That's so frustrating!
I do that, too, some nights. If it gets to be 2-3 nights in a row that I can't sleep, I will take a "sleepy pill" so I can be funtional the next day. I seem to be so creative when I should be sleeping!

I'm lucky that I have never had this problem, but I do have a puppy that seems to have to potty about an hour or so before I have to get up and I do have a hard time going to sleep then ... soooo I mentally draw stipples or feathers or any free motion quilting design and it makes me fall alseep in no time (unless DH or dear dog are snoring too loud). What I can't think about is new projects or what I'm working on or that will really wake me up and I can't get back to sleep.

Susan

I think menopause has made this a real problem for me. I can't take anything with benadryl because it gives me hallucinations (the ..."PMs" usually include that.) I keep ambien and sonata for those times where I just can't take it anymore. I can fall asleep fine, but then pop awake during the night, nothing hurts, not worried about anything, etc. Not fun at all.

Don't laugh. When I can't sleep and my mind won't settle down, I sing to myself. Just the words running though my head - I'm not actually singing. But concentrating on the words makes all those other thoughts go away. I 'sing' whatever comes to mind. Sometimes hymns, sometimes childrens' songs. And I usually sing the same song over and over.

This works 95% of the time. It doesn't work so well when I'm really anxious about something. Then I try an OTC.

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only person who gets those weird hallucinations. I force myself to open my eyes and look around to convince my brain that those things really aren't happening. I've found reading before sleeping helps me the most.

Insomnia is a real problem for me. Many nights 1 - 2 hours is the most I get. For the past two years it has been worse than ever. I just get up and do something. I worked nights for many years, which seemed to help, but now I have a long commute and can't take anything or I can't wake up enough to make the drive. Wish I had an answer for you and me both!

I have been taking a product called Reliv Classic and Reliv FibRestore and I sleep much better. It is a natural product although pricey look it up on line.

I was having times of no sleep, done this for years in the service and out. I finaly got a Doc to listen to me. Divalproex, mood stabilzation??? is what i take 250mg Sleep like a baby

I've that problem too, big time.
I got Melatonin prescribed. It's for sale 'over the counter' but then there's only 0,2 mg in the tablets, I got 5 mg. (I'm talking about in the Netherlands of course)
Melatonin is the stuff your brain makes and that's making you sleepy in the evening and wake up when it 's getting light again, so takes care of a 'normal' rythm.
It works for me, is not addictive and I'm fit and wide awake in the morning, not drouzy or sleepy at all at daytime.

Bless your hearts. I had that from about age 45 until about 55. If I slept 3 hours it was a miracle. Got lots done but was miserable during the day. Then it went away. Now when I can't turn off my brain, I say every Bible verse I've memorized throughout the years ending with the 23rd Psalm, which I seldom make it all the way through before I fall asleep. Besides Menop, my problem was being able to just relax and fall asleep.