Strategies for deep sleep when you have insomnia

Lack of sleep is frustrating, almost panic inducing

I’ve suffered from insomnia for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is of being five years old and still awake at midnight. High school was terrible for me - I got by on three hours a night most nights, sometimes even less than that.

I still did really well in school, but I wonder how well I could’ve done if I were receiving a full night’s sleep. Lack of sleep is frustrating, almost panic-inducing. I look at the clock and think, “Five more hours till I have to get up…Four more hours…Two more hours…”

And as each hour creeps by, I get more and more panicky about having to face the day with no sleep. Sometimes listening to talk radio helps me fall asleep, or putting the TV on CNN. I’ve recently discovered audio books - if the voices reading the novels don’t put me to sleep, at least I’m learning something!

I do take medication for my insomnia. I’ve tried Klonopin, Lunesta, Trazodone, and I am now on a low dose of Xanax, which seems to help the best (although it’s not helping tonight, it’s 1:01 am!).

These meds are prescribed to me by a psychiatrist. What causes my insomnia? We’re not sure. It’s probably linked to the depression that I’ve suffered from most of my life (also on Paxil for that), and honestly, I think it’s just the way my brain is- it fights against sleep when it’s supposed to be sleeping.

I get up and play on the computer when I can’t sleep. If I’m REALLY wide awake, I read. I’ve read over 170 books so far this year, so you can probably tell how much I’ve slept…

Sleep deprivations after having kids

I have suffered from sleep deprivation. My first experience with it was after having my first child. Two years later, my second child arrived, and I experienced it again. I now take prescription medication to help me sleep.

I feel incredibly frustrated when I can’t fall asleep. I keep thinking about the day I have in front of me, and how much energy I’m going to need. This, of course, makes it worse. When I’m feeling stressed, my mind goes into overdrive and won’t stop humming. This makes it very difficult to fall asleep.

Extreme sleep deprivation can make me feel psychotic and out of it. I can’t think straight. The sleep medications help me to fall asleep. However, there have been times when I’ve stayed awake for hours after taking the pills. What helps is having complete quiet; keeping the TV off, no noise coming from outside, etc.

Of course, I have the lights off. I try to ease my mind by focusing on breathing in, out, in, out. If I’m truly able to focus on that, I can fall asleep pretty quickly. If this doesn’t work, I may turn the TV on for a while or read a book for a few minutes. This helps sometimes. I tend to sleep better if I’ve had strenuous exercise sometime during the day.

I went to my general practitioner to discuss my sleep problems. He originally prescribed Ambien, which worked well.

I eventually switched to Lunesta, which I use now. It feels gentler to me. I explained to my doctor that I couldn’t sleep, I had two small kids and a job, and I was desperate for sleep. He said that I had a lot going on and that stress could be a big factor.

He also said not to eat too late at night. I took his advice, and it worked. I’d prefer not to stay on sleeping medication forever, but I’m staying put for now. I love to sleep!

Can’t sleep without Lunesta sleeping pills

I have been unable to sleep without pills, of some sort, for many years. Every night I use to go to bed with dread every night. Laying in the bed night after night unable to stop the random thoughts running through my mind, unable to go to sleep, it is torture. It wears down your body and befuddles your mind. It makes every morning an unwelcome eventuality.

The clock is a enemy. Ticking away the hours , counting down the time you have left before having to get up for work again. The weekends are not any better. On the weekends you get to stay up later trying to wear yourself out so you may sleep later. All you get for that is a worn out body and an even more befuddled mind! I have taken all the advice from doctors and friends.

No coffee, no tea, no heavy meals before bed, exercise, no exercise, reading, completely darkened room, and even painting my room and adding black out blinds! Many other natural remedies, as well, did not work. In the last ten years I have resorted to presciption medication, as welll as over the counter medication.

I have tried different sleeping pills and used “Lunesta” for a year. My doctor decided I should get off of the Lunesta after one year due to addiction concerns. So for a couple of years I took “Tylenol PM” every night. I started out taking two, but, within a couple of months I was taking three a night! When it started taking four to help me to sleep I went back to the doctor.

Needless to say she wasn’t pleased with my taking so many “Tylenol PM,” every night. She represcribed the “Lunesta.” Which worked very well, however, one year later the doctor makes me stop again! Now I am back on the “Tylenol PM,” but am managing, at the moment, with only three a night. I still have no answers about what my sleep deprivation. The doctor suggested it could be due to the fact I am bi-polar and take no medication.

I also started menopause in my late thirties and that too is a factor. I suppose it could be due to either one of these factors, or perhaps something totally different, the doctors have never given me a definitive answer. I worry about the fact I take so many pills. I worry what damage I may doing myself. I need to sleep at night, so I need the pills. I have had many conversations with friends on this issue and they agree I really need to find a way to sleep without the pills.

They really haven’t any real advice as how to do that though! So, I suppose that it is about time to go back to the doctor. I know that I will be needing that “Lunesta” prescription again, real soon. I will continue to try different methods, but, I am resigned to taking medications, at least until someone finds a different answer for we who are sleep deprived.