@steadyplodding I too try to avoid addictive sleeping pills. I take a Bi-Layer 5mg melatonin about 1 hour before bed, it releases half the dose right away and the other half a few hours later. I also take 1 tart cherry gummy about half hour before bed, it's 100mg tart cherry extract. Also I take Magnesium Glycinate Lysinate, 100mg just 1 pill. I take that about 2 hours before bed, it helps me feel more relaxed, less anxious. I have a lot of issues with anxiety since all my treatments began, especially at night.

I really notice a big difference with the tart cherry, it doesn't make me feel tired necessarily but has helped a lot with quality of sleep. I can feel that it's a deeper sleep, which sometimes helps more than just the number of hours I sleep.

@steadyplodding I saw a sleep psychologist a few years ago who helped me get off ambian. The biggest thing that helps me is taking melatonin about an hour before I want to sleep and then going to bed for that hour with a physical book, rather than an ereader. I also turn on an electric blanket with lots of covers. The weight soothes me as does the heat, which turns off automatically later. I take a higher dose of melatonin than my doctors would like. I am trying to go down, but less does not work for me.