Anyone affected with chronic insomnia

I have tried EVERYTHING. herbal remedies and teas, alternative medicine, cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmaceuticals. There are 2 new meds on the market for long term use. Most meds are only for short term use. They are both expensive. The cheaper one is belsomra, though I still don’t sleep through the night it’s a bit better. I also use valerian root, melatonin, and magnesium glycinate

I still get belsomra so it’s not off the market yet. I also tried daridorexant, about the same efficacy as belsomra but much more pricey. My problem is pain. I don’t want to take opiates every night (I’m afraid I’ll become tolerant), so I take anything and everything else. Honestly what helps me most is having the tv on a show I’ve already seen, no laugh tracks, no commercials, no noisy action. Lately I swear by young Sheldon. It gives my mind something to focus on besides the pain.

That's great news, hopefully one of these days my insomnia would just go away, but I doubt it. Mine seems to be chronic, some type of brain chemical unbalance that no Dr, can figure out. I do everything what you said you do. This week I am trying acupuncture, 3 treatments but no change so far. All the best Slarson14.

In the fall of 2024, I had a long bout of insomnia. I tried several different medications including Alprazolam.
To cut a long story short, I saw a sleep specialist who recommended Dr. Ryan Wetzler a Sleep Psychologist in Louisville KY. Dr. Wetzler treats in-person or via video conference. I can tell you that his approach does work. In the past 7 months I have slept between 7 to 9 hours every night. The basis of his treatment is to "Never" go to bed until you are really, really sleepy. I also used an app called "Calm." I found it really got me sleepy, with various relaxing stories read by, well known people, and sleepy music. I was desperate to get a good night's sleep and Dr. Wexler gave it to me. I hope this helps you.

I’ve never posted on a discussion and I try not to read the bc I find I feel worse. But this seems like the most safe group.
Quick stats - 45 year old active mom of 4, put on meds at 29 when pregnant with my 2nd child. Never before experienced a night of insomnia, no past depression or anxiety but I stopped sleeping at the end of this pregnancy and it turned into this monster that has plagued my life.

Currently, after struggling to get even 1-2 hours of sleep off and on my dr told me to take clonazepam every night last year (.5-1) at 10:30/11 and then right before sleep take ambien 10. Honestly this never worked consistently so i end up playing with the meds at night… cutting in half, taking some at first, some an hour later. I rarely ever take more than prescribed (often not enough bc feeling drugged but awake is my worst nightmare) . Doctor added in Xanax prn this year during travel and some health situations and slowly that became a 3rd drug in the mix.
Mynquality have life had plummeted (thank God my faith has remained and I have a supporting husband and tenderkids) but no one has an option for me now.
Currently I am tapering clonazepam very slowly (.25 now) and my dr says to think of that as a vitamin as it is ineffective. The ambien seemed to lose efficacy years ago but because it feels “safe” to me (no weird habits or grogginess) I throw it in the mix many nights whether up front or usually after a few hours awake. The Xanax has become more standard once I’m
Not asleep (sometime between 12-3). With this erratic behavior some nights I’ll find 4-5 hours, about once every 2 weeks I’ll sleep 8 hours usually after 2 nights fully awake but the kicker - 2-3 nights a week insta awake the whole night even on these meds.
I’ve done CBT may times, I’ve done all of the things for the sleep environment (I look crazy at night with earplugs, white noise, sleep mask, humidifier, lavender spray, medicines everywhere… etc). I’ve tried over 20 meds at least one night but if they don’t work and make me feel worse than my 3 “safe” drugs I don’t try them again

I know there is not one fix. I know this will be yet an even longer road. But I really believe there is someone out there that can see this from a bigger view who is knowledgeable about meds and sleep who can quarterback my situation and give me hope to get my quality of life back. We can’t plan, can’t travel and my whole family operates if I slept or not.

Also, I was on lexapro for about 5 years in there and it was only marginally better (still taking clonazepam and ambien 12-18 nights a month AND I couldn’t feel anything I weaned myself off over a year).

I’ve had a clear sleep study, tested hormones, done all blood work. It’s the medicines to me…. Sometimes helpful (or I just sleep on my own but attribute it to drugs), sometimes harmful… causing more anxiety taking them, or ineffective fully and I ata awake the entire night often 2-3 nights in a row.

Lastly, I embraced the teaching of Daniel Erichsen and the the coach school a few years ago and while I want to believe his thoughts… insomnia is solved by facing telling yourself there is nothing to fear (ACT theory mostly) but I wonder if anyone in my position has ever been able to fully embrace this - also with 4 growing children watching.

