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 lost the ability to sleep!!!

by Kathy
(Denver, CO, USA)

Three months ago I lost the complete and total ability to sleep. My eyes don't get heavy. The first episode came out of the blue and i went over 60 hours before grabbing an OTC med that helped. Since then I have not slept one minute on my own. I only sleep when the meds work. I cannot take a nap. I'm the next Michael Jackson or suffering from sporadic fatal insomnia.


No one believes me but I've lost the ability to sleep. So I'm only one night away from never sleepjng again. I need help but there are no answers. I have seen sleep specialists, done sleep hygiene, meditation tapes. You name it, I've done it. I CANNOT sleep. I lost that ability and before that episode i never had a sleep problem. I don't have occasional trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. I repeat, i CANNOT sleep. I fear I'm dying a slow, painful death.

Comments for I lost the ability to sleep!!!

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 12, 2015
 MELATONIN MAY BE THE ANSWER NEW
by: Kathryn

Your body may not be producing Meletonin, the sleep hormone. You will need to see a Naturopath as regular Doctors don't do this testing. My son has been going throught the same as you for the past 4.5 years. Has done everything possible to fix it. He started seeing a Naturopath lately and she has just sent him for this test. We are hoping this is the is the answer. It is a good place to start. Good Luck.
I wish Doctors would take more responsibility for sleep problems, but if they can't fix it with a pill or surgery there is nothing they can do...
Oct 12, 2015
 Suffering serious ailment NEW
by: Jaskiran

I am suffering the same problem exactly the same but m shock that m still 19 n i get this serious problem i completely lost my lovely sleep i miss it soo much plzzz help me so that i can sleep plzz plz plz plz 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Oct 23, 2015
 Same here NEW
by: JusT me

Same, like I've listen to my story - it's been like this for 2 years now. No answers from doctors - sleep hygiene, meditation, milk before going to sleep... What the f*** are they talking about!!!? I don't have like 2 hours of sleep every day or 5 hours of sleep - I don't sleep at all - not even a minute - normal body is tired and automatically going to sleep after 12-14 hours - for us is like 3-4 days without minute of sleep - what should we do? ---- this is also reply to the guy on the beginning - I feel you bro - I'm in the same shit - if I hear bullshit about "sleep hygiene" I want to kill a dickhead with a newspaper! I don't know what is going on with us bro - all I can tell you is - you're not alone!
Oct 31, 2015
 Same thing here NEW
by: Jaku

Dude Im experiencing the exact same bullshit I dont feel the need for sleep either, mine started 9 days ago out of the blue Im only 18 and my mum and dad think im crazy as fuck thinking that i have sfi, what ever this is, hope we can all get through this
Oct 31, 2015
 Insomnia NEW
by: Jaskiran

I want my sleep back .............i totally forget. How the sleep was that was the beautiful days .....but this insomnia suck my life
Nov 01, 2015
 Me 2 NEW
by: Jaku

Same here. it gives me more time to do stuff sure but, I just want to feel sleepy and dream like the good old days, I fear this is something that will end up killin me but i May just be panicking.
Nov 01, 2015
 INsomnia NEW
by: Jaskiran

Ya dr its discusting thing ever😟😟😟😟😟
Nov 02, 2015
 help NEW
by: Lance

Have any of you found a solution to this problem im a sufferer of this also and I just need to know if theres hope.
Nov 13, 2015
 Bullshit panicking NEW
by: Daryl

Hey dude i feel the same way too i cant back the good all days of good sleep...i think the reason why we experiencing this is all about stress resulting to panicking...i think we should not hold back...our family will be the best factor in helping us relieving this bullshit...just keep on holding on dont surrender may God bless us all...
Nov 20, 2015
 Fuck NEW
by: Anonymous

I am suffering from the same shit i ve gone through this a times ago omg wtf is this i think we need that lttle shit melatonin i dont fking know i bought that today i was able to sleep atleast 5 hours omg if this work iam gonna be proud best luck for ALL
Dec 04, 2015
 Me toooo NEW
by: mike

Me toooo.... I am so afraid now about whats going on with me :( i have not slept for 3 days already literally no sleep i am very tired and my body wants to sleep but my fins if f*cking awake still :(
Dec 21, 2015
 New NEW
by: Christian

Hey guys im going through the same thing. Normally i read stuff and people are complaining about a few hours of sleep and I would die for that because I get no sleep at all literally! I never feel tired I tried medications and Advil pm did help me until last night when I took it and I was up. This worried me I never used to take it everyday just when I went a few days with no sleep. After I would sleep fine and perfect without meds. I worry every minute of my life that eventually I'm going to die from not sleeping. Now that I know Advil pm won't knock me out anymore I just worry that I lost my ability to sleep. I feel like I have no control over this situation and I just have to make everyday count because I don't know when it will be my last. I hope and pray we all get better. This can't be life. I'm just 24 going on 25 why is this happening? Good to know I'm not the only one maybe we can all keep in touch through here
Dec 21, 2015
 Same NEW
by: Anonymous

Yeah same thing here dont give up guys we can get through this I also agree with daryl this all seemed to have started for me when I had to do a presentation (I have a fear of public speaking) After that I developed this problem we just need to find a way to get the anxiey to piss off so we can be normal again
Jan 26, 2016
 Same problem - no sleep at all NEW
by: Anonymous

This happened to me over a year ago. Tried every sleep pill they make. I also thought I was going to die from it. To make a very long story short, after hospitals, Drs, MRIs and every sleep medicine tried, I was prescribed Seroquel. It is not a sleep medicine but causes sleepiness as a side effect. It was the only thing that worked. It is a med for bipolar problems.
It is a drug that takes time to get used to, made me feel drunk during the day. i take it an hour or two before bed. It also has to be started at low doses and build up until it starts to work. Took me about three weeks before the drunkiness stopped.
Jan 30, 2016
 same NEW
by: Jakku

Hi im back and same ive been put on seroquell coz they think i have bi polar my problems started after a period of high anxiety and the seroquell is bloody brilliant
does it still work for u man? or can u get normal sleep agaain?
Feb 02, 2016
 Hmm... NEW
by: John Doe

Ok, I'm obviously not alone.

Meh, given my current situation, I stopped caring. I have more important things to do.

I balance with booze. Every few days I simply get drunk and pass out. It may not be the best thing, but until I can start exercizing I'll have to hang on. And frankly, being hung over is much more pleasant, than being without sleep for 2 or 3 nights. I don't know about you, but I prefer being without hallucinations.

Once I'll go through a bit of surgery, possibly 2 or more bits, depending on how badly my joints are off, and get some parts of my body functional again, I'll simply start exercizing. I'm quite certain, that 4-6 hours of exercize can get me at least 3-4 hours of sleep. I can live with that. I have done so since I was a kid ( meaning A LOT LESS than 18 ) until university... Then I didn't have the time to exercize.

Whatever...

For all of you, who can't sleep, but can move properly, try this: Work out. And I don't mean measly 40-60 minutes. I'm talking about wearing yourselves out past most limits. So much so, that you are barely able to crawl to bed. It's a bit... well... exhausting, but that's kinda the point. I can't do that, for now. But one day, I will, once more.

Good luck
Feb 17, 2016
 The bedroom temperature has to be 65 NEW
by: arizona

It's because of stress. I stopped watching tv. Every night when I go to bed (same hour) I pray to Jesus to protect my mind for not going insane and I pray for the melatonin to take effect into my body.and it works. I reach REM the stage with dreams and my dreams are not nightmares. Because Jesus is with me. You should try it too. I inhale oils like peppermint and lay down.
Feb 29, 2016
 Hmm... NEW
by: John Doe

Arizona: Well, what you are doing is basically meditation, quite a common form, actually. That's, what any real prayer actually is.

I personally don't do Jesus, or any other religions. The way my mind works, I can't. One has to believe in a deity or deities, which I am unable to do. But whatever works for you is fine.

For everyone else: The technique is fairly simple, but requires a lot of concentration, and may be even used as a sleep replacement, if you can't actually fall asleep. Needs a bit of practice, mind you, like many things. It rarely works first time. And once you drop out of practice, it takes some time to get back into it.

- Try to get rid of all disturbing elements from your room.

1. Lay down
2. Try to steady and slow down your breathing, make the breaths deep.
3. With every breath you let out try to relax your body more and more.
4. Your heartbeat will tell you, if you are advancing properly. Should you feel your heartbeat rising, or feel out of breath, it means, you are advancing too fast. In this case, adjust your breathing to allow sufficient amount of oxygen in your blood.
5. Meditation music, relaxation music and aromatic oils can help as well. The music is especially helpful to aid with adjusting the breathing frequency until you get a knack to it.
6. This whole process gets more complicated when your mind is cluttered. Don't worry about your mind skipping to some problem. It happens a lot, until you get sufficient practice. Just try to get back to cleansing your mind.
7. Rinse and repeat.

- It does help, if you can keep a nice image of a location, you feel nice about, in your head. The location can be real or totaly made up, it depends entirely on you. Just make it an image you like. Another point: This image is actually a part of the meditation. So the more detail you add, the more details you go through, while creating the image place, is sort of a crutch, to help you into a proper meditative state.
Mar 01, 2016
 I lost my ability to sleep too. NEW
by: Anonymous

I'm right in the same boat with all of you. Can't sleep at night. Can't nap during the day. It's just gone. I feel like total crap.
Apr 03, 2016
 20 years old and can't sleep. NEW
by: baarro

This is a total nightmare. It started with sleep getting effected by a particular stress-or. 5 Nights of not sleeping with recurrent sleep paralysis gave birth to the idea of 'I can't sleep'. So far, from what I understand, it is only our state of mind. Our insomniac 'state-of-mind'. The horrible idea that we can't sleep. But even such realization has not helped so far, every-night, I bloody try so hard to focus my brain towards something positive but it isn't working. Worse, even sleeping pills won't work. I might knock-off for 2-3 hours. But then again, it hurts even more.
Im thinking of trying hypnosis to eliminate the memory of the idea; 'I have insomnia'. Maybe then I will be able to sleep normally. Otherwise, this wakeful nightmare will either lead to death or suicide.

I want my life back! Let's be positive. It's our mindset and a few other sleep habits that need to change.

Love and peace for all,
May you sleep well.
Apr 21, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

i am like you guys.i cant sleep anymore.what to do its getting worse every night.sleeping pills doesnt work.im only 23.did anyone find a solution?
Apr 21, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

baarro can u sleep now?!
Apr 21, 2016
 Sleeping better NEW
by: baarro

Hey Ashkan,

I am so sorry for your struggle.
As far as Im concerned, my sleep may not be the best but it certainly has improved. Once again, Im working on it through changing my belief patterns. Also, Im trying to consult several hypnotists who could help my unconscious brain rewire the habitual patterns. Remember we can always sleep un-aided. We don't need pills. This situation won't last long. We can always do this. I know there are days when I feel out of whack, hopeless and suicidal, but life is too beautiful to give-up. Once we are insomnia free, we will find it as a blessing. It teaches alot.

Do you have any other forum where we can communicate and check on each other's progress? Sending good vibes
Apr 21, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

hey dude.im glad that u are getting better sorry if my English is not that good.my problem started when i used stay up for more than 24 hours working with pc and suddenly i felt something in my head and body.stress came and it was like passing out.my dad gave me one xanax pill and after 15min i became relax and could sleep.the day after i couldnt sleep the whole night and im using xanax every night which it has no effect anymore.i cant go into deep sleep when i close my eyes wakeful all night something bothering in my head.but i wont give up same as you.i think that day which i stayed up for like 30 hours broke my head..
Apr 21, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

anyone else here reading this please leave a comment of his progress i hope all of us become healthy again
Apr 25, 2016
 suffering no sleep NEW
by: sleepless20yrold

I am so happy I found this website. Please hear me out - I desperately want to help someone! I went from Doctor to doctor unable to sleep , having to drop out of school for a semester because I could not sleep for three days at a time. I have tried Melatonin, Ambien, Fisher Wallace Stimulator, therapy. Doctors didn't listen to me when I told them it was a physical problem!!!! I acquired this insomnia (I believe) from coming off antidepressants. I was completely fine until I got off of them and have been messed up ever since. Anyways there is a cure. I read about psilocybin curing depression and I though why not insomnia too? I tripped and was able to sleep six hours a night and at least when I got bad again I was responding to sleeping pills. Then, I was fully cured with acupuncture!!! Nothing else in the world helped except these two things. Sadly though, I took the antibiotic Cipro and it threw me back to no sleep so I need to repeat my treatment. Take things into your own hands when doctors cannot help. Don't lose hope. So many nights I cried and thought I was going to be dead soon. I prayed and prayed and was given the answer to be cured for a six month period of time and know we all can get back to normal.
Apr 25, 2016
 tired NEW
by: َAshkan

hi "suffering no sleep".dude thanks for answer but what is psilocybin and how can i get it exactly? i think we don't have it here.and about acupuncture u mean that needles work on body?
anybody else please tell your current progress. baarro i hope u be better now.
Apr 28, 2016
 suffering no sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

In response to "tired:" I'm referring to psilocybin as in magic mushrooms. The longer the trip the more powerful the lasting effects. Many studies have been done on its benefits for depression, anxiety, addiction, and other various mental issues. No current studies I have found for insomnia - but again it allows treatments to work again. The problem being its not legal, but honestly that doesn't matter anymore when you go 60 hours without sleep. Life isn't worth living anymore if you are painfully awake. You will risk anything. Anyways, if you do trip, I am assuming and serotinogenic hallucinogen would be okay - one dealing with one of the many 5-HT receptors. I hope someone reads this and is helped by this if you do read this and try it please respond I want to hear if you have progress. Lastly, psilocybin may not be the immediate cure. For me, I slept as soon as I hit the pillow fpr three days. Then, I couldn't sleep until 4am or so for a very long time until I found acupuncture, yet even then I was so thankful!! Feel better. There is hope!!
Apr 29, 2016
 Can't sleeep NEW
by: John doe

Hi guys,

I have the exact problem I can't sleep and night or nap during the day I feel proper brain dead, it's been going on for almost 4 weeks now. I have not had 1 single night of full sleep. Usually I used to feel worn out n tired by 11pm and could sleep for 12 hours straight with out waking up. Now I close my eyes and there's nothing there I can't even think of memories to try and lie to the mind, it feels as if I have bed drinking red bull and the caffeine is not wearing out. I can't rest during the day either. One night I had my eyes closed for 8 hours and I couldn't sleep I've tried all this bullshit milk n slow music.....people who are not going through it will not understand how it feels, I have forgotten what it feels like to have a good nights sleep. I sleep for 2 hours then wake up sweating or randomly then stay awake all night....I have lost contact with reality I'm forgetting what it feels like to be human....it all started with a funny feeling in my head on night felt like an electric sensation like a buzzing surge behind the skull.....ever since then I have totally forget on what proper sleep feels like..........Is anyone else experiencing similar symptoms if so please reply!!
Apr 29, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

hello guys,"Anonymous" thanks for replay i have not tried your methods yet but i'm gonna do it soon and i'm happy too see that things are working for you.
john doe i'm suffering from the same hell happened to me but i'm not sure whether i had that feeling in the head or not.nothing works for me too.i can't sleep most of the days on week and if i can i get 2-3 hours max and i'm not sure its a sleep because i'm somehow awake like twilight and i'm tired. but i have some questions from you which i'm not sure that it's related to the problem or not.
was u ever using any antidepressant pills? or benzo pills like alprozolam(xanax)? and are you person who works with PC or other communication devices alot? i heard from someone such things may affect on brain and sleep."drugs,the ray from devices,unhealthy sleep behaviors such as not sleeping at nights and etc.."
Apr 29, 2016
 John doe NEW
by: Anonymous

Hi Akshan,

I am very pleased you replied to my message.

I have not taken any sleeping pills and I doubt I ever will as they are not natural and can alter the brain and its functions in some ways.

When I was 18 I suffered severely from anxiety Attacks I pretty much got every symptom in the book from it, after a few years it went away and have never felt it since.


I am an accountant I'm always on my phone and Pc, do you think this can have implications?

Sometimes I feel like I am depersonalised and dearealsation

I sleep at night only when I am extremely tired and my body can't take it anymore I sleep for 3 hours max I wake up and feel confused and have wiered dreams, do you feel the same?
Apr 29, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

hi again john.i'm very pleased too.something is happening to us and it's rare as we can see no one knows the cause exactly doctors do nothing and they make it worse by prescribing chemical pills. i'm 23 now and i had some kind of anxiety Attacks when i was 20 like yours.it went away btw.
about implications of devices, i saw it first on a video from a Professor or maybe a doctor(i don't care about them anymore they all are the same) who said all of these devices affects on body,brain,nervous system specially wifi signals from phones and laptops,it makes anxiety.but we can't say that its the cause since lots of people are using them.anyway i'm trying to keep them away as much as possible.
i also have to say i was using xanax pill for five days because my anxiety attack came back somehow and i stopped since it made me worse.
i feel the same about sleeping with a little difference which is i don't dream at all or maybe i do and i don't remember and it shows i don't get any REM sleep.REM sleep stage we dream on it.
this is absolutely hell but losing hope is the worst,found some good things for this too,u check this link and maybe something works for you,it seems the guy had the same problem.do whatever he says and who knows maybe a miracle...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltuCeVem-VY
i hope god heals us soon,life is short yes,but i don't want it like this.
Apr 29, 2016
 John Doe NEW
by: Anonymous

Hi ashkan,

I saw the video and it seems ridiculous and nonsense what the guy was talking about. Anyway, how long have you been suffering these symptoms?

