No sleep or sleep meds

I too do similar things. Listen to you tube sleep meditations, count backwards from 100, I’ve even done 1000 a couple of times. That helps sometimes. Fortunately, I too am retired, but I’m active, fitness oriented, and play golf many days per week. I hope I can get some feedback on my question because I just can’t believe no sleep is better than taking meds. Some meds, the Ambien-like ones, allow sleep but kinda feels like fake sleep.

Fellow golfer here, have improved sleep since finding out about my vitamin D deficiency by blood test, now sleep five or six but always looking for more.

I still think sleep meds are better than no sleep . Without sleep I rebound into depression and anxiety really bad and have to take meds for that . Then I can’t function . So sleep meds are better for me .

I am starting to believe this to be true. I'm thinking of talking to my Dr. about Silenor or Lunesta. Both are suppose to help you sleep through the night. Silenor is non-addictive, being an antidepressant, doesn't help falling asleep. But get this, if you are prescribed 3mg of Silenor (doxepin) it cost >$100 a month, but if you are prescribed doxepin 10 mg its $11 a month! Check it out on GoodRX.

Stinking big pharma ripping off old, sick people.

Maybe just try taking an over the counter sleep medication like Unisom or Walmart brand Sleep Aid which has the exact same ingredient as Benadryl.....Unisom is stronger than Benadryl though....Worth a try

Hmmm hard to know that answer. sleep is important, i slept well when drinking a lot. however rarely drink the last several years. i had a friend who took ambien and lots of meds. and drank. she had blackouts while awake and middle of the night. i heard other friends mention nighttime blackouts with sleep meds.
Celestial Seasons tea used to have a tea called highland lullaby.
it would knock me out and sleep well. but cannot find it, maybe it was misused.
Exercise is still best for me to sleep and never matters if i do it late.
eating some carbs after evening workout is good for sleep too.
i do not have a weight issue , so late carbs ok.
if i find anything new will post it here.
2 hours a sleep day not good for me. , i add naps whenever possible. staying up and no naps maybe 3-4 hours sleep, but feels so tired and unhappy.
so i nap whenever. weekends etc.
will post if i find a tea like highland lullaby.

Do you have trouble falling asleep, or going back to sleep after waking during the night? I take Trazodone and Melatonin which help me fall asleep but haven't found an answer to getting back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night. I am fearful of taking stronger drugs, especially ones like Ambien where you can sleepwalk and be unaware of it.

What have you heard about Silenor? My sleep doctor has recommended several stronger meds but never this one, not sure why.

I used to take Ambien for about 20 years but was concerned about side-effects and my age, 69. My doctor does not want me to take it on regular basis. I have been using THC gummies with CBD and they are helping. I have sleep anxiety and chronic insomnia. I live in IL, so can buy recreation at dispensary. I take 5 mg THC which is considered low dose. I cut the gummies in half. I do not get high but feel drowsy and relaxed. I am sleeping much better and do not feel hung over in AM. Best of luck, insomnia sucks!

These work well, it are also addictive, so they say. 😕