(As I couldn't decide whether to put it here or in the "Headspace"-section, I decided to put it to Health...)
Since a few weeks I am barely able to get some sleep. Although being dead tired I just lie awake, getting up in the morning with a top-grade headache.
Since years, I've sometimes got problems with sleeping, but never as heavy as now.
I've been taking valerian pills a few times, realizing that one pill is not enough to calm me down, but I am afraid to take more (mostly because I am put off by adverse effects which might occur..).
At the same time I have pretty violent and disgusting nightmares :/
Last week I dreamed of intervewing a guy while he was chewing on human limbs all the time, on Monday I woke up because of dreaming someone was cutting off my thumb with a kitchen knife ...  D:

(Well, you may probably think I might be a psycho now ...)
Anyone ideas what also could help against times of insomnia - maybe some homeopathic medication?

Not sure about the homeopathic medication besides drinking camomile tea as its a mild sedative. But what is going on in your life right now? I think dreams are your sunconscious trying to deal with certain things, maybe buy a dream dictionary or look online to see what they might mean? They usually arent as straight forward as they appear to be. Sorry I cant be of more help.

I've honestly suffered from insomnia on and off for my entire life. Eventually I realised that my insomnia reappeared or grew much worse when I was stressed, worrying and upset about things. For example, I've just upped and left my hometown all by myself to live 200 miles away from everyone I love and I haven't slept since Saturday...if anything is going on in your life right now, I'm guessing that is related to your insomnia.

As for the nightmares, I'm not really sure what that could be. As goth girl suggested, those too could be related to a subconcious battle you're fighting with yourself at the moment.

If it IS stressful life situations causing this, you need to work on your stress levels and hopefully, your sleep should get better and less troubled. Good luck!

I generally have more trouble getting to sleep when I have been eating badly and not exercising. I find that general good health is helpful in that area.

As for the dreams, I get those sometimes. I think usually they are worse when I'm stressed or going through something difficult (bad stuff in relationships, that sort of thing). Probably the best thing for this is to sort out whatever is stressing you out in your life.

Maybe some counselling could help you figure out the whole dream thing, if it disturbs you that much? I feel you on the insomnia though. Oh boy, do I ever. I've tried pretty much everything that's supposed to help you sleep, to no avail. But in case you haven't tried them already:
-Warm milk (tryptophan in the milk should encourage sleep)
-Valerian (no worries about getting addicted or adverse effects - it's herbal, so pretty much safe. I read somewhere that you have to take it consistantly for 2 weeks or so to get any real effect though)
-Exercise and generally being active throughout the day
-No exercise/food/minimal water 2 or more hours before bed
-Not using you bedroom for anything other than sleeping (although I pretty much have no choice in this)
-Healthy diet in general and keeping well hydrated
-Comfortable, quiet, dark sleep environment
-Not using the computer or watching too much TV before bed
-Getting out of bed every half hour or so to do something if still not asleep

I also find that when I'm very stressed (like now), it flares up and becomes much worse. If all else fails, maybe you could go to a doctor about it? At the very least they can give you some sleeping pills just so you can get some good rest. Good luck.

I am caring for a healthy diet most of the time - also related to the fact I mostly eat vegetables and stuff (because of being a vegetarian.)

Maybe it's related to my studies beginning soon, my driver's license I have to finish asap and problems in my family... Indeed there is pretty much going on in my life, but I always thought I could handle this - stress has mostly displayed through phases of depression or being terribly bitchy or so, but never really through things like those now, esp. the dream-related stuff.

I'm gonna look for some dream dictionary online, hoping to find something helpful :)

Thanks to you all :)

i have really horrible dreams. my poor housemate woke up to me banging on her door telling her there was a murderer in our house.


so i totally sympathetic with you.
I have a dream bible thingy that tells you what dreams mean, it makes me feel better. just pm me if you wanna talk :D

ah i used to get meds for my insomnia when i was younger but then i got a bit better but now im worse again annoyingly. before my results day i diddnt sleep atall for 4 solid days

I can't sleep due to stress - when I'm at uni I'm often down to about three hours a night. When I go home however, where I can trust my parents to answer the door/phone/wake me up if necessary, I sleep a normal amount. Would a change of scenery help? Knowing that someone else is there to take care of you really does reduce your stress load.