Do you feel dizzy or lightheaded or weak from lack of sleep?
I don't feel normal any more
Apr 30, 2016
 suffering no sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Hey guys I'm back I took mushrooms tonight and still have not fallen asleep at 6am. I plan to schedule my acupuncture appointments as this is the combination that helped me before. I'm so afraid my heart will give out. I'm 20 and sick on 3 antibiotics right now and can't kick anything because my immune system must be shot this is what happens when you literally can't sleep ever. :( I am averaging one to two hours a night and feel like I'm going to die. Also am so thirsty. I took Lexapro for a year and after getting off of it I got this insomnia. I always slept like a baby before it!
Apr 30, 2016
 tired NEW
by: Ashkan

Hi john.yes the video seems ridiculous but the guy says that he is getting better by looking at sun at sunrise staring on it.beside that blue blocker glasses and magnesium supply but i doubt those do anything no effect on me.
about 3 weeks since the first night.i feel dizzy and fatigue on my body and my mind can't do normal jobs my eyes getting red and almost left my education.
May 01, 2016
 weep weep NEW
by: baarro

I am wits end. Askhan and Sleepless 20yearold.

God knows it's insane. My heart cries looking at everything I could and am not able to because my head hurts so much. I have been crying non-stop is
it gets so scary when I imagine my future with this form of invisible torture. Note with note sleeping enough we're at a high risk for psychosis, and so many other neurological ailments.

I do however, still believe we can sleep un-aided,
however,I need to fix my Vit D and B12 deficiency as they are directly related to poor sleep. You two look into it as well. Please.
It's insane. I hope we figure it out,
Sending love.
May 13, 2016
 Same here. NEW
by: Joshua

I am from Hong Kong and I have the same problem here. Cant sleep at all.

I used to fix this by lying down for a very long time until my mind stops.

But it seems that now it needs more than that for me to sleep.

I can keep my body physically functional by lying down at night. But my mind is always awake.

I need to find a method to fix this.

If I found a method, I will post again.
May 14, 2016
 I'm not alone, yay!!! NEW
by: Anonymous

I am so glad I found this site! I thought I was going insane! 2 months ago I lost the ability to sleep. A simple physical inability to sleep. I have no stress to stop me sleeping and I don't suffer from anxiety or depression. I just go to bed and can't sleep, even after four days and being totally exhausted. Saying that, I can't function either. Still trying to work full time and run a family. My brain isn't functioning but it won't let me sleep so it can function. Got to crises point. First the doctor tried me on endep anti depressants (for sleepy side effect), all that did was make me hyper alert. Then he tried mirtazapine for same reason and that did the exact same thing. Then he didn't know what to do so started me on Melatonin and zopiclone. This is working, but he said for two weeks I may have the zopiclone only, then I may stay on just melatonin for two months which will hopefully "reset my clock". He has also referred me to a sleep clinic for overnight stay. I work in the health industry and have access to a lot of medical information. Nothing the dr has tried works but here is something I've worked out that I find very interesting and which is why I believe it's a physical issue, for me atleast. About ten years ago, another GP gave me 30mg tablet of mirtazapine in his office (was feeling low from divorce proceedings). I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. Half hour later I was almost in a coma and slept for 26 hours straight. I couldn't have stayed awake if you gave me a million bucks. Now I've had it again and it did nothing. Something else interesting, my brain also doesn't respond to panadol, ibuprofen or codeine since my "insomnia", where as it did before. I can now drink like a fish and not get drunk, where as before if I only had two or three beers I was quite merry. I feel the melatonin tablets don't do much. Zopiclone allows me to sleep but gets less effective every day and I know it's a drug that hits different receptors in the brain. I'm sorry peeps, I don't have the answers, wish I did, but thought I'd share my experience so far. Is it physical? Depends! Have you tried sleep hygiene, no alcohol, meditation, cut caffeine and you know the rest of the BS? Still an insomniac? ITS A PHYSICAL CONDITION! problem is, the medical profession don't understand it. Could quite simply be the invention of the electric light. Hope you all find answers, hope I do too.
May 19, 2016
 Pretry sure I can't sleep at all NEW
by: Anonymous

Ok, so this problemail of me not being able to sleep started back in mid-January. It's now May, and I still can't sleep. I was diagnosed with anxiety back in January, but I have a hard time believing it, since the supposed symptoms I mention are actually real things. For instance, my swallowing is messed up, and I'm almost 100% sure whatever I "swallow" does not get digested properly. Also, I can't feel any part of my body, whether I am standing still or "walking". When I am walking, it feels like my legs aren't doing any work. When I pick something up, it feels like my arms aren't doing any work. Basically, my brain is allowing my body parts to move, but my muscles aren't being stimulated at all. This makes driving more of a chore than it really is, since I can't gauge my speed that well with a leg that feels frozen. The worst part is, I am never tired at all. My eyes never become heavy before my scheduled bedtime. They will not consciously shut. I do not know what to do about this. I am pretry sure that I am going to die soon from not sleeping. Not sure if I have FFI or SFI. Sleeping pills don't work at all, and my stomach makes abnormal noises. I am only 21, so that too young for me to die. Anyone else have the same issue?
May 20, 2016
 I can sleep again !!!!!!!!!! NEW
by: Joshua

I can sleep again!!!! I wrote a post earlier and now I can sleep again!!

I want to share how to do it.

1. Make sure you are not stressed by something.

in my case, I was stressed by the pressure from job hunting. And I was not aware of that.

2. Napping is good for you.

Forget those stupid advice. You need to nap during day time. First, Sleeping at night will be very stressful to you. It is likely that you cannot sleep at night. Second, you need practice to sleep again. Cuz you forgot the feeling of sleeping.

3. Don't sleep on your own bed at 1st.

your own bed and the darkness at night will be a great pressure to you. It is better for you to nap on the couch at daytime. And sleep on the couch at night also.

4. wear clothes that keep you comfortable

you need to have the right clothes on, not too hot, not too cold.

5. when you sleep, don't care about what happen to your body or your surroundings

after you lost sleep for a long time, sleeping could create some strange feeling for you.
and you may want to run away from it. But dont.

6. Try to stay still as much as possible.

Yes, Dont move a bit. Staying still can help your body to sleep. If you stay still long enough, you can feel that your body is sleeping although your mind is still conscious. later, your mind will sleep as well.

I opened a facebook page for people here.
But the comment says no HTML.

So you can search helpforinsomnia on facebook.
you will see one page named with chinese characters and end with Consultation for Insomnia.

you can PM me if you need help. I will share my experience with you.

I know how it feels when nobody understand what going on with you.

Hope you all can sleep.
May 22, 2016
 I'm afraid of not being able to fall asleep NEW
by: girly

Okay so way back on December 30, I couldn't sleep at all that night and a few days after that I got really anxious about sleeping (It was all I could think about). But then school started again and I was surrounded by friends which kept me from being anxious and depressed all the time so I didn't have any trouble sleeping for a long time. Now it's summer and my anxiety is back and I've had three nights in a row where I only had 2-3 hours of sleep. Ever since then I think about me not being able to fall asleep at night all the damn time. Even when I actually get a decent sleep I still worry over it. I've been sleeping well for the past two weeks until last night where I couldn't sleep at all. Anyway I guess what I'm trying to say here is, there are going to be sleepless nights, but there will also be better nights. So just stay positive and um pray for me.
May 23, 2016
 Pretty sure I can't sleep at all NEW
by: Anonymous

Update:
It's been more than 4 months without any sleep (maybe a little). Hopefully, I will be able to sleep better again.
May 24, 2016
 One more Thing! NEW
by: Joshua

Just one more thing!

Dont expect yourself to be able to sleep at night.
The expectation will put great pressure on you.
then you will be stressed the whole night.

Accept the fact that you may not be able to sleep tonight immediately.

It is good enough if you can have some rest(not sleep) at night.

When you can have some rest on the bed, eventually you will be able to sleep.

I know it sounds strange, but it is true.
Pushing too hard does not work for insomnia.
May 26, 2016
 Pretty sure I can't sleep at all NEW
by: Anonymous

My body does not have the ability to rest anymore. I don't know why, but I started to lose the ability to sleep in January and throughout February, this started to have a negative impact on my body. I am pretty sure my mind turned off all of the pleasure areas of my body, and I absolutely can't feel any part of my body at all. So, in terms of lettingletting my body rest, it is impossible for me to do that.
May 26, 2016
 It is a difficult process NEW
by: Joshua

I understand there is a stage where even resting is not possible.

In my case, there are 2 types of stress.
1 from whatever I am facing in life,
1 from insomnia.

First of all, we need to find out if there is any stress from our lives. Sometimes we don't even notice.

If there is no stress from other things, then it could be the stress from insomnia itself.

As you cannot sleep for a way longer period of time than me, it should be more difficult to find the feeling of rest again.

Cuz trying to rest would be a very annoying idea by itself.

If possible, I would suggest in daytime, try to lay down and find the feeling again.

Dont try to push yourself to sleep. Just lay down and see what happen. Try to feel your feeling.

It is a frustrating process.

Hope you can rest again.
May 27, 2016
 relax and chillax NEW
by: Anonymous

guys we all experiencing this bcoz we are panicking and thinking that why this happen..the only thing that we should do is to relax and not to overthink everything...just do inhale exhale before going to sleep and listen to relaxing soothe music...it may relax us and always be brave to accept this challenge bcoz the only way to solve this is to help ourself..enjoy everyday in our life just like its our last day...chill everybody
Jun 10, 2016
 worse thing ever NEW
by: Anonymous

this is not just a couple days or a few hours of no sleep is it is totment meaning no sleep what so ever .life just seems so unreal .not one nap nor a night with sleep at all ...and people think insomnia is when you can only sleep a few hour ....that would be nice ...but when you can not sleep at all its fearful and yes of course that would cause anxity.but i dont believe its the reason .i dont believe it just because a room is not dark .i dont really no what to think .i like most of you am going to see a sleep doctor im sure to once again find no answers.im so very sorry for what all of us are going through its hard to explain to others.if any one is wanting to just talk leave a number i will call my story is to long to put into words .but im pretty sure all these issues have to do with the brain or spinal cord .
Jun 15, 2016
 Maybe we are HSP NEW
by: Joshua

Highly sensitive people are easily stimulated and more sensitive to everything. This can be the reason why.

Search Highly sensitive people and you will find more about this.
Jun 22, 2016
 Can't sleep NEW
by: Naing

I can't fall a sleep almost a month now I don't know why I lost my job I feel like I lost everything in my life I went to hospital to checked if anything wrong with me but nothing wrong I try everything but nothing else work for me Everyday I'm getting tired and lost more energy I feel so hopeless I hope I can fall a sleep again...🙏🏻🙏🏻
Jun 22, 2016
 this is the worse thing ever NEW
by: Anonymous

i do believe that all of us who have no answers to why this is happening should get together and approch the medical field or some type of show to obtain answers .people can think as they wish or simply put a label on this insomnia as depression or post tramadic stress .or what ever the hell they want just to get you out the door .with of course a new med .to treat a condition that really is un solved .....true insomnia is hell its not like we chose to stay awake in a state where we dont no whats wrong .something needs to be done ..without sleep you will break down the body will not repond to normal when there is no sleep there is nothing normal ..i myself want answers as its to much to bear.if you would like to speak about this please leave a number i will call and we can possibly come together.and approch someone in the highest fields of this disorder...
Jun 23, 2016
 It's me again NEW
by: Joshua

I have started a facebook page for this issue.

https://www.facebook.com/helpforinsomnia/

I just want a place where we can share and communicate with each other.

We can't really communicate effectively here.
And we can't contact each other.

Please feel free to leave a comment in the page to share your situation.

With enough people, we can do something about it.
The so-called doctors really need to face this issue.
Jun 26, 2016
 I'm scared please help me NEW
by: Anonymous

I just turned 19 I am experiencing the same problem I'm terrified don't know what to do can't sleep ever even when I am tired from a long day, I've tried everything I feel hopeless.i have not slept for well I don't even know anymore to be honest maybe3-4 years please help me where do I go for help please respond do I go? I'm lost my dr sent me to get analyzed by a psychiatrist but I know they are only going to prescribe me pills and maybe not even believe me I told my mom I have problems going to sleep and staying asleep I never told her I never get sleep or that I don't know what it feels like to even sleep anymore because I don't want to worry her I'm scared is this normal?? Please help me why haven't you all added your email or phone #'s we need to help each other and do something about it.
Jun 26, 2016
 reply to person above NEW
by: Anonymous

i really am in your shoes ....please leave a number and i will call i dont really like putting my number out there ...if this site will even allow of possibliy your facebook name ...i will contact you as im alsways awake and trying to find answers ...
Jun 28, 2016
 vaskou NEW
by: Anonymous

I can't sleep anymore too. Sleeping pills are addictive, they make things worse. I so much want to avoid them. Yet I feel so tired, so exhausted but not sleepy...that I do take a sleeping pill sometimes. Now the nights which I try to manage without a pill are sleepless for sure. It's scary, I used to fall asleep instantly when tired, now tiredness doesn't matter. I feel like a zombi during the day, yet sleep doesn't come when I lay down.
Jun 28, 2016
 vaskou NEW
by: Anonymous

I can't sleep anymore too. Sleeping pills are addictive, they make things worse. I so much want to avoid them. Yet I feel so tired, so exhausted but not sleepy...that I do take a sleeping pill sometimes. Now the nights which I try to manage without a pill are sleepless for sure. It's scary, I used to fall asleep instantly when tired, now tiredness doesn't matter. I feel like a zombi during the day, yet sleep doesn't come when I lay down.
Jul 02, 2016
 we can share in a facebook page NEW
by: Joshua

I created a facebook page for us to share our situation. One of us already shared his situation.
It is not a spam or ad.

www.facebook.com/helpforinsomnia/
Jul 22, 2016
 Can't Sleep!!!!!! God help us Please. NEW
by: Anonymous

Is anyone who posted here still Alive?
Jul 30, 2016
 can't sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Lol I'm still alive
Jul 31, 2016
 Still alive NEW
by: Anonymous

Still Alive first time back from october been having great sleep till yesturday when I was just to energetic to sleep
Aug 05, 2016
 sleep deprivation NEW
by: Anonymous

I hqve similiar case I have sever sleep deprivation my body doednt even feel sleepy anymorre I've gone about 4 yrs
Rs without good sleep I don't even feel tired just numb m
Aug 05, 2016
 Not feeling tired NEW
by: Anonymous

Me too. I never get tired anymore. I can go 2-3 days without sleep and not feel drowsy. what is this?
Aug 06, 2016
 The fact is NEW
by: Anonymous

It's not always a disease of some kind of invader in the brain, now mostly cause by neurotoxin that we are contact with or we breath, we eat, we drink or consume That Causing CNS neural loss or damage and end with sleeping regulator disturbance. We've been poisoned...



Aug 06, 2016
 The fact is NEW
by: Anonymous

It's not always a disease of some kind of invader in the brain, now mostly cause by neurotoxin that we are contact with or we breath, we eat, we drink or consume That Causing CNS neural loss or damage and end with sleeping regulator disturbance. We've been poisoned...



Aug 07, 2016
 worst shit ever NEW
by:

Is there any way to clear out our brains from toxins?
Aug 08, 2016
 Insomnia NEW
by: Liam

I've suffered from insomnia since i graduated from high school nearly 3 years ago and it's been on and off since. I started from not being able to fall asleep within hours to not sleeping at all. I've tried taking sleeping pills and they dont really work for me. Been to the doctors many times, they don't know what to do and I have recently been diagnosed with sleep apena too. Recently it's just come back to me after 6 months or so as it comes back those every few months and this time it's pretty bad and is one of the worst it has been. It's 5:30 am on Tuesday the 9th of August and I've had little sleep since Friday the 5th of August, yet I don't feel tired but I'm having nausea and dry lips. No matter what I do as I lay in bed something is just preventing from falling asleep and it feels like I have lost the ability too.
Aug 09, 2016
 I am scared NEW
by: Turtle

Hello, Turtle here, 19 years old. I too am scared: a couple of days ago I stayed awake for 24 hours and did not feel a thing except feeling scared. I think I have SFI or something, however I don't necessarily feel bad; I just feel a bit anxious and paranoid. Before this happened, I was already having difficulty going to sleeping, I would wake up early so I could sleep early and had been sleeping very late for years. This time it finally got to me. I even remember saying how I wish we didn't have to sleep cause it was a waste of time. These past few days I've slept about 6-7 hours but it does not feel the same. My parents think I'm over reacting as I usually do. This time it feel different though. I'm not scared of dying just WTF is going on? I have a life to live! It is also important to note that I don't do anything the whole day at the moment except sit on my couch on my phone. Only until 9 PM when I go jogging for about 20 minutes.
Aug 14, 2016
 I can't sleep NEW
by: Argh

I've been unable to fall asleep these few years randomly. But lately, its been frequent like a few times in a week. My eyes and body are tired, but my brain is awake. It's messing up. Like there is no mind and body sync to go to sleep. I would get like 1-4 he's of sleep, but I couldnt wake up the next morning, feeling lethargic. I could feel that the front and the back part of my brain are pulsing fast. It's 4am. I've ti get up at 7.30. What the f*ck is wrong with me? Help, I'm from Malaysia.
Aug 20, 2016
 CNS DAMAGE BY TOXIC CAUSE inability to sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Its not because the toxic still stuck or accumulate in the brain. The toxic kills the neural cell and leave the body and flushed by our system. (Its a hit and run episode). Death neuron not because neurotoxic accumulation but by neurotoxic attack. Please add me in facebook if you want to share experience. I am a victim too and dying or death soon, because no one can help, not even doctor. Stemcell is 50/50 chance but I cant afford. My facebook name is Palu Siagian please contact me only if you suffer too. I will block religious preachers or supplement upseller
Aug 20, 2016
 CNS DAMAGE BY TOXIC CAUSE inability to sleep NEW
by: VLPO DAMAGE BY CIPRO

What causing the mess here is, people with sleep difficulty, not complete inability to sleep. Billion insomniac and lack of sleep people out there, but total loss ability to sleep like couple poster here, many don't get it.
Aug 31, 2016
 This happened to me for 6 months NEW
by: Victor

Same here. I'm 16 and this has really affected me. My summer was messed up. I've shrunked in size. mY pants and shirts got bigger and my facial skin is getting worse.
Sep 01, 2016
 Cant sleep help help NEW
by: Anonymous

I feel dead i suffer from anxiety , i hadnt had proper sleep for some time i used to take escitlopram which helped me a lot but i quit it so many times on my own and i think it just harmed my brain whenever i try to sleep i dont feel tired just numb im so scared not to sleep again and im sonagainst sleeping pills i dont want to take them.
Oct 09, 2016
 Try magnesium!!! NEW
by: Anonymous

Im not a doctor, but you can try taking MAGNESIUM supplements to get the sleepy feeling back!! (You still have to relax and clear your mind to fall asleep.)

