Severe Insomnia

[RockyBalboa]

Have any of you ever suffered from this? I'm not just talking about regular insomnia, but an extreme version of it, where no matter how exhausted or sleepy you are, you STILL can't fall asleep and if you do, it's for no more than 2 or 3 hours at a time before you wake up again and can't fall back asleep.

I've struggled with insomnia for the better part of the last 5 years or so, but now it's reached a new level, that regardless of what I try, I simply cannot sleep.

I'm not interested in getting into a regular habit of taking sleeping pills because I don't want my body to become reliant on them, and if it gets too late and I do take one, seeing that I have to get up at 5:30 or 6:00 every morning I will wake up very hungover and walking around in quicksand the rest of the day.

Have any of you experienced this and if so, what did you try for help, and did it work?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Not a problem for me.

You still aren't downing massive quantities of Pepsi are you?

My brother struggles with this and takes Ambien. It knocks him out.

[CJF]

Have any of you ever suffered from this? I'm not just talking about regular insomnia, but an extreme version of it, where no matter how exhausted or sleepy you are, you STILL can't fall asleep and if you do, it's for no more than 2 or 3 hours at a time before you wake up again and can't fall back asleep.

I've struggled with insomnia for the better part of the last 5 years or so, but now it's reached a new level, that regardless of what I try, I simply cannot sleep.

I'm not interested in getting into a regular habit of taking sleeping pills because I don't want my body to become reliant on them, and if it gets too late and I do take one, seeing that I have to get up at 5:30 or 6:00 every morning I will wake up very hungover and walking around in quicksand the rest of the day.

Have any of you experienced this and if so, what did you try for help, and did it work?

I have had a few issues with it over the years. Sleep has always been a problem for me. I love to sleep but I struggle doing it. On average I get no more than 5.5 hours a night. This week I'm running on 2.5 hours a night. I've had night duty with my son and once I wake up.

In the past I've had severe insomnia. And like you, taking even natural remedies screw with me. I feel like stuck in a fog all day after taking anything. The one thing I've found that helps is a.....well, not to be graphic, but a release of "tension." Luckily I've had a very helpful wife. My problem has eased since getting married. I know that's not a solution for you, but that seriously helps put me right to sleep and keeps me asleep 4 or 5 hours at a time.. Maybe you could get a doctors note for your bishop.

[Clark Addison]

I have had a few issues with it over the years. Sleep has always been a problem for me. I love to sleep but I struggle doing it. On average I get no more than 5.5 hours a night. This week I'm running on 2.5 hours a night. I've had night duty with my son and once I wake up.

In the past I've had severe insomnia. And like you, taking even natural remedies screw with me. I feel like stuck in a fog all day after taking anything. The one thing I've found that helps is a.....well, not to be graphic, but a release of "tension." Luckily I've had a very helpful wife. My problem has eased since getting married. I know that's not a solution for you, but that seriously helps put me right to sleep and keeps me asleep 4 or 5 hours at a time.. Maybe you could get a doctors note for your bishop.

Screw the Doctor's note for the Bishop, I want to know if I can get a Doctor's note for my wife.

[marsupial]

Do you have good sleep hygiene?

[SteelBlue]

Screw the Doctor's note for the Bishop, I want to know if I can get a Doctor's note for my wife.

This reminds me of an old joke (one that actually ended up in our wards' RS newsletter to the great horror of many). A guy goes to the doctor with his wife in tow because he hasn't been feeling well. After the appointment, the doctor asks to speak with the wife alone. He says "Mrs. Jones, I'm afraid your husband is afflicted with a rare condition which if not treated correctly could result in his death within a year." Horrified, the wife says "what's the treatment?" The doctor tells her that "strangely enough, he needs to have sex every night, at least once." The woman thanks the physician and tells him that she'll break the news to her husband. As they get into the car her husband says "so, what did the doctor have to say?" The wife replies, "he says you're going to die."

[All-American]

Yeah, I got 2 hours last night. Dunno what to do except soldier on.

[RockyBalboa]

Yeah, I got 2 hours last night. Dunno what to do except soldier on.

Yep and it's what I've been doing everyday.

I must admit that while most around me have been getting very sick and I haven't yet I'm surprised.

[RobinFinderson]

Move to CA and get a prescription for medical marijuana. No addiction. No uncontrollable sleep walking. Also relieves the symptoms of colds, flu, migraine, nausea, and restless leg syndrome. Active ingredients can be extracted with alcohol (the way vanilla bean extract is made) in your kitchen if you rather not smoke it. You can grow this medicine in a pot on your balcony for free.

