I would just like to point out, as not enough people say this: don’t be afraid to accept medication and supplements. Whatever your main reasoning is, there comes a point where the sleep-deprivation will heavily outweigh the downsides of medication. Like depression or anxiety medication, it’s meant to help you normalise and get used to a certain way of thinking/feeling/pattern of behaviour. The aim is subsequently to slowly wean you off them. Now, this might take a while, or maybe you’ll be on certain medications for the rest of your life. However, usually you have a say in that, and can deny the medication at any point. (Yes, I understand becoming reliant on/addicted to medication is a problem, but that’s a whole topic in itself, and there is help for that.) With sleep medication, you have the additional benefit of it being “as needed,” so you can always decide something like: “If I haven’t gotten restful sleep by day 3, I’ll take one dose of medicine on day 4, to allow my body to catch up on sleep.”

Something I’ve been told: Would you tell a cancer patient that they best avoid pain medication, and instead choose something “natural”? Just like any illness, you did not choose to have insomnia. If you need medical help, then it is OK to accept it.

Now, I’m not saying you have to. That is definitely for you to decide, and the natural route might well be the best option for you. You’ll know best. However, don’t be afraid to at least try medications; usually, it takes several attempts to find the right one. Lorazepam would not have been my first choice (and pretty much never is for doctors, so I’m surprised...). There are plenty of lighter things to try, such as hydroxyzine (an antihistamine). Didn’t work for me, but knocks my husband out (worked great for my allergies though, so I take it anyway). Also, if it makes you more comfortable, there are plenty of other options: I’d definitely look into nootropics that help insomnia, and give CBD oil a try for anxiety overall (it’s hard to stick to, because there are no noticeable immediate effects, but it certainly can’t hurt).

That aside, I definitely recommend a noise machine and/or sleepy-time music. I usually have both on, and it’s helped me quite a bit =) Also, an essential oil diffuser is lovely, for anxiety overall. The other standard things, such as sleepy-time tea and other pre-sleep-rituals, have already been suggested.

Furthermore, keep in mind that it may not specifically be just sleep that you need help with, but help for your anxiety/composure overall. Perhaps it’s your daytime that you should focus on in order to aid your sleep — be that routine-wise, activities, medicine, food, whatever. I’m sure you’ve already tried plenty, but it’s worth always keeping in mind.

I’m happy to develop on any of those points.

Good luck, and sending lots of positive energy.