Night tips needed!

So its begun again! Its past midnight and my brain decides to turn on at 100%

Starting to think tomorrow I can make the step to go out alone, to tick a box to move forward in some way knowing I cant and even thinking those plans are pointless

Thinking I cant sleep so I should be doing something productive, finishing some artwork, sewing, knitting, writing but Im too tired from thinking a million other things that I cant focus on anything its SO frustrating!

Also the constant self battering thoughts, Im fat, ugly, useless, unlovable, a #######5 person, mad, sad, I have no purpose the list goes on!!

Please tell me someone else has discovered a way to make this more bearable! Before the wine would of knocked me out but now I cant use that due to misuse, Im not on any meds anymore as they want to control whats making me act and think this way without making my emotions blunt so I have nothing to pop to stop it!! Any suggestions would be gratefully received!!

Hey Smile, this is a few things I do. I've gone through phases where I simply could not sleep. Night after Night after Night after Night.

Melatonin, time released 3mg, 45 min before you'd like to enter sleep

Magnesium aspartate-Helps keep teeth from grinding when awake or when asleep(especially if you consume any type of stimulant)

Valerian Root, 2 or three capsules about 45 min before you'd like to enter sleep

In order to stay asleep longer and not wake up, lets's say at 4am, every morning, your body has to maintain blood sugar higher than a baseline level, that will cause you to wake up. If blood sugar becomes too low at around 3 or 4 in the am, you wake up. Two ways to solve this, either change your diet, to the point where your blood sugar is uniform throughout the day, or if not changing your diet, then try to load up on carbs maybe 2 hours before you sleep, and your blood sugar should stay above baseline level. This means make sure you eat dinner, while breakfast and lunch, not so important.

Try not to ruminate and only think pleasant thoughts, before you go to sleep. This will keep your cortisol levels down, and are not in fight or flight mode. if you think about what your boss, girlfriend or family member said to you, You won't sleep soundly.

No sleep meds, you'll get addicted.

No benzos, narcotic depressants, these will wreak havoc on your sleep cycle and are highly addictive.

Found out what it was like to sleep soundly after I quit tobacco.

Alcohol will wreak havoc on your sleep cycle, especially since it's legal and readily available. Even if you decide you're only going to be a weekend warrior. It will mess with your sleep cycle long after that. Also, when you drink, you depress blood sugar levels, so that if you do not eat before you go to sleep, your body will not be able to maintain blood sugar levels to keep you asleep when you need it most.

No stimulants after 1pm, especially those with the longest half lives.

No aerobic exercises past 7pm, if you run long distances, play pick up basketball, etc, and you get back home at 10 or 11 pm, you won't be sleeping for a while.

Anaerobic exercises before sleep are fine. Do squats for 3 rep maxes and you'll sleep like a baby.

Head stands for 30 min before you sleep. You'll increase the girth of your neck, while facilitating circulation to the head(also dilates blood vessels in neck and head). Fine when you're single, may be a problem otherwise. Anyway, I'm out cold 15 min's after this exercise.

Sex is exercise so at least in my case I find it difficult if not impossible to sleep. This system may be disregulated in my body(I don't know).

It's difficult to sleep soundly when one is on a calorie restrictive diet.

No artificial sweeteners or diet soda. Body is duped into thinking you've ingested real sugar, and regulatory system will attempt to clear sugar from your blood stream, further decreasing those levels.

As I try and recall what I do I'll continue to post.

i often talk to myself. that it's ok. yes i've done mistakes, yes i'm not perfect, i dont look perfect but its ok

i hug myself, cuddle a pillow. how would you react if your kid came to you n said 'someone called me ugly.'

talking to myself helps a lot. but i have many sad days.

think of it this way, if you call someone ugly, does it make that person ugly: NO.
similarly if someone called me superman it wouldnt make me capable of flying.

surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. talking to myself, looking after myself helps me.

Thank you both means a lot! Ive tried most of your suggestions but I do smoke like a trooper so thats probably not helping lol and I would try handstands but Im ridiculously clumsy and could see that being another trip to A&E and they are not too fond of me down there!!

I managed to drift off around 5am this morning and then just got up about an hour ago so thats another day gone another long night ahead! Hopefully it will be a more productive night and not another hate filled stuper - fingers crossed!