Expert: Dr Billy Levin - 2/13/2008

Question
I've just spent the whole of the night awake fighting and fighting and fighting sleep.  Why do I do this?  Does anyone else do this?  Am I alone?  

I've been like this since I was a little girl.  I remember reading and listening to the radio until 2 or 3 in the morning under the covers and my teachers telling me and my parents off because I was forever falling asleep in class.  I'm middle-aged now and I STILL do it!

I find I just can't settle down because I'm so completely AWARE of everything around me - and my mind keeps on running like some mad machine.  

The tiniest chink of light through the curtains keeps me awake.  The smell of the fuel from cars going by makes me super-alert.  The sound of shifting and toilet-flushing by my neigbours, remembering something I read about on the web, memories from 10 or 20 years ago...  Aaargh!  It's like I have to forever be on the alert 'just in case' something happens.  What the hell is gonna happen at 3:30 in the morning???

I'm putting this message on a load of different forums because I know that there must be SOMEBODY out there who can suggest ways I can get to sleep.

And before you say warm baths, warm milky drinks, no TV or stimulating books, dark room, lavender oil, no coffee, St. John's Wort, blah blah blah.  Yep, done all that, over and over again for years.  And before you say, 'try drugs', nope, don't want to go down that route.  

I'm sorry if I sound short or bad-tempered everybody.  But since I'm so tired and so desperate, I kinda am!  Somebody tell me please, What else can I try???


Answer
Before anybody gives advice it makes sense to make a diagnosis first. Because there are so many different causes, there are just as many solutions. Isomnia is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
As I have not examined you I can only comment, not advise.
For some diagnosis, there are  spesific medical treatment. Being anti correct safe medical treatment is cetainly not going to help you much. Depression, ADHD, anxiety etc,etc may all cause insomnia. Coffee and any stimulant may cause insomnia. Loss of sleep will certainly make the next day more difficult to cope with. Sleeping tablets are never the solution because you can become adicted tó them.The bottom line is, see a medical expert who will examine, and treat as required, including mecical treatment if needed.