How to battle PMO-related insomnia?

Many of us have experienced this. After masturbation you become immediately tired and that helps you sleep, but it is an extremely unhealthy way of doing it. Eventually the brain will get used to it and stop inducing a natural sleep(secteting mealtonin and relaxing).It should be back to normal after a few days. Stay strong brother and avoid computer/phone screens before bed - it helped me the most getting a good sleep.

 

In my experience it tends to get worse to a point, usually not being able to sleep at all, then gets better, though it may come back at times as you continue with the process. If you are already finding it impossible to get some sleep you are probably at the peak of it. As for how long it might last, well thats different for everyone. It seems to be related to just how severe your addiction was. For myself as someone who used to edge for hours, I was like a withdrawing junkie, I didn't sleep at all for days, plus barely getting anything before it got to that point (like and hour or two). It does resolve itself eventually. Your mind just gets to the point where its so tired you'll fall asleep no matter what, and then its much easier after that. If you need sleep for school, besides what NewGeorge said about screens because that really does make a big difference, the only thing that will probably work is sleeping pills. Now I don't think you should take them at all if you can avoid it honestly, they can screw with your natural ability to sleep, not to mention they're potentially addictive, but as long as its just a short term emergency situation they will probably get the job done. Just be prepared for the insomnia to come back, or maybe even get worse, when you stop taking then again.

 

Oh, and I should mention don't give in just to get some sleep. I know it can feel enticing when you're very tired, belive me I know, but a) you've already made progress to get to the point where its interfereing with your sleep and b) it doesn't always have the desired effect of letting you fall asleep, especially if you're already in withdrawal. At times for myself it actually made things worse than if I just rode it out. Remember, the insomnia is a symptom of your brain correcting its neurochemical imbalance. I know you said the timing is poor which is why I gave the extreme suggestion of medication, but the more you can just let your brain balance itself, the better.

 

You could speak with a doctor about the insomnia issue. They could prescribe you a small amount of sleeping medication you could use to get through finals week. Postponing recovery is not a good idea. If you want to do it, start today. Now, letting insomnia ride itself out is probably healthier, but I think it doesn’t make sense to add stress and lack of sleep to finals and projects while starting your recovery.

 

I may be wrong, but I get the feeling that your night is not the problem. It is what you do in the day.
What are you eating? Fresh fruit and veggies? Or chocolate and snacks? Are you pounding caffeine sodas or drinking herbal teas or water? Are you taking time to get some sunshine and fresh air? Are you following a work schedule or throwing yourself into one project after another and not really getting anything done?
Are you in front of a screen all day? Most of it just flipping around the net?
Most students that I know would accomplish more by doggedly devoting to themselves to a single task for an hour or two then stopping. But they pretend they can multitask and end up more frustrated than anything else. I'm not saying that's you, but think about it.
Now, there could be a lot of reasons why, and trying to kick PMO is definitely not making your life easier, but it should ultimately make it better.

 

You make some very good points that I feel are too often overlooked. The simple things can make a massive difference. I do feel like quitting PMO is a sacrifice of short term quick gratification for long term benefits. I feel like sometimes things get worse before they get better is all.

 

Bro, I just know that student life can be really difficult. I am sure you know of perfectly nice and well behaved students who suddenly had serious problems or had to drop out. Maybe you wondered what was up because they were always such "normal" people. Well, it happens.
So don't think you are weird or abnormal or a loser or anything like that.
The only thing that has really and truly worked for me when I am experiencing insomnia like yours is pulling out an old book that I love and know very well. It doesn't matter what book, but it should be one that you've read before and like. Nothing too exciting. Maybe something like To Kill a Mockingbird. I find the effect calming and lulling. I might even read the words quietly aloud. And don't read in bed.
I apologize if I told you a lot of stuff you already knew. But I think you were wise to seek opinions because it allowed you to talk about how you feel. And that always helps.
Good luck, brother.

 

I totally agree, brother. 100%.

 

If the insomnia is truly related to no PMO, I unfortunately found that it takes time and there's not a lot you can do about it until it passes.

I tried melatonin, many types of sleep aids, things that made me drowsy and anything that would help me get to sleep, but nothing worked. I'd say it got to a point where each day my sleep deteriorated more and more until I was frustrated and knackered all the time, but there's really only three choices you can make, stop no PMO, stay up extremely late each day to force your brain to sleep or bear with it and hold out.

I even had periods where it would come back and then leave again as well as developing reverse insomnia (where you wake up and can't get back to sleep), but it does pass eventually. I know you say you cant afford to have this happen but if not now, when? I used that excuse for years until I was in an extremely dark place and had to do something about it, while in the short term you'll feel like absolute rubbish, it's better to deal with it sooner than later as it only gets harder to shake the more you let it control you.

Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to, and for me I did whatever it took to have my sanity back.

 

One thing I have found useful is to let go of the anxiety. I know sleep is important, but rest is good too. Instead of telling yourself that you cannot afford to lose sleep, tell yourself that it is OK to lie in bed awake resting. Could it be that the anxiety that you are (understandably) layering onto your insomnia is making the insomnia worse? I would try to stay calm and relaxed and allow yourself to rest instead of sleep. When your psyche has got use to the idea that there is nothing to worry about then (I hope) your sleep will return.