It's so simple and it worked for me, you can research online to find link between magnesium deficiency and insomnia.

I started having postpartum insomnia about 1.5 months after giving birth, at first I tried exercise, meditation, blackout shades, sleep hygiene, melatonin, red wine and OTC sleep aids, nothing worked. I had gotten blood tests done for thyroid disfunction and everything was normal, got prescribed anti anxiety and sleep meds because all the doctors thought I was having postpartum depression.

Nothing really worked and were giving me horrible side affects. It got so bad I went many days straight without any sleep! Then a doctor prescribed Seroquel 400 - 800 mg (max) and it knocked me out when I first started taking it, but then slowly lost its effectiveness as my body built up a tolerance to it.

I was getting so scared that I had lost the ability to feel sleepy and to sleep on my own, then one day I thought back to my third trimester and remembered I was having lots of leg cramps even though I was taking calcium and potassium supplements, and MAGNESIUM was what I was missing!

I started taking it again, and that same day started feeling the muscles around my eyes get tired, lots of teary yawns, and with the help of smaller and smaller doses of Seroquel I'm able to sleep again!!!
Oct 09, 2016
 Try magnesium!!! NEW
by: Anonymous

Im not a doctor, but you can try taking MAGNESIUM supplements to get the sleepy feeling back!! (You still have to relax and clear your mind to fall asleep.)

It's so simple and it worked for me, you can research online to find link between magnesium deficiency and insomnia.

I started having postpartum insomnia about 1.5 months after giving birth, at first I tried exercise, meditation, blackout shades, sleep hygiene, melatonin, red wine and OTC sleep aids, nothing worked. I had gotten blood tests done for thyroid disfunction and everything was normal, got prescribed anti anxiety and sleep meds because all the doctors thought I was having postpartum depression.

Nothing really worked and were giving me horrible side affects. It got so bad I went many days straight without any sleep! Then a doctor prescribed Seroquel 400 - 800 mg (max) and it knocked me out when I first started taking it, but then slowly lost its effectiveness as my body built up a tolerance to it.

I was getting so scared that I had lost the ability to feel sleepy and to sleep on my own, then one day I thought back to my third trimester and remembered I was having lots of leg cramps even though I was taking calcium and potassium supplements, and MAGNESIUM was what I was missing!

I started taking it again, and that same day started feeling the muscles around my eyes get tired, lots of teary yawns, and with the help of smaller and smaller doses of Seroquel I'm able to sleep again!!!
Oct 10, 2016
 I am cured NEW
by: Leisha

It happened to me too but now I m cured.The force of darkness have a way of taking people ability to sleep .I'm a Christian one night when I was experiencing it I command the devil to take his hand off my mind on the name of Jesus ,then I was completely relieved and was back to normal. Email address is anncoolio@hotmail.com
Oct 17, 2016
 Floating NEW
by: Beri

Floating tank=deprevation tank may help i think, if enxiety is the cause that lack of sleep.
Dec 05, 2016
 I lost the ability to sleep NEW
by: May

I am glad to find this site, I lost the ability to sleep, not even a nap. I lost my ability to sleep since July but no one believe me including doctors and family members. I tried different sleeping pills and antidepressant, but none of them are really working for me. Maybe they are working for me for the first couple of days but only give me a few hours sleep and then stopped working. I think I have SFI and will die soon. Anyone can give me some help.
Dec 24, 2016
 Same problem NEW
by: Anonymous

Is there anyone still alive or recover from lost the ability to sleep. What kind of treatment to deal with this issue.
Dec 25, 2016
 cant sleep deep about a month NEW
by: Anonymous825

im having problem sleep.its starts with heart palpitation at night.I dont know its panic attack or what but when I try to sleep I cant for palpitation.doc prescribed me adlock, sertaline, and 0.25mg sleeping pill that doesnt work but only for 2 hrs.then doc increase my dose to 1mg for 10days and added zinkgo biloba for good blood passing in brain.but sleeping pill didnt work for me.i cant feeling for sleep but im very tired and very weak it feels like i could not sleep in my life.then doc said to exercise daily and stay busy at work everytime and at last added medazolam bp 7.5 for 10days.than now I see strange dreams every night and wake up at mid night.I dont know what to do now. Now my question can I will able to sleep normally?? Can anyone suggest med.I really need help
Dec 25, 2016
 comment please NEW
by: Anonymous825

Anonymous give me your fb or email address. me: akashneel825@gmail.com
Dec 27, 2016
 I have lost the ability to sleep NEW
by: Anonymous825

everyone who are suffering from this please drop your email address or any contact no. so that we can talk to each other
Dec 27, 2016
 I lost the ability to sleep NEW
by: Anonymous825

everyone who are suffering from this please drop your email address or any contact no. so that we can talk to each other
Dec 30, 2016
 Oh sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Guys , i hope you are all doing fine , after so many sleepless nights and other restful nights , reading and researching different articles about insomnia i came into a conclusion that, its all stress related , myswlf i worry a lot i feel down most of the time depressed anxious and i overthink and that leads me to no sleep we become obsessive and anxious and the fear does not allow me to sleep its a viscous cycle .
Dec 31, 2016
 Wth NEW
by: Anonymous825

hey Anonymous.how are you now? I think I have completely lost the ability to sleep.about 1month a ago I had a panic attack after that I cant sleep.but now I dont know im sleeping or not but see vivid dream for long time. Its scary I think im not getting deeo sleep coz my head feel so numb nd its feel like its hard to reach in deep sleep.I used to sleep like a baby :'( I want my life back
Dec 31, 2016
 Reply NEW
by: Anonymous

Dont worry thats what happened to me in the first place , i had a panic attack then iturned into anxiety , constant worry which lead to depression and insomnia , keep in mind its the anxiety that wont let you sleep and have vivid dreams because you dont feel calm, thats why lots of people use sleeping pills which im totally against it because it is for a very short period and it does not even help , it doesnt help because insomnia its a symptom its a disorder which is triggered by our other issues such as mental illnesses or other chronic physical illnesses, so im happy to tell you that you will be okay vety soon your sleep will improve because you will find a way to deal with it , we are all gods children he does not abandon us. Stay positive and happy new year, all the best to you.
Dec 31, 2016
 Reply NEW
by: Anonymous825

Thanks man :) I hope I will find a way to deal with it. God bless us all and happy New year :)
Dec 31, 2016
 Reply NEW
by: May

I lost the ability to sleep or nap for six months, I tried different ways but none is working. I think I will slowly die due to no sleep. Anonymous please advise what kind of way I can use to deal with my sleep issue.
Dec 31, 2016
 May NEW
by: Anonymous

May, you said that you used some methods to try and get some kind of relief, but remember that its impossible that you die from lack of sleep because you will eventually sleep somehow what i would suggest you is : first take some tests on your health you might have a hidden unhealthy condition that you dont know about and please always remember that insomnia is not a disease, its a symptom and i can guarantee you that its impossible to die from lack of sleep, take care of yourself and please dont be stressed because , stress has the biggest impact on sleeping issues.
Jan 01, 2017
 Reply to May NEW
by: Anonymous

May. I feel you there. Im also suffering alot. Every day is very challenging to me.coz I have to attend my classes regularly at university along with poor focus, low energy, headache. all you have to do is admit the situation.dont lose your hope.enjoy every moment of your life like there is no tomorrow. I believe we all can go back to our normal life. Good luck :)
Jan 01, 2017
 Reply to May NEW
by: Anonymous825

May. I feel you there. Im also suffering alot nd its started about a month go. Every day is very challenging to me.coz I have to attend my classes regularly at university along with poor focus, low energy, headache. all you have to do is admit the situation.dont lose your hope.enjoy every moment of your life like there is no tomorrow. I believe we all can go back to our normal life. Good luck :)
Jan 01, 2017
 Reply NEW
by: May

Thanks for the response. I went through all the blood test for many times, all came back normal. I just cannot sleep at all, even I took sleeping pills or antidepressant, I can only get a few hours sleep or sometimes it's not working. I think I have the fatal insomnia and I am waiting here to suffer all those torture.
Jan 01, 2017
 Sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

May, its impossible to have fatal insomnia its a very rare condition that affects only Few people in the world have it.i would suggest you to stop using the sleeping pills they are not the answer to your problem. Change your diet dont eat junk food soda or caffeine start eating only healthy food , what helps me a lot is manuka honey also walnuts in the morning and in the evening before i fall asleep with some chamomile tea .
Jan 01, 2017
 Reply to May NEW
by: Anonymous825

Yes.its impossible to have fatal insomnia.I also tested my blood and it came normal.doctor said everything is normal nd prescribed me sleeping pill nd antidepressant.sleep pill are very worse.they make me woozy nd strange all day. Sleeping pill was working from me first couple of days then stopped working.now im not taking any kind of sleeping pills. Bytheway what symptoms do you haveing now?? @May
Jan 01, 2017
 Reply to Anonymous 825 NEW
by: May

Since you don't take any sleeping pills, can you sleep now. I lost the ability to sleep and nap since July 2016, ever since then I cannot sleep by my own any more. My doctor said I have anxiety and depression. Everyday I just cannot sleep and that cause my eyes are painful and I cannot function my normal life. I just keep on thinking I will die due to no sleep.
Jan 02, 2017
 Reply to May NEW
by: Anonymous825

i dont know i sleep or not.but im pretty sure that i dont sleep deep.may be light sleep.coz I see many vivid dreams every night.and my head is soo numb nd I feel like its impossible to reach in deep and restfull sleep.i think no medication is going to work.im also experiancing poor focus,poor energy poor balance, numbness, headache,hear whooshing sound in one or both ear nd feel really strange everyday nd I used to jerk everytime when falling asleep.do you have above symptoms?
Jan 06, 2017
 Same problem NEW
by: Anonymous

Is the 1 st person recovered from the lost the ability to sleep and what is the way to get over the sleep issue.
Jan 06, 2017
 Pray NEW
by: Anonymous

I pray that all of you going through sleep problems and other life issues will be fine, dont lose your hope , its all about faith in whatever you want to believe , myself i believe in God almighty and he is the one we need to turn to! Lots of love and support for you all...
Jan 11, 2017
 Cured NEW
by: Anonymous

Hey everyone who been suffering with insomnia, I just wanna let you know that I'm really cured. I am one of the worst having problems with sleeping now I'm 100% cured. At first, I thought I was gonna died, I lost my hope just likes you, I even trying to kill myself cause you guys know how it feel without sleep, I'm telling the truth. 6 months without sleep not even one second, I try everything but nothing work for me, trust me doctors can't make you cure, the only one who can make you cure is yourself and god. I just wanna tell u guys that there is a cure, but I'm not sure exactly what I did all I remember is I don't stay home even though I don't have energy, I go out with friends and riding a bike, exercise everyday, try to forget everything what's gonna happen, go for a walk, get some fresh air, I really want you guys cured too cause I know how you guys feel without sleep. Believe in yourself, think positive, trust me there is a cured. HOPE Y'ALL GET BETTER SOON and MAY GOD BE WITH YOU
Jan 11, 2017
 Reply to anonymous - re- cured NEW
by: Anonymous

After reading your comment , l have hope on my insomnia problem. You mentioned that you went out with friends and exercise even without energy, how can you manage it and what kind of exercise. I cannot sleep or nap for quite a few months and medication didn't help. I am desperately need help.
Jan 12, 2017
 Anonymous - did you developing fatigue during that period. NEW
by: Men1

Hello anonymous, during your insomnia, was it one in witch you didn"t developing fatigue at all? Or you didn"t sleep but you did developing fatigue.
Jan 13, 2017
 ANONIMOUS - TRIGER TO YOUR INSOMNIA NEW
by: Men1

Hello anonimous, what do you think was the trigger to your insomnia? Thanks
Jan 15, 2017
 Can't sleep i NEW
by: Anonymous

It's been since may I can't sleep. Doctors can't help saw a neurologist he said he could t help went to psychiatrist and Been out on so many meds that only worked for a few days. I tried to kill misled bc I couldn't take it anymore. Now back on other meds for another anxiety and depression getting some sleep but I'm scared I will build up tolerance. I don't feel normal and want my life back. Help!
Jan 19, 2017
 Reply NEW
by: Anonymous825

im going through the same thing as you.but recently I noticed little improvement. I can sleep now but see dreams every night but cant remember nd weird feeling is gone little bit.dont worry you will be fine.but numbness in my head and body making me worried.do any of you have numbness???
Jan 19, 2017
 Reply NEW
by: Anonymous825

im going through the same thing as you.but recently I noticed little improvement. I can sleep now but see dreams every night but cant remember nd weird feeling is gone little bit.dont worry you will be fine.but numbness in my head and body making me worried.do any of you have numbness???
Jan 31, 2017
 Wth NEW
by: Anonymous

I started having outrageous heart palpitations one right. Soon after I realized my limbs kept going numb and I felt dizzy and spaced out. I had blood work done and I guess my thyroid is over active. But I haven't had any symptoms since then. Now I CANNOT sleep. I don't get tired and I close my eyes at night and I just see my thoughts. It's not a deep sleep or a light sleep. It's weird. And I noticed I have no emotions. Like I'm not depressed but when I want to worry I can't, when I want to be mad I can't. And I also noticed I don't feel hungry or full and have no appetite. Nor do I get the urge to go to the bathroom at all. It's all so weird and has been going on for a month. I noticed today that my eyes are getting red lines all over them so now I know I'm definitely not sleeping. I'm scared of SFI because it attacks your thalamus. Thalamus is what controls your emotions and it tells your body to feel hungry or tired or full. I'm so scared and don't know what to do. I can't remember how it feels to feel sleepy and fall asleep.
Jan 31, 2017
 Reply NEW
by: Anonymous

Dear last user you already know your problem , so i would suggest you to try and take care of your thyroid issue since it can bring so many other physical and mental problems such as sleeplessness and others. Dont worry with the right treatment you will be fine.P.s take care of your diet it's essential
Jan 31, 2017
 Thyroid NEW
by: Anonymous

When I loo up over active thyroid I just don't see my symptoms. That's why I'm so confused. And I haven't had the racing but heart or anything since the few days it happened. As of right now I just feel spaced out, like I'm in a dream. And I haven't slept in a month. I don't get the sleepy feeling at all and My body feels weak but not tired. It's weird. And it's not that I can't smile or laugh, it's that I don't feel anything when I do. I was an anxious person before all of this and now I can't even worry the slightest. Or have any fears. I feel so off and it scares me. I just have a hard time understanding that this is an overactive thyroid. I don't see any of my specific symptoms anywhere. I went to a psychiatrist today and he prescribed me something and then I see him in two weeks. I just hope it's nothing serious. I have children who need me, I couldn't imagine being without them.
Feb 02, 2017
 One of those nights NEW
by: Anonymous

I understand i am a totally anxious person and the moment the panick starts my depression hits and i feel all this negative thoughts about myself and in general yesterday i only sleept like 5 hours and it was an anxious sleep , the same feeling like you are trying to escape from something or someone , tonight i cant seem to sleep at all my brain feels so numb and i cant switch off trying to drink some tea and eat some manuka honey , i hope i get some sleep cos i have an appointment tomorrow in a different city !
Feb 12, 2017
 God help us all!!! NEW
by: Max

My insomnia started 4 years ago, went couple times to the Emergency room, had Ct, and MRI scans nothing wrong, 1rst year lexapro worked, after that I tried all the anti depressants out there none worked. Now I'm takin 15 mg mirtazapine and .5mg of clonazepam they make me fall asleep and stay asleep about 5 to 6 hours, but I'm tired of the bad taste in my mouth. Any better natural alternatives let me know at jpmendoza1@hotmail.com God bless u all...
Feb 15, 2017
 Autoimmunity NEW
by: Adam

Everyone who lost ability to sleep and has not had thyroid tested, do that first, don't waste time describing symptoms or talking about sleeping aids. First you get checked for Hashimotos/Graves antibodies. Then lets talk. Thanks. Adam
Feb 15, 2017
 Xx NEW
by: Anonymous

I think Adam is right very true what he said.
Feb 28, 2017
 Same Boat NEW
by: Anonymous

Since last wednesday Ive been going 36 to 48hrs without sleep and then ill get sleep for like 3/4 hrs after that. The night before last night I slept 4.5hrs and last night only slept 1hr. Idk wtf to do, Ive even lost my fear of death honestly and just feel so jaded. I have goals in life and a little brother and a mom that depend on me. Now Im fearing SFI and that Im dying from this. My body is weak, exhausted, my eyes burn and my vision is blurry. Is there anyone that can relate?

