Frustrated beyond belief
I’ve suffered with chronic nightly insomnia for 11 months now. Ive never been a good sleeper, but this is severe. I’ve since been diagnosed with autoimmune diseases, which I believe were triggered by my lack of rest and recovery. I’ve tried various pills, treatments, meditation, sleep restriction and nothing has worked. Some nights I accept it as it is, other nights I get so frustrated. This has put a strain on my relationship. And thanks to the the autoimmune diseases has made it (seem) impossible to conceive. I feel so sad. I’m still young but feel like my life is over. I’m tired all the time, dizzy, headachey, depressed, in pain. I am having counselling which does help my mood but if I could just get some consistent sleep I believe I would have such a different outlook on life. Has anyone managed to overcome insomnia?
Thank you Lori. I haven’t actually been put on any medication for it. Just been told I have the antibodies. I have begged to be referred to a sleep clinic but they seem very adverse to referring if I don’t meet certain criteria (seem to be based around sleep apnea conditions, which I don’t think I have) thank you for the link. I’ll keep persevering. I do feel hopeful that I will get there one day, but some nights it feels impossible.
it’s infuriating! It’s like we don’t matter. I’m so sorry you’re also going through this. Have you tried cbti? I have a log in for one I tried if you would like me to private message you the details I don’t mind sharing it, if it can help someone I’d feel like it wasn’t a complete waste of my money! 
Hi
. There might be some clinics that deal specifically with sleep apnea, but most evaluate patients for multiple disorders. Have you considered a second opinion or getting an appointment without a referral? You could also call around to sleep clinics and get more information to present to you GP. - Lori (Team Member)
Hi
. My heart goes out to you. Many people eventually overcome insomnia or at least find treatments that help. The problem is that each case is different with different triggers and different factors that impact sleep. So it's hard to compare one case to another. Treating insomnia can require a lot of trial and error. You really have to keep advocating for yourself and keep trying different treatments until you finally get there. Has your insomnia worsened since you were diagnosed with the autoimmune diseases? Some medications for autoimmune diseases can cause insomnia, especially if they contain steroids. If you are taking any new medications, it might be worth checking with your pharmacist to see whether any of them are contributing. If so, maybe your doctor can prescribe something new. I am glad you are seeing a counselor, but I wish the visits helped more. Have you ever been referred to a sleep clinic? A sleep study might provide some clues to the cause of your insomnia. I hope others chime in here with more idea. I am sure you have already done some research in this community, but, in case you missed it, I wanted to share this article about treatment: https://insomnia.sleep-disorders.net/treatment. Maybe you will find something in the article you haven't tried yet. Wishing you the very best. - Lori (Team Member)
