Honestly I think different things work for different people. What has worked for me is the following:
- Do some light stretching.
- Get off devices (such as computer and phone) around 30 mins to an hour before going to bed.
- Read a book for 30 mins to an hour before going to sleep.
- Put on a sleep mask.
If I do find myself waking up in the middle of the night, i resist the urge go on my phone. Instead I read or listen to an audiobook.
I'm also trying to get to bed at a decent hour and am trying to have at least 7 hours sleep.
One technique I used to use when work was on my mind stopping me sleeping was to construct a stupid boring but pleasant scenario (nothing sexual!) and focus on that. One I remember was I did something to help the royal family and in return they made me a Duke. The major advantage was priority treatment at airport check-in. (I was flying weekly at this point). Drove all the other stuff out of my brain allowing sleep.
I've tried plenty: melatonin, diphenhydramine, doxylamine succinate, CBD oil. I've tried taking magnesium, but I'm not sure whether it helps. So far the only thing that consistently works is stilnox. I only took it occasionally, half or 1/3 tablet at a time, and around 1-3 times a month, and you shouldn't take it long term. I wish I knew that I could get it from Fanda. I got it prescribed from GP.
I am discovering that apparently sleeping pills which I thought were special medicine formulated just to induce sleep is actually a catch-all name for for anti-depressants, relaxants and antihistamine that cause drowsiness as a side effect.....
I remember that my jar of Nytol sleeping tablets had a warning, "may cause drowsiness". Shit, who would have thought that?
Correct for the "gen 1" and maybe some "gen2" OTC drugs.
The latest drugs, mostly prescription, claim to be more targeted. That doesn't mean they are any safer.
I think getting some morning sun is the best approach. That stimulates your body's natural melatonin production and sync ups your sleep cycle. Talking melatonin pills is like taking testosterone supplements: it will mess you up eventually. If your body stopped producing melatonin or testosterone, there is a reason. Don't just treat the symptoms.
Fanda sell 10 Zopiclone for 120hkd. I buy 20 stilnox (zolpidem) for 250hkd at a place in causeway bay. Bought cheaper generic version of latter, but seem less effective. Found 4 places in CB that sell benzod otc, which can help, but probably not a route to take if the Z drugs work for you