I called a rehab center last month , they won’t take me… nothing to rehab they say. I looked into taper clinic - 30-60k which we would do if that was the andwer. I’ve done every therapy known

If you’re still here…. You’re strong! And you know what I am talking about.

The question ….. surely there is someone somewhere to help me even slowly get my life back. I fear continuing like this. But I’ve become so cynical after trying so much a being lead down this path by prescribing doctors.

I’ve never posted on a discussion and I try not to read the bc I find I feel worse. But this seems like the most safe group.
Quick stats - 45 year old active mom of 4, put on meds at 29 when pregnant with my 2nd child. Never before experienced a night of insomnia, no past depression or anxiety but I stopped sleeping at the end of this pregnancy and it turned into this monster that has plagued my life.

Currently, after struggling to get even 1-2 hours of sleep off and on my dr told me to take clonazepam every night last year (.5-1) at 10:30/11 and then right before sleep take ambien 10. Honestly this never worked consistently so i end up playing with the meds at night… cutting in half, taking some at first, some an hour later. I rarely ever take more than prescribed (often not enough bc feeling drugged but awake is my worst nightmare) . Doctor added in Xanax prn this year during travel and some health situations and slowly that became a 3rd drug in the mix.
Mynquality have life had plummeted (thank God my faith has remained and I have a supporting husband and tenderkids) but no one has an option for me now.
Currently I am tapering clonazepam very slowly (.25 now) and my dr says to think of that as a vitamin as it is ineffective. The ambien seemed to lose efficacy years ago but because it feels “safe” to me (no weird habits or grogginess) I throw it in the mix many nights whether up front or usually after a few hours awake. The Xanax has become more standard once I’m
Not asleep (sometime between 12-3). With this erratic behavior some nights I’ll find 4-5 hours, about once every 2 weeks I’ll sleep 8 hours usually after 2 nights fully awake but the kicker - 2-3 nights a week insta awake the whole night even on these meds.
I’ve done CBT may times, I’ve done all of the things for the sleep environment (I look crazy at night with earplugs, white noise, sleep mask, humidifier, lavender spray, medicines everywhere… etc). I’ve tried over 20 meds at least one night but if they don’t work and make me feel worse than my 3 “safe” drugs I don’t try them again

I know there is not one fix. I know this will be yet an even longer road. But I really believe there is someone out there that can see this from a bigger view who is knowledgeable about meds and sleep who can quarterback my situation and give me hope to get my quality of life back. We can’t plan, can’t travel and my whole family operates if I slept or not.

Also, I was on lexapro for about 5 years in there and it was only marginally better (still taking clonazepam and ambien 12-18 nights a month AND I couldn’t feel anything I weaned myself off over a year).

I’ve had a clear sleep study, tested hormones, done all blood work. It’s the medicines to me…. Sometimes helpful (or I just sleep on my own but attribute it to drugs), sometimes harmful… causing more anxiety taking them, or ineffective fully and I ata awake the entire night often 2-3 nights in a row.

Lastly, I embraced the teaching of Daniel Erichsen and the the coach school a few years ago and while I want to believe his thoughts… insomnia is solved by facing telling yourself there is nothing to fear (ACT theory mostly) but I wonder if anyone in my position has ever been able to fully embrace this - also with 4 growing children watching.

I called a rehab center last month , they won’t take me… nothing to rehab they say. I looked into taper clinic - 30-60k which we would do if that was the andwer. I’ve done every therapy known

If you’re still here…. You’re strong! And you know what I am talking about.

The question ….. surely there is someone somewhere to help me even slowly get my life back. I fear continuing like this. But I’ve become so cynical after trying so much a being lead down this path by prescribing doctors.

Please don't take this as anything more than a stupid question from a non-medically-trained stranger (who would like to help): Have you ever been formally assessed for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)? Lot's of us simply cannot turn our brains off. I'm one such person. I fall asleep too quickly, according to my Samsung Galaxy watch and its managing health app on my phone. I get a nod of approval if I can stay awake for at least five minute after putting my head on my pillow, but I often get the orange or red square with the exclamation mark displayed prominently inside it. Now, I know some would kill for that problem 😀 but falling asleep is not my particular predilection. Instead, it is awakening near 0500 (I'm a night owl and am rarely in bed before 0030 hours, usually more like 0115). Once I have had some sleep, it's hard to get back to sleep.

I feel for you. You have apparently responsibly and actively pursued most/all readily available and do-it-yourself remedies or tricks. I do know that our bodies work actively to neutralize the initial potency of any medications over time, whether heart arrhythmia medications or sleep aids and mood-altering drugs. Sometimes all that works, for a while, is the optimism we have when we are suggested or offered something novel that we haven't tried.

I hope you get both carefully considered and useful suggestions here, and that you eventually find relief.