I don't want to be taking Zopiclone

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I wouldn’t touch Zopiclone with a long barge pole it’s not a nice tablet at all
Like olivias I would do everything you can by the natural route and a lot is about accepting your sleep pattern some people have this overriding panic that if they don’t get 8 hours every night there’s something wrong
The more you can accept a ‘bad’ night or a group of ‘bad’ nights the less it will happen a lot of non sleeping is fear of not sleeping
I think chemical laden sleeping tablets are a curse

I can tell you what I do, though I can't guarantee it will work for you as my circcumstances are probably quite different to yours.

First of all I stopped worrying about it This was easier once I retired and did not have to bounce out of bed at 6:30 to go to work.

I've suffered from chronic insomnia for over 40 years.
I take magnesium glycinate (but not every night), as that is most easily absorbed.

I also have a CD player with an audio book (free from the library) beside my bed because having tried all manner of things over the years (includig melatonin; seratonin, Co-enzyme 10, herbal and pharmaceutical sleep aids) nothing works permanently, so I may as well lie there enjoying a good story.

If I can get hold of lime flowers they are absolutely wonderful for a late night tea. Sadly, where I live now, it's too warm for lime trees.

Because I have a wheat intolerance, amazingly this can work in my favour. If I go to bed at 11pm and am still wide awake at 2am, a sandwich can knock me out immediately!
The body concentrates on processing the carbs and makes you tired. This is why people feel sleepy after Sunday dinner

No caffeine either, I drink Rooibos tea and decaf coffee but not after 4pm. I drink Buckwheat Tea which has a pleasant, slightly savoury taste which suits me better than the sweet fruit teas.

I use magnesium cream too because if I don't drink enough water, that can lead to RLSyndrome and night cramps.

I have a sipper bottle of water by my bed and take a great swig if I get cramp. By the time I've staggered to the loo, the cramp has gone.

I don't have a TV but I've heard watching before bed can affect the brain and prevents good sleep.

Most of all, try not to worry because unless you are deadly tired during the day and can't focus or work properly, the few hours you do sleep are probably enough.
They tend to be deeper and mor refreshing.

I recently read that the natural sleep pattern for many, many people, is to sleep 4 hours, then wake naturally, (in France some people get up and work, then go back to bed!)
if you can accept this and just listen to the radio, CD or even read a book, you will go back to sleep.

Scientific article here on the 4 hour sleep pattern:

www.sciencealert.com/humans-used-to-sleep-in-two-shifts-maybe-we-should-again#:~:text=It%20took%20some%20time%20for,process%20with%20a%20biological%20basis.

How come that ancient threads are resurrected? Usually there is an advert for a product in the reply but I don't think in this case.

It was oliviasmith, BlueSky, obviously a link to a seller. I have reported.

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