text: i've been having trouble sleeping unless i take med or have the tv on i can't go to sleep. any suggestions?   there is nothing more miserable than lying awake knowing you need to sleep..nice relaxing baths and reading help me, but tv  is something i avoid in the bedroom...(a problem since my husband likes to fall asleep while watching, but he usually drifts off first, i turn it off, then have my quiet time to read and fall asleep)..but you said you can fall asleep with tv on? is it a problem to just leave it on? or does it wake you up later? if i wake up in middle of night and cannot fall back asleep, i try a couple of things...think about something really monotonous (sort of like "counting sheep") ...if i try to start mentally reciting a poem, or song (t'was the night before christmas works for me) i don't get too far before i fall asleep..if it is really a bad night, i get up and go to a different room and read on the couch until i feel sleepy...a change of setting seems to help..this all may seem kooky, but have worked for me since college (12 years ago...)  also, i am a pharmacist and don't think use of meds occasionally is bad...they are available because some people truly need their help...however, they won't be of benefit for long periods since the body adjusts..