How many people have chronic insomnia or understand what it is?

[John_Doesnt]

My insomnia is severe enough that I have to take medication for the rest of my life. I don't talk to too many people, but some of the people I talk to think it's weird that I take sleeping pills every night.
I'm just wondering if there is a large enough population who understand that some people HAVE to take pills to sleep every night. Or if it's only a minority of people with true insomnia.

Yes, I have insomnia too and take medication

I don't have insomnia, but understand that people have to take meds every night

I don't understand why some people can't sleep without pills

I believe insomnia is just in someones heads and they're addicted to sleeping pills

I don't understand anything about chronic insomnia

[Octavius]

I used to take melatonin when I was like 15-18. I had several experiences where I lay in my bed all night just staring at the ceiling in the pitch black until it was morning. Were you clinically diagnosed by a doctor and given a prescription or is what you're using over the counter?

[John_Doesnt]

I've been clinically diagnosed, I see a psychologist every week, a psychiatrist every month for medication. I also have bipolar disorder that puts me on disability.

[XNicholeMariex3]

I have insomnia sometimes, but only to an extent. I haven't had to take medication for it though. My brother has had to do that, I think he still does too.

[SonicRiver]

I answered yes but I don't take anything other than over the counter pills. If my boyfriend stays over I can sleep without them by listening to him sleep.

[John_Doesnt]

Nothing works for me beyond pills. Even sex doesn't put me to sleep. My gf's have gotten pissed thinking they didn't satisfy me because I never fall asleep.

[SonicRiver]

There's an underlying cause. If you can figure out what it is you can work at trying to modify for it. My brain doesn't want to shut off. So no screens in bed and I concentrate on breathing. Yoga has helped with that a lot.

BUT by I have struggled w this when I'm on my own at night the biggest struggle is getting myself to actually go lay down in bed.