. I am only allowed in my bedroom for those 4 hours of the day. My sleep routine involves reading, calming myself down with a microwavable heat pack and a plug in heating pad, no internet, no TV. At 7am I am to go outside and get 20mins of sunshine. No caffeine AT ALL. No sugar either. And most importantly, no sleep meds! Oh, and I am supposed to take up meditation, but haven't yet. Why only 4 hours of sleep? Because that is the best I could do, 4 hours of solid sleep. Why 3am? Because that is when I fall asleep the best. Now mind you, I don't always stick to this routine. Oh heck, I don't stick to it much at all anymore because I am now able to get a full 8-10 hours of sleep a night without problems. I figured that if I can get more sleep, I am taking it. Oh, and if I can't sleep after 20mins, I am to get out of bed, out of my room and do something calming. And I use white noise to calm me down as I sleep as well (heater or fan depending on how I want the temp of my room that night). This is just what works for me. What helps you may be something completely different. Have you considered seeing a sleep specialist?

But what I found to be the most important is actually TEACHING myself to fall asleep. It sounds stupid, but I actually forgot how to fall asleep on my own after years of needing medication to knock myself out.

 

[Nighteyes]

thanks for all the advice everyone.
The 8 glasses of water.. I happen to be one in a million that actually follows this and have for years, just something I do..instead of drinking juice/pop/coffee etc I choise water...dont see that changing anytime soon lol. but a valid point, just not one that makes a differance with me.
Now Freak... no I dont ever sleep fine. I never have my whole life. as I said I am always on alert. I cant turn off the brain at any point and The Fight or flight system (sympathetic nervous system) is always rared up to go...
the only times I "sleep" is when i finally hit a brick wall and pass out (and I mean that literally).
I have tried setting a routine, didnt work. I have tried medications on occation..but again didnt work and caused more problems then worth it.
I do use white noise in my room..fan of course, but that only drowns out the simple noises right lol.
I dunno... I believe sleep is a lost couse here. Just wish the symptoms from the lack of it would go away before I do or say something to hurt my family (by family I mean my Son and husband) sigh...
thanks again all :)

 

[freakofnurture]

Oh, okay, I didn't read your post careful enough then. Sorry about that. Maybe it would help if you'd explain what you've already tried, like ScaredOfLonely suggested.

I understand the frustration you must feel. I was made an insomniac while still an infant and I, too, never ever ever could just go to bed and sleep. Two to four hours sleep latency. For 23 years nothing I tried worked, and the first sleep specialist I went to just told me that I was too young to have a sleeping disorder. I should stop to party all weekend and 'just' get up at 6, no matter what. I never partied, ever in my life. But I tried getting up at 6. Result? I either fell ill or knocked over the alarm clock without even becoming conscious. So, second visit, what does the sleep specialist say? "You didn't try hard enough. And you're too young. Young people don't have sleep disorders." I didn't kill him. Sheer willpower.
Then I discovered L-Tryptophan. This stuff is in milk+honey. It worked great for two years.
The final (knock-knock) solution happened during my first in-patient treatment. I have no idea what it was, but since the third night in hospital I can fall asleep like a young goddess. Mostly. If I'm in bed before 9pm. It's great.
I wish I knew how this came about, so I could tell you. But no. I'd be rich if I knew. And that can't happen, apparently.