The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.

I Can't Fall Asleep PERIOD

by Jim W.
(Chehalis, WA, USA)

I'm getting sick and tired I hearing the same things over and over again. Only to be asked a stupid question like "so do you find yourself taking naps during the day?" If I was taking naps that would be sleeping. NO I can't fall asleep.


Yes I'm tired, yes I close my eye's that's as far as it goes. Then I lay there and listen to world around me. Wife breathing (not snoring) house creaking, my heart beating.

What I discovered is I don't get past stage 1. My body does not disassociate its self from its surroundings. I hear everything. Without medication I can easily stay up for three to five days non stop. Then I might doze off for 2-4 hours start all over again. Now I take ambient 12.5, Lunesta 6.0 mg and zquel and that will get me 4-6 hours. I need to get to stage two. Help.

Comments for I Can't Fall Asleep PERIOD

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 05, 2015
 I understand you NEW
by: Josh

Un going through the samw. 29 days of the same thing. I get stuck at stage 1. I even snore but im aware of everything around me. Im scared! Please tell me you went through it.
I am confident God is going to heal me/us.
Oct 13, 2015
 no sleep no nap at day NEW
by: macky

WE HAVE THE SAME CONDITION, NO SLEEP AT NIGHT, NO NAP DURING THE DAY, ONLY THE MEDICATION KEEP US ALIVE,IM AFRAID THIS IS SPORADIC FATAL INSOMNIA, FOR SURE, BUT WE MUST NOT LOSE HOPE GOD CAN HEALL ANY DISEASE, JUST KEEP THE FAITH AND ENTRUST YOUR LIFE TO HIM, AND HE WILL CURE US ALL
Apr 21, 2016
 tireed NEW
by: Ashkan

im like you guys.did you find any solution yet?
Apr 23, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

josh and jim and macky,please leave a comment i hope you are getting better, i have the same problem and im so worried...
Apr 23, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

and also did you use any drug like xanax or ambien before this happen?
Nov 25, 2016
 Same NEW
by: Paul

I'm on the same boat as you. I just shut my eyes and nothing happens for hours and hours. I tried everything in the book: exercise, meditation, going caffeine-free, you name it... Nothing works.

The only thing that truly helps me is one pill of 25 mg promethazine (Phenergan) two hours before bed every Friday and Saturday night. It's a powerful hypnotic that makes me sleep for a good 12-15 hours. I can't take it during the week as it makes me really drowsy the next day, so what I do is live like a zombie throughout the week and then spend the entire weekend sleeping. I have virtually no time for hobbies, going out or pretty much anything that doesn't involve work or basic household chores. But yeah... It's either that or accumulate a sleep debt that will probably kill me some day. Life sucks when you can't sleep like a normal person.
Sep 09, 2018
 54 and tired NEW
by:

I have been going through this for years as well.
I take ambien 10 mg. Without it i go days of no sleep. With it i average 3-5 hours.
Still stuck on 5 minutes of stage 1 sleep. No going any further
Jan 05, 2019
 Me too
by: Anonymous

I am feeling the same way. I have been awake straight for nearly 2 years now and I'm terrified. Insomnia is ruining my life. My headache is getting worse by the day. Everything is. As each day passes my anxiety worsens, my thinking and concentration worsens and I am becoming spaced out and zoned out and I am constantly trying to remember what's happening because it's like a scary bad acid trip like I'm losing my mind. As each day passes, I thank God that I am alive another day as I am extremely amazed I am even alive right now. I keep praying to God every day and now I am still here to tell about it. It is a real miracle. I have been afraid of dying these entire 2 years straight and God has kept me strong. As far as treatment goes, the only thing that has been helping me is cannabis ( I have a medical card) , it puts me in the deepest state. If you qualify for medical marijuana, talk to your mmj doctor and they will probably give you a strong indica strain for sleep. That was my best bet. Everybody is different , but if your insomnia is caused by tbi or trauma ; than a damaged brain could be keeping you awake. Studies show magic mushrooms have been effective in healing the brain from damage and trauma and to actually grow new brain cells to repair the brain, the studies showed that they also boost IQ points. Keep praying and stay positive everyone,it can't last forever.
Jan 07, 2019
 Updates?
by: Anonymous

I’ve been stuck in the same situation for months! I only get ton stage 1 sleep and nothing more. Nights go by where I don’t sleep at all. I’m terrified. Has anyone gotten out of this?
Sep 04, 2019
 Please amswer NEW
by: Anonymous

Did you guys take any benzo drugs or sleeping pills before this happened to you?

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to "I Can't Sleep!" Stories.



Enjoy this page? Please help us pay it forward to others who would find it valuable by Liking, Sharing, Tweeting, Stumbling, and/or Voting below.

About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?

A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:

Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.

If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.

More Questions:

Ask | Answer

The Stanford Sleep Book

Stanford Sleep Book Picture

Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for Sleep and Dreams since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.

In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.

Preface | Intro | Contents | Get A Copy

More Sleep Resources

The Zeo

Track Your Own Sleep With Zeo

A revolution in personal sleep tracking, the Zeo is a wireless headband that transmits your brainwaves in realtime to a dock (pictured here) or your smartphone. The result? You can wake up and see exactly what stages of sleep you were in during the night! Unprecedented personalized sleep knowledge.

Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

Sleep Paralysis Treatment Book

Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note:

The information found on this page and throughout this site is intended for general information purposes only. While it may prove useful and empowering, it is NOT intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgments of healthcare practitioners.

For more info, see our
Terms of Use.