Tips on Healthier Sleeping Methods (Warning: Explicit)

Every night, around 8-10 o'clock, I get aggressive and angry about soon having to go to bed (or the thought of my partner getting tired). In order to get some decent sleep, I have to take about 3-5 Benadryl tablets or beg my partner to give me oral.

Backstory on oral: I'm currently two months on HRT and my libido has skyrocketed. I don't know how to get off on my own, so in exchange for curbing my Benadryl intake, he.. yeah.

Even then, I'm taking tablets. After a recent drug scare, I curved my usage to one 25mg tablet of benadryl and one 3mg tablet of melatonin (along with oral sex).

Honestly, I'm sure my insomnia has alot to do with the other mental medical issues I am currently facing. I don't have access to a therapist, psychiatrist or a physician right now. Is there any way I can deal with this on my own in a healthier way until I can afford to get a prescription?

Whew that does seem like an unhealthy amount of benadryl. My partner gives me grief on just taking two every time I need to sleep. My problem is that I work night shift, so I have no good defined sleep patterns, just fall out when I'm exhausted, and I often get a second wind at night, even if I'm off. And if I go to bed too early, well, I'm lucky to sleep six hours, four or five being more common. Go to bed at ten, I'll be awake by four, oftentimes.

Some people use Valerian root for insomnia. It doesn't work for me, however. To elaborate, yes, it is 'natural'. Yes, it made me sleepy. But it's hard to sleep, when your heart is pounding. I know people for whom Benadryl has that unpleasant effect, for me, I'm one of those people who get a rapid heartbeat from taking the recommended dose of Valerian. So if you haven't tried it, try it with caution and a small amount, first. I've no idea if the HRT will interact with something like that, as well. I'm living in a cismale body, but I think here in recent years I've begun having lower T- and I've no idea what levels you're at, considering you're taking it to transition. Drugs.com is my usual go-to for interaction information, but their database doesn't have every possible combination.

Supposedly there are long-term consequences to regular use of Benadryl. I've used it for decades, now. It's too late for me, but I do think that if you can find something that doesn't react badly with you, and can substitute, might be a good thing. I know it takes pretty high doses of benadryl for it to be dangerous, but still it's something I don't mess with, sticking to the maximum adult recommended dose.

Does reading help any? Oftentimes my mind just races, I'll have to distract myself, even with benadryl. Turn my phone backlight to low and watch long videos. I find train cab view videos relaxing. Also old movies that I've seen dozens of times. Sometimes just the audio droning lightly does it for me. But that might be hard to do, with a partner. I know I can't do that on my nights off when I'm sleeping with mine- that's more for when I'm in my day sleep room, having to rest for work.