Hi, I have had normal insomnia for the better part of 10 years, meaning i only have it when i have alot on my mind or alot of stress going on. But for the past 3 weeks it is something else entirely. I get stuck in the state right before sleep where i'm really drowsy and tired, but not asleep yet. I slept a total of 10 hours in 4 days before i finally went to the doctor. She put me on ambien but said to just do it for a week. I did that and have tried taking benadryl on and/or melatonin (both timed release and sublingual) on the nites that i do not take the ambien. What always happens is these meds make me really really drowsy but still can't fall asleep. OR I do fall asleep initially but then wake up an hour later or so and cannot fall back asleep. So i always end up taking the ambien anyway. Also I was trying some relaxation techniques and when I get stuck in that in between phase, i notice some of my body is tensed, so i try to relax it. When i do that, the areas that i just relaxed feel really uncomfortable, like i need to tense them again to feel normal.
I really don't want to keep taking the ambien but I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions? (ps I was going to try Valerien Root tea but I read that it's habit forming)
thanks
nicole