This was my problem exactly, my thoughts running around like a mouse in a maze, sometimes two or three levels of thought, jumping track from one to another. Nothing worked to solve this, although I tried many things. I didn't want to take sleeping pills, but when you get only 2-3 hours of sleep a night for weeks on end, and for years on end, you'll try anything. I tried Ambien, Lunesta, (something else that starts with an R - name I can't remember) and Trazadone. Ambien, Lunesta, and Trazadone didn't work, made me doze but not sleep. "R" gave me hallucinations. I followed the clinical trials for Belsomra for two years until it was finally approved. I was hopeful because I read that Belsomra didn't sedate, wasn't a hypnotic like other pills, but helped your mind to "be quiet". Even though I take just a small dose - 5 mg, rarely 10, it works for me. You might want to give it a try.
@hindsight You describe my mind exactly. Fortunately, it's not every night, but just when something is on my mind. I tried sleeping pills a very long time ago but hated the way I felt in the morning. I have finally settled on half of a Benadryl! Just one half of a pill helps my mind to relax and does not affect me the following morning. I spoke to my PCP about it and she was fine with it. She said doing that was far better than not getting enough sleep.
I try to not do it every night. Some nights I think I am so tired I will be fine without it but then, sure enough, I get into bed and that little mouse starts running around that maze so I get up and take a half then.
JK