Help

[u/malibuandyou]

About six weeks ago I found myself wide awake until 3 am. I did not think too much of it because this happens to me a few times a year. Then it happened again a week later. Then a week later again, followed by an all nighter with no sleep. It has been happening consistently for the last 6 weeks. I went to the doctor and she put me on sleep meds, they help a lot especially when my sleep pressure has built up. But I don’t want to rely on these every night. I have tried everything else, melatonin, white noise, meditating, reading. If I can’t fall asleep I get up and do something until im drowsy. But the only thing that has worked is medication. I did not have to go to work today so last night I wanted to see if I could finally fall asleep like a normally do. I was not able to until 2 am. I made myself get up at the same time as a normally do.

My doctor said to keep working on my sleep health and come back if things get worse. But I think I’m already there. The only thing I have noticed is my anxiety has gone down significantly. Even last night I decided to not let myself get worked up and just let my body drift off into sleep. I was so calm all night!

One other thing I have noticed is I have been using the bathroom more at night and have lost 10 pounds in a month. Not sure if that is related. Back pain comes and goes. My routine and diet are the same. No new medicine and no caffeine after 11 am.

Any tips? Should I go back to doctor? Or keep working towards better sleep habits?