r/insomnia

Any recommendations appreciated. I need help. Last 16 months sleeping 0-3 broken sleep a night. No sleep drive at all. Cannot fall asleep for 1 second on own. Benzos only thing out of 30 drugs that can get me an hour but now they are useless. None of the z drugs or psych meds ever worked. Drs say I could have fatal insomnia. Petscan shows hypometabolism everywhere except the thalamus. Muscle spasms. Spinal tap showed elevated 14-3-3 protein levels. CBT-I did nothing. My heart rate is in 50-60’s its not anxiety related. The prior 12 months I had extremely high heart rate panic attacks; hospitalized many times with no answers. Been to various hospitals across country.

Any insight or suggestions on anything that could help is much appreciated.

I cannot sleep and i have been up for way longer than i’ve been asleep. I have slept 3 light hours and cannot sleep more, i took 7.5mg of melatonin and nothing is working
I have no choice but to get up and start my work and i will do bad because im severely disorietend and impaired but i can’t sleep. I cant stand being sleep deprived and it has made me want to die before and i panicked so bad i was hospitalized, i dont know what to do anymore i just want to go to bed and its light outside now so its worse

Unfortunately I can’t speak I’ve only ever gone 38hrs and this was due to a rough day of travel +overnight plane journey. As soon as I got to bed I slept for 13hrs after this.

I’m usually a 6-7hr sleeper and rarely wake during the night. I can fall asleep within mins.

Wish everyone here was the same as me my friend has insomnia and apparently it’s horrific for mood etc and he goes days without a wink of sleep. Sometimes 3 days then next night only a few hours, imagine having to work or have responsibilities on top of this?

How do you function?

A little over a month ago, I dealt with what was deemed to be severe anxiety causing dizziness. After going to a doctor three different times within two weeks, I was prescribed Pristiq. Upon taking it the first night, I went about my night and spent it playing video games until around 3am when I finally decided to get some sleep, but something strange happened…I open my eyes to notice that nearly 2 hours have passed and I hadn’t slept, along with suddenly feeling nauseous. I instantly suspected the nausea was brought on by the Pristiq as that’s what I was mostly warned about. After a while, I decided to call it quits and tough out the day without sleeping and get back to a regular routine the next night.

I’ve had issues with sleeping in the past, but only when it would be the night before something really important…it led to days where I would go over 30 hours without any sleep, and would occasionally start to panic when I would still struggle afterwards…but it would usually get resolved shortly afterwards.

With that aside..I took my medication again the next night, the same thing happened. And then the same thing happened the third night…that time I finally looked into it. Where I saw one of the common side effects of the medication was insomnia along with dizziness and nausea. Although feeling a sense of relief at first, my anxiety had already done its job. I was still struggling immensely with sleep. It got to a point where I associated getting ready for bed as something to be nervous about. Every time I lay down, my heart starts racing, my minds going erratic, and I have an intense overwhelming feeling that I won’t be able to sleep through the night..and that maybe my body forgot how to sleep at all.

That was the beginning of this month, and I’m still struggling. The only sleep I’ve been getting is kinda hard to explain…I can vividly recall having dreams, but when waking up (like every 1-2 hours), I feel like I was still conscious throughout the night. I haven’t had any severe sleep deprivation symptoms…but then I worry myself even more into thinking that my lack of sleep has made me slip into psychosis or a manic episode..or something that many wouldn’t think to be rational. All I think about everyday at all times is “it’s gonna happen again tonight”. Another thing that I should probably add, I’m 18M…and have been feeling kind of pathetic as ever since this started happening I’ve been sleeping with my parents to feel a sense of comfort…as dealing with this in my own time makes me feel completely isolated from the world.

A few years ago I stumbled upon FFI & SFI (Fatal Familia/Sporadic Fatal Insomnia), and although not thinking too much of it initially…the thought of possibly having it has been eating me alive. My family has given me all the reassurances in the world, but I still feel like it’s impending doom.

I’ve tried many sleep remedies in the past, but my stress always acts as a shield towards all of it. I’ve been prescribed the lowest dose of vistaril and clonidine to hopefully get relaxed, I can’t say it’s helped much. The reason I’m writing this is cause i’m hoping that maybe someone out there knows what this feels like, and that there is still hope for putting this worry behind me. All I wish is for this viscous cycle to end.

Talking only about the case you train 4 hours at least before you go to bed.

The common suggestion is that it helps.but i think my body is already super hyperarousal physiologicaly because of chronic sleep deprivation. So sport will make it more hyperaroused

Chronic insomnia feels like slowly dying, night after night. Every night I don’t sleep, I feel less human and less “ present” in general. I feel like there is a bubble around me that I can’t get out of, and I’m completely alone inside of it, while watching everyone else move on with their lives. I feel envious of people who can simply sleep. It feels like genuine torture, especially when you don’t understand why this is happening to you. insomnia isn’t just about not being able to sleep and feeling tired. It can take away the ability to work, think, and even speak properly. It can bring depression, anxiety, frustration and what not. Research has consistently linked insomnia to a significantly increased risk of suicidal thought, suicide attempts, and suicide.

When you develop insomnia, you start to realise how easily you can be left behind. Especially by docters who dismiss your symptoms as ”stress” instead of taking them seriously. and even by the people around you, who come with useless ‘ solutions’ like vitamines and herbal remedies, as if you haven’t tried everything yet.

insomnia is not just in your head, it is not a mental health issue. it is a physical illness, yet people still treat it like a mental issue that you’re somehow responsible for.

Why is it that insomnia is treated so differently?

Hi everyone. I have had problems sleeping my whole life, very extreme at some points, including now. I am very familiar with all the solutions. From CBTi, Nutrition, Circadian rhythm, breathing etc. It has made me healthier in a lot of areas in my life trying to fix this one thing, however I still cannot crack the code on falling asleep?

I physically and mentally exhaust myself with gym and work and lots of other things, It's almost as If i am superhuman but only in the form of not sleeping? On paper everything should be forcing me to sleep. I put all the percentages in my favour. The problem is for me - I cannot fall asleep unless I am somewhat head spinning on drugs or alcohol? I can sleep for many hours once i get to sleep, but that first bit almost seems impossible? It's like I need my brain spinning a bit just to forget the thoughts and ease into sleep.

I smoke weed every night to sleep, It seems like i cannot sleep without it? I know all the facts and studies around it but sleeping on weed is better than 0 hours without it? I do not smoke during the day every and it's only past 6pm.

I also usually get very drunk on sunday nights so I can 100% fall asleep and wake up on Monday for work - It's so funny because everyone i know usually parties on a Friday or Saturday but i'm using it to literally fall asleep. Doing shots of Vodka at my PC (I assume that's the healthiest way,drinking it straight lol). It's so weird and backwards because I know the affect Alcohol has on sleep and I think it's a terrible thing for the brain but for me it's a prescription free sleep aid? 6 hours drunk sleep with weed is better than 0 hours without?

Apart from Sunday nights or the odd day when I feel i wont sleep (based off exercise in the day/sleeping in etc) I don't ever drink alcohol or go out and party. So i'm not some secretive alcoholic.

50% of weekends I wont sleep on Friday night - so I stay awake until Saturday night just so i don't sleep in and ruin any progress/circadian rhythm? But there is no progress to ruin lol because these sleepless nights come completely random, even when I'm mentally and physically exhausted? AND I spend the whole day Saturday like a zombie and half conscious? So I'm not exactly thriving without sleep and there is a definite problem.

I am 30 years old and I do not want to be doing this for much longer - I shouldn't have to have my head spinning just to ease into sleep? I don't take any medication apart from the occasional Promethazine/Zopliclone - I want to keep it this way - Any advice from people who have overcome this?

I try breathing exercises every night and I cannot seem to have any positivity with it? I feel the problem is obviously my mind is not at peace and I try to be very conscious about this but the blessing is the curse and i'm having great difficulty being still

The past few years have been almost bed induced psychosis going to war every night - I can feel it taking an affect on my brain despite my sense of humour and positivity around this, please help

edit: Please don't discuss things like ADHD, Autism, Bipolar and stuff like this - Looking for active ways to potentially improve my situation, thank you

tldr:
> 30M sleep problems all my life (falling asleep)
> Very extreme lately and feels like bed induced psychosis almost
> Maximized health and everything in my favour
> CBTi practices and sleep practices every night and day
> Got blood tests few times and all normal
> Can only sleep if i smoke weed or get extremely drunk (Can wake up despite black out drunk/any situation lol)
> Work 60 hours a week and do regular physical activity
> Cannot shut off without my head spinning somewhat?
> 50% of the weeks, i will not sleep 1 day of the week and pull and all nighter/dayer until the next night
> I dont take medication, I dont doomscroll, I dont game or any of these modern day factors
> Help?

Hi, for the past 4 months, I have been facing sleep maintenance insomnia, and to tackle that, I’ve been masturbating - I wake up between 3-6 hours of sleep, and I wake up for an hour, then I masturbate and sleep for a sufficient total of 6.5-7 hours

but its affecting my normal life. If I don’t masturbate, I won’t be able to sleep for 2-3 hours ( haven’t tried in a long time )

I search search and search about people with similar symptoms of severe insomnia and most of them have delete their account and never posted again after seeking help in here. I am trying to find successful stories but I only find less than 0.01% of people that recovered after a prolonged time with severe hardcore insomnia. Where medication do not even work. Wondering if they’re still alive. I mean if you recovered why wouldn’t post you success and just delete your account ? Weird and made me feel bad and a bit negative

Has anyone developed severe insomnia after MDMA / cocaine use and did it eventually go away?

About 3 weeks ago I was at a festival and ended up staying awake for some days using a combination of MDMA, cocaine and alcohol.

Since then I’ve developed pretty severe insomnia and it’s becoming a real mess. Two days ago I slept 9 hours after taking 20mg promethazine. Last night I slept 0 hours, despite doing 25k steps, being exhausted and following good sleep hygiene.

My biggest fear at the moment is that I’ve somehow damaged my nervous system or messed up my neurotransmitters permanently, and that my brain won’t return to normal. It’s got bad enough that I’ve been signed off work.

I’ve been prescribed Quviviq to try from tonight. I’m hoping it helps break the cycle, but I’m worried my brain has somehow become permanently wired this way.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who developed something similar after MDMA/stimulant use and eventually recovered especially if it took a few weeks or months for your sleep to normalise.

Thank you all.

I was given a "once off" prescription for Dayvigo because this specific sleep doctor is too nervous for her patients to use it long term but it's been the only thing that's helped my stubborn insomnia. Anyone know of any doctors in Brisbane willing to prescribe? ​

okay so like the title says, he’s been sleepwalking and talking and has been telling me he feels like he gets no sleep. I’ve given him melatonin and some other OTC meds but I’m not sure how else to help him? He’s a construction worker so I know being well rested is super important and I worry about him. What small changes would help him? I’ve told him about stopping screen time an hour before bed, etc but nothings seemed to help him so far and it worries me

"You just have to break the cycle and relax" I am fucking relaxed thanks it's just that my brain thinks falling asleep = death

My body doesn't even pretend I'm falling anymore I can just feel it coming and then it happens and then I'm angry because I was about to fall asleep but now I'm filled with adrenaline and can't sleep so the next time I get to falling asleep, I get another jerk

When people say no sleep at all is it like they haven’t slept at all or 3-4 hrs is considered as a no sleep???

I have been trying to get off Ambien for two years now with no luck. I either can’t get to sleep or can’t stay asleep but I’m not anxious and I don’t have any breathing disorders like apnea. I’d love to find a specialist in the Denver area but need someone who can solve the medication dependency while also addressing any behavioral therapies. I’d greatly appreciate any advice on how to filter my search

1am for me, cant sleep, 45min panic attacl ans liquid melatonin isnt as effective. what do yall do wjen nights are like this? i juat wanna sleep ajd not deal with this bs also ignore ny spelling my brain is fucked rn im so tired

i feel like I’m in a dream, im hella dizzy all day. the most sleep I could get is only five hours or sometimes less.

I have my first day of Junior year and have to be up in like 5 hours. I've tried since like 10:00 PM my time to sleep and nothing is happening. I don't want to take any meds cuz they make me feel like shit the next morning. Any secret magic or tricks I can do?

I’m lost and feel hopeless. 24yo male here Incredibly anxious writing this I got 0 hrs of sleep last night. And this is a pattern of every other day for me the past 2 months. Some nights I get to sleep a bit. I’m just staring at the ceiling for hours. Doctor wants to put me on anxiety medication+trazdone also scared for that.

Am I going to pass away. I’m so scared because I’m not sleeping and I feel it on my eyes and chest the most. Gone to er before and didn’t do much but give me Ativan which did help me sleep that whole night.

Have had insomnia my entire adult life. Either I only sleep for a few hours and spend the rest of my night awake, or I spend half the night in this weird half awake/half asleep space that’s not actually that restful. I’ve tried several sleeping medications, but I don’t want to take things like Ambien because I’m a recovering addict. I’ve tried melatonin, etc. I switched to working at night for awhile, that made me sleep too much.

Now that I’m back on days, the insomnia is back. I tried new sleeping medications, one made me bruise and bleed excessively and the other one simply doesn’t work any more, it just makes me less anxious about not sleeping. I completely bottomed out my blood pressure the other day and fainted several times because I mixed medications trying to get to sleep.

I’m done trying to fix the insomnia for now. I’m throwing in the towel. As long as I get at least 4 hours of sleep a night, I can function, and with enough hydroxyzine, Seroquil, and clonidine, I can get that.