3 ms·

I've been seeing a Psychiatrist 30 plus years. I have not asked him directly what causes insomnia, but from what from what I gather (He is very good in not mak

I've been seeing a Psychiatrist 30 plus years. I have not asked him directly what causes insomnia, but from what from what I gather (He is very good in not making a situation worse with a dubious advice.) is they don't know. It's most likely stress from life? I go to bed worried, and worry throughout the day. 1. Melatonin worked for one night. 2. He states that many patients build up a tolerance to Ambian after three days. 3. I stopped sleeping through the night about 20 years ago. I can get to sleep, but wake up three hours later, and you know the drill. I've kinda given up. I tried antihistamines, but they only work sometimes, and the tiredness I feel lasts when I wake. 4. There are a few vary rare medical conditions, and Psychological disorders that can cause sleep disturbances. So rare, medically, I don't even know if I should mention them. I'll give the only one I heard that can cause sleep reversal in some patients. I heard it was cirrhosis. It's one more reason to limit drug/alcohol use? (I could have cirrhosis? The only way to know for sure is a biopsy, and why? I'm not getting a liver transplant over sleep.) 5. I have gathered they don't know why some people have such crazy sleep patterns. 6. Klonopin/bentzos helps with sleep, but you build up a tolerance pretty quick. (I take klonopin. If I had a do over, I would have never started them. I do know it's possible to get down to 1 mg daily without much discomfort.) 7. Heavy exercise at night can disrupt sleep. I know it's counterintutive. 8. My sleep has gotten to the point, I need to find a night job. 9. I wish employers would start work hours later for those with sleep disorders. 10. In my county, the town of Sausalito decided homeless will have to pack up their tents during the day. I remember reading this and thinking not one of those council members know what it's like to have a sleeping disorder. 11. Good luck--lousy sleep is getter than cancer, or death?

ravenstine 5y ago
Not eating or drinking before bed makes a massive difference for me. A little water here or there is okay, but I find that if I don't eat or drink 3 hours before my bedtime then my sleep is more restful and I have much more REM sleep. It works very consistently for me and I can tell it works both through my experience and what my Oura ring tells me about my sleep.
arcturus17 5y ago
Also had permanent middle of the night wakings for no apparent reason. I don’t need to be stressed for this to happen, my body works like that. 1mg of benzos (lorazepam) has changed my life. No tolerance, works every single time. I take a few weeks off and sometimes I’ll skip a day or two on weekends. I’m thinking of trying 0,5mg but the pills I have are hard to split in quarters. Matt Walker and the Virgin Mary could stage an intervention and they would not persuade me to quit. I’m disciplined, I’ve tried every other trick in the book, and nothing else works reliably.

ravenstine 5y ago

Not eating or drinking before bed makes a massive difference for me. A little water here or there is okay, but I find that if I don't eat or drink 3 hours before my bedtime then my sleep is more restful and I have much more REM sleep. It works very consistently for me and I can tell it works both through my experience and what my Oura ring tells me about my sleep.

arcturus17 5y ago

Also had permanent middle of the night wakings for no apparent reason. I don’t need to be stressed for this to happen, my body works like that. 1mg of benzos (lorazepam) has changed my life. No tolerance, works every single time. I take a few weeks off and sometimes I’ll skip a day or two on weekends. I’m thinking of trying 0,5mg but the pills I have are hard to split in quarters. Matt Walker and the Virgin Mary could stage an intervention and they would not persuade me to quit. I’m disciplined, I’ve tried every other trick in the book, and nothing else works reliably.