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Insomnia. What seems to help?

Posted by terryb1 @128128terry11t, Jan 7, 2017

@josephene I am having terrible insomnia as well. Nothing seems to help. Any specific suggestions? Many thanks.

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craftsmanctfl | @craftsmanctfl | May 28, 2022

One seemingly small thing that helped me with insomnia is an eye mask. It shuts out all the light in the room. It also has an effect of putting me in a separate space mentally, creating a bit of a haven when I put it on. There are many types of eye masks and most are inexpensive. I’ve found a weighted eye mask can help more at times, too.

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kbj | @kbj | May 29, 2022

I have mentioned my treatment in previous emails. It is be cold overnight, both in the room and in bed. Works for me.

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cmd | @cmd | May 29, 2022
In reply to @danalt1 "I’ve been suffering with solid insomnia for about 2 years. I get about 2-3 hours of..." + (show)
Profile picture for danalt1 @danalt1

I’ve been suffering with solid insomnia for about 2 years. I get about 2-3 hours of sleep each night and I feel like a zombie most of the day. I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist for several weeks now and we’ve tried Nortriptyline, Seroquel, trazadone, and topitamate and all have the opposite effect that causes worsening insomnia. I’ve weathered these meds for several weeks until I had to throw in the towel. I used to take lorazapam which seems to work but I was fearful of addiction, which is why I sought the care of a psych. I have bipolar disorder but am treated with 600mg of lithium, and celexa both of which has erased my BP disorder. Both of which were already in play before my battle with insomnia. I’m a financially stable business owner with really no worries that would interject insomnia. Any advise or similar past experiences would be greatly appreciated.

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I wish you success finding something that works for you.
Insomnia is not pleasant. Before Covid I slept 8-9 hours.
I also have bad depression which doesn’t help.

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cmd | @cmd | May 29, 2022

Interesting how many people have insomnia.
I was looking for ways to sleep using meds instead of finding out why I couldn’t sleep.
Causation is critical, finding the root cause is very important.
Hope you find some help. I’ll keep you in my thoughts.

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amlak | @amlak | May 30, 2022
In reply to @danalt1 "I’ve been suffering with solid insomnia for about 2 years. I get about 2-3 hours of..." + (show)
Profile picture for danalt1 @danalt1

I’ve been suffering with solid insomnia for about 2 years. I get about 2-3 hours of sleep each night and I feel like a zombie most of the day. I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist for several weeks now and we’ve tried Nortriptyline, Seroquel, trazadone, and topitamate and all have the opposite effect that causes worsening insomnia. I’ve weathered these meds for several weeks until I had to throw in the towel. I used to take lorazapam which seems to work but I was fearful of addiction, which is why I sought the care of a psych. I have bipolar disorder but am treated with 600mg of lithium, and celexa both of which has erased my BP disorder. Both of which were already in play before my battle with insomnia. I’m a financially stable business owner with really no worries that would interject insomnia. Any advise or similar past experiences would be greatly appreciated.

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Hello,
I vote for trying CBT -I. This got me out of solid 4 -5 years of insomnia. I did not believe in this method before trying and this is the only way for me. It has been a year now that my sleep is very restful. Yes, I still have rough nights here and there but who doesn't. They give simple sleep hygiene tips which I thought I followed but I saw that I never really followed all that seriously. Once I started to take this method seriously all fell in to place. I must also mention that by God's grace I do not have any other health issues and only take vitamins. No other medication.
Sweet dreams to all.

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3 replies
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cmd | @cmd | Jun 7, 2022
In reply to @kariulrich "I have insomnia and problems with both sleep initiation and staying asleep. Has anyone had sleep..." + (show)
Profile picture for Kari Ulrich, Alumna Mentor @kariulrich

I have insomnia and problems with both sleep initiation and staying asleep. Has anyone had sleep studies done? I listen to a sleep hypnosis from iTunes every night, it helps. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/relax-sleep-well-by-glenn-harrold-relaxation-self-hypnosis/id412690467

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Home sleep study done. Said I had mild apnea. Interesting because I don’t snore and never had apnea before. I’d like to have a sleep study overnight not sure insurance would pay for a second test. Not sure what the EEG would find out.
I slept 8-9 hours before Covid.

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1 reply
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abbylaneeh | @abbylaneeh | Jun 8, 2022
In reply to @amlak "Hello, I vote for trying CBT -I. This got me out of solid 4 -5 years..." + (show)
Profile picture for amlak @amlak

Hello,
I vote for trying CBT -I. This got me out of solid 4 -5 years of insomnia. I did not believe in this method before trying and this is the only way for me. It has been a year now that my sleep is very restful. Yes, I still have rough nights here and there but who doesn't. They give simple sleep hygiene tips which I thought I followed but I saw that I never really followed all that seriously. Once I started to take this method seriously all fell in to place. I must also mention that by God's grace I do not have any other health issues and only take vitamins. No other medication.
Sweet dreams to all.

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Please tell me what is CBT-1. I've heard of CB but not CBT-1 . I also have a terrible habit of insomnia that has gone on for years.

abbylane

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2 replies
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marjou | @marjou | Jun 8, 2022
In reply to @amlak "Hello, I vote for trying CBT -I. This got me out of solid 4 -5 years..." + (show)
Profile picture for amlak @amlak

Hello,
I vote for trying CBT -I. This got me out of solid 4 -5 years of insomnia. I did not believe in this method before trying and this is the only way for me. It has been a year now that my sleep is very restful. Yes, I still have rough nights here and there but who doesn't. They give simple sleep hygiene tips which I thought I followed but I saw that I never really followed all that seriously. Once I started to take this method seriously all fell in to place. I must also mention that by God's grace I do not have any other health issues and only take vitamins. No other medication.
Sweet dreams to all.

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What’s CBT-1?.

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rocketjs | @rocketjs | Jun 8, 2022
In reply to @cmd "Home sleep study done. Said I had mild apnea. Interesting because I don’t snore and never..." + (show)
Profile picture for cmd @cmd

Home sleep study done. Said I had mild apnea. Interesting because I don’t snore and never had apnea before. I’d like to have a sleep study overnight not sure insurance would pay for a second test. Not sure what the EEG would find out.
I slept 8-9 hours before Covid.

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I hope you'll be able to find out as much as possible about your sleep apnea, to know if its a factor in your insomnia and if so, be able to treat it. Sometimes conditions develop at the same time as other events (like pandemics) so that it's tempting to see a causal relationship (Covid caused insomnia). During Covid, arthritis in my knee and lower back became limiting issues for me, whereas I had no symptoms before Covid. The arthritis had been there for a while, obviously, but it started to cause problems at a certain point in time, which happened to come in the winter of 2020. Good luck--

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1 reply
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cmd | @cmd | Jun 8, 2022
In reply to @rocketjs "I hope you'll be able to find out as much as possible about your sleep apnea,..." + (show)
Profile picture for rocketjs @rocketjs

I hope you'll be able to find out as much as possible about your sleep apnea, to know if its a factor in your insomnia and if so, be able to treat it. Sometimes conditions develop at the same time as other events (like pandemics) so that it's tempting to see a causal relationship (Covid caused insomnia). During Covid, arthritis in my knee and lower back became limiting issues for me, whereas I had no symptoms before Covid. The arthritis had been there for a while, obviously, but it started to cause problems at a certain point in time, which happened to come in the winter of 2020. Good luck--

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I’ll keep you in my thoughts.

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