Chronic insomnia

Hi guys, newcomer here

I have PTSD, Panic Disorder and GAD, and one of the problems I face is chronic insomnia.

Part of the issue is whacked up sleep patterns. It can take me months to get it fixed and then it just takes one bad night - maybe the insomnia or maybe just a particular neighbour having a party - and then it's messed up again.

So I suppose my question is in two parts:

1. Anyone had any luck with certain methods? I mean, I've tried everything. From psychological treatments such as sleep hygiene (not doing anything engaging or looking directly at anything that emits light for at least two hours before bed) to herbal teas and melatonin (which, to my understanding, is mostly placebo) and even wives tales (the old warm milk, even something somebody at my Masjid said about mixing yoghurt with water)

One of the problems I have is that when I tell people I have chronic insomnia, which I frequently have to do because I cancel things when I haven't slept, they give me advice for people who have normal (ie, not chronic insomnia) sleeping problems. So I just kind of nod and smile and say "I'll try that" when I already have lol.

I've heard about light therapy, and one of the problems I have is what I think is messed up circadian rhythms. Has anyone tried that? Is it something I could maybe do myself or does it require medical supervision?

and

2. What medications have people had success with? I'm on 300mg of Seroquel (previously 800mg) but it kind of achieves the opposite of what I want. When I can't sleep, and I'm really full of energy, I don't even feel it. But when I do sleep I'm sleeping up to twelve hours, which is just way too long. I'd really like to reduce that to at least ten, but it's not really possible with the Seroquel.

Is there another medication going around, maybe one that induces the urge to sleep but doesn't create the lag? I understand the risk of dependence with sleepers but, to be honest, I'm already pretty much dependant, I'm just not using them yet

Hi Mr Identical
I suffered chronic sleep-onset insomnia for over 15 years and have finally cured it. After studying, and experiencing, this condition for years I've realised that Insomnia is most definitely a condition of the mind and not the physical environment. That's why sleep aids, light theraphy, herbs, etc don't work as they all work on the physical body not the mind.
Put simply Insomnia develops quite innocently due a stressor (say, like a period of stress or bereavement) and then quickly develops into a pattern in the subconscious mind.
The subconscious develops habits and patterns really easily - that's its job. Unlike our conscious minds, the sub-conscious can't accept or reject an idea, or information. Hence why in our conscious minds we are desperate to sleep but our subconscious just keeps running the insomnia programme.
The subconscious is awfully powerful too (have a quick google at surgery performed under hypnosis to see how powerful it is). It easily overrides even the strongest of sleep aids.
I'd recommend reading some of Dr Bruce Lipton's work on the Biology of Belief for the background science of the subconscious
Anyway, it all sounds doom and gloom so far but it isn't. Once you know how Insomnia operates it's really easy to cure. Its just a case of reprogramming the mind. I cured my 15 year, 4 hours a night insomnia almost immediately and sleep like the dead now lol.
I got really fed up with article after article written by people who had clearly never suffered insomnia recommending nonsense such as sleep restriction, herbs, pills, relaxation tapes etc etc
So I wrote a blog on what Insomnia really is and how to get rid of it. There's no gimmicks, its natural, quick, easy and permanent. I know what a living hell it is and just want to help as many people as possible.
I don't think I'm allowed to post links even though its not a commercial site - if you want the site name just drop me a pm (PS- it's really effective for PTSD too)

hello mrIdentical! how are you now? how's your progress? if you still have that chronic insomnia that you are more concern with... then maybe i can share something i've learned from my own but ofcourse with the help of people surrounds me... mind to reply to me? so we can start a conversation about this...

Hi insomniahelp
How can I find out more about your theory of the subconscious?