I can't sleep, I don't want to take sleeping pills!

I am a severe long term chronic insomniac. I have had to learn to manage it best as I can but not very successfully. I can understand your not wanting to become dependent on pills. That is a real concern. I suggest that you consult with a sleep disorders specialist. Some insurances will pay. Among the things that have helped me now and then is hypnotherapy, massage and meditation. Hypnotherapy helped a lot sometimes but you will have to go to a Licensed Hypnotherapist and that will cost. It should only take on or two sessions. But before you do anything, consult with a sleep disorders specialist and see what he / she says. They may want to send you to a sleep lab which costs but sometimes insurance will pay. You need to find out what your sleep disorder is. It may not be insomnia. it could be something else. If you are an insomniac, you need to find out what kind.

Hi jonahh,in my country people do not like to use pills. They use herbs instead. It comes from the old times, before the pills revolution :) Before bed I can recommend you to try with herbal tea containing one of those herbs or some of them in combination: chamomile, hops, valerian. Warm milk with a spoon of honey also helps. Avoid coffee and black tea. If you have a water pillow/bottle, you can warm it up and put it under your feet. Lastly, think of some place you really want to go to and start making plans in bed, eyes closed. Let me know if it works :)

I had insomnia due to stress when I was a teenager. I really do think ones subconcious plays a big part in our ability to sleep. If things are heavy in our mind it will affect us. I only slept an hour a day for several months. What broke it for me was to deal with my worry as it had come to fruition and the exhaustion of the move I finally slept. The only natural way I know to deal with it is to get plenty of exercise, no caffine, sometimes a soothing tea/ warm milk, or a hot bath before bed can help relax you to dream land.

Hi jonahh! I can see already that you have gotten a great variety of suggestions already. I am also an Insomniac and have been that way most of my life. I have spoken with my Doctors and Therapists about it and tried many different methods none of which have really helped me so far. I've tried some meds (not sleeping pills), relaxation methods (as some have suggested) reading, music and still I can stay up the entire night. I just try different things and usually end up doing exactly what you're not supposed to do, going back to the computer and coming back to mylot! At least I know that someone is always here no matter what time it is!

It's 9 in the morning and I haven't had a wink of sleep as of yet too!! I'm not insomniac and I assume it's because I was sick and had been in bed for 2 days straight. And maybe that is why my sleep pattern has been upside down. Anyway They say a warm glass of milk before bed time helps you get the sleep. I don't know how much of a help it gives but is worth a try. And what i do to get sleep when I'm in desperate need of some sleep is, I try to think of everything I've done starting the moment I opened my eyes, in order. Before I know it, I'm asleep. I know it sounds crazy but you'll never know it until you try it. It works like magic for me and I have heard it sharpens your memory too. Good luck!!

i used to suffer of that, but not anymore, may be you should try to exercise before diner so your body could have enough lactic acid and require to sleep, that could help.

I heard that camomile tee is good. I also heard that if you cannot get to sleep to get up and walk around a little. I found that those help me. Also not to worry. I also read that going to bed at the same time each night is a good thing as well, but that is hard to do as it depends on your working hours and if you are working shift work, it might not work.

melatonin is what you should take. your body produces it naturally anyways, just dont take it for more than a week.

My sister uses a herbal sleep aide, sorry i dont know the name of it. Have you tried reading. Reading puts me to sleep even when im not tired.

Does it run in the family? In other words, is there anybody in your family that has been known to have trouble sleeping? Have you really been diagnosed as an insomniac? Part of the reasons for these questions are to make sure that you don't get quickly labeled as an insomniac, that it may have been hereditary, or that once in a while we just have to deal with it. There are many ways in coping with sleeplessness. It also depends on personality and lifestyle. Are you always active, deal with lots of stress, get sick a lot, etc....? I personally avoid or never take sleeping pills. When I find myself laying down awake for longer time like more than half an hour, I would just get up. Lots of time when I'm in that condition, I already have lots of thoughts in my mind whether they are happy thoughts, stressful thoughts, or anything. The hot weather or indoor humidity can also contribute to the problem. Generally, I believe that every individual will experience sleeping problem. I would say 'Let it be'. It's part of life. When I get up from sleeplessness, I turn on my TV. I could also turn on my computer. Sometimes later, you would get tired. You might have to deal with not having enough sleep for the next day. Like I said, it's part of life that we have to cope with sleeplessness once in a while. Another idea would be to get yourself some herbal tea. Make sure that it has no caffeine on it. You may not like tea, but try it when you have trouble sleeping. It still depends on the weather. If it's hot, I would skip it. Otherwise, tea has a soothing effect. Just get it up with a cup and sit and relax while you watch TV. Just look at other comments above me or under me.

