Dana, I recommend using a sleep mask with the melatonin as the darkness seems to trigger a stronger response, at least for me.

Do not Ambien and Social Media.

This. THIS. Also do not Ambien and Amazon, eBay, or Etsy.

Be aware that generic Ambien from different manufacturers may have different side-effects. I discovered this when it became apparent that a particular generic version game me the bonus gift of hallucinations before sleep. Hey look, the curtains are melting! The light fixture has grown arms and is doing an interpretive dance!

BT, Ryan looks like such a big kid. I'm not at all surprised he has valuable egg information to share.

So, ambien - yea or nay?

Ambien gave me about 10 good nights of sleep taken on an as-needed basis (about once every 3-5 days) before it stopped working for me. I took it 2-3 more times, varying conditions (timing, etc.) to see if that would change how well it worked. When it became clear to me that it was no longer working, I then began wanting very much to take it every night even though I knew it was not helping. That frightened me to the point where I took the half-full bottle to the drop box at the police station (local don't flush your meds into the water supply initiative) so that it would not be in the house with me. I told my clinical nurse (like an NP only specifically trained to manage psychotropic meds) about it. She was quite glad to know that I had responded to the weirdness in an appropriate way.

I haven't used Ambien in years. More recently, I found the singular PM portion of Tylenol PM and a blackout curtain.

Like Burrell, darkness is a boon to my sleep life.

In all my purging and tossing, I was rewarded for what stuff I DO keep by finding a piece of fabric (dark purple sheer) that I now drape over my super-bright clockface. I can still see the numbers, but the glow is eliminated. Helpful! (the fabric is a scrap from a wedding I did in 2005)

Also, especially in this bitter weather, having a vaporizer (super cheap Vicks version) really helps my sleep. And ear plugs. And sleeping like a 4 with pillows next to my knees.

Plus, my nightly happiness practice. (Day 131 of the 21 day program!!)

My sleep is a production, yo.

But is all works together to give me the best sleep of my entire life.

I was rewarded for what stuff I DO keep by finding a piece of fabric (dark purple sheer) that I now drape over my super-bright clockface. I can still see the numbers, but the glow is eliminated. 

That's what I need!

I was about to say "Next time someone feels it appropriate to unload Ambien send it to me" but thanks to that Commie in the White House I have health insurance again :)

BT, Ryan looks like such a big kid. I'm not at all surprised he has valuable egg information to share.

Indeed! I have shared with him all your comments, which created a beaming boy. Now he is at school again. This is becoming a habit.

I was rewarded for what stuff I DO keep by finding a piece of fabric (dark purple sheer) that I now drape over my super-bright clockface. I can still see the numbers, but the glow is eliminated.

Oh, that's a good idea! I have eliminated all blue and green lights from my bedroom except the bright green lights on the TV box. Maybe I can find some fabric around here that will turn them orange.

I should get a Vicks vaporizer. The one winter I used one, it helped a lot with the dry air.

I am so sleepy today, it feels like I'm drugged. Boss canceled our morning meeting, so I went back to bed and slept until noon, and I'm still yawning around in my pajamas. Maybe I'm fighting off a cold; that's what my mom always said when she was sleepy for no good reason.

edited If I'm going to say it a million times, it ought to be interesting.