Mar 06, 2017
 What should I do ??? NEW
by: Jorge

Hey guys so my story is different. So when I was 18 I was sleeping pretty decent, then I turned 19 and my sleep was horrible, so I decide to check out the things that were supposedly going to help me out like pills etc, but I was like no, I can't do pills. So I ended up smoking Mary Jane, which was making me sleep like a baby for like 2 years with no problem. I was happy and was rested. Now it seems like I can't sleep anymore at all. Is it because I stopped smoking?. Should I go back to smoking herbs? Or is that bad? Help me guys
May 03, 2017
 Try to relax NEW
by: Anonymous

I started having sleep problems last april 4. Out of nowhere I just thought "I can't sleep" because i had become aware of "sleep". I know that it is just my mind that is preventing me from sleeping because whenever I feel the sleeping sensation, my mind won't let go. It's like I can't escape my own MIND! I got somewhat scared. I just wish this "thought of not sleeping" never enetered my mind in the first place. I want to forget that I can't sleep because before this, I was sleeping like a baby. I was such a good sleeper I could sleep anytime I wanted to. now, it's different.
Then I contacted someone here above (joshua) in the helpforinsomnia FB PAGE. I am glad that he shared his experience and whAt helped him. Try to contact him. I somehow knew that i need to just calm my mind and relax and forget about sleeping. But i guess I just needed to hear it from someone who actually experienced the same thing to just give me hope and to also trust on my own ability to sleep. I feel better now. I hope everything goes well for all of us.
Jun 03, 2017
 Help NEW
by: Anonymous

I need help. I am only 18 years old and I cannot sleep. I had to quit school and quit my job because I was just so tired. I don't want to die, but the sleeping pills are no good, sometimes they work sometimes they do. God help us, God help me, God help us all. I want to live, I want to live, I want to be someone. I don't know who I am anymore. - DL
Jun 03, 2017
 Dont give up hope NEW
by: Anonymous

Oh darling you are so young dont even worry that you will die nobody dies from lack of sleep and that is something temporary not permanent there is always a cause for insomnia whether it is physical or mental, mine was mental and i became anxious about sleep then obsessed than depressed and i got into antidepressants which helped me copy but it didnt help me with my obsessive thoughts so much during the beginning and i didnt stay too long on them only a month and i quit cold turkey, what i suggest you is try looking into your diet dont drin caffeine dont use alcohol, maybe its very hard to deal with it as my condition was very severe and stupid and i thought i was the only person like this, but for two weeks now i have been sleeping really well like 8-10 hours everynight sometike i even take naps, but i started taking omega fish oil so maybe they are helping me i dont know, but i feel tired and i feel better but i know that i always make the same mistake of Going off medication , mAybe i need them for the rest of my life since i am very anxious person, but right now i have to focus on other issues aswell. So good luck and pray to god and remember what doesnt kill you makes you stronger and always have in mind that GOD ALWAYS GIVE THE HARDEST BATTLES TO HIS STRONGEST SOLDIERS!
Jun 15, 2017
 Solution NEW
by: Rena89

Hi,just want to share my story here. I had the same problem,i cant sleep for 4 days not even an hour,so i tried Xanax,and few sleeping tablet but its still not working on me.
So i decided to see doctor but they said its a psychological problem.so they advice me to see psychiatrist.
But actually guys,i made a research abt this,n finally i know the problem,it happen because im lack of melatonin(sleeping hormone).the only way to boost the hormone is MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT.so i took capsule magnesium chelate and its working. Im back to normal,now i can sleep well.
Aug 04, 2017
 Antidepressants cause serious sleep deprivation NEW
by: Anonymous

No one should take antidepressants for sleep. You're safer with a benzo. Antidepressants cause serious nervous system changes that you won't recover from easily once it happens. They're hiding serious complications from SSRIs to make money. I took one dose of antidepressant and had sleeping problems ever since that day for 6 straight years. I had taken it for a completely unrelated reason, which is a heart problem I was having due to yet another psychiatric drug.
Aug 04, 2017
 Antidepressants cause serious sleep deprivation NEW
by: Anonymous

No one should take antidepressants for sleep. You're safer with a benzo. Antidepressants cause serious nervous system changes that you won't recover from easily once it happens. They're hiding serious complications from SSRIs to make money. I took one dose of antidepressant and had sleeping problems ever since that day for 6 straight years. I had taken it for a completely unrelated reason, which is a heart problem I was having due to yet another psychiatric drug.
Aug 12, 2017
 Loss of sleep NEW
by: Kevin

I have not slept for 2.5 years yes 2,5 years and it is affecting my health i have tried all drugs and phycos etc but nothing worked i a am s...t scared to what happens next.i can barely think straight and able to move normally. Unfortuantly people think you are skeeping or you woukd be dead but here i am 2.5 years later with no answers. Have you solved your major and i mean major problem if so i would like to hear how
Aug 12, 2017
 Loss of sleep NEW
by: Kevin

I have not slept for 2.5 years yes 2,5 years and it is affecting my health i have tried all drugs and phycos etc but nothing worked i a am s...t scared to what happens next.i can barely think straight and able to move normally. Unfortuantly people think you are skeeping or you woukd be dead but here i am 2.5 years later with no answers. Have you solved your major and i mean major problem if so i would like to hear how
Aug 19, 2017
 Newfound total insomnia... no relief...!! NEW
by: Thewestghost

Ok here's my story, about 1 week ago I went hard on a jog, I was stressing over something about my ex and then that night I woke up twice in my sleep... nbd it happens sometimes.. but then after that my heart was pounding fast the rest of the day and continued... sleep became less and less... like it was counting down 5,4,3,2, then 0. I tried soma, melatonin, antidepressants, ambien (which made me sleep w/ my eyes open for 2 hours!) .... went to the ER told them I had body twitching, hot flashes and severe insomnia and they pretty much surmised it was just "anxiety" I know what fucking anxiety is like and it isn't this. Luckily my GP identified some serious thyroid deficiencies in my blood work but I just wonder if that's all it is... I feel like there's something wrong with my brain, every time I try to sleep it feels like someone hit a gong and the vibrations are traveling through my skull. This blows because I'm only 24, was almost finished with school, was getting my relationship back together ( bless his heart he's been with me through this and is the only one who seems to be concerned about te total lack of sleep... but he doesn't understand the sheer doom of what I'm feeling). Anyway I don't know what to expect, everyday I'm getting loopier so... whatdaya do?
Aug 20, 2017
 Question NEW
by: Kevin

Has anybody heard that they may have burnt out their parasympahtic that can happen. I know a bloke who was diagnosed with this if this is the case then we are up shit creak
Aug 23, 2017
 Parasympathetic NEW
by: Thewestghost

Kevin, I've heard of something like that before. I really hope that's not the case. How is the human body supposed to cope with something so vital that's now broken? I wonder if excessive anxiety/panic disaprder can do that... or maybe a combination of internal and external stressors just override our Brian's wiring.
Aug 23, 2017
 Continued... NEW
by: Thewestghost

Also Kevin, I hope you don't mind me asking... how exactly have you coped with or how has the lack of sleep affected you? I'm kind of in this transitionary period where I've had to drop my schooling and job until I can figure out how to cope... my mental isn't anything of what it used to be... I'm constantly staring off, I have no energy to be productive or hold conversation, I can't exercise, enjoy any of my hobbies, and I have to psyche myself up for the night in getting sleep. I'm not even sure if it's sleep because I'll be awake... and then I'll have vivid dreams and be awake 30 minutes later... there's no transition through stages of sleep and it feels more like hallucinating or time travel because it'll be dark and I'll realize I'm staring out at the window until it turns light. I'm just very disortiebted but I know I'm not the only one.
Aug 23, 2017
 Coping NEW
by: Anonymous

I have not coped over the years and quite frankly wanted to end it all a few times. I have lost a lot of friends and family. I have lost a lot of weight and my health is suffering. My mental state is getting worse. The only thing that keeps me going is hoping somewhere there is a light at the tunnel but it is getting smaller and smaller every day
Aug 26, 2017
 Anyone still around... still struggling through for answers. NEW
by: Thewestghost

It's been several days now and things are looking bleak. I had a barrage of tests conducted on me including blood panels and thyroid panels... all came back normal unfortunately... which leads the doctor to suspect something has gone amiss in my neurological functions... my heart rate hasn't slowed much even with the propanolol and they benzos don't really give me much shut eye... maybe like 2-3 hours I've fractured sleep with vivid dreaming. My body is super fatigued. I get jealous when I see people drift off to sleep... something i feel incapable of. My parents keep saying it's just anxiety... but this doesn't feel like anxiety... this feels... bad, like it's going to change my life. I'm holding on to Monday Ecuador I see my boyfriend then. I tried explaining to him what this all feels like... not having the feeling of being "sleepy" and forgetting what it's like to drift off. I'm worried him seeing me go through this will hurt or worry him too... he talks about having a life together, that I'll make it through. I really hope so, I really do... I feel like my body is destroying itself. We were going to work things out, settle down, get married, have kids and watch them grow. But now I'm cleaving too each day like it's getting close to the last. I just want answers... I have an MRI on Wednesday... I'm hoping for answers as usual.
Aug 27, 2017
 Symthetic NEW
by: Anonymous

Synthetic system or purtity gland hypothalamus issues please let me know as I am so desperate I am now starting to get angry and moody which is not me
Sep 01, 2017
 I'm still here... anyone else? NEW
by: Thewestghost

So I had my MRI conducted, I won't know the results till Thursday next week. I don't have that "sleepy" feeling anymore, I have lots of muscle twitching, disorientation, inability to concentrate... I've been averaging 3-4 hours of sleep a night (broken)... all with multiple lucid dreaming... at least that is an indication I'm sleeping (sort of). I don't know what's going on or why this is happening, the most concerning thing is the lack of sleep and muscle twitching. I feel more aware when I don't get good sleep but feel terrible when I get anything between 5-7 hours (which has been 3 times since this started back on the 11th of August)... honestly I'm at my wits end trying to figure out what this is... I can't make anyone understand just how non functional I am... I don't even work anymore and can barely manage interactions or housework. Anyone found any answers or relief?
Sep 21, 2017
 Thewestghost NEW
by: Anonymous

I had my MRI results... all said was normal. I'm still alive but sleep is still difficult (to say the least). I still have global muscle fasciculations (twitching) and it takes me 3-5 hours to "fall" asleep... in which I average 4-6 hours broken. It's really weird b/c when I first "fall" off into sleep it's like I can't tell, like I blink and then an hour or two goes by, but then I remember I must' have slept because I'll suddenly remember the vivid dream I had... falling asleep after that initial part is a bit easier. I just get worried that my ability to get what sleep I can is suddenly going to vanish... and why is my sleep chopped up into these weird segments...? All I have are no answers except that I don't have a brain tumor (which I already figured way before the MRI). So I've been taking propanolol, flexeril, melatonin, and NyQuil together. I got my best nights sleep a week ago when I had a massive headache and ended up dropping off pretty quickly, 8 hours and only woke up twice. Next is neurology, if they can't find any probable cause then it's to psychiatry.... gonna look into the BP I got diagnosed with 4 years ago and completely blew off... I guess it's common for people with bipolar to have severe insomnia... but this severely if sleep issues was so out of nowhere... I'll still check into it while I still have time.
Sep 22, 2017
 Keep us posted NEW
by: Kevin

It will be good to hear your results I am at the moment taking melatonin and clonazepam and seterline I sometimes get a couple of hours but I spend more time out of bed than in it. I have tried to keep busy in the day but it is really hard everything is crap at the moment
Oct 19, 2017
 Might be NEW
by: Thewestghost

It might be Bipolar, I joined a bipolar group online and nearly all of them have pretty bad insomnia... I can’t manage to nap though like they say they can do... then again, they’re on medication.. So I stopped taking the propanolol... I had a good week and a half of sleep where I was getting an average of 6 1/2 hours, only waking up once during the night for the restroom. I’m on a bad week of sleep now. 2 1/2 hour each night for two nights, a solid 4 1/2 hours last night (I took NyQuil, Flexeril, and melatonin together)... I’m still experiencing muscle twitching every once in a while throughout the day. I don’t know what else to update on. I’m kind of getting used to the erratic sleep schedule but there’s always that fear in the back of my mind that one day my ability to sleep will completely cease...
Oct 20, 2017
 When is enough NEW
by: Kevin

I was told my a Dr when is enough sleep enough if you can't sleep what can you do. There is nobody out there that knows the answer. Pills may give you a couple of hours or nothing you still feel bad the next day.
Oct 20, 2017
 Hopeless NEW
by: Anonymous

I have been suffering severe anxiety and depression that all was caused from my fear pf getting panic attacks before i fall asleep im using an antidepressant because of my obsessive thinking i have this obsession in my mind that no matter if im tired as hell tue moment i am about to drift off my mind will wake me like my obsessive or anxious conscious mind and then i get tired physically and mentally thinking about it i am very depressed i know my whole isssue is my obsessive thinking and my fear but now i am devestated i want to go off medications i dont like it it knly makes me worse i think and is affecting some parts of my brain like damaging i hope i get better im trying to check my vitamin d magnesium vitamin b deficiency and lete see because i heard lots of mind prOblems come from digestive problems i highly suggest you to check the gut diet
Oct 20, 2017
 Gut problems NEW
by: Kevin

Funny enough that is something I am trying a gluten free diet some people have laughed at the idea but I think there is some in this. Next will be a diary free diet. Your comments/troubles sound so familar h
Oct 29, 2017
 Stop worrying about sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

okay I'm laughing cuz I thought I was the only one woah I love y'all!!Now I'm just gonna say something I used to sleep like a log honestly 13-14 hours straight and it feels really good ya know but then a few months ago 3 months I guess I had a bad anxiety attack and it messed up my sleep I woke up in bad bad shivers and I was afraid of it then My sleep became so poor and I kept on telling myself that no matter what I can't sleep I made this such a big thing for me that my mind would not let me sleep. I was desperate to get sleep, always lying down forcing my eyes to close and to get some sleep this made me depressed u know I went to two doctors and they literally laughed at me they give me pills which I took for 3 days and the I thought tf I'm doing and I also stopped thinking about sleep. Literally you won't die without sleep don't worry and now I do also for like 5-6 hours sometimes 7 but it's not so much good quality sleep but it helps. All im trying to say is STOP worrying about sleep or how little you get don't worry! Stop taking stupid pills. Sleep is a natural process it'll come back eventually when it has to. Just stay strong there's nothing wrong with you. And ignore the thought that you don't get sleep just when you start ignoring then it comes back.
Oct 29, 2017
 Stop worrying about sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

okay I'm laughing cuz I thought I was the only one woah I love y'all!!Now I'm just gonna say something I used to sleep like a log honestly 13-14 hours straight and it feels really good ya know but then a few months ago 3 months I guess I had a bad anxiety attack and it messed up my sleep I woke up in bad bad shivers and I was afraid of it then My sleep became so poor and I kept on telling myself that no matter what I can't sleep I made this such a big thing for me that my mind would not let me sleep. I was desperate to get sleep, always lying down forcing my eyes to close and to get some sleep this made me depressed u know I went to two doctors and they literally laughed at me they give me pills which I took for 3 days and the I thought tf I'm doing and I also stopped thinking about sleep. Literally you won't die without sleep don't worry and now I do also for like 5-6 hours sometimes 7 but it's not so much good quality sleep but it helps. All im trying to say is STOP worrying about sleep or how little you get don't worry! Stop taking stupid pills. Sleep is a natural process it'll come back eventually when it has to. Just stay strong there's nothing wrong with you. And ignore the thought that you don't get sleep just when you start ignoring then it comes back.
Nov 04, 2017
 Give a try NEW
by: insomniac

May this video can help you all. I watch it every night before going to sleep.it's really work on me
https://youtu.be/ZGFVxQiLH8k
Nov 14, 2017
 Little (1-2 hrs) to no sleep for 8 months NEW
by: Jen

Kevin and whoever goes through EXTREME sleep deprivation (in this case, you must have experienced countless nights where you did NOT SLEEP AT ALL or have slept for a couple hours, at times, with sleeping aids), please email me at elis1012@hotmail.com. My symptom started this Feb and I didn't sleep at all literally for 3 months (absolutely horrified, saw my family doctor and referred to 2 psychiatrists who prescribed me Zolpidem, Seroquel etc. which was to no avil) and have been sleeping only once a week about less than two hours if I'm lucky. The most bizarre thing is that I never feel sleepy or drowsy and my body seems to function as I work 9-5, Mon to Fri. Nonetheless, this life is a torture.. I've almost lost the ability to fall asleep and certainly am unable to remain sleep or go back to sleep. I'm concerned that I may have brain damage or neurotoxity due to my medical history. I'd like to further discuss it with those under extreme situation as described above. Please get back to me.
Dec 04, 2017
 idears NEW
by: HiThere

Hi there.
I"m not a doctor or a scinece man.
But,
1. There is a new field know called neurofeedback. you use music that you love, or a movey that you love. so, you hear it, or see it, and you can influence it by the feedbeck your brain waves gives, and it controll the volume of the music. The brain wants to here the music, so the brain reacts to increase the volume. At that way you can for example encourge specific waves, like more SMRs waves.these are waves witch are well known as having connection to sleep stage, although you can find them also when you are not sleeping. You practice that when you are awake and it may infuence you latter on, after a few (1-8 ) weeks practicing, every other day, to get to sleep easier.
2. I would like to ask you how is your sex drive those days that you are nor sleeping? Although after weeks without sleeping your sex drive sould have been quite low, If it is high, I would suspect that you have a too much histamin in the blood. maybe you are elergic to something. This can be the cause that you dont sleep but at the same time you are ***not*** feeling, tiered. To much histamin as much as I know can cause the over sex drive effect.
Other thing that I can think of that you are in a kind of Mania, this can I think cause sleep problems, and also too much sex drive. are you spending too much money those days, that can be a symptom of a mania.
3. If you are living near a big waterfall, I would advise staying near that for a few days. stay as close as you can, but be reasnable, hearing waterfalls may help some people to relax. and there is also a lot of what is called negatic iones at that air near the waterfall, witch can help also to have some relexation. plus the good psycologicaly efect of the floowing efect of the watter is good too. entering that floowing into our spirit/mental can in some way, realse stack stuff from our mind, I think, sometimes, if we are still not to far at time from the event that cause that.
4. last thing, if nothing work you may try hyperbaric chamber. but I dont advise that, if you are in a mania.

