hi CJ Angel,

sorry to hear you are having insomnia issues. May I share something I have learned about? Getting at least 15-20 minutes of sunshine, fresh air and walking each day, preferably by real sunlight, but a seasonal indoor light can help, too. This is supposed to help with natural melatonin production and sleep rhythms.

I know it is not a cure all for the many reasons for insomnia, but, it seems to be helping me, so I wanted to share it with you.

I get time outside. I'm out quite a lot, actually. I'm a community representative for my group of houses at college. I try to get out and know my residents. But I've tried many things. I've stopped drinking caffeine after 12. I've lowered my sugar intake. I take warm showers before bed. Now I'm become more and more reliant on pills to help me sleep. I don't have proper sleep aid, so I've been taking benadryl to sleep at night. I've tried quite a few things. But nothing seems to be working anymore. Even the benadryl is helping less each week.

There are generic brands of sleep aids available at shoppers drug mart and pharma plus/ rexal. I found they used to help for awhile but the effects wear thin if you take them every night. Try keeping lavender air fresheners by your bed, the smell is very calming and helps alot of people sleep. If I go to bed to early I wake up in the middle of the night and cannot fall back to sleep, Frustrating! If I go to bed to late then I can hardly get out of bed in the morning. I over sleep on the weekends because all week I am just drained and exhausted. It is like being caught in a cycle of too much sleep and no sleep.

Benadryl is okay for a short while, but I have noticed that it can give you spaciness and some grumpiness during the day. Check with the psychiatrist.

Benadryl is okay for a short while, but I have noticed that it can give you spaciness and some grumpiness during the day. Check with the psychiatrist.

Sorry you're dealing with insomnia, I'm sure that has to be very frustrating. Have you ever tried melatonin? It's a hormone that you can buy as a supplement that helps with sleep. It has helped me in the past when I was having a hard time getting and staying asleep.

Have you had a checkup lately to rule out physical causes?

oops never mind lol.....at first I thought you were saying you were tired and you don't know why...so I was thinking maybe thyroid or something. But now I see you are saying you are tired cuz you are not sleeping. (hugs) hope it gets better for you

Benedryl makes you sleepy and cause a drug hang over the next day - makes you tired and sleepy even a day or two later

Have you been diagnosed with depression? Insomnia is a very common symptom of depression. I would see a general practitioner or a psychiatrist and start an antidepressant. Many antidepressants relieve insomnia.

My roommates have gotten me to stop taking benadryl. Not very happy as I had a meeting with my counselor set for tomorrow after class but shes out for another week. Guess I just gotta try and hold together until I can call her and schedule another appointment...