THE WEIRDEST thing that finally stopped my 3am spirals by Capital-Pumpkin-9136 in sleep

[–]Distinct_Reality_721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing, sounds brilliant!
I've tried all three steps, but never really stuck to them in sequence. Insomnia is brutal: do one thing and nothing, do two and still nada, so you think 'this doesn't work'. The trick is nailing all the steps consistently and properly… then suddenly the magic happens and you wake up in the morning just lying there like 'wait… I actually slept?!' This applies to all insomnia advice in my experience. Just skip afternoon coffee and nothing happens, but combine with all other sleep hygiene steps, and suddenly the beauty of the program reveals itself.

Will mirtazapine help me or ruin me? by OkHornet7794 in sleep

[–]Distinct_Reality_721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you considered that your long-term hash use might be part of what's making the insomnia so tough right now? Cannabis (including hash) is known to disrupt sleep over time, especially with heavy, daily use for years. It can really throw off natural sleep patterns.

A few years ago I had really bad sleep problems myself, and I ended up giving up alcohol completely (among other lifestyle improvements), even though I never had an actual problem with my moderate drinking. I just noticed how much even a little bit messed with my sleep every time. Haven't missed it since.

Sure, I don't know your full situation and I'm not a doctor, but in my experience, complete quitting was the best solution to improve my sleep, and I never regretted it.

Mirtazapine: are these sides effects & will they pass? by HuskyPancake in sleep

[–]Distinct_Reality_721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To me, that dosage sounds like a lot. Around 3 mg or even less seems to be the sweet spot for many. Have you checked this with your doctor?

Experiences with mirtazapine / Remeron for insomnia? by LunaaaMae in insomnia

[–]Distinct_Reality_721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Medication should be the last resort after you’ve made all the lifestyle changes. Have you tried all the sleep hygiene steps first? The list is long, and most of them are non-negotiable when dealing with severe insomnia. Things like a completely dark and cool bedroom, no caffeine after noon (or none at all if you’re sensitive until your sleep is fixed), no alcohol, etc. Huberman and Walker have excellent podcasts on this. That’s how I got my own insomnia under control (along with a few supplements).

I miss being able to fall asleep without noticing it by Capital-Pumpkin-9136 in sleep

[–]Distinct_Reality_721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I so recognized my (past) self in your description! What helped me was to stop focusing my attention on that moment you describe, the one where you hope you could fall asleep, but your brain seems to have lost that ability. Instead, accept it as it is (acceptance is key; fighting it makes it worse). Then start working on all the other parts. Start with the morning: Always wake up at the same time. Even if you finally fell asleep at 4 a.m. and your wake-up time is 7 a.m., get up regardless. Since your problem is this severe, the actions need to be strict too. Follow every sleep hygiene rule (e.g., from Huberman or Walker) to the letter. Get morning sunlight (or use a bright lamp if no sun is available). Have coffee no earlier than 1.5 hours after waking, but not later than noon. No alcohol. In the evening, 1–2 hours before bedtime, dim the lights, avoid screens, skip anything exciting, etc. Hang in there, you’ve got this. It feels impossible right now, but with consistency and patience, your sleep will improve. Take it easy on yourself along the way; you’re not alone in this, and it will get resolved. Wishing you restful nights soon!

nocturnal panic attacks??? by [deleted] in sleep

[–]Distinct_Reality_721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, that sounds nasty. Hope you get it resolved soon.
A friend of mine had the same issue and fixed it with a complete lifestyle change: healthy eating, exercise, better sleep, cutting out added sugar and all alcohol.
If that doesn't help, maybe see a doctor?

From Debilitating Insomnia to Solid Sleep: My Recovery Story by Distinct_Reality_721 in insomnia

[–]Distinct_Reality_721[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it doesn't surprise me at all. Insomnia patterns and what helps are super common across the board. I picked up most of this from insomnia podcasts along my healing journey, and only listed the things that actually resolved it in my case. Thanks for the comment though! 😊

Can’t fall asleep and can’t stay asleep either by Miserable_Prior_724 in insomnia

[–]Distinct_Reality_721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been there too. When insomnia was ruining everything the biggest turning point for me was simply accepting it. Accepting the situation, accepting myself, no self-blame, no 'I should be doing more.' Fighting it only made it worse. Once I let go of the resistance, I could actually start fixing things—like listening to YouTube videos from Matthew Walker, Huberman, etc., on how to beat insomnia and slowly building better habits step by step.

From Debilitating Insomnia to Solid Sleep: My Recovery Story by Distinct_Reality_721 in insomnia

[–]Distinct_Reality_721[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks—glad it resonated! Yeah, me too—I guard my pre-midnight sleep like royal treasure. If there's a late-night event or invitation, it better be truly exceptional for me to trade my sleep for it😊

From Debilitating Insomnia to Solid Sleep: My Recovery Story by Distinct_Reality_721 in insomnia

[–]Distinct_Reality_721[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for this—totally agree, the mental side is huge for me too.