Ok, here's the thing. Right now, I have a LOT on my plate. I'm going to be losing my house, so I've been house hunting. I'm going to be losing my job soon, so I've been job hunting. Since I'm going to be buying a new place, I've been busy with bank paper work and loan applications. And of course I've been packing with all my spare time since I'll be moving soon. And to top it all off, I'm getting married in less than 4 weeks now (June 6th), and the wedding is 1000 miles away in Massachusetts.

I'm letting you know all that, because I don't know if perhaps it's ALL THAT which is causing my jitters, or just the wedding. But, I find myself not being able to fall asleep at night. I lie in bed with a MILLION thoughts going through my head. "Oh, I need to add that person to the guest list!" or "Oh, I need to write that idea down before I forget!" or "I wonder if that job that called me back is anywhere near that house I hope I get?" And I find myself up until literally 5 and 6AM doing things online or just lying awake thinking (and worrying). And then since I'm awake that late, I find myself sleeping in very, very late into the day. And by the time I wake up, it's too late for me to do anything I was suppose to get done, because most of the vendors and wedding issues I needed to deal with are now closed.

I thought perhaps it was my funky sleeping schedule, and that since I keep waking up late, I obviously don't get tired until much later (or early in the morning). But I tried NOT sleeping one night, once 6AM rolled around. That way the following night I would be tired at a reasonable hour. Nope. I still stayed up until 6AM the following morning. And then as a result, only slept in LONGER that following morning/afternoon.

It's frustrating and I don't know what to do. I really don't want to have to take sleeping pills, mainly because if I do...I usually end up groggy all day the next day, and drag and just get nothing done. In other words, they WORK...just TOO WELL. You know?

Does anyone have any ideas? Anything? I'm willing to take anything. Any advice on how to clear my mind? I've actually literally tried to count sheep..the classic trick...and it didn't work. That's how pathetically desperate I was one night. I know millions of people suffer from insomnia. So someone out there is bound to have some advice! Help me pleaseeeeeeee!!!

Try valerian root. I buy Sleepytime tea with valerian root at Walmart. Or you can buy valerian root pills at gnc. I also write to-do lists all the time. It helps me organize my thought, just seeing all that stuff on paper.
Good luck!

You basically just described me! Without the wedding. I have had insomnia on and off for years! What I have found that helps me is I do a breathing, mediating type thing before I go to bed. I basically visualize all white going through my body clearing all my thoughts. It works most times...it's just mind over matter. Another thing is....if I am in bed just running through my list of worries, I will get out of bed and sit in a chair in my room until I am uncomfortable and then feel tired. Usually not too long. Sometimes I will also get up and walk around the house for a little bit or I try to exercise before bed because I am one of those people that is tired after working out. I also found that not going to sleep one night to try and force normal sleeping habits doesn't work. So what I do is set my alarm for 7:30 -8:30 and get up. Whether I went to sleep at 10pm or 6am. I also try to keep myself very busy that day so then when bedtime rolls around, I am usually exhausted. It will get better. Hang in there. Everything will work out the way it is meant to be!

first off...i've seen your last few post and yes you are going thr a lot and i know you don't have a lot of time on your hands...but i HIGHLY recommend doing very intense exercise to help relieve some of the stress...then i would highly recommend doing some yoga or meditation shortly before bed. This would help relieve your stess and unwind your body. I always finds this works the best for me. Its not perfect but it will wear out the body and help relieve the stress. Good luck and hang in there.

Try some deep breathing.
Breath in, as much as you can thru your nose,
hold it, then blow it out thru your mouth. Picture
worries and concerns going with it. Do that three
times.
Also, sometime during the day, write down your
blessings, what is going right in your life. No
negatives, just the good stuff. Include things
like the bird you heard singing his heart out, or
the dog who wagged her tail at you.

bestest,
k

I developed insomnia after age 40 with hormones changing and worrying about my kids, etc. I got a prescription sleep medication from my doctor. I rarely use it, but it's there if I get desperate. The natural sleep aids didn't help me. Sometimes you just have to get some sleep, no matter how you attain it & it works for me.

Melatonin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin changed my life. Whenever I'm feeling restless and pretty sure I'm not going to get a good night's sleep (and the stresses are sometimes VERY intense), I take one or two melatonin tablets (purchased in the vitamin aisle of my local market) and within about ten minutes, I'm feeling relaxed and calm... and in a half hour I'm ASLEEP. And I stay asleep for at least six hours, which is huge for me sometimes.

Really good stuff (for me). Good luck to you!!!

I have the same problem when I'm stressed, and it's terrible. Something that helps (when I remember to do it) is to put a notepad and pen next to my bed. When I wake up thinking about all the little to-dos out there, I write them on the pad. That way I know I won't forget them and can try to go back to sleep. It keeps me from waking up repeatedly for the same things, at least.

I have this same problem. It's crazy bad. My doctor gave me a small dosage of trazodone---which actually does nothing to make me fall asleep

Everything you would think would make me fall asleep doesn't work. I've been this way since I was a small child though. My parents would put me to sleep at like 7 or 8, and I would hide flashlights in my room and stay up until 3am. Then get up at 6:30am. I did that from the time i was about 5 until I was 18---so I really did some damage to myself. I don't nap either...but sometimes It catches up with me...and I'm out for like a whole day.

I'm switching to overnights at work....here's to hoping that works better for me...