[kavisgirl]

I have barely slept since Sunday night/Monday morning and that was only a few hours... I feel like if I don't sleep soon my hopeless feeling of going insane won't just be a feeling anymore and I'll actually loose my mind. I normally don't sleep much to begin with but the past couple months have been getting progressively worse by the week, and even now the day it seems... I don't know what else to do I can't take sleeping pills because I get very sick whenever I do and melatonin seems to set off my anxiety in a horrible way that I can't even explain. I don't know what else I can do I have a little girl to take care of and the way I am on edge when I'm running on such little sleep is honestly no good for my baby girl... She deserves mommy wanting to play with her and do things other than just sit on the couch and let my mom who has been living with us take care of everything because I just seem to be in a trance and can't move sometimes without feeling like I'll pass out from exhaustion or be sick to my stomach. I have gone as far as to completely cut out caffeine not watch tv or use my computer or phone for over an hour before I go to bed... My doctor suggested documenting my sleep and doing the whole only laying in bed for 20 min and then get up until I started getting tired again and none of this has worked if anything I got worse! Any help would be greatly appreciated I'm to a point where I would try just about anything!

[Thunder Bow]

You have severe underlieing emotional issues. Cognitive Therapy may help. It will take much time to heal.

[H3rmit]

Perhaps meditation? Just sit and pay attention to your breathing. You will have to let go of the thoughts that come to mind many times, and return to breathing. You are not supposed to meditate lying down, because you'll fall asleep.

But in your case, I'd say do what I do, since I also have insomnia: after you get a basic feel for meditation, continue it lying down. Your worry habits may return, but keep focusing on the breath. It's boring. I sleep much better now.

You can read about breathing/mindfulness meditation. It might be boring, but again that can be good.

[lemonada]

I suffer from terrible insomnia. Thankfully I can take sleeping pills. They help most nights but not always. But I find that getting exercise helps. A brisk walk around a few blocks in the daytime will help. Being in the sun 15-20 mins per day will help your body naturally produce melatonin and serotonin at the right times, when helps you sleep. I find Hatha Yoga also helps. Take a night class, like 7 or 8pm. You will be amazed that sometimes you actually can fall asleep in the studio, then again at home that night!