i'm so tired...i should be in bed but i can'[t sleep...i've been like this for a while now...i take the drugs but they don't really do anything for me...i've been to sleep clinics and done a lot of that stuff...nothing seems to work for me but i get like this and i'm tired...if i do go to bed i'll wake up and sometimes have night terrors where i think someone is in the room with me...i jump out of bed scared with my heart racing...does anyone have an experience like mine?

Oh, Jerry, I know just what you're talking about. I've struggled with insomnia off and on for years now. Sometimes I spend the night in bed watching TV until 3 in the morning, sometimes every night for weeks at a time. I've tried yoga, and I've found it helpful. I never had night terrors, although I've had extremely vivid nightmares that make my sleep very unrestful. Maybe you should try the yoga? There is a kind of yoga that is very heavy on the stretching, which relaxes me. Hope you get some sleep.

Hi, Jerry.

Glad you asked about this here in our forums. Many people deal with insomnia, night terrors, and various other sleep difficulties. Getting a good night's sleep is extremely important for both physical and emotional health, and finding ways to deal with these issues is essential.

There is a lot of good information about night terrors available at http://www.nightterrors.org/. Night terrors are more than just nightmares; they are considered an actual medical problem. If you've spoken with your doctor about your night terrors and still haven't found relief, there are some holistic approaches that may be able to reduce your night terrors and help you overcome your insomnia. St. John's Wort is an herbal remedy specifically suggested by the above site for treating night terrors.

Velerian Root, Melatonin, and German Chamomile are all herbs that may reduce the incidence of insomnia. Valerian Root and German Chamomile may be found in either teas or pill formulations. Melatonin is found in supplemental form. These can also be found in combination formulas together with other herbs and vitamins designed to reduce sleep difficulty.

Nicole's suggestion of yoga is also a great way to go. Strenuous yoga close to bedtime isn't a good idea, but resting, light stretching yoga poses such as child's pose, corpse pose, cobbler's pose and reclined side twist are all great ways to relax the body and the mind. Meditation can also help.

Hope some of these suggestions help you get a good night's sleep.

Sweet dreams!
Nan Little
Wellness Advisor, 123 Feel Better Company

sometimes i have to sleep a lot (like 12 to 14 hours) and sometimes i only need 4 or 5 hours.that cycles back and forther every few weeks.

This sounds like it could be bipolar disorder. I have the same cycle, and I was diagnosed with a lesser form of bipolar disorder--bipolar II--a few years ago.

I had this experience and was rushed by my roommates to the Emergency Room. It is simply an anxiety attack and it's because of a chemical imbalance in the brain. See a doctor! I was prescribed Celexa and never had another attack again, thank God.

I should be too. i've been sitting around with a panic attack happening. For about 2 hours now. I really should be in bed because I was threatened by my parents that If I didn't wake up on time I couldn't go with them to the winter festival thing... bleh. If they were here, I could explain it to them but they're gonna think i was using it as an excuse to be online...