Hey guys and gals, i have a pretty serious problem these days, I can not fall asleep at a decent hour anymore... This has been going on for quite some time now, I was prescribed ambiens for a few months but stopped taking them, well i stopped going back to dr for refills... I was wondering if anybody had any GOOD alternative medicine way to help people fall asleep... I have tried melatonin, over the counter stuff like unisom, i think valerian, chamoline, melatonin mixed in a capsule... I have tried some little spray onto my tongue... No of this stuff works for me, i am like an elephant when it comes to knocking me out... I used to take 20 mgs of ambien and it did work, but i didn't like the idea of taking that all the time especially after reading a lot of stories in the news about the side effects... I really would love to fall asleep again, it's tough living this way.... However, if i do fall asleep i can sleep like a baby... But thats a problem, cause on the weekends i can sleep until 4pm, 6pm, i could really stay in bed for a long time... I am 30 years old, currently unemployed (got laid off 2 months ago) and my brain doe not stop thinking when i first lay down... if i were to lay down at 11pm, i would just sit there thinking about everything going on in my life... its quite disturbing, i think i may go see the dr tomorrow just to get some ambiens so i can get back on a normal schedule, but again, i defintley would like to figure out a better way to fall asleep, but again, keep in mind that it takes a lot for me to fall asleep.. I can take a whole box of nyquil and still not fall asleep... Thanks in advance...

I suffer from insomnia whenever I'm stressed out so I concocted a herbal tea that knocks me out gently. Here's the recipe:

In a teapot, steep the following herbs for 10 minutes minimum in bolied water:
-(3 pinches of each herb below)
-Catnip leaves, (Active inghredient to cause sleepiness).
-Chamomile flowers, (Active ingredient to calm nerves).
-Peppermint/spearmint leaves, (Inactive ingredient For better flavor).
-Sweeten with sugar or honey to taste.

It takes about 30 minutes to work, but you will get great rest and wake up feeling much better. Make sure to drink this while in bed, it works faster on some people.

Let me know how it works for you. If it isn't strong enough, just add 1 pinch more of the above ingredients.

Hi,

Is there some thing that is effecting you sub consciously? I had insomnia for 3 years of my life, it is said to be caused by a lot of reasons. Mine was due to depression. It happened after I shifted to my new place and it happened again after 2 years.

I used to sleep at 4 or 5 in the morning and then get up again at 9 and go to college. I used to read a book before I slept. I would read something that did not remind me of my day example an encyclopedia or Shakespeare or something. A handy tip I can give you is try emptying your mind before sleeping. Fix a time as bed time every day and at bed time lie down, close your eyes and focus on NOTHING. Start clearing your mind without concentrating on anything. I mean to say you will have to stop thinking when you close your eyes.

That usually works but that takes a bit of time, patience and discipline. I never did it

Hope you get a cure though, I had a rough patch where I could not sleep for days and ended up screwing up in my studies

My guess is your not sleeping because of stress. Worry about being unemployed, etc.
Since you don't have a job, you probably aren't on any kind of a schedule. And quite possibly, you are sitting around too much to make yourself physically tired.
Try to put yourself on a regular schedule. Set that old alarm clock for 6 am and get up and get busy when it goes off. Don't eat anything late in the evening, and after dinner, take a nice long walk OUTSIDE, I find that any time I have spent more time indoors than out sleeping takes a bit longer to begin. Hit the sack about 10, lay down, take some deep breaths, relax, and try to not think about anything. (tough, I know.) If your mind wants to work, make it think about your breathing, and if your mucles are actually relaxed. You will be surprized at how many muscles tense back up after you think you have relaxed them.

Of course, getting a job would probably be a big help too.

Ok I have to add I am a huge insomniac and the whole nyquil thing i take 6 tablets a night and that still don't help. I have tried other things such as the Valerian Root and other stuff and that has not worked. Therefore I am going to try the tea suggestion and see if it works. Do you know where I can buy these ingredients for the tea. so if you can direct me where to get them it would be helpful or if not I am gonna be known as the artist that Drinks a ton of Vodka just to sleep at night.

Amy

I take a 10mg Benadryl tablet when I can't get to sleep. It is an Over-The-Counter strength so you don't need a prescription. My doctor recommended it as a sleeping pill substitute. It helps you to fall asleep without the hangover that some sleeping pill medications cause. Give it a try and see if it works for you. Good Luck!

Hi, Quick question I had the same problems a few months ago but figured out what was going on. It was really ho that month and could not fall asleep till 1 or 2 am. Anyways I bought a fan and found out that I was not falling asleep till the temperature dropped.

Also a long time ago I my dad bought me some Malatonine as it supposedly removed plaque from the brain and stuff.

Anyways Malatonine is also a herbal insomnia remedy and must say it seemed to do a good job of putting me to sleep and also I found I had incredibly good sleeps.

Hope this helps.

hmmm.....although i don't know what insomniac is i think i can provide some info on a simple herb to help you fall asleep. i find the plant lavender to have sedative effects. just simply rub the plant leaves between your fingers and smell your fingers it has a nice aroma and can be added to popurri (did i spell that right?) the smell of this plant can help you fall asleep when you want to sleep and help you awake when you want to awake, its a very usefull plant. you can find lavender at a local plant nursery.

hopes this helps! Mistikpso

Well, I also have insomnia, and melatonin can help you get to sleep, but not necessarily stay asleep. Personally I have to do something to relieve stress in addition to taking melatonin to get to sleep at any reasonable time.