I've dealt with insomnia since childhood. I've seen Drs and other pros, so if you have ideas, I've probably tried them. I've been forced to embrace it. It's infrequent enough. Most of my best ideas, best work, and education has come in the wee hours anyway. The last couple of nights have been different though. I may be experiencing mild anxiety attacks. Typically I'll stay in bed and watch or read some good non-fiction - straight - through - the - night. The last two nights I could not stay in bed. I bolted out, cleaned house, shot hoops from 3-4am, went for a swim, went through every drawer in the house organizing, took the car out for a random cruise. All of this done in a sort of wired angry manner. So it's after 11 here. I'm pretty worn from the sleeplessness. But I'm sort of frightened to even try because I can already feel it coming.
It sounds like you have been rewarding your insomnia and literally training yourself not to sleep.
This is what it sounds like you me when i read what you said
1) Most of my best ideas, best work, and education has come in the wee hours anyway.
Your mind is now looking forward to late night so you can get these ideas, get work done, and learn things. It's a reward for being awake.
2) Typically I'll stay in bed and watch or read some good non-fiction - straight - through - the - night.
You've created a pattern for your body and mind to follow. Stay awake, and i get to watch tv. Watch tv, i get endorphins. Stay awake, i get endorphins. Go to sleep, no endorphins. Stay awake!
3) The last two nights I could not stay in bed. I bolted out, cleaned house, shot hoops from 3-4am, went for a swim, went through every drawer in the house organizing, took the car out for a random cruise. All of this done in a sort of wired angry manner.
Your body is craving stimulation and is getting anxious because it's not receiving it. You're like an addict.
The way I would break that cycle is to exercise as much as I can handle until my body is physically exhausted. Put aside all entertainment. Get the tv out of the room. Literally out of the room.
Force myself to stay in bed until morning. If i can't sleep, or sleep and wake up, i will hate just lying there for hours. That's good. I'm training my mind and body to hate it. I'm not rewarding being awake, I'm penalizing it. And like an addict I know I will relapse when I'm weak, so get the temptation out of the room. Break the cycle.
Then do it again.
When i say exercise to exhaustion, I mean I would cancel all plans, get someone else to watch the kids, and get on the treadmill and walk for 3 hours. Maybe run some, but mostly walk. Uphill at 3.5 mph or faster if I'm able. I'm not talking about a good workout, just a long one. I don't care if my muscles are sore or my heart rate was high, I care about burning off my glycogen stores. Walk around the mall. Walk up and down stairs. As much constant steady movement as i can handle safely.
But that's just me.
I get that you've heard this before but you've been breaking the rules.
disclaimer
i am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor.