Insomnia Support Group

It is a terrible and and I would venture to say a horrible cycle. I can't fall a sleep nor can I stay a sleep when I do. I really hope your medication helps and things get better for you. Best of Luck!

Found out what is causing the anxiety and then you might be able to sleep better.

A common story in the world of insomnia.... I like to say insomnia causes insomnia...... the more sleep you lose the more anxious you become and so on..... Study relaxation and consider the worst possible thing is you will have bags under you eyes, etc. Once I realized this I found out how to teach myself how to relax but it does play with your mind for sure.

The worst mistake you can make is to take addictive benzos or other addictive sleep meds on a daily basis. Ambien CR is probably the worst of the "nonbenzos."It is very effective but unless you take it for the rest of your life, you will have worse sleep problems when you stop. Don't get hooked.

I am at the end of my ability to cope, I have now had insomnia for 8 months. How can I continue like this?

I was in your shoes for about a year. I did not think it would ever go away and for a while, I just did what the docs told me. But when I felt that the docs failed me, I ventured out on my own. This is my story.

I had to go to therapy first and learn to slowly turn off my anxiety and nervousness (This took over 3 months to condition my brain and body back to normal). Then, I had to take supplements to help recover. I took the supplements for another 3 months.

The supplements I took are as follows....

5HTP = helps create serotonine so you'll feel good and can also help you sleep
glutamine + vitamin b6 = help your brain create GABA to calm you down so you won't have panic attacks and helps relax you.
Acetly-L-Carnitine+Choline/Inositol = help your brain create acetlycholine to help calm you down so your heart doesn't beat a million miles per hour and so you don't have constipation
Ribose+Whey/Soy Protein = helps give you energy during the day time so that you can sleep at night. Interestingly, Ribose and the protein help create ATP. When your brain breaks down ATP, it breaks it down to adenosine. It is adenosine that tells your brain to get tired and go to sleep. Once you have enough adenosine, you're not going to be waking up in the middle of the night.
Multivitamin+Magnesium+Calcium+VitaminC = During these times of physical stress, you'll need extra vitamins. I did not know and at one time, I depleted my magnesium levels which made things very bad.

The advice that was given to me was.....Start off with a small amount to see how your body/brain reacts to the supplement. Increase if necessary. Here is the amount I was taking.

5HTP = 50mg in the morning and 50mg before bed time
Glutamine = 2 to 3 times a day @ 500mg
Acetly-L-Carnitine+choline/inositol = 250mg once a day
protein drink = 15 grams 2 to 3 times a day
ribose = 300mg a day in the morning only (if you take it after morning, you may be too wired to go to sleep and that makes things worse)
vitamins = once per day

Also, try brief calm and relaxing walks.

I'm in that cycle right now. It's taking it's toll on me. Making me have more anxiety which makes me sleep even less

Dear Galvatron, are you back to normal now? Did you constantly have tension in your head for a year, feel mentally exhausted all the time?

Hi ClothJunki,

Yes I did. I always felt mentally exhausted and not normal.

I am now back to normal.