Dec 19, 2017
 My brain forgot NEW
by: Anonymous

I haven't slept in 3 months n I been talking that little melatonin bs since they Don't work. They come in a bottle full to 180 pill n I only have like 6 left so I take 2 every night they don't do anything at all I had alot of headache tho I think my brain is dieing plz help
Dec 19, 2017
 Can’t tell if I’m sleeping NEW
by: thewestghost

Hey I’m still alive; and my sleeping problems continue. I can’t tell if I’m sleeping but I probably am because 2-3 hours will pass before I realize I’m conscious. I just don’t feel sleepy, but the muscle twitching has reduced dramatically and I’m not quite as distraught about lack of sleep like I used to be... not sure if my attitude is making a difference. I noticed when I’m windinf down for sleep, I’ll close my eyes and see cars with their lights on driving on the freeway. The lights are so bright when I close my eyes, I think it kind of freaks my brain out and prevents it from drifting off to sleep. I do sleep, because I have vivid dreams sometimes. I’m not noticing any other neurological problems, and I feel ok on energy. Do any of you experience sleeping without knowing you are?
Dec 28, 2017
 My eyess has also lost sensation to feel sleep and tired NEW
by: Anonymous

My eyes has also lost sensation to feel sleepy and tired.
Email me bhavik7780@gmail.com

Email me if you have solutions.ready to pay you 2000$.
Jan 07, 2018
 SEERRRRIIIOOUUUSSSS NEW
by: Isaac ±233241336969

Doctors at the local hospital kept on reffer ing me to the regional hospital to be evaluated by psychiatrics for total sleeplessness but I said no,I don't suffer from any brain disease.till they checked my liver enzymes and found so many abnormalities and believed me.liver issue
Feb 04, 2018
 How is everyone doing on here? Anyone better? Worse? The same? NEW
by: Anonymous

Lurking bc I’ve been having similiar problems. Am wondering how people are doing?
Feb 04, 2018
 Also anyone here tried cbt-I ? NEW
by: Anonymous

CBT for insomnia?
Feb 04, 2018
 Progress NEW
by: thewesghost

Hey, for the most recent comment... I’ve been making progress. I looked into a lot of psychiatrics... I’m convinced I had a psychotic episode/disassociation that lasted several months and was accompanied by the worst insomnia and muscle twitching/neurological symptoms. I started taking calcium, magnesium, and zinc which helped with my moods and sense of well-being immensely, cut out caffein, and did a lot of self help with anxiety over the ability to sleep. My mood has stabilized w/out meds (I’m type 2 bipolar) and my sleep has slowly improved over the months. Now I get a decent 5-7 hours... I can’t go to sleep before 11:30pm but I don’t use electronics 1-2 hours before sleep.
Feb 05, 2018
 Progress NEW
by: thewestghost

Also, this isn’t saying I don’t still struggle with insomnia, because I do. There are probably 2 or 3 days a week I’ll get 3-4 hours of broken sleep. I bought earplugs and a sleep mask (for the eyes) because the slightest commotion can keep me from relaxing successfully.
Mar 31, 2018
 16 hours total sleep over last three months, nothing works anymore, awake for 130 hours, HELP ! NEW
by: Gabriel Mailut

Feel free to add me on FB Gabriel Mailut, or email me at: mailut.gabriel91@gmail.com
I never feel sleepy anymore, no sedatives working...
Apr 01, 2018
 Anyone still alive? NEW
by: Gabriel Mailut

That group "helpforinsomnia" can't find it, anyone got better or still alive?
May 24, 2018
 Been 7 days with no sleep NEW
by: David

Only thing I found that works perfectly was diazepan and knocks me out in half an hour. In England the Dr refused to prescribe it to be be as she says it's addictive. Such bullshit, it is not addictive 1 tablet at 10pm to sleep is not addictive now she gave me lormeatzpam a complete placebo that does nothing.
May 25, 2018
 Good luck NEW
by: Anonymous

Good luck to you all it has been 3.5 years that I have been sleep deprived and all I can say is I wish I was dead I have been through hell my brain us starting to rot away I hope you find a cure before it's to late
Jun 19, 2018
 I can sleep now NEW
by: Anonymous

I have been suffering menopause insomnia for the last 3 weeks. I know how depressed it is for the inability to sleep. Taking sleeping pills just make the days worse and my head seem there's always sth inside keep knocking, the hang over effect and the tiredness really troubled me a lot.

Now, I get better with morning exercise, evening walk, and most important Chinese medicine. The Chinese doctor said my air inside (qin) are trapped/ blocked in my head. I can say I feel it. It keeps me a swelling feeling. According to Chinese philosophy, at day time, the yang should be active and keep us alive. At evening, the yin should come up and the yang should subside. For insomnia, the yin cannot do her work at night, so the yang still keep us awake. My my blockage, its the stomach area, I feel so stuck in my stomach which lost my appetite. The airflow is blocked.

For Chinese doctor advice:-
- Refrain from cold drinks and cold food
- Keep up the warmth inside the body, like exercise, drinking ginger water
- Exercise
- Buy a mat with little stone on it to stimulate the acunpunture points on your feet. It helps.

I now can sleep. 5-HTP is also a supplement to help.

Wish you all can overcome the sleeping problem! I do feel living in hell for the last few weeks.
Jun 20, 2018
 Maybe NEW
by: Anonymous889

Maybe hypnosise can help with onetimt sleep. And than it may regulate the system.
Just assume. Have no data on that, sorrey.
Aug 10, 2018
 Desperate NEW
by: Anonymous

I have been suffering this torture since April of this year. Is started having anxiety over a couple of nights i couldnt sleep due to my husband snoring. From there on the nightmare began and i just cannot sleep due to anxiety. Ive done all i can and nothing works. I feel so alone and sick. I wish i could meet someone going through the same hell on earth to give each other support over this torment. I feel so dead inside. I have pleaded God for help, but He still has not heard me. Bless everyone who is going through this. I fear for my life so much,but more for my sanity.
Aug 13, 2018
 Insomnia from the blue NEW
by: Anonymous

I am 70, and never ever had any issues to fall asleep. In fact, I used to fall asleep as soon as I heat the pillow. My wife started an insomnia last month and I am following her. She too never had any issues. Without a pill, I can not fall asleep even for a few hours. I think anxiety from not sleeping keeps me awake.
Sep 09, 2018
 New to this NEW
by: KingZ

Hey guys, Im new member of the club, my sleeping problem started 8 days ago, Here my back, Im a Bpo agent, and have a 1 week shifting from, day to 1 week night, and All of a sudden I lost my ability, to sleep,I dont know maybe not tottaly since Im sure I can sleep for 2 hr sometimes, I dont lose focus during the day, There are only 2 medicine I have try Melatonin and Iterax and both doesnt work , the only thing I sure works is alcholic beverages I have tried getting drunk 2 now and it work, but I dont know if I have sleep or just past out because Last night I drink 2 Litters of beer and was able to sleep or pass out not sure since when I woke up my eyes still hurts, and I was feeling very sleepy, so I tried to sleep, and was able to do so,but im still pretty new to this and its really hard I sometimes have suicidal thoughs, please can anyone please tell me what to do thanks and God Bless, and btw My mom said she was able to talk to someone whos mom was not able to sleep for 1 month and now is totally fine, ill ask about what she did and update you about it thanks :)
Sep 25, 2018
 I went 6 months without proper sleep NEW
by: Lee

Yes that's right I went 6 months without proper sleep. My Insomnia was brought on by anxiety, which I get bouts of every other year or so. Anyway I had an anxiety attack and then i could not sleep at all for three weeks. I tried all the tips and meds and none worked. So I decided to forget all the tips and medications and just go to bed at the same time every night (12.00) and close my eyes until I woke up for work the next day(7.00). I literally said that whatever happens it's fine, if I get no sleep then at least I have rested my eyes and body for 7 hours. I did this for around 2 weeks then I began to fall asleep at first only 2-3 hours then getting longer until eventually I was getting 6-7 sleep every night. Hang in there, it might seem like the end of the world and you can't survive, but you can, you need to let go of caring about falling asleep and the rest will come naturally.
Oct 24, 2018
 Severe NEW
by: Sleepyfoot

The past 4 weeks have been total hell for me. My insomnia started out of no where last month in which I started to get less hours of sleep each night. I never had any trouble falling asleep from 10-6 and even taking a nap during the day. But now I lost the ability to sleep. For the past 4 weeks now I have gotten around 1-2 hours (sometimes less/none) of solid uninterrupted sleep. After which I wake up and then drift in and out of sleep for the remainder of the night. Sometimes I just lay there until the sun rises.My sleep is very fragmented. I am have been stuck in a light sleep and cannot enter any deep sleep. After the initial sleep I will sleep for like 20 minutes wake up and repeat every hour. I know I am very sleep deprived because every time I go into these "sleep" stages I immediately start dreaming. I can have multiple different dreams throughout the night if I am to fall asleep. The dreams are usually just random moments of my life mashed in together as if my brain is processing everything that has happened over the past month and blurring it together. I cannot nap at all and I have days where I am tired but every time I lay my head down it’s as if my brain says no sleeping right now. I could be sleeping more than 3 hours with all the short sleeps added together but that still is not enough.

The lack of sleep did not effect me the first couple of weeks. I actually felt great at the beginning. But now I am definitely feeling the heat. I tremble in my arms and legs. My heart palpitations have gotten way worse. I am constantly having panic attacks and anxiety. I feel unbalanced at times when I turn a corner. When I do try to fall asleep at night I constantly get this crazy sensation in my head, back, and chest. Like a sudden surge of sinking doom or as if I stopped breathing or my heart stopped. As if my brain sent a message but got interrupted. I just try to ignore it until I am able to fall asleep.

I have tried both medications and natural treatments. At first I tried 25mg amitriptyline and it did get more a solid 4 hours no dreaming. But I kept having a numb tongue as a side effect. I have tried 0.5mg lorazepam. It allows me to sleep in 1 hour segments but I am able to fall back asleep again for another hour. But once again I probably only get like 3 hours with it and I don’t take it that much because I don’t want to dependent. I have tried 12.5mg metoprolol that I had for some heart arrhythmias earlier in the year. I have tried a night of 10mg ambient and 10mg celexa and I slept for 3 hours but the next day I had very bad panic attacks. I’ve tried melatonin and Benadryl which did nothing for me. I have tried magnesium, calcium, 5htp, gaba l-theanine, relax-all. The past 5 nights I left all prescribed medication. I have been drinking a sleep tea with valerian root and usually a mixture of the otc stuff. I started meditating using headspace 10min in the morning and 10 at night. I’ve started practicing yoga and going for walks. I am reading a book before going to sleep and trying to wind down. I only look at the clock when I first go to sleep and then when I wake up and no more after that. I moved my bed around. The first couple of night were rough and I had severely fragmented sleep. But by the 3rd and 4th day I was able to reach the 2 hour sleep mark. But last night has been horrible again. I only slept for an hour then the rest of the night I drifted in and out.

I did see my primary last week in which he gave me the ambien and celexa. He believed that I have mild-moderate depression. I had my behavioral therapist introduction this past Monday. We went over what is happening and he just taught me some breathing exercises for when I start wigging out. I have a cardiologist appointment tomorrow. A neurologist appointment next week. And a psychiatrist in 2 weeks. This past year has been so rough on me health wise. I have developed such bad health anxiety because of heart and nerve issues. On top of that I have stress of school and my life.

Sorry for the long post. I just feel like no one believes me or I can relate to anyone. I feel like I am not being taken seriously. I see people on here have trouble falling asleep or waking up after so many hours. I wish I had it like that. I seriously just cannot sleep. I have always had anxiety and even when I had bad heart and nerve issues I was able to sleep the whole night. But now out of nowhere I cannot sleep at all. As if I am stuck in the hyper state that I cannot get out of. This sleep deprivation has definitely ramped up my panic attacks and depression. I am obsessed with researching what could be wrong with me which only fuels the fire. This is all I can think about.

Once again sorry for the rant. I just feel like my insomnia is different from everyone else. If you took the time to read thank you and any advice would be deeply appreciated. I am only 24 and I feel like everything is spiraling out of control. I will continue to update on my problem as the days progress.
Oct 25, 2018
 You’re not alone NEW
by: Thewestghost

Hey Sleepyfoot my experience is nearly identical to yours. I’ve posted here before but I’ve gone through the same health anxieties, and sleep issues as you. I have h anxiety, depression... my insomnia started from huge family stressors and a bad break up that left me devestated... I can clearly remember feeling the burning sensation of anxiety shoot up my spine to the back of my head and after that sleep was impossible. It would take me 5 hours to fall asleep because my panic was constant and when I did sleep for a mad or 2 hours it was interrupted every 20 minutes. Like you, I tried everything and even sleep pills were ineffective for my anxiety. Long story short, I battled with 2 hour broken sleep and sometimes no sleep for 9 months... I’m still alive and functioning but I had to train myself not to become consumed with how soon to fall asleep or if I’d ever get sleep again. I now get 4-5 hours a night, sometimes solid and sometimes broken. After over a year of this and many doctors visits I have tried to be at peace with this. I generally won’t go to bed until 3 am and wake up at 6am because my body is so used to little sleep now. I do what I can to stay healthy, I exercise even though I don’t want to, I socialize, I distract myself with the things I used to love doing. There’s a point where you will have to leave what you can’t control up to chance, or god, or the unknown... and adapt. I now work from 11am to 9pm because those are my functional hours. Your body will slowly repair itself as you do what you can to be healthy. Your sleep probably won’t go back to normal but it will restore some and you will adapt. My biggest enemy was holding on to how my sleep used to be and longing for that. That’s the past, I am now at peace with what my body will offer to me sleep wise. Sleep restriction therapy helped my get to 4-5 hours, I suggest you give it a solid few weeks of dedication. Other than that I hope you give your body some praise and credit for managing a couple of hours. Toss out the notion you "need" 8 hours. You don’t, and those articles that say that increase anxiety and make us feel broken. I’ll be hanging around here, if you need to vent or encouragement then post here, I’m always seeing how people are doing.
Oct 25, 2018
 Two peas in a pod NEW
by: Thewestghost

To Sleepyfoot.... So I posted earlier but I don't think it registered. Literally have had the same experience and it's a year and a half later. The body adapts to less sleep so don't let those stupid articles about how you need 8 hours get you feeling like you're broken... that worsens anxiety. I had to see so many doctors about it... I was sleeping only 1-2 hours broken and sometimes not at all. Mine started with a panic attack due to a bad break up and family issues. Do what you can to care for your health, exercise lightly, socialize, do the things you used to love even though you don't feel it, eat healthy. I had so many dissasociative episodes off and on for 3 months in the thick of my insomnia. I had muscle twitches and personality changes from apathy to suicidal. I had to accept my sleep was't going to be the perfect 8 hours anymore, I had to praise my mind for managing what little sleep it could and stop berrating myself for not getting the 8. I did slee restriction therapy which helped increase it from so little to 4-5 hours a night... but that's 9 months after the onset. Stay strong and know your body will adapt. The biggest issue is looking at how it used to be... accept your body for what it's doing now and know it will heal itself to an extent and ADAPT. It used o take me 5 hours to fall asleep because of constant fear and panic of sleeping... I had to stop forcing it and now I forcing it... because slee is not a forced thing. Let me know if you need encouragement, ideas, or an ear to hear the venting. It;'s frustrating being tossed in the throes of insomnia but it is manageable.
Oct 26, 2018
 Thewestghost NEW
by: Sleepyfoot

Thank you so much for the response. Sorry for the long post, I copied and pasted it from a different site. I’ve read so many peoples stories and I was able to relate to yours. It’s been about 4 weeks since I have slept more than an hour or two. Some nights it is just very fragmented. It is so hard to stay positive not knowing what the night brings. I use to sleep so well then out of nowhere I cannot. Somedays my body is ready to go another day with Less than an hour and others I am extremely tired but struggle to stay asleep for more than a hour. I am struggling really bad right now with anxiety stess panic depression because of this. I have multiple appointments in the coming weeks. It is assuring to see a few people go through the same problems as me. It gives me hope. Hopefully I overcome this or learn how to deal with it. I will keep updates here for others if they ever encounter the same issue.
Oct 31, 2018
 Valleys and Peaks NEW
by: Thewestghost

I forgot to mention that my chronic severe insomnia began when I was 24 as well. I've looked into various physiological causes from neurological to psychiatric. I do struggle a lot with anxiety and depression, so I imagine that has either initiated it or prolonged it. It's also come to my knowledge that hormones can play a huge role in your sleep cycle whether you're male or female. I'm about to visit a doctor to have a panel done to see my levels of progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. I just had a rough night last night, went to bed at 11pm and didn't fall asleep till 3am which I then only slept till 5:15am and then slept in 20 minute increments all the way up until 8am. Bad nights happen several times a month for me but I'm functional on 2-3 hours. I'm thinking they correlate with my ovulation but, like I said before, mental illness is tied into the insomnia thing for me as well.
Nov 03, 2018
 A bit of solution NEW
by: King

Hello guys,

Stil alive?

Kidding aside, just wanna share my story related to this. Sorry for my english.

I am also a sufferer of this shit or whatsoever. And i have a few steps to deal with this.

Its been 3 months since the first time this happen. Its just came out of nowhere, one night i just feel like crap. Every time i will fall asleep, my heart races like a shit. Then everytime i will go to my room, i feel nervous of lying down and not falling to sleep. I saw some about anxiety and depression. On of many one causes is lack of vitamins. Make sure you are on a proper diet. Go to the doctor and have an overall check up.

What i did was:

-Sleep somewhere else(hotel or friends/relatives house) until you forget the pressure of sleeping in your room.
-proper diet
-stop smoking
-go to a massage therapist (the best part ever)
-facial or any relaxing activities
-try to lessen your activities on pc(unless this the way of your living)
-go to the beach/pool regularly. Just swim 2hrs every other day.
-Socialize with friends.

I just realized that life is short, why stress your self too much. As long as we can move think and smile.