Hi jonahh! You may check some of other members suggestions on how to deal with insomnia. There are many discussions about it as many had asked the same question on how to deal with it as they also facing the same problem. You may checked those discussions in sleeping or insomnia interest or using the relevant tags to search for it.(^^)

Try to look for someone who can do the hypnosis. Hypnosis can cure insomnia as well as phobia. NOt sure though if somebody here in the Philippines practices hypnosis but i think there is because i heard that Michelle Van Eimeren and Ogie Alcasid went through regression long time ago and that is hypnosis. Good luck!

Whenever I want to have a good sleep, I usually eat bananas before sleeping hours and this will dose me to sleep. I hope it will have the same effect to you.

Hi jonahh :) It's commendable that you realise the need to do away with being dependent on pills. To help you, here are some tips that will take the load of your mind and (hopefully) help you sleep - and sleep well: 1. Don't go to bed for at least two hours after dinner. 2. When you decide to go to sleep, drink a glass of milk - the temp should be somewhere between mellow-warm to boiling hot. BUT THE PRIORITY IS THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRINK IT at that temperature, so that is up to you - just keep it on the warmer side though. 3. Try sleeping on the floor! If you have back problem, use a simple mattress (no spring mattresses). When you lie down, stretch yourself completely, with your arms above your head in a long horizontal stretch and roll over the floor a few times before settling in. (It helps - personal experience) :P 4. After this, arms to your sides, and relax. Take deep breaths and concentrate on loosening all the muscles of your body starting from the foot up. (It's tricky in the beginning so try to contract and relieve the muscles alternately to the rhythm of your heartbeat 4-5 times each) 5.This one is in the case you are living a hectic schedule- before you go to sleep, write out everything that's happened over the day, especially if it has been worrying you. Make sure you write it coherently. Read it to yourself loudly, then write down any possible solutions you might be able to devise. CONCENTRATE on the SOLUTION. Then, write down the "worst possible case scenario". Read it and ACCEPT IT!! This may sound really silly and troublesome, but it's really effective in destressing! 6. Also, listen to calm, soothing music before you decide to turn in and leave it on. Get yourself some classical-instrumental or meditation music CDs. PS: Make sure that you take a light, simple dinner. Heavy or spicy food can cause restlessness and disrupt sleep. I sincerely hope these tips work out for you.

join the throng I am having the same problem but last night I just had to finally sleep but as I am on pain medication for continuing pain in knee instead of taking it at snack time last night I waited and tookit with my allergy pills and slept and slept all night for once. but oddly I am still sleepy now. my doctor refuses to give me sleeping tablets as he claims they are all ha bit forming.Who am I to say he is mot right? So I have started leaving off coffee at dinner hoping that will have some help in sleeping at night. The odd thing is with me I am still feeling the need to sleep. even with two cups of coffee. I have tried various herbs but nothing so far has worked so I too will be greatly interested in some good ideas from fellow mylotters.

this isn't quite a natural way, but there are over-the-counter medications that can help you sleep. I have a bottle of them around my house always, and take them maybe once or twice a month, and they are a huge help. The medication is one thats used for allergies, but it's also sold as a sleeping pill. I have trouble sleeping for a couple days, feel extra groggy, then I take one of those at night, get an awesome sleep, and feel much better, and that keeps on going. If you have loads of problems, I really recommend taking the pills.

i went to a chinese medical doctor once.. i couldn't sleep, at all, for about a month. and in that month i reckon i'd probably about 1 full days sleep all in all.. and sleeping tablets wouldn't even work. i went to the chinese medical doctor and he gave me little herbal tablets and a rub for my chest.. i was out like a light that night.

Hello jonahh08, Taking sleeping pills is not good as you will become habitual to have sleep pills to get asleep.It is always better if you do some physical work in day so that your body get tired and you may get sleep easily.It happens with me when i come home from offline work i always avoid lying on bed till its sleeping time becuase i know once i will lye on bed it will take 10~15 minutes for me to get sleep.Secondly always avoid TV,cell phones in the bed room.Try to fix routines of everything like dinner,watching TV.

Hi! Talk about annoying! I've some ideas and I hope they'll work or at least make it easier. Can you try soothing music or perhaps reading to calm yourself down? Do you knit? Library is a good place to start for this sort of thing and don't be scared to try a variety. Such as? Celtic Woman, Yanni, Enya, classical, etc. Try putting down the phone and just walk away from it after a certain time and perhaps take yourself for a walk in the evening (if it's safe!). Why am I suggesting these ideas? Sometimes we just need to get away from the stimuli electronics give us and just unwind. Have you tried sleeping clinics? Hope some of these will work!

I think you need some sports and a good mood . When you can't sleep , don't upset . Just think , i'm sleepy i'm sleeply. I always do that when i can't sllep. Good luck!