Months without sleep; Need help!

**fragx** · 05-05-2012 06:48 AM

I have not been able to sleep consistently for 2 months. About 4 months ago I had a medical condition (urinary infection) which caused me to get up many times at night to use the restroom. This prevented me from sleeping and messed up my patterns. After getting this problem fixed I was still unable to sleep so I used Nyquil syrup to fall asleep.

I have recently learned that Nyquil is bad if you depend on it for sleep and have stopped taking it. Since then(2 months ago) I have not been able to sleep. Some nights I'll sleep for 6 hrs, others maybe 2-3. Some nights it feels like no sleep, I end up laying in bed tossing and turning the whole night.

I have good sleep hygiene, I go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. I also follow the same routine. I have a lot of time recently because of school vacation. I have tried every OTC sleep aid(unisom, benadryl) and many natural aids like melatonin, chamomile tea, valerian root. I get tired naturally, but I can never fall into sleep.

I have visited a doctor but they are unable to help. My blood tests came back all normal. I have no idea what is causing this. I don't use caffeine,alcohol,fast food, smoking, or anything bad. I keep a strict healthy diet with rigorous exercise. I am unable to exercise recently because of the lack of sleep. I have tried exercise (even on the lack of sleep) but it has no effect.

Please help I do not know what to do. I am only 20 year old and I want to sleep! Thank you for reading.

**reshmita** · 05-10-2012 01:54 PM

As you went to doctor and he could not help you out. I can suggest you to change doctor. May be it would be able to help you. And another suggestion is to go for yoga therapy regularly according to expert's advice. Believe me it helps a lot. I can tell you because I have been benefited in such cases many times. But, remember one thing, you don't have to loose your heart. it's a continuous effort.

**lucydity** · 05-10-2012 07:32 PM

Try exercise, like if you do an intense training session one hour per day, perhaps by joining a gym, swimming, martial arts you will burn up energy, sometimes i get insomnia from sat around doing nothing.
Stress or worrying about not being able to sleep, thinking about getting to sleep, all really don't help, when you get in bed try some relaxation techniques, there are a few good ones around this website which help in relaxation, then instead of thinking about getting to sleep or tossing and turning just lie on your back and let your mind aimlessly wander.

Avoid caffeine. Also if it's still a problem avoid using your brain much like intense video games etc an hour before you go to bed, try reading a book or something whilst sat in bed.

**lucydity** · 05-10-2012 07:37 PM

Oh i apologize i didn't quite read your post fully enough to see you avoid caffeine and you do rigourous exercise. If it's getting to the point where you are too tired to exercise but still can't sleep try having someone massage you, or something you enjoy like i fall asleep easily when people run their fingers through my hair. Something like that.

One way is trying to use techniques which people use to initiate WILDs (Wake Induced Lucid Dreams) or visualisation. Lie on your back and simply close your eyes and begin to imagine a world in front of you, what it looks like, smells like, imagine what kind of shoes you are in, if you are bare foot what the ground feels like on your feet. Imagine the world around you with all 5 senses, walk around, if your mind starts trailing off, like for example, something random begins to happen in this "visualisation" it means you are on the right track.

Dont get frustrated with it, it makes it worse

**Bimpo** · 05-17-2012 05:50 AM

Try sleeping on a different place other than your room, like the living room or something, this one greatly helped me when I messed up my sleep rhythm.