I have loads of empathy and far more suggestions than one body can use. My insomnia years from childhood into my early 40's. The drugs strong enough to knock me out were also strong enough to leave massive hangovers. For my senses, dealing with drug hangovers was harder than the insomnia side effects. I hate picking between poisons.

I share your skepticism of the books. However valid the information, information overload never helped my insomnia a bit. A million fully valid points still equal chaos. Which right is the rightest right? Why can't experts always agree?

The good news is that I am sleeping well these days. Journaling and sharing within my therapy support network were my two most important tools in accomplishing that miracle.

Gentle support while you find the formula that works for you, My3. Keep trying. Every case is unique and restorative rest is well worth the effort.

It is one of the most difficult things to find the best book for what might work. I think you might see some ideas that might help.

I think books are only as good as you practice, of course I could be wrong. I haven't dealt specifically with insomnia though. I wish you the best.

I have used Charlotte Webb's CBT oil. It was highly recommended the brand and the oil. It has helped people. From my experience it helped relax me. But I couldn't take it with psychiatric meds so I had to stop.

i just wanted to let you know how much i empathize with you.i am really having a terrible time with insomnia.

Talked to my pyschiatrist/therapist yesterday about it and he suggested i at least go to bed and close my eyes,listen to my youtube thunderstorm sounds and do some creative visualization.i tried tonight,but it must take practice because i just ended up frustrated and got up.

i know CBT-I is supposed to be the gold standard for insomnia and i know i make a lot of cognitive errors when it comes to sleep but i am so discouraged,i can't even seem to change my thinking that it just won't work which may very well be a self fulfilling prophecy.
i am exhausted as i am sure you are as well.

i wish you all the best with the CBT and that you soon get the relief of restorative sleep.

Thank you all.
I shut off my phone and put on some youtube anxiety sleep music and didn't turn on the TV in bed last night. I got a little bit of sleep. What works one night doesn't seem to work the next but ill keep trying

More empathy on the frustration of not being able to use the same sleep aid every night. I'm the same person living the same life as last night, ain't I?

I believe I found my way out of the insomnia fog by collecting holistic sleep aids. Variety is good. If one tool isn't working, for whatever reason, I have others to try.

Hope a restorative rest finds you soon.

Heat the room, and work out before bed. You have to relax your body and eventually your mind will give up. Practice makes perfect on this, but sometimes this doesnt work. Working out works better. Go bed earlier and practice relaxing your body and mind.

Thanks for more great advice. The no tv and phone, youtube sleep anxiety music and forcing myself to not go outside in the middle of the night for a bad habit has now given me 2 decent nights. I'm dabbling with CBD and THC combos also ... I'm getting veey anxious for Christmas ... we are down about 75% of our income so worried about disappointing the kids . Plus I have zero energy for decorating, wrapping, baking etc.. going to try to start pushing through all that in the next 2 weekends. Maybe feeling like I've accomplished all this will help...
I truly feel like I don't have the capacity to be a proper mother so hoping me acting like i'm energetic and doing more will help the kids too.
Ughhh

I very rarely suffer from insomnia but I do find CBT to be very beneficial. You get as much out as you out into it and it's not easy. You'll always be a work in progress...but there IS progress. If you're having constant racing thoughts, have you considered a daily medication? It doesn't work for everyone but just a suggestion.

@my3girls
"I truly feel like I don't have the capacity to be a proper mother"

Don't do that to yourself, my3. You don't deserve that.
One of the hardest things I have learned from being a new parent, is the guilt that builds from always wishing you could be or do more. It can become CRUSHING when you are dealing with any sort of mental affliction/issue.

Try to be compassionate with yourself. Struggling with anxiety & insomnia is brutal. Doing that while trying to be a great parent is even harder. Then add on top of that, this circus-of-a-world we are living in with Covid. It is SO TOUGH RIGHT NOW.
The one thing you can do is find those little moments to change the inner critic narrative and be kind to yourself.

We are all here and we understand

Thank you. I helped them decorate for Christmas yesterday.. huge dizzy anxiety attack after but made it through until I could escape and relax. It was mostly a win