Insomnia is ruining my AP attempts; Advice?

[Mattoid]

Hey Guys

After taking sleeping pills for a little over three years I finally quit on the 1st January along with Tobacco, Booze and junk-food, needless to say i haven't been sleeping well and thus can't project. I haven't felt so much as a vibration this year despite attempting to project most evenings. I was up 72 hours before i finally crashed for 4 hours last night. I don't even recall falling asleep actually, I was just laying in bed, irritated by a migraine and then bam, woke up to my kiddo shouting for me in the early morning because she was having a bad dream. This is becoming an all too common theme, and i honestly don't know what to do. My mind feels like it's pacing, I try meditation to quiet my mind, but then i feel like I'm trying to decode subconscious thoughts (or something) unintentionally, i say that because i won't be thinking of anything, yet there's a feeling of high concentration followed by a feeling or a shadow of a thought that i can't quite grasp.

I've tried going for a jog on a night, i stay away from sugary foods, I read a lot, listen to calming music, Bwgen. Marijuana seems to be the only thing that's helped but i don't want another dependency.

Does anyone have any suggestions? 

[Xanth]

A trip to the doctor seems to be in order.
You might have a physical medical condition.  It's always best to get that checked out first.

[Alex-Anderson]

I feel for you, but funny enough sometimes lack of sleep for me stimulated the experience and allowed me to comfortably slip into an OBE/Projection than otherwise. However I suffer from sleep problems as well, more than likely yours is probably stressed induced where you have become too aware of the issue which in itself is triggering/fuelling the insomnia.
 
I had problems where I would awaken several times during the night and then have problems falling back to sleep. Often maybe just waking two or three times a night for a few minutes was enough to shatter my energy the following day.
 
I initially took some sleeping tablets (prescribed), tried melatonin, various herbal tablets, reducing caffeine, alcohol, eating times etc but all didn't help. I realised I had developed more of a deep rooted problem induced by knowing I was not sleeping properly which then fuelled the brain chatter or panic upon waking or thinking negatively before going to bed – the brain can be real stubborn sometimes! Admittedly the medicated sleeping tablets did work wonders for a short period of time but it did not solve my sleeping patterns long term (which often is the case is if there are more deep rotted stress/issues).
 
However I eventually fell back into my sleeping patterns which are better than previous but not the best - I have come to accept that we are all different and maybe I'm just not someone who sleeps the standard eight hours every night.
 
As mentioned above I would first visit your DR for more advice. However if they just prescribe sleeping tablets and that doesn't cure it, I would highly recommend acupuncture and massage therapy – it can work wonders in reducing stress. Lastly remember you're not alone...hopefully you can sort this out!!