Have you tried melatonin? It is natural and is something your body makes and uses anyway. My son has MUCH difficulty falling asleep. Our doctor suggested it to us and it works wonderfully. Even as a baby he fought sleep. We started when he was five (he is now almost 8) with 3 mg., and now he only needs 1 mg. sublingual (under the tongue). Occasionally, when he is really worked up, we have to give him another one, but it has TRANSFORMED our lives. He used to lay awake for hours telling me he didn't know how to fall asleep, now he is much happier and rested. Initially our doctor told us that up to 12 mg. would be safe - but thankfully 3mg. worked. We just get it at GNC.

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Hi, I can only tell you what has worked for me...earplugs. I don't know if they will work and they did take some getting used to but they are wonderful. I tried many different styles and found that Walmart sells the best for $2.72 a box. They are purple and reuseable. It just allows me to hear what is going on in my head and helps to focus on my thoughts including the meditative thoughts. I have a mantra when I am obsessing at bedtime and I just literally repeat it until I go to sleep. Good Luck to you. You might also like the information in a book by Julia Ross, M.A. called The Mood Cure. Her work is amazing and "drug" free. She is great at educating about the neurochemicals in the brain and symptoms such as obsession and sleeplessness.

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Have you been checked for sleep apnea? It's one possibility that is often overlooked. Sleep apnea causes the same symptoms as AD/HD. And some with AD/HD also have sleep apnea.

Also, for some kids and adults w/AD/HD, their brain's difficulty with regulating sensory input (such as not noticing the sounds or light) makes it hard to concentrate on going to sleep. With that kind of busy brain that is still inputting all the sensory data, a low dose of stimulant meds (unbelievable but true for some!) helps them focus on going to sleep.

Holly Seerley, MFT CA

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I know the feeling - awful, isn't it! Here are a few more things to try - ALPHA stim is an FDA cleared medical device which has shown quite effective in reducing insomnia. Go to www.depressiontreatmentnow.com and watch their video. I went to a workshop given by a noted psychologist and she told us she was very impressed with the results she was getting from her pts. Very easy to use, painless, no side effects. 10-20 minutes a day. Just need a psychologists or doctor's rx. Your insurance might not cover it; it's about $500. But if you've got the $$, it's worth a try. 30 day money back guarantee (no, I have no affiliation with the company:-) Also - have you tried tryptophan? It's an amino acid used for insomnia. Or you could get tested for neurotransmitter levels and find out what you are deficient in, then they prescribe the right balance of amino acids (www.NeuroRelief.com). I must admit I finally broke down and went on Elavil. It was a godsend. Been on it for years, along with tryptophan. Except in cases where I'm under extreme stress, it's done the trick. Valerian and St. John's didn't work for me either. I would find a good holistic practioner in your area. They can direct you toward more solutions. Good luck!

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you sound so frustrated...

I would start with a problem solver mindset...

What keeps you awake? (is it your racing mind? do you drift off and then wake up suddenly at the smallest noise? are you worried about something happening?)

What are you doing before bedtime? (I find that doing yoga, having warm tea helps. Also if your mind is worried about something happening, writing it all out helps... it may sound silly, but the physical ACT of writing it out helps feel as if it's been taken out of your brain and expressed. you don't have to read it again...)

how do you FEEL at bedtime? (tense? wired?)

I was like you when i was younger too. Couldn't sleep "wasn't sleepy", so I'd read under the covers until 1am or 2am and then fall asleep. I'd get caught reading in bed all the time.

If I don't try to go to bed my "natural" sleep time seems to be around 3am. I find that if I'm on the computer it's easy for me to stay awake all night. Reading makes me sleepy sometimes.

Let me know what happens at bedtime, and I might be able to help you out...

From what you've written, it sounds like your mind is going a mile a minute at night... which gets you all worked up.

Something that really helped slow down my brain is self-hypnosis. I downloaded an MP3 and listened to it on headphones, followed the instructions. If you find you can't follow the instructions because your brain is thinking of other things, try writing out all that you're worried about in a dollar-store journal beside your bed, and then try the self-hypnosis.

I've also read that taking a shower before bed helps - that the gradual lowering of the body temperature helps the release of the neurochemicals that make us sleepy.

FOr me, if I wash my face or brush my teeth, I tend to wake up, so I have to follow up with some breathing exercises. If it gets really bad, I take melatonin.

But, back to you... -I have to point out though, that even if you've tried a zillion things, if you don't do them in the right order sometimes, or the right combo then it might not help. If you get it right, then it might. It's a tricky thing, for sure. The way to figure it out is to take note of how you feel/think after you try it, and keep a record of it. After a time you'll notice patterns and then you'll have a lead to how to try. Thinking of nice things, and making a pleasant bedtime routine helps to get you settled down as well.

Some questions:

What;s your bedtime routine? Are you eating anything before bed? (if so, what? how many mins before you start getting ready for bed?) What are things that help get your mind relaxed? Your body relaxed?

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I've had HORRIBLE insomnia for 15 yrs, and tried everything too. One thing that helps is sleeping with an Edgar Cayce Pack on my stomach. Another name for it is the "Palma Cristi Pack" which means Palm of Christ Pack. Read about it on Google or ask at the Heritage Store Inc, on-line. You can read about Edgar's life history, in the book "There was a River". There are many books on him. He felt God told him how to heal, after he met whom he called the "Virgin Mother", in the woods, after he read the bible like 12 times by age 12...He has been suggested for sainthood, but has been too contraversial. He was from Viginia, and died in about 1949ish.

For me, the problem is realated to digestion, and started with anitbiotic use, as a teen, when my doctor put me on HUGE amounts of tetracylaline for acne. I have also radically changed my diet. (for example, one change is that I use stevia/xylitol now, instead of sugar, but I still use coffee in the AM)

Jasmine is way better than lavender. Google it... Also valarian takes WEEKS to work, and must be taken long-term. I go on and off it every 5-6 months, or the body will get "too used to it", and it won't be as effective.

I've found no perfect pill, instead I find that everything together adds up...and better digestion is my KEY.

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