Terrible Insomnia?

I have really awful insomnia that is due in part to GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). I have always, even as a kid, had trouble falling alseep. I have read a hundred times all the typical cures and folk remedies...what I am looking for here is personal experiences. Have you ever had a bout of bad insomnia? How did you relax enough to sleep? Any ideas are welcome, and thanks :)

I have had bouts of terrible insomnia. I was given Klonipin, which did help me sleep. However, it is highly addictive, and you will end up taking more and more to fall asleep. I also found that I was more anxious the next day, as my body was addicted and wanted more in the day time hours, even though I only wanted it for falling asleep. I have pretty bad PMS, and my insomnia is worse at that time. On the advice of a therapist who started a PMS group, I started taking the following vitamin cocktail: B complex (take early in the day, it amps some people up), evening primrose oil, 5-HTP (a plant derived amino acid similar to L-Tryptophan, the stuff in turkey and milk that makes you sleepy), and magnesium. Although it took several weeks of taking this daily, it REALLY worked. The only problem was if I got super stressed, and had bad PMS, I would have insomnia anywat, but not as bad. At my worst, I have gone days with 2 hours of sleep per night. But with the vitamin cocktail, if I did have insomnia, I would at least fall asleep around midnight.

Recently, I started taking birth control pills continuously (i.e. skipping the sugar pills at the end of the pack), and I have never slept better. I think it has just leveled out my hormones. Also, I have also found that regular exercise, in the morning, helps me sleep well.

I really feel for you, and I hope you are able to work this out!

I was also diagnosed with GAD and OCD. I also work night shift so that really through a wrench in my sleeping schedule. The only thing (no medicinal) that I found to work for me is exercise. I try to exercise once a day now. It relaxes me and kinda makes me a little more worn out. Sometimes in the middle of the night if I can't fall asleep, I will get up and do it. Try to be a little more active during the day and see if it helps. Good luck to ya! :)

Yup, I used to get it badly.

I'm currently taking meds for depression and anxiety. The anti-anxiety drug (Klonipin) helps me sleep. I also take a liquid calcium/magnesium/etc. supplement. It also helps me sleep. I don't drink caffeine after about 1pm. I don't drink cola drinks at all, which make me jittery & nervous. I don't drink a lot of alcohol (which can cause insomnia). I've found that raw onions make me sleepy. Fish oil (about 2000 to 4000 mg a day) relaxes me a LOT.

It's very important that you sleep, however you do it. If folk remedies don't work, please see a doc. You may need a prescription to get your body back in the habit of sleeping well. You might not need it forever, but you need it now!

Good luck.