Not sleeping...help please!!!?

The panicy feeling you get before going to bed probably isn't helping, it's only going to add adrenaline to your system that'll keep you awake. If you can't feel confident about your ability to sleep, which is completely understandable, try to convince yourself that it doesn't matter. Yeah, I'm not going to be able to sleep. Whatever. I just have to make the best of it because worrying won't help anything.

Some things that help me:

- Try switching your pillows and sheets so that your head is where your feet usually are in your bed, or try sleeping on the floor, or really try anything to make your bedtime feel different than normal. It'll help to stave off the panic because you're not going into the exact same situation, which is the panic trigger. The lack of sleeping is also becoming a habit, just like sleeping in your bed the same way every night, and breaking one habit can help in breaking another. Change encourages change.

- You may also try taking a few days off or waiting for a weekend, and sleeping during the day. I've found that it's much easier to sleep during the day, because getting to sleep just feels less important- it's not bedtime, I'm not worried about sleeping all through the night. You also have something to look at while you're laying awake, if it comes to that. Laying there is less miserable.

- You could also try forcing yourself to stay awake for several days to make yourself tired. I've also found that it's much easier to sleep when you're trying not to.

- Other than that, maybe try seeing a psychiatrist. There may be a psychological reason that you can't sleep, and a psychiatrist is capable of prescribing drugs for any problems they may detect, although they're very expensive so that might be a last resort.

I hope something I mentioned helps at all, I know how miserable it is lying awake. Good luck finding something that works for you. <3

Try this - it really does work, and is based on what a specialist sleep clinic would advise.

--- First, each day go for a run, as long as you have time for and as vigorous as you can, in the evening but a few hours before sleep.

--- Then, go to bed much later than usual (but at least 6 hours before your normal time to get up).

The idea is to be as tired as possible before you get into bed.

--- DO NOT lie in bed and toss and turn. If you don't sleep within a reasonable amount of time, say 10 or 15 minutes, get up and do a jigsaw puzzle until you are sleepy. (I know it it weird, but there is actual research that the best thing to do in the night is jigsaw puzzles! You can also read, knit, listen to music, or do some hobby. Whatever you do, get up and do it in a chair. Do not do anything in bed.)

--- Notice your inner self-talk around sleep. This is going to be a panicky "Oh my god I won't sleep" kind of thing. Forcefully and persistently change this to something positive like "My body knows how to sleep. This is unpleasant but I'll be OK before long [you will]. Worrying doesn't help, I'll just keep calm and carry on."

There's a longer version of this, with lots of other advice about sleep, on my website:

http://www.themagicofyou.co.uk/bristol/hypnotherap...

i feel your pain. the only thing that has ever helped me is getting a massage and/or doing yoga before bed. obviously i don't do these things everyday, but i guess u gotta find out whats keeping u awake. my endless thoughts are either the cause or the result of muscle rigidity that makes it impossible to sleep. i know it's hard getting through the day when you spend your nights tossing and turning. i've been unable to get an adequate amount of sleep since i was a teenager. i'm pretty tired : ) all i know is medication never helped, especially not ambien it made my insomnia worse. once in a while i do take over the counter sleep aides; but for the most part i think u just gotta get to the root of the problem with as little medication as possible.

Dear Friend,

I understand how life is miserable without proper sleep. It’s great that you have approached doctor and got some medicines but I comprehend it did not work out for you.

Jacobson’s Progressive Relaxation Therapy is a good solution. I suggest you to read something about it online and then immediately meet a psychologist/counselor. The professional will examine you whether you have any anxiety issues and then may train you on the Relaxation.

In my practice, I have seen this relaxation working excellent for the issues like yours. Tensing and Relaxing your muscles is the main method and you should do it regularly for at least 21 days to find a significant difference in your sleep pattern. Moreover belief on the Therapy & Therapist is very important.

I wish you all the best. Take care :)

Relive the stress from your mind for that try some meditations or listen to some light music which soothes your mind, take shower before going to bed and avoid tea or coffee before sleeping.

omg. Do not take Ambien! On that note, don't take ANY drugs.

Seriously, they wont help you.

Take Tylenol PM. trust me, I'm not lying to you... it works.

you have to take 2 each night, 1 hour before you go to bed, because that how long it takes to kick in.

You can buy it at any pharmacy or market.

Take my advice.

hey hey hey, calm down. You're so occupied with worrying about whether or not you'll fall asleep that you distract yourself from the task at hand. If you need help, put your msn up in the details of this. hope i could help.

you have no other choice..but pray...its all u have...&take it easy..