How can I cure my chronic insomnia?

It's been going on for a few months now. I've had insomnia for several years now. I try to go to sleep but I just toss and turn for several hours. I think it's stress related. I heard Valerian is a very good supplement that will help your insomnia, but I don't know what the best option is. I really don't want to go see my doctor unless I really have to. I've tried all the tips like drinking warm milk, avoiding caffeine, taking a hot shower, etc.. Are there any over the counter sleep aids that do the trick? It's really effecting my social life and my school work. I eventually get close my eyes, but it seems like I only sleep for about 2-3 hours then I have to go to school, and its really doing a number on me both psychically and mentally. I've had insomnia for about 5-6 years now, but I think I've developed chronic insomnia now, and its just gotten worse. If there is any helpful advice or tips you could give me I would be very grateful.

Melatonin, nector of the gods of insomnia. Helps tremendously. I used to take this when I had insomnia as a child. It was more of an anxiety disorder for sleeping than insomnia, as I was averaging 2-4 hours a night. Along with this, drinking something WARM in general, usually warm milk will help de-stress you (I know you've tried it already).

Along with this, make sure you are sleeping on an appropriate style bed. Make sure your bed is 100% comfortable, and while you lie there...gently play soft quiet classical music. Turn the volume up only a little so you can just hear it faintly. If NONE of this works, try reading an extremely boring text book or epic poem. This will literally exhaust your brain until you fall asleep.

Perhaps you need to sleep next to a warm body? Try your dog or cat if without a partner, maybe a stuffed animal (lame, but helpful).

Goodluck.

Try gradually making your living quarters darker and darker toward the end of the evening, and turn off the TV about an hour before you plan to go to bed and sleep. Buy a small bottle of melatonin 3mg sublingual tablets at your local pharmacy. Put one under your tongue about 30 minutes before bedtime, then take a warm (not hot) bath (not a shower) and "soak" for about 15 minutes. Keep the lights low - take a candle in the bathroom if the lights in there are quite bright. If that all works, try cutting the melatonin pills in half with a pill cutter. I find that a 1.5mg dose works just fine for me.

get up at the same time every day, regardless of how you slept the night before. avoid alcoholic drinks at all costs until you can get into a regular sleep pattern. Eat a healthy diet, Set a specific bed time every night, between 7 and 9 hours before you have to get up. Half an hour before that time, start to slow your body down by listening to relaxing music and reading or taking a hot bath. Do not drink any caffeine containing beverages within 3 hours of your bed time. at the specific time( the same every night), go to bed, turn off the lights and close your eyes. if after about half an hour, you can't get to sleep, get up, have a glass of warm milk, get out a book and read for about 15 to 20 minutes, then go back to bed, and stay there until morning. Do not get up and pace, do not watch television. you are retraining your body to sleep. It may take more than a month, but if you keep to the same routine, you should be sleeping about 7 - 8 hours every night.