Any wonder why its illegal? Pharmaceutical companies can't compete.

[The Wankster]

Move to CA and get a prescription for medical marijuana. No addiction. No uncontrollable sleep walking. Also relieves the symptoms of colds, flu, migraine, nausea, and restless leg syndrome. Active ingredients can be extracted with alcohol (the way vanilla bean extract is made) in your kitchen if you rather not smoke it. You can grow this medicine in a pot on your balcony for free.

Any wonder why its illegal? Pharmaceutical companies can't compete.

There was this news rag TV show about some guy in canada who grows the worlds most pure form of hannabis, and he sells it for "medicinal" purposes to people wherever else it is legal.

This guy was using the stuff he extracts from the "weed" in breads, cookies, muffins, candy, you name it.

I can tell you what, if I ever contract terminal cancer I am running to this dude to get his "extract of weed" for helping keep the pain at bay.

[Babs]

Have any of you ever suffered from this? I'm not just talking about regular insomnia, but an extreme version of it, where no matter how exhausted or sleepy you are, you STILL can't fall asleep and if you do, it's for no more than 2 or 3 hours at a time before you wake up again and can't fall back asleep.

I've struggled with insomnia for the better part of the last 5 years or so, but now it's reached a new level, that regardless of what I try, I simply cannot sleep.

I'm not interested in getting into a regular habit of taking sleeping pills because I don't want my body to become reliant on them, and if it gets too late and I do take one, seeing that I have to get up at 5:30 or 6:00 every morning I will wake up very hungover and walking around in quicksand the rest of the day.

Have any of you experienced this and if so, what did you try for help, and did it work?

Rock, are you sure there's not something else going on? Insomnia of that degree can be a symptom of a more complex problem. Sounds awful, though. Hope you find some relief.

[wuapinmon]

Have any of you ever suffered from this? I'm not just talking about regular insomnia, but an extreme version of it, where no matter how exhausted or sleepy you are, you STILL can't fall asleep and if you do, it's for no more than 2 or 3 hours at a time before you wake up again and can't fall back asleep.

I've struggled with insomnia for the better part of the last 5 years or so, but now it's reached a new level, that regardless of what I try, I simply cannot sleep.

I'm not interested in getting into a regular habit of taking sleeping pills because I don't want my body to become reliant on them, and if it gets too late and I do take one, seeing that I have to get up at 5:30 or 6:00 every morning I will wake up very hungover and walking around in quicksand the rest of the day.

Have any of you experienced this and if so, what did you try for help, and did it work?

I had massive insomnia for about a year.....what helped me was:

#1 Sleeping alone in a recliner
#2 Taking a hot shower before bed
#3 No caffeine after dinner
#4 Watching a movie I've seen a million times with the volume off and subtitles on.

I always had fewer problems if I had exerted myself during the day.....also, if you can get the Mrs to do you a favor and then just let you sleep during the afterglow, it can really make a difference when you've had a string of bad nights.

I have sleep apnea, so the CPAP machine helps with the waking up....but when I couldn't even get to sleep, the above steps helped. Then again, you could just try and read some Husserl or Heidegger; my body responds to Phenomenology by shutting down my brain......grad school saw me reading them in the tub with HOT water dribbling on my feet to keep me awake, no lie.

[Jeff Lebowski]

.....also, if you can get the Mrs to do you a favor and then just let you sleep during the afterglow, it can really make a difference when you've had a string of bad nights.

Well there you go, Rocky. Problem solved.

[Babs]

ouch. talk about hitting below the belt.

[UtahDan]

I have had a few issues with it over the years. Sleep has always been a problem for me. I love to sleep but I struggle doing it. On average I get no more than 5.5 hours a night. This week I'm running on 2.5 hours a night. I've had night duty with my son and once I wake up.

In the past I've had severe insomnia. And like you, taking even natural remedies screw with me. I feel like stuck in a fog all day after taking anything. The one thing I've found that helps is a.....well, not to be graphic, but a release of "tension." Luckily I've had a very helpful wife. My problem has eased since getting married. I know that's not a solution for you, but that seriously helps put me right to sleep and keeps me asleep 4 or 5 hours at a time.. Maybe you could get a doctors note for your bishop.

This is the most brilliant thing I have ever heard. Of course I will need to pretend I can't sleep for a while, but it will be worth it. I love you man.