How long do you actually sleep?
Hi my name is Angel. I have insomnia and wake up periodically during the night, so you can assume how that is. So on average I would have to say I get a total of 2 and a half hours of sleep every night. I go to my room at 7:00 and rise at 6:00 to get ready for school. I usually manage to fall asleep at 9:30 due to lack of sleep and mental hypnosis, a different one every night. And when I wake up it takes at least half an hour to get back to sleep. So thats my story, thanks to anyone who actually reads it, it means alot to me.
@Angelwithbleedingwrists
My heart is full hearing of what (I think) is one of the more difficult maladies. I suffered since I was a little boy my father would tell me, "I can have you taken away in the middle of the night". I need to take sleeping pills. When I was younger, I'm 54 now, I could handle the lack of sleep better, but as I got to be around 40 I was unable to remain sane missing a couple of nights of sleep in a row.
Before I had children (I had some more time and it was quieter) I would meditate for two 1-hour sessions and that helped enormously. I wish I had something more intelligent to say-- but be courageous.
@JeffWM
I like your meditation technique and I'm curious as to how it helped in your case. I, myself, meditate each night and find that it helps me collect me thoughts before bed.
@Reyy
I can say it has turned my life completely around. I was able to be free from anything that might be addictive. (This includes regularly drinking coffee.) I do take medications that are prescribed (I think of them as I do the eye glasses I wear) but I definitely need a real reason why I should take a medication. (I broke my wrist and had to have surgery. The surgeon gave me a Rx for Oxycotin, an opiate which in my opinion is no different than any other opiate. I opted for Tylenol. (No! Not those sissy 'gel-caps'. I mean the dry, tough to swallow ones. 
). It has been over 15 years now and it has been the longest period in my entire life that I have not abused some substance.
Look at some of the studies yourself. I don't even want to sway your judgment by pointing to any in particular. Search for "meditation" and pretty much any malady. (I don't think there has been any studies concerning 'toe fungus', but I could be wrong.)
@JeffWM
That's awesome, I'm a firm believer that meditation and other similar modalities are the way of the future so it's always great to hear from somebody whose been able to embrace that wholeheartedly. :) Cheers to your 15 years of sticking to your guns and I wish you 15 more years and beyond of the same!
Moving this thread (and this forum!) to sit within Healthy Living: Sleeping Well
@Angelwithbleedingwrists
While I don't have chronic insomnia, I do know one person who suffers from delayed sleep onset insomnia and he gets 3-4 hours of actual sleep on average, so I know how challenging it can be especially when you have early classes. On a side note, I have a friend who practices hypnosis and he taught me a few things then wrapped up by saying that self-hypnosis is significantly harder for him. Also, it's cool that you've been able to perform multiple various types of self-hypnosis to help with your imsomnia. I wish you the best of luck in continuing down the path of you how you best approach and remedy your particular manifestation of insomnia.