I hope u guys made it. God bless us all.

Nov 24, 2018
 Update? NEW
by: Thewestghost

Hey sleepyfoot any update on your situation? Progress, set backs, or maybe they have a hunch on what's contributing to your shortened/fragmented sleep cycles?
Nov 25, 2018
 @sleepyfoot NEW
by: Anonymous

I have read your post twice and all of us who have suffered understand what impact kt has on our lifes, but im going to be here to tell yoi that you are going to sleep again it will fix itself its a biological rhythm of our system, when we have severe insomnia it shows us that something is wrong in our system that needs to be fixed wether it is emotional or mental like anxiety which in my case made me feel awful or something else needs to be checked and we have to find out what i know that doctors are really fast on prescribring sleeping pills, but as a first solution i would try natural treatments and take blood tests that shows if ur lacking some vitamins some minerals
Because they all have an impact, myself i have sleeping anxiety if i get to nit sleep one night it turns in a nightmare and vicious ugly cycle insomnia anxiety and vice versa, i bieve that we all can sleep again but we need to find the root of our problem but in case if yours is like mine anxoety than i wouldnt suggest twking benzos in long run or sleeping pills for me personally antidepressant made me feel much better but they take time to work and maybe thats why they still didint have the effect on you because u didnt use them enough to see how it works, i think patients is the key but sometimes we explode we are humans esp when u come in for vacation like i am now and u will not ve able to enjoy it because of this ... god bless you all
Nov 27, 2018
 This Started a Week Ago NEW
by: Beau

I'm hallucinating at this point. It started with just auditory hallucinations but I'm so scared in my own house that I'm in my bedroom with the door locked. Every time I leave this room I see things out of the corner of my eye and I feel like something is going to get me. What the hell is this? Why did this start so late in my life? Does it go away by itself? If I get so drunk that I pass out tonight, will I go back to normal? I'm freaking out.
Nov 28, 2018
 Hi Beau NEW
by: Thewestghost

I suggest going to the ER at this point. I'm not sure how old you are and I'm no doctor but a lot of people have found that their sudden severe insomnia is due to an underlying mental disorder like bipolar or schizophrenia. I suggest seeing a doctor and soon.
Dec 11, 2018
 Less and less sleep! NEW
by: Caleb

I am going through something similar. I dont understand why! Scared of so many things. Afraid I may have sfi. I sleep so little. This all started about 4 months ago on august 31st with a downspiral of depression and anxiety, it got really bad. I think it may be related to be having quit my antidepressant, Zoloft (sertraline) But its important for me to add, I didnt quit cold turkey. I tapered off at a rate of 25mg every 2 weeks. Before tapering I had been on it for 9 years. After my taper was finished in may l, I was fine for 4 months, then august 31st came and I was getting anxiety and depression like ceazy. Worse than Ive ever had it before in my life. Ive been back on Zoloft since september and my anxiety and depression have improved greatly, but my sleep problems that resulted from it persist and are getting worse. I used to just be able to fall asleep easiltly, sleep solidly for 5-8 hours and wake up fine. Now I struggle to get 1,2 or 3 hrs a day. Some nights I dont sleep at all. I was having fragmented sleep, waking up about every hour. I still have it but now its worse. I cant even tell when Im falling asleep and when I'm waking. The sleep is so light. The only thing that SORT of gives me reassurance is that between the constant awakenings I have periods where I have vivid dreams. I have almost always had vivid dreams before when I slept normal. So for me this is an indicatoelr that I'm PROBABLY getting some sleep. But im not sure. And if I'm getting it I don't know how much im getting. During the day when I blink I see little black lines flash in my field of vision. I can't nap. I don't get drowsy like I used to. I have virtually no sleep pattern. I have a strange fear that if I DO manage to finally get deep sleep I might not wake up again. Not even a fear of dieing in my sleep. Just a fear that my brain is so tired that what if the part of the brain responsible for waking me up fails or malfunctions and I just stay asleep ( Like in a coma).. Someone please help! I want my life back! I want things to be normal again!! Wth is happening?!
Dec 11, 2018
 If you are afraid of SFI NEW
by: Thewestghost

I went through the exact same conclusion when my accute insomnia appeared. It was sudden and many nights I wasn’t getting sleep, or waking up every 20-40 minutes.... maxing 1-3 hours broken. What I noticed is I didn’t notice I was sleeping, my boyfriend would confirm I was though... so some part of my brain was staying awake... it’s called parasomnia. The issue here is now you’ve developed sleep dread and your brain has inadvertently conditioned itself to be anxious over sleep. I had the same reaction after quitting anti anxiety and depression meds cold turkey. Media sensationalized SFI as starting as insomnia but that’s false, it starts as severe dementia, different types of muscular paralasys and twitching, it doesn’t immediately start with insomnia. I had every media hallmark of SFI with insomnia and muscle twitching, I thought I was going to go crazy and kill myself. It’s nearly a year and a half later and my sleep is a bit better 4-6 hours but it took a good 9 months. I rarely feel sleepy and when it was at its worst I had accept what sleep my body was gonna give and let go of a 5-8 hour undisturbed expectation. I took vitamins, practiced sleep hygiene, used benzos... and a slew of other proposed remedies. The one thing that helped was me accepting what sleep my body would allow and also doing the CBT for insomnia... that was rough but now it’s not taking me 5 hours to fall asleep and it’s a bit more solid. I’m sorry you’re experiencing this terrible chapter in your health... if you need any advice or to vent frustrations there are many who will listen. There are many insomnia forums (I go on daily strength) and it might give you some semblance that you’re not alone and that it isn’t a neurological disease but an anxiety that developed into a a fixation on sleep. Don’t search for sleep in the blackness of closed eyelids or a drunken feeling that once swept you away. It will come for you, but only when you stop searching for it. Paradoxical? I know... but that’s how sleep works. Best wishes.
Dec 12, 2018
 I feel hopeful now. NEW
by: Caleb

@Thewestghost

Last night I saw your message before going to sleep. I really kept it in mind. I also managed to get a good amount of rest by following your advice. I acceptes whatever amount of sleep the night would bring me, and let go of my fears and worry. I will say my sleep was still a bit paradoxical, and at first I was uncertain that I slept at all. But then my brother told me he had observed me sleeping many times over the course of hours. He even had photos, and when I saw them I was surprised. In each photo I looked like I was out cold. On top of that, I had a lot of vivid dreaming. Something for me that has always been and indicator of sleep. Im freaking out much less today, and I feel hopeful that things are beginning to get better. Again, thank you for your message, it helped me a lot. I think I am going to be okay.
Dec 12, 2018
 Continued
by: Thewestghost

Happy to help Caleb, just know if you still experience insomnia or some sleepless nights, you will be ok and you will get through it. Your body will make you sleep when it needs to. I still have a sleepless night every so often or fragmented sleep but I remind myself my body will level itself out and do what it needs when it is ready. I don’t stress it with feeling obligated to follow some pattern it used to.
Dec 27, 2018
 Help NEW
by: Anonymous

Anyone find an answer I am going through this now?
Dec 28, 2018
 Help
by: Anonymous

I have been having trouble sleeping for the past 3 weeks. I’m not even sure if I have eventually slept or not . I’m in university and I am very worried what is going to happen. I’m starting to exercise and buy foods with melatonin and hopefully this will knock me out very soon. I’m on a 7 day sleeping pill however I’m going to get an appointment with my gp again and see what tests they can do. My chests pains have gone but I just hope I get better very soon🙏🏻 Can anybody else offer advice? I’m 19 years old , my heart beats very fast at night and it may be to do with anxiety making it worst, if anyone can offer any kind of advice or healing stories I would love to hear from you x
Dec 31, 2018
 To anonymous
by: Thewestghost

Hey anonymous, I’m not sure if you’ve read the stories here but everyone that has posted has given their account of their own situation. I regularly check up here since the insomnia is an ongoing issue (but has improved gradually) over the past year and a half. It seems like the commonality is that it started pretty suddenly for most of us and has been extreme to the point of sleep deprivation. Some causes can range from magnesium and vitamin D deficiencies, thyroid problems, anemia, hormones, or mental disorders. You’ll probably have to do a little exploring... it’s very much been a trial and error for many of us. Some find success in sleep hygiene... I personally found a lot of help with CBT for insomnia that i did at home. If there’s anything in particular you need from myself or us, just post it here. As far as I can tell you, it is a thought road but a lot have managed and gotten some of their sleep back.
Dec 31, 2018
 Reply to westghost NEW
by: Anonymous

Hey, thank you for you reply I’ve also read further up on your experiences as well as others! I am due to see a doctor again today, I’ve realised that it is my anxiety that will not let me sleep, my heart beats fast at night, It has been very hard for me, I have panic attacks at nights, over Christmas I cried every single night, I even drank with sleeping pills which I’m not sure if it knocked me out for a few hours. My family has a history of depression and I used to suffer with it, I think I am depressed with a lot of anxiety and this is what has stopped me from resting at night, has anyone experienced anti depressants ? And do they work well for anxiety at night? Also has anybody had sleeping pills with anti depressants? I would love any advice or anyone to help me with going through this as the feeling of being alone is making me lifeless, please feel free to email me on: shannon44856@hotmail.co.uk or reply here and I will appreciate anything xx
Jan 07, 2019
 Still going through this... NEW
by: Caleb

Its almost a month later and I am still dealing with the same stuff as the last time I posted... Nights where I sleep decently are spread apart by nights where it feels like I don't sleep at all. Anytime I don't dream it bothers me more because dreaming helps me know I slept. I still get reports from my brother. Him telling me he sees mr sleeping at night a lot of the time. I just wish I could figure out what's causing this drastic change. It never used to be like this. When will it reverse back to normal, and is there a way I can speed up the process of getting back to normal sleeping? The sleep where being able to tell I fell asleep and when I awaken is crystal clear? I don't want this to be the end of me. My eyes are bloodshot a lot of days. When I blink in bright light I get an odd visual disturbance that I can only describe as a quick flicker of black lines. Headaches are becoming more frequent...

I've had some luck taking hydroxyzine for sleep, usually sleeping much more solidly and having dreams while doing so. But I don't want to have to take that everyday, and I'm not even sure my body wont eventually get used to it and build a tolerance...

I JUST WANT MY OLD WAY OF SLEEPING REFRESHINGLY BACK! This is annoying and frightening!
Jan 09, 2019
 Vivid dreams
by: dreaderzpsy

My insomnia started in the month of November 2017 because of my family after waking me up from deep sleep ( I had 5 sleeping pills and a case of Budweiser) I nod off quickly and sleep 36 hr in my case . Before this episode I never had any sleeping issue and I did this sleeping pills stuff just once.i was also doing heroine ,codine and never had any withdrawal even after quitting it and was always sober. I believe my insomnia started because I was interrupted from my deep sleep after having pills and alcohol .I also got a shock like feeling when I was interrupted and could feel the sleep stuck in my memory that lasted for 2 days it faded slowly and since then I was unable to sleep for from the very next day it went on and on ,I was able to sleep only 2 hr with vivid dreams. I got scared on 5th day and went to a psy doctor he gave me the same sleeping pills which I had with my beer and said your problem will be solved . It worked for a first week I slept 12 hr eventually it got reduced to 6 then 4 hr. Meanwhile I had done a lot of research and leaned about sleeping pills. That it is a temporary solution to sleep. I then decided to wean myself off from this pills and took pills every third day maintaining a gap . I still have vivid dreams everyday and my sleep is hardly 3 hr interrupted. The day I take pills I sleep 5 hr with vivid dreams. I don't understand if it's a withdrawal or some other problem . Anyone had this experience?
Jan 15, 2019
 Anxiety insomnia
by: Eli

So I've experienced the same anxiety induced insomnia you guys have been saying for the past month Where'd I'd wake up every 30 mins to an hour with really vivid dreams and it drove me nuts.

I have OCD and pretty bad anxiety in general but my doctor prescribed me Citalopram, and I slept a little bit better for the first few nights but now everytime I try and dose off I experience some crazy hypnic jerks.

I'm thinking of ditching the meds and just try to handle everything through CBT when I start.

I'm just so done, feel like everytime I accept I don't have sFI the more shit my brain comes up with to mess with me.
Jan 15, 2019
 Hashimotos NEW
by: Adam

Guys, no one on these posts, not one, says they have been tested for Hashimotos. 'Thyroid Panel' doesn't count. Most docs have a poor understanding of this. I guarantee you 4 out of 5 people here have this autoimmune condition. It can wreak havoc with sleep. But it's also treatable. Get tested.
Feb 13, 2019
 Insomnia Forever
by: Terrified

Hey guys!
I'm writing this feeling hopeless but it makes me feel relief at some extent knowing that many of you also suffer this and that is not only "old" people as I read on every article.

I'm just 22 and I still can't believe this is happening to me. everything was fine a month ago. I was still on my Christmas break from Uni and was getting ready to be back- I was at home tho. I was so relaxed with no worries nor cares. i'd go to bed at any time, it could be at 1,2, 3 or even 4am and I'd fall asleep immediately and sleep for 8 hours straight and wake up at 10 or 11am but this suddenly ended.
One week before going back to Uni i decided to change my sleeping schedule. on January 29 I went to bed at 12 but i didn't fell asleep until 6am. I think my mistake was getting obsessed with it from that day. I googled about it and I put on my mind from that day that I got insomnia. That whole week I tried relaxing music and TV series but nothing worked to fall asleep at the time I wanted. I would actually sleep at 6am and wake up at 11am. it was still alright.

The week I finally got back to Uni i tried melatonin and valerian root pills to sleep. now I actually fell asleep at 12 but i'd wake up at 5 and wouldn't be able to go back to sleep again until 7am just when I got to be up.

it's getting worse this week. I take 9mg of melatonin but they don't seem to work anymore. I'm sleeping now only 1 hour and worse thing I'm not even falling asleep when I'm at the bus.
Now everything is dark to me. I've always been shy but I've never been into depression and now I'm even having suicidal thoughts. I don't listen to my music anymore and don't find TV series interesting. I don't want to talk to my friends nor my family. I'm even losing apetite. I'm alive but I'm not living. This whole insomnia thing caused me some anxiety on the first week and fast heart race (that disappeared already tho) but the depression just doesn't want to leave me.

if you guys find a cure for this, let us know. if you want to talk about this maybe we can do it via e-mail or whatapp just let me know.
Feb 13, 2019
 Try CBT-I NEW
by: Thewestghost

Can’t tell you how many "remedies" I cycled through before I gave CBT-I a hard try. Melatonin doesn’t do squat, and it loses effectiveness the higher the dose. It should only be used for two weeks or so then you have to take a week off from using it. Melatonin doesn’t make you sleepy, it is just supposed to help sync up your circadian clock. I made the mistake of trying alcohol and weed as well which threw me into an insomnia fit again that I only just recently corrected with CBT-I.
Feb 13, 2019
 Insomnia Forever NEW
by: Terrified

^ did you go to a professional therapist? how much your insomnia lasted? i'm a bit desperate.

it's weird i've only slept like 2 hours in 2 days and I'm still able to get through my work-out routine without feeling sleepy.
Feb 14, 2019
 Yeah CBT helps NEW
by: dreaderzpsy

Hey whestghost please message me on Gmail or add me on FB
dreaderzpsy@ gmail. com
Feb 14, 2019
 Cbti NEW
by: Thewestghost

No, I didn’t go to a professional, I didn’t have money for that. Youtube has a lot of useful videos on it, but you really have to commit to it. I had to do it for 3 weeks straight before seeing a change. You could also have parasomnia where your brain doesn’t realize it’s sleeping making you feel like you are awake most of the night when in reality you’re getting more sleep than your brain consciously realizes.
Feb 14, 2019
 Getting over depression NEW
by: Terrified

Yeah. I've felt like I'm dreaming but still feeling like I'm awake. Good this is I can tell that I've slept at least some minutes because I always sleep and I remember almost everything.

Yesterday I slept more. At first I couldn't fall asleep. I went to bed at 12. I was actually feeling sleepy but I'm so afraid of my own bed that I didn't fall asleep. I was just there laying with my eyes closed and that weird anxiety then I checked the clock and it was 2am and that was the last time I knew about time until I heard my mom waking up at 6 then I slept again until my alarm went off at 8am. Of course it's not deep and I still feel anxious laying there but it was better than the two previous days.

