Hello MattieMae,
I feel your pain and frustration as I too, struggle with insomnia. Have you tried melatonin at all? I tried this approach and it did not work for me but maybe it would for you? I know they have a new timed release melatonin that slowly dissolved and is supposed to keep you sleeping all night. What time are you heading to bed? Have you ever tried lavender aromatherapy in your room?
- Emma

Try melatonin. I’ve taken up to 10 mg at night.
Do you have a wind down routine? Reform me a hot shower with my favorite soap and comfy pjs. Are you trying to go too sleep to early or too late?

Hi Emma. I have not tried melatonin. I’m kind of scared to mix it with my other meds. I will ask at my appt next week and see what the dr says. I do the lavender every night. How do you cope during the day? I went back to work full time and I am just wore out!

Kisses2016, I usually go to bed at 10 but I don’t fall asleep right away. But then 3 o’clock comes around and I’m awake. Maybe some people think that’s good but I have always needed 7-8 hours.

MattieMae,
As we get older our bodies change and so do our sleeping patterns. I can remember being a teenager and sleeping until noon or so and now I can barely get 5/6 hours of sleep! I feel you on the full-time work and how to function. I don’t use any caffeine or stimulants either to get through my day. I just try to stay focused and whenever I think bad thoughts I turn it around and try to think positive (as best as I can). If it gets really bad, I have to call out of work. Definitely ask your dr about taking melatonin as it might just be what you need! Wishing you the best MattieMae!!

I use 10 mg of melatonin every night and I sleep great. I hope your sleep gets better.

Thanks Emmaotter. I can’t drink coffee right now because it makes my anxiety worse and I LOVE coffee.
Theatrediva, are you also on other meds for anxiety. Seems like everything I take has the opposite effect on me. But I will ask my dr next week.

It's normal-for-me to get up between 3 and 4 a.m. I'm quite literally the one who wakes up the roosters on my farm. I love those bewitching hours when most of the world is still too sleepy to muck up the psychic airwaves.

Maybe if you **just** relax and enjoy the sunrise?

Or, maybe not. . .

Gentle support while you find what works for you, Mattie Mae.

I had a stretch of time that I kept waking up around 2:45 am. Not sure why. Most of the time when I wake up in the night and can’t fall back asleep easily, I have to go to the bathroom. And sometimes, it’s gas. I try to take Advil pm or benadryl when I need sleep, but I’m sure that would mix with other meds. Getting to bed earlier is a big need. Sometimes putting on a movie helps relax me - I have found that Moana helps me fall asleep.

Thanks arfie, the words “gentle support” gave my heart a peaceful feeling.
I am not a morning person at all. I wish I was cause I could get some stuff done.

Mattie, trouble sleeping can be a side effect of nortriptyline. I took it for several years. You might talk to your doctor about the side effect and either change medication or see if a sleeping medication can be prescribed. Melatonin is a good thing to try, but there are other meds that can help.

Secouya, I have thought about that but have been on it for so many years and as soon as I take it it calms me and I can go to sleep. It is the waking up and not being able to get back to sleep. I am very sensitive to med and can’t be on ssri’s or snri’s. So it scares me they won’t have another med that will help. I am on hydroxyzine for the anxiety and I can’t take that at night because it kept me awake so take that during the day and it has been working good. Thanks for replying. Just knowing people want to help gives me comfort.

Hi Mattiemae52,
I too have so much broken sleep every night. I go to bed at the same time, but I wake up sometimes to use the bathroom. Sometimes I can fall right back to sleep and sometimes it takes hours. Then when I wake up in the morning my body is tired. It's not well rested. My doctor suggested Trazadone for sleeping. But I didn't take him up on the offer. I told him I just nap during the day and then I feel good. Well check with your doctor and see what he says. Here's to us getting some better sleep. Italianmomma4ever

Italianmomma4ever, I don’t want her to put me on any more meds but if she said melatonin I would probably give it a try. Last night was a half way decent night. Yes, here’s to us getting some better sleep!

Hi! Like others that have posted on here Ive struggled with insomnia for a long time, even more now that the pandemic and other world changes have been happening. A few months ago when my sleep was extremely poor my doctor put me on Seroquel. It did wonders. The effects have worn off a bit as I think Im used to it now but it is a good short term solution so you can actually get some sleep. Also, is there anything bothering you, any problems that you have to deal with but have been putting off? After I went back in to therapy a few months ago and finally faced my demons, sleep came much easier. I was able to lie down at night and not worry about that “thing” each of us has that makes us lie awake worried. I also regularly exercise and have found that a nightly routine really helps. Good luck!