Both my sleep people thought showers were good near bedtime, because of the effect on your temperature, FWIW. Or even during a wakeup, if you're suffering from those.

Finally got the right meds cocktail. Yeah, almost twelve hours later. Maybe I can sleep? Which reminds me, Liese, both people said no napping.

Podcasts are better for me to fall asleep to than music, but I feel guilty for missing info. But I should put that back in my toolbox.

For a while I would read in bed for about 15 minutes, occasionally sniffing a lavender pillow. Hoping that my body would associate lavender with sleepy time. I stopped doing it - mostly because insomnia is not a problem for me since I started working.

Finally got the right meds cocktail.

I am horrified it takes so long and is such a crapshoot but I hope that the right meds finally breaks through your pain, ita !.

Podcasts or documentaries (often ones I know well, so I am not afraid I am going to miss info) are really a big help for me getting to sleep. It gives the squirrel-like part of my brain something to focus on instead of anxiety and chattering at me.

iTunes U has millions (maybe, I haven't counted) of lectures and series that are great. Stanford and National Geographic are both usually quite interesting to me. I tried to do course series but then the whole missing info was an issue. So one-offs or short series are best for me.

Last night was anxiety insomnia night, which is the double whammy of can't go to sleep and waking up early.

I've never managed to stop reading in bed. I've read in bed since I was reading by the night light when I was 7. Also, there's a street light, so my room is not very dark. I have Ambien, which works sometimes, but not always.

Sometimes medication can help just to get you back on a regular sleep schedule.

I deal with insomnia and it's normal for me to take 30 minutes - 1 hour to fall asleep at night, but usually I can stay asleep. However, I just can't sleep and the stress gets to me and my dreams start stressing me out. Now I have an Ambien prescription. I don't take it every night, just when I get in a bad sleep pattern I take it for a few nights and then try a night without it, and usually that just does the trick.

This is a new trick for me, I had tried Ambien in the past, taking it every night, but I developed a resistance so I thought I just couldn't take it at all. My new doctor suggested just taking it for a few days when things were bad and that helps.

Liese,

I have changed context, but always done so to a low light situation (like the comfy couch) and laid down on it with a book to read. Usually after reading for an ~hour, I'm out like a light!

I have stopped the Temazepam at night and am now relying on exhaustion and podcasts most nights, but a few nights a week I'll take Nyquil or Benadryl.

Which reminds me, Liese, both people said no napping.

Hmph. I like napping. That might be my problem right there.

So, a doctor gave me the meds, as recommended, and it has made a dent. I also have shown no adverse reaction (I'm sleeping on purpose, which I am lucky I was hit enough to do, but it's not knocking me out). The original admitting doc wanted to inch up the dosage, and give me the full dose if 3/4 didn't work. I told her that would probably mean more meds, and this lady actually listened.

I hope this counts for next visit. They were surprised at my clarity after half dosage. I tried to explain to the ER that it wasn't an acquired resistance, that 2mg had never had an impact on me, but the attending wouldn't even engage me in discussion directly, rather shuttling the nurse and resident back and forth.

It's not my fault that I'm tone deaf to narcotics. But maybe I'll go home this evening.

Thank goodness they finally gave you the meds. I am sorry you have to go through this ordeal each and every time.

I was a lifetime insomniac and wasn't cured until my kids went to HS. Who knew that getting up every day at 6am and not getting a chance to rest all day and evening would cause collapse and sleep by about 10pm? If I get up ridiculously early I just start to nod out at end of day. I also don't do caffeine in the afternoon. Even though it has been a few years now I am still grateful every morning that I have had a good night's sleep. After decades of sleep deprivation it is a joy beyond compare.