About the profound depression i was in, I'm setting on my mind the idea that I'm not going to die because of it and there's people out there facing worse issues. overall, I feel tired but my mood is okay.
Mar 06, 2019
 No ability to fall asleep ever
by: AnonymousKO

Sept 2017 my ability to fall asleep snapped off. It has been a long debilitating journey. 18 or more doctors and even Cleveland Clinic but they just think I have mental issues. I do not. An imbalance whether hormonal or chemical maybe. No one believes me. I have only napped 3 times in a year and half with meds. My brain begins to pound or pulse as soon as I try to doze. My autonomic nervous system has been effected too. Sometimes it runs continuously like today. I wish I could find a doctor who would listen and help me. I feel like I am dying! I am 53, I want to live!!
Mar 17, 2019
 Lost ability to fall asleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Last June I started getting broken sleep due to my 3 uti. Loads of antibiotics but still very concern d it was more than that.
I too have not had any natural sleep since then. It has been 9 months. Docs just tell me I'm depressed because of extreme health concerns. However I tried anti depressant mirtazapine but et just made me worse. Iive tried sleeping pills too, I'm shaking every day now because my whole body is now suffering . If I go to docs they will just send me to the mental health team and they will think they can help me by givibng me anti psyhotic drugs but I am petrified I'm going to die and that's all they home in on. As you need sleep yo survive ,I'm convinced I have the fatal insomnia as nothing works .i hav list so much weight too , I've got malnutrition and malabsobsion my heart is racing one minute and slow e next. I have this buzzing all through my body which is all connected to the central nervous system. The hyperthalimus is the problem that controls sleep wake Cycle there is something called prions that attack the brain and it can present depression and that's all the doctors see, also cjd is another possibility that has all the same symtoms with sleep deorVation as the key problem . I need help or I won't survive I just don't know what to do and I can on,y see as far as the next day let ilone the next week. Another thing. My skin all of a sudden can not feel any pain, my eyesight is getting worse, my toes and feet are going numb, my left leg really hurts when I walk my oxygen levels keep dropping when I feel dizzy and test with an oximeter, I'm eating but feel full very quickly and healthily so don't know why not putting on weight I look like a bag of bones that's why I'm convinced I've got something else that's eating away at me. I've headaches every day and a horrendous nouse in my ear , heart feels it's going to explode but pounds even when low beats. If they force drugs on me my heart won't be ab,e to take it, please help someone
I think that when your brain has a problem doctors are to ready to just say,, oh you have low mood, must be depression, but insomnia presents as depression bexpcause of the way ithe brain presents the symptoms, I'm fighting a losing battle that's why anti depressants don't work because people they atring to treat something that you haven't got, but I don't know what the answer is , I think the medication I was given has made me worse, but I don't think there is anything else that I can take to help. ".."...................................."All I can see is it getting worse
Problems that start to arise from this disease could have come fromsonething you are and it's been lying dormant fir years so it might not be a sudden thing as you think, numbness and tinging life hands and feet, another thing that could be depression , vision problems, which ialready gave , difficult walking legs become very heavy through lack of oxygen being pumped around the body and worst symptoms is the Bon sleep , however it can't be seen on a brain scan because I have now had 403 Maris so I am at my wits end as to what to do "................
I DONT WANT TO DIE BUT I THINK I WILL AND THATS ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM SEE . and think you are just saying it for effect which is no t the case.
Mar 17, 2019
 Join benzobuddies forum
by: dreaderz

Antibiotics withdrawal
Antibiotics alter Gaba functions in brain
Join benzobuddies u may get lot of people with similar symptoms and still alive
Mar 17, 2019
 No sleep for 9 months NEW
by: Anonymous

Hey west ghost can you help please before too late for me thank you. I see you have made lots of comments of help, p,lease read my sad account
Mar 17, 2019
 To recent Anonymous NEW
by: Thewestghost

I’m not sure if you’ve read all of my progress posts here but I can almost assure you that what you are experiencing is definitely not sfi... as I was convinced I had that too. Doctors didn’t do much for me so I took matters into my own hands. Your malnourishment and extreme anxiety are the things that are causing your physical symptoms... you are probably dangerously low on magnesium which is ESSENTIAL for neurological health and restful sleep. I had to use a combination of sleep hygiene, CBTI, and vitamin therapy, as well as mindfulness (headspace app) to get my mind to be more at ease with allowing sleep to come and go. The more you chase sleep or try to force it the less it will come to you. You have to get to a place where you are ok with sleeping or not. If you had SFI you’d be completely none functional now or dead... there was one person who lived a year with it but the last few months they were pretty much comatose or near to it. I suggest instead of reading on neurological diseases, join dailystrength insomnia form or other insomnia forms and connect with people there, it’s a pretty prevalent issue. A lot are severe insomniacs for years. But please start replacing the fear of sfi with something less extreme like a reaction to antibiotics and encourage your thoughts that eventually you’ll get some sleep and that’s good enough.
Mar 31, 2019
 almost got over it NEW
by: Terrified

The last time I wrote was like a month ago or so, but since that moment I literally stopped searching on the Internet anything that has to do with insomnia and it worked fine. Being obsessed with it was not going to help so I commited myself into stop thinking about it and it literally worked from the first week. I've been having some personal problems so my mind has been busy, University is getting me exhausted and working-out makes me feel physically tired. 12am is now the time I go to bed every day and I fall asleep relatively fast. Ironically, when I'm okay, under no stress, no worries and rested is when I have get some bad nights but is not as bad as it was at the beginning of the year. I'm getting from 5-7 hours of sleep every day even if I take a nap in the afternoon. Some days, I wake up at 3 or 5 am but I fall asleep again fast. It's not perfect but it feels good sleeping more than 2 hours a day or not sleeping at all.

If I could get over it, you guys can as well.
Apr 01, 2019
 On and Off Seep problems NEW
by: sleepscaresme

So this whole thing started for me a couple months ago back in summer and at first it wasnt that bad id just haqve anxiety symptoms in bed before sleeping but not much too it. Around sep is when it got really bad my sleeping schedule was messed up as i used to sleep from 6am until like 3-4 pm and when it was time to sleep early for . school i couldnt what so ever i layed in bed for about 6 hours straight tossing and turning and eventually got 0 hours of sleep.. until the weekend came by and i fixed it it went on and off i started anxiety meds that helped a bit not as much anymore because its back!!! last night i tried to sleep and i couldnt at all, i dont know if its because i was thinking abt it too much or i have some effed up sleeping problem. help me pls!! everytijme this happens its worse than the previous time
Apr 01, 2019
 Anxiety meds NEW
by: Thewestghost

What time do you take your anxiety meds? Also it’s not uncommon for meds like that to cause an initial insomnia the first 2 months you start taking them. Are they a benzo like Xanax or an SSRI like citalopram?
Apr 02, 2019
 39 years later NEW
by: Randy V

I noticed most of y'all are young.
So real quick to give you a perspective:
I started keeping a journal on Wednesday 11/21/79. That's 39 years I've been writing "stuff". As of the end of March '19, it is 5,193,495 words long.
I wrote the following as dated:
Still Tuesday, April 03, 2018, 1230
So picking up where I left off this morning…
It was right after the first of ’11 that I got an on-going prescription for Ambien/Zolpidem. I’m going to generous as hell and say that has given me six hours of sleep a night. So from ’05 – ’11 was six more years of "normal" as I had previously written. That’s 52 "extra days" per year time six more years which equals 300 days, or, another year.
So that’s now 04 years added to my life.
07 years of 06 hours sleep per night = 02 hours "extra time" x 365 days/year = 730 hours ÷ 30 days x 07 years = 210 days which, again, because I am being generous, is one more year added to my life.
That’s 05 years "extra" I have lived by simply not sleeping. So I am sitting here at almost 66 years old. That makes me 71 in terms of being "awake". [end]
I now average 03 hours a night, meaning 24 or 36 hours with no sleep, then a few hours, hell, maybe as much six or eight.
All I am saying is you never get used to it.
And doctors are are useless as tits on a boar hog.
Nothing works...permanently. Prescription drugs, homeopathic remedies, diet...nothing works permanently.
On 07/20/69, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon...so they tell me. Hell, I even watched it on television. True or not, it introduced the perfect way to state certain things. So in this case, "You would think if they could put a man on the moon, they could find a way to help people sleep."
Nothing but the best to you all but, quite clearly, we suffer from "something" that "they" can, or will, do nothing about.
Apr 16, 2019
 No sleep for 3 weeks now. So scared. NEW
by: Matt88

This started around 3 weeks ago where I had a bit of a mental breakdown. Shortly after I couldn't sleep at all I just close my eyes and I can't drift off. I've probably gotten about 2 to 3 hours total in the past 2 weeks of light sleep which is accompanied by vivid nightmares. The first week I tried sleeping pills which worked somewhat at first where I got 3 or 4 hours of sleep which really didn't feel like proper sleep and when I took it the second time it had little effect. It also made me feel like complete crap in the morning. This is so damn scary I feel like I'm losing my mind and my life as I've been so physically exhausted to do anything and been distancing myself friends. I'm also frequently urinating and have now got back pain and my memory and concentration is awful.

Has anyone managed to find a solution to this to the ones that are literally not able to fall and stay asleep? Please help.

Please feel free to message me mat.venes@hotmail.co.uk
Apr 24, 2019
 Same boat NEW
by: Clarita

Hey everyone, specifically hello to TheWestGhost and Terrified. I took half an hour or more to read this thread and your latest posts have given me hope. Obviously I'm here for the same reason. It started the first week of March for me. I was drifting off into sleep like any old night when out of the blue my mind made me aware of the dropping off to sleep stage. I started paying attention to those images that come to mind when drifting off to sleep. And I couldn't sleep. I too am convinced I have SFI. I was in frantic mode for days straight. The last three days I have gotten three hours of sleep per night. It's terrifying and my Dr tells me it stems from my anxiety panic disorder. There are major emotional and stressful issues I hadn't been dealing with for months and years. But I don't know how much this plays into it.

There was a point I could drift off with muscle relaxation meditation videos and got 4-5 hrs sleep but not much anymore. I keep thinking that I'm thinking myself awake, if that makes sense.

Something similar happened to me years ago when I had a horrible panic attack. During that drop off to sleep my head would jerk awake in a slow seizure like wave. Again that same old familiar gripping fear washed over me, I convinced myself I had SFI. It only lasted two weeks then I took a Temazepan and it settled soon after. I was also on Zoloft I believe.

Now it's different, I feel I'm too aware of the drop off stage, which kicks up my adrenaline and makes me wide awake only to happen again the rest of the night. I took a Temazepan last night, didn't help much, it pushed me through that drifting off to sleep problem but I woke up again at 3am, always 3am. Then I slept maybe an extra 1.5 hours after.

After seeing my therapist and taking her suggestion of working out and keeping busy, I slept well that night. Dare I say nearly normal like before. I haven't actively been applying her suggestions anymore because I'm in too much of a panic.

I'm in touch with another woman from another website who is going through the same thing. She's actively engaging in a CBT-I course with her therapist but it's early days yet. There is a website called This Way Up where you could do a free CBT-I course.

My vitamin D is low apparently. And I might haya go at magnesium.

Here is my email address. Please don't write to me in a frantic fashion because I already feel bad enough. I'm here to seek help.
socalgoldngirl@gmail.com
Apr 25, 2019
 To thewestghost
by: dreaderz

How are you sleeping now? It's been 6 month I sleep 5-6 hr with dreams ? What is your update , didn't not hear from u so long?
Apr 25, 2019
 Small update NEW
by: Thewestghost

I’m pretty much in a similar state of getting 5-6 hours of decent sleep (which is a lot to say since I live near the heart of a noisy city). I wake up about twice a night though but I’m content to say it’s better than when it first started. Actually, I nearly had a sleepless night last night but managed to finally drift of around 3am. I don’t really let myself panic anymore when my insomnia gets bad. I’ve noticed if I praise myself and my mind for managing any sleep, it makes the following nights less stressful to sleep.
May 01, 2019
 Feel like im dying NEW
by: Christian

Hello all, i last wrote in this in 2015. Since then i was doing so much better until april of this year. I have been so bad. This time it is much worse than before. I cant sleep no matter what i do. What helped me before was melatonin. Thwt medicine saved my life. Now i take it it doesnt do anything. I've tried seroquil doesnt do anything. I have not sleep at all the last 5 days and the last time i slept was because i decided to just drink till i dropped and that wasnt restfuo sleep. Im anxious im worried im scared that this is it for me. I feel like my happiness has been sucked out of my life. I have a girlfriend now that i fear of loosing because all this stress is building up on her. Idk what to do anymore. I tried reaching out to specialist and they havent been much help. All this started because I've become so anxious about my sleep. Idk why im writing here maybe someone can comfort me.
May 01, 2019
 To Clarita and others NEW
by: Terrified

I'm not sure if my experience is helpful for you and others since I've read that many of your cases of insomnia have been caused by anxiety and you've taken medication. In my case I only suffered anxiety when I was on bed and wasn't able to fall asleep. I never took anything stronger than melatonin, since it didn't do anything for me and never saw a professional. They say natural is better. My insomnia was actually caused by my awful sleeping hygiene.

I suffered what most of you do, depression, sadness, tiredness, always distracted at college and even had a breakdown in front of my parents, that was my lowest. I know it sounds stupid but I'm being serious when I tell you that I started to get better when I stopt thinking about "my issue".

The last month has been fantastic, I've had from 6-8 hours of good sleep with no waking ups at night. When I sleep 6 hours is because I go to bed at 12 and set my alarm clock at 6. Before, I used to wake up to the slightest noise at home but not anymore. January and February were hell, March recovery and April going back to normal. When you stop worrying about your issue is when you will also start to get better.

These are some tips I can give you:
* drink chamomile/passionflower/ tea with honeybee, this will help you relax and calm down your nerves before going to bed.
* don't eat or drink anything with sugar
* don't drink coffee. I haven't drank any for almost 4 months
* don't drink alcohol.
* cover your windows and close your door so that not even the slightest amount of light can enter your room.
* put on your earplugs.
* try always to be physically and mentally active during the day. I've realized that on lazy days it's harder for me to fall asleep at night.

I did all of that and it worked well for me. Since I got better I've partied twice and even got drunk but it didn't affect anything. I don't have to use earplugs anymore and sometimes when I'm checking my phone I suddenly fall asleep. Try it guys.

PD: sorry for my English, I'm not a native speaker of it.
May 02, 2019
 Hi terrified NEW
by: Thewestghos

Mine has struck up pretty bad too... basically two hours yesterday and none today. I’m worried since I don’t feel sleepy whatsoever. I wknow I’ll be concerned if it goes on past one night .
May 02, 2019
 To thewestghost NEW
by: dreaderz

Hi I am from India , I know a aunt she has insomnia from a decade , she has been sleeping 2hr or none from past 15 years , she is now 54 but she has got diabetes , thyroid issue . I do get sleep but I dream the entire night this type of sleep is only vital for your brain but your body becomes Ill overtime , so I try to do intermediate fasting 16:8 and also I try to keep my diet balance . before when this insomnia started I had gone insane ,I thought I will die I also took million dollar life insurance and nominated my parents incase I die my parents must live happy but here I am still alive and have got my sanity back but I have to follow strict rules no drugs no alcohol no sugar nothing. Please don't loose your sanity over not sleeping . I try to enjoy my life now I watch Netflix and I am 24 years old and now have started learning web development course and some programming language course so that in future if I become housebound I must be prepared for it ,I make my living from stock market now !
May 02, 2019
 To thewestghost NEW
by: dreaderz

Hi I am from India , I know a aunt she has insomnia from a decade , she has been sleeping 2hr or none from past 15 years , she is now 54 but she has got diabetes , thyroid issue . I do get sleep but I dream the entire night this type of sleep is only vital for your brain but your body becomes Ill overtime , so I try to do intermediate fasting 16:8 and also I try to keep my diet balance . before when this insomnia started I had gone insane ,I thought I will die I also took million dollar life insurance and nominated my parents incase I die my parents must live happy but here I am still alive and have got my sanity back but I have to follow strict rules no drugs no alcohol no sugar nothing. Please don't loose your sanity over not sleeping . I try to enjoy my life now I watch Netflix and I am 24 years old and now have started learning web development course and some programming language course so that in future if I become housebound I must be prepared for it ,I make my living from stock market now !
May 03, 2019
 To Christian
by: Clarita

Hi Christian. Sorry to see you back here. Your words struck me as that's how I've been feeling for two months straight. It's like a never-ending nightmare really.

But how did you get passed it the first time? Did something recently change for you personally as in stressful issues?

Are you on meds?

If you want to write privately send me an email.
May 13, 2019
 Still don't sleep six years later
by: Anonymous

I have had what was diagnosed as chronic insomnia, general anxiety and bi-polar of my first period of not sleeping for about 3months back in 2012 I lost the ability to sleep on my own at all since then my life has been nothing but pure hell. I had ect to reset my body i had six treatments with the help of about 3 zopiclone for months later just to fall asleep. I have had one more manic high where i developed phsycosis from no sleep whoop manic high no fun at all for anyone that has had it. No anti-deperessant helped me to fall asleep. I have been on zopiclone for six years with olanzipine. I tried everything that has been suggested or put up here. There aren't any sleep specialists here in nz and I have been under treatment with so many regions with no answers. I have since been treated for bi-polar and take lamotrigine. Since 2012 I have slept maybe 6times on my own from exhaustion from being awake for days. I still have nights where i don't sleep at all or have to take two zopiclone hella anxiety the days after not sleeping. I just get stoned now and just lie there cause i get insanley bored. Used to worry myself sick about it now i have just adapated to it. I was doing a post-grad in primary teaching when i first stopped sleeping it was complusary classes and i kept gojng for 3 weeks on no sleep until i couldn't drive or function anymore.
So yeah I have pretty much lived this for six years it has affected my life and ability to live a normal life. If anyone wants any tips on how I cope hit me up :) patiently waiting for a miricale lol I am 100 percent reliant on zopiclone now not because i am "addicted" but it is the only thing that has helped me live a OK life. Was easier coping on my own now I have a partner it is a little more difficult. Just lucky they are so understanding.
May 13, 2019
 The verdict for my insomnia NEW
by: Thewestghost

I have been wrestling with insomnia for many years now but the past two years were the worst. It’s an on and off struggle that has just as many sleepless nights as ones with sleep. So the final verdict was made and it turns out I have bipolar (I already figured that much for years though). I was started on Lexapro in the morning and Quetaipine at night just before bed and I SWEAR I have never felt such a restful sleep in years as I have with quetiapine (Seroquel). I’m supposed to take it every night but I’m afraid of weight gain so I take it three days out of the week and stay awake the rest so I can get things done. Without it sometimes I manage 0-4 hours of sleep and I’ve just learned to accept my insomnia these past years but my anxiety about it has been greatly reduced about it this past week since starting Lexapro. I still have bogus sleep if I don’t take quetiapine but I handle it better emotionally now I’m on an anti anxiety/depressant.
May 27, 2019
 I’ve tried everything and now I’m tolerance to all NEW
by: Jeff

I’ve been sleeping only by smoking weed lately. But I’m scared of what is to happen when It doesn’t work anymore. I’ve had a manic episode once with hallucinations After 4 days. I’ve been taking a medicine called zanaflex for two years now and it’s the only thing that puts me to sleep sometimes. I can’t deal with this and I’m scared. My mother also suffers from the same condition. Any help please email me if someone has any help on what to take and what will work. The Benzos I’ve been taking for 7 years and don’t work any longer Please any help email me onewheelr6@yahoo.com
May 27, 2019
 Hey jeff NEW
by: dreaderz

For me benzo stopped working after 2 weeks , what I learnt from my experience is the more I take medicine to sleep the more I loose the ability to sleep natural, everyone is different and when it comes to sleep there is no magic pill , whatever sleeping pills you take it makes you drowsy and after use it stops working because of tolerance,
I would suggest you to wean of all the medicine and stop smoking weed and nobody dies due to lack of sleep . Your brain will sleep when its needs to in a insomnia nightmare.
Jun 14, 2019
 it came back NEW
by: Terrified

last two months were amazing for me. I thought that I had finally coped with this but since last Monday it came back.. the good thing is that I'm so used to this that it doesn't feel as bad as when it all started. No more depression nor anxiety even when I'm getting only 3 hours of sleep per night. I'm on the summer break from college and this was expected..

I took a nap some hours ago and I sleep on the bus so I think that my sleep phase is just delayed and I should go to bed at 4am or sth.. I might get a gob because I don't want depression to come back as well.
Jun 15, 2019
 4.5 yrars NEW
by: Anonymous

4.5 years now without sleep at all starting to lose the plot now. It has been like he'll and worse I feel like I want to die to end this misery this is no life no body should suffer like this I have lost everything no ody understands what it is like not to sleep they just say oh dear never mind
Jul 02, 2019
 Hey
by: Daniel

Hey how’s everyone doing? Does anyone else have myoclonus jerks at sleep onset with chronic insomnia
Jul 12, 2019
 Cant sleep for almost a year now NEW
by: Anonymous

I'm like all these people except i have something slightly different.moat nights i dont feel any tiredness or any sort of sleep.i usually hate the dark and my skin is actually sensitive to it so I prefer a night might not some sort and when i dont i use music to calm my fear.but even i try not doing both like they say to and just sleep in a dark room and it just makes it worse.during the day i suffer instant and sudden memory loss and cant remember what I was just doing.i still have my memories but sonetimes and or often i forget where i am or what im doingnor what I am suppose to be doing.this has happened for at least a year now and im getting scared of what could happen to me.at first it was me not being able to sleep for a couple mins.then hours and now months.noe i nap a little during the day and drink tea every here and there.i thunk my problem is the dark but i dont want to make the electric bill go insane.if anything i cant sleep anymore.i only get tired during the day and usually right in the morning and evening.but at noon and night i cant fall asleep.i don't want to die of insomnia or of fatigue.not to mention in actually beginning tonfatigue faster during the day.worst part is in a long distance runner and not even running make me tired or at least not for very long.somebody pls help me.somefays i loose my mind and become someone im not.dometimes i end up being someone else as well.intry taking melatonin at night and it usually worked in the beginning but now there useless.nothing works anymore.it doesn't matter what I do anything i try makes it worse.HEEEELLLLLPPPPPP MMMMMEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Jul 24, 2019
 Sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Happened to me . Parents thought I was pretending not to be able to sleep because they did not think that someone can lose ability to sleep. This went on for a long time! Finally one doctor prescribed antidepressant and ambien. Fell asleep for two hours first night and then sleep time increased.Got off ambien gradually after five days and stayed on antidepressant for six months out of fear of problem coming back! Thus solution may not be answer for everyone but worked for me! Never give up! Try to enlist someone to help you because too hard to tackle alone due to exhaustion from lack of sleep.
Jul 24, 2019
 Sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Happened to me . Parents thought I was pretending not to be able to sleep because they did not think that someone can lose ability to sleep. This went on for a long time! Finally one doctor prescribed antidepressant and ambien. Fell asleep for two hours first night and then sleep time increased.Got off ambien gradually after five days and stayed on antidepressant for six months out of fear of problem coming back! Thus solution may not be answer for everyone but worked for me! Never give up! Try to enlist someone to help you because too hard to tackle alone due to exhaustion from lack of sleep.
Aug 04, 2019
 I think Ive lost my capacity to fall asleep NEW
by: Cain shin

I once had this fever that led me to hit the bed way earlier than usual.. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling better, but the catch is, I cant seem to fall back to sleep no matter how I tossed and turned around.. That ddnt worry me on the first the second and the third day but when symptoms of a messed up immune system started surfacing on the 4th day, I knew I needed to look for answers.. My nose would become heavily clogged with post nasal drip, then I would later develop cold sores on the side of my tongue, I would get sneezing fit most of the time of the day.. I tried food supplements like Sleepasil that supposedly aid your sleeping habits to be normal.. Tried Iterax as a sleeping pill, it would make me drowsy for a period of time but it never succeeded in getting me into deep sleep.. so my friends recommended working out during the day, like knocking myself out if possible, and so i did.. I jogged most of the time as it was the most recommended exercise known to me.. I think it worked because that night I was able to finally get into the REM stage I was hoping to achieve for too long... the next nights were more successful so I finally got my sleeping cycle back..

Now, more than a year later, the same problem came back.. This time my mind cant even go to that blacking out stage that commence the sleeping cycle.. I tried the same methods.. None seemed to work.. Im on my seventh day now and Ive develop symptoms of a messed up immune system.. Im a bit desperate now, I dont have access to magic mushrooms or acupuncture in my locality.. Take note, I havent slept a minute for almost a week now, I cant sleep night and day.. I guess if this doesnt go away on its own for another day, Id hit the gym to wear myself out and see how it will turn out for me..
Aug 31, 2019
 Will this ever end NEW
by: Anonymous

Suffered from anxiety insomnia on and off for years but this last week has been hell. I can’t switch my brain off anymore. Absolutely terrified of ruining my life with this nonsense and my Partner doesn’t get it at all. Just glad to read so many stories that make me feel less alone. The more it goes on the more I feel like i’ll die from this!
Anyone know of any good sleep places in the north west uk? At this point i’ll happily remortgage the house just to get some help.
Sep 29, 2019
 The best I found
by: Anonymous

I was very close to death. After 45 years of no problems sleeping, I gradually started losing my ability to stay asleep. Then less and less until after about a year I noticed my body not restoring itself as it should. Low energy, feeling exhausted and losing interest in everything because I got scared for my life. I went to several doctors who did blood labs and all said I was normal. But NOBODY was listening. I felt like I was about to die. I got all my legal papers in order and took early retirement from my job and focused on my health full-time. Finally after getting no help from doctors and no info online I went 3 nights in a row without one minute of sleep. I could not take it anymore. I went to the emergency room and told them I can't sleep and it's getting worse as I have not slept in 3 days "so I loaded my gun". That was all they needed to hear to take me to a mental facility. For eleven days I was given all kinds of meds and got a little sleep and sent home. Then my sleeping problem started coming back. I remembered while being there one drug called Remeron or generic Mirtazapine that seemed to help me. I called my doctor, she prescribed it for me as it's an old non-narcotic drug for depression and I started taking it as instructed before bed. Then I noticed at 30mg every night I was very groggy the next day and wanted to eat all the time. So now I cut those in half three times which is one eighth a pill once every 5 nights before bed. I am doing better than ever. I have my old energy back, stamina and life is enjoyable again. I look forward to a long happy life with family and friends. I still don't know what happened to my body's ability to fall asleep and may never know. But until that time I will gladly continue this routine. I don't know if it will help any of you but like I was at death's door it may be worth a try.
Feb 16, 2020
 Please help!
by: LAT

I wonder if the OP was ever able to get some sleep. I lost the ability to fall sleep about 6 weeks ago. I absolutely cannot fall asleep on my own. I can only sleep with prescription sleep meds, and since I don’t want to get addicted to them, I’ll only take them every few days. I cannot sleep for one minute when I don’t take the meds. This is torture. I have always been a good sleeper in the past so I was completely blindsided when this started a few weeks ago.
Feb 16, 2020
 One more thing...
by: LAT

Right now I have been awake for nearly 60 hours and while I feel awful, I don’t really feel tired. I do not have to fight to stay awake. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to fall asleep on my own again or if I’ll have to do sleep meds for the rest of my life. :(
Mar 10, 2020
 Try a sleep coach such as Dr Gominak NEW
by: Anonymous

Drgominak.com
Sep 03, 2020
 Not falling asleep NEW
by: Anonymous, ssr

I'm still 14 and I cannot fall asleep.im insomniac it's the real deal ,not sleeping all my heart rate is fast and I'm not doing anything that could cause that.i got thinking while sleeping but would throw the thoughts until it just snatched my ability to EVER fall asleep
Sep 03, 2020
 Not falling asleep NEW
by: Anonymous, ssr

I'm still 14 and I cannot fall asleep.im insomniac it's the real deal ,not sleeping all my heart rate is fast and I'm not doing anything that could cause that.i got thinking while sleeping but would throw the thoughts until it just snatched my ability to EVER fall asleep
Sep 05, 2020
 Trauma NEW
by: Anonymous

Been 6 years when I lost the ability to sleep I have tried everything possible with no luck
In those I realised that meds are not the cure
You have to change the way of thinking
This is where it gets interesting
If you have had a trauma in your life physically or mentally then you could have damaged your limbic system which operates your flight flight freeze defences this can cause you not to sleep as it may think 1 you are on hyperarousal listening for threats 2 your brain thinks that sleep is not important to your survival 3 which is in my cause sleep has become the threat so what you have to do is convince your brain that it isn't I am still after all these years trying to find a way of doing thatqw
Nov 28, 2020
 There Is Hope! NEW
by: Anonymous

If u think you’re hopeless, please read my story. At first, I thought I was gonna died without sleep but I didn’t. Back in 2016, I suffered with depression and anxiety. My sleep getting worse and worse each day, It was the worst moment of my life that I can’t forget. I been to many hospitals to find the cured and spend a lot of money but there’s no doctors or medicines could help me. I tried everything but nothing works for me. I felt so hopeless and more depressed, I thought I will never be a normal person again. After 6 months without any sleep, I planned to visits someone from other states with my dad and I can’t believe I fall asleep for the first time in 6 months. I was so happy and went straight to the mirror to see my smile. Please don’t give up because there is hope for u. I recommend u to go somewhere far for awhile and try to forget everything that u been through. I know it’s hard to go somewhere far without sleep but it helped me cured my insomnia and less worry. It’s because of stress, depression and anxiety keeping u awake for so long. I hope this story give u energy and hope, may god be with u all.
Dec 04, 2020
 Going crazy
by: Adam

I havent been sleeping för 1/2 months now I have done brain scan bloodtest everything normal i am going crazy my sleep is so light 2 hours maybe daily and my yawning has dissapeared my eyes burns but dont get sleepy I am going nuts so scared I have Sfi. Please help 😭😭😭😭😭
Dec 10, 2020
 From Italy NEW
by: Angelo

Here I am, lime you. I've completely lost the capacity to fall asleep by 2 weeks and more. I don't know why but find people who can understand me let me feel better. At least, i know that i'm not alone in this nightemare that is appeared suddenly.
Like you i was thinking to have ffi or sfi. Anyone is still alive after 1 year?
Dec 29, 2020
 Lost the ability to sleep completely
by: Guida

Hi everyone I would like to share my story I'm a middle age lady and prior to this never had sleeping problems November 2019 I was diagnosed with very high blood pressure and was on medication and then my sleep went crazy havent slept for 20 nights solid and never repaid my sleep back I went for tests mri neaurologist but nothing show up it's been a year I have no ability to sleep my yawning have desapear I'm like a zombie every day try to close my eyes and if I'm lucky il get 2 hours of sleep you cant called it sleep I'm never refreshed and live in a constant fog the doctors think its enxiety please help
Jan 08, 2021
 Anyone else?
by: Angelo

Hi, i'm from Italy and i'm passing this trouble! If you want, we can speak about it. From 1 month, i can't fall asleep, like something in my brain has changed. But i remember few vivid dreams even if my sleep is so light that i can hear everything in my house.
Feb 05, 2021
 Small update
by: dreaderzpsy

I had post long back on this forum on January 9 2019
Here's small update
My sleep problem is still same.
It's not improved. I don't get deep sleep .my sleeps are full of vivid dreams.

But now I don't care. The more u stress the more u sleep less.
As long as you get sleep with dreams that is enough for your brain to survive.
Yeah but you have to take care of everything now as the body is compromised due to lack of deep sleep.
And yeah stay away from all the sleep meds
Sleep med will help you sleep initially later it won't and then the withdrawal are life threatening.
I somehow recovered from the withdrawal. Will not wish it on my enemy.
And yeah lack of sleep can't kill you. I m the living example it's been 2 and half years now. Tc
May 28, 2021
 Are you still suffering from this condition? NEW
by: Anonymous

Hey Kathy,
I would love to hear if you are still suffering from your insomnia and if not, what helped?! My partner has exactly the same problem, it started literally over night about 10 months ago. Tried everything, nothing helps. (Or not for long) Thank you for any feed back, I hope you can sleep again!
May 30, 2021
 3-5 years without natural sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Answering a comment above and many others seeking help.

To: Lost ability to fall asleep NEW
by: Anonymous

I lost my ability to fall asleep and stay asleep Sept 2017. I want to offer my life experience. I found a neurologist and a primary care physician who will write an RX for Amitriptyline 10 mg nightly was enough to help me sleep through the night. I woke up multiple times for the first year because my nervous system was on overload all the time. But I eventually slept about 6-7 hours per night deeply. Now I am down to 2.5 mg (cut a 10 mg in quarters and put in a capsule) and am sleeping 6-7 hours still. Also I went to a naturopathic doctor after 18 specialists and regular doctors just tried to tell me it was all in my head and there was nothing they could do for me. A stool sample found 3 bacterial infections and 2 viruses and some yeast overgrowth that all could have contributed to my inability to sleep. My body is healing and I have gained back the 20 lbs and all my muscle mass I lost. Our bodies can heal with support from herbs and supplements and real food. Give it a chance.
May 04, 2022
 Try Meditation NEW
by: KumariDevi

Meditation classes are for spiritual people, who want a feeling of inner peace and mindfulness.
Visit for guidance - https://kumarainstitute.com/
Apr 23, 2023
 I lost my ability to sleep NEW
by: Nina

I lost my ability to sleep but it was not out of the blue it was because of Invenga sustenna injections. Anybody out there to help?
May 11, 2023
 I think I have sfi
by: Anonymous

It all start in November where I came back from work and went to sleep not knowing these few couple of day where going to be the last days that I will ever sleep in my own, I woke up scared and confused didn't know what was going on thought it was a bad case of anxiety but I was fine after that, then later it happen for the 5th time and that day I stop sleeping.I started to shake and have severe anxiety and depression and went on like this for a month and didn't sleep, I was so scared I had to go to the doctor and they said that it was just anxiety I'm barely sleeping with medication, they gave me Zoloft and didn't work at all in fact it gave me a nosebleed and made my anxiety worse it was very bad I went though hell then I went back trying ways to try to sleep nothing help they gave me seroquel with didn't help at all it gave me another panic attack and made my heart rate high at that time I couldn't focus and wasn't seeing straight like static like then I had a very bad panic attacks where my chest hurt so bad and went to the hospital at this time my parents was fed up and was tried of what I was saying and my dad was acting so embarrassed for me thinking I am crazy and didn't go to the hospital in with me I was so scared and don't know what it was so I just had to go home and deal with this pain for another months intill I started to have more and more panic attacks I had to go to my GP and actually listen to me and gave me benzo and that some some reason put me to sleep with some melatonin but barely giving me 4 hours of sleep at a time then soon stop taking it due to my parents thinking that will get addicted to them and took them awake and only gave me trazadone with melatonin I honestly don't want to live like this anymore and just dying everyday with no sleep barely enough for me to not have a panic attacks and enough sleep for me to be some what normal I experiencing muscle twitches Muscle pain aches pain Anxiety & depression No sleep drive No heavy eyes Skipping heart beats Increased heart beast High and low blood pressure Content sleep disturbances throughout the night Para Little bit of ataxia Short term memory Headaches panic attacks Chest pain Brian fog Confusion Double vision
Remembering my dream to easily Fever Blurry vision A little difficult to eat food I’m very scared and I don’t know what to do
Oct 29, 2023
 Still can’t not sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Anyone get better or still the same? Need help…
Oct 30, 2023
 Hope for improvement NEW
by: Thewestghost

I got better! Wel sort of. Turns out I have BP2 (bipolar) and anxiety. It's a negative feedback loop; you stress about not sleeping which causes anxiety and that causes you not to sleep. Some areas I'd look into are ; vitamin deficiency, anxiety/mental health disorders, thyroid disorders, or poor sleep hygiene. If you haven't looked into Magnesium deficiency, I'd start there. Magnesium helps facilitate proper sleep. Also other vitamin deficiencies cause sleep disturbances. If that doesn't work then mental disorders could be a factor. There's CBT for insomnia which I did and it helped. There's a way to improve this but it does take a lot of time and consistency... also be patient with your body on the bad days. You'll overcome/adapt to this. I know it's very isolating. But please do try to avoid posts on SFI... you don't have it. As someone who thought the same, the anxiety wreaks havoc on you once you let that fear catch on. You don't have it, you will realize this over time. If you are sleeping even a little, you don't have it.
Oct 30, 2023
 Lack of Melatonin NEW
by: moossister

Thank you for your comments. I am sleeping at night but it is struggle to go to sleep and stay asleep. I have done some detoxes containing low doses of melatonin and seem to sleep better but still not soundly. I have been leaning toward that possibility of low or no melatonin production as well. I didn’t know there was a test for that. Thank you for your help. I am a little over 6 years since my struggles began and it took about 3 years with a integrative doctor to get where I am today. So much stronger and I can sleep at night. No daytime naps yet. Lol but no RX’s anymore. That is wonderful. I hope your son’s tests will bring about the restorative sleep he needs. We all need it.
Dec 11, 2023
 Lost the ability to sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

Hello, anyone on this page still the same?

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.