Insomnia sucks

Well, I have been suffering from terrible insomnia as of late, and was wondering if anyone had suggestions on ways to overcome this?  Honestly, any suggestion is appreciated at this point in time...

try reading Battlefield Earth

If it is real insomnia, which is a medical condition, you should go see a doctor as it can be indicative of other problems and can really mess a person up if not treated appropriately.  If its just the occasional trouble sleeping, staring at a computer and/or tv screen right before bed can contribute to that. 

"Chew some Valerian root and get more exercise." 

. . . but yeah see a doc.

Tylenol PM and a shot.
*^ not sarcasm^*

I find reading heavy philosophy or serious history is just right.  Six pages of Emanuel Kant works.  I do not drink (given your age, neither should you), but I have found other methods, none of which I advocate for you in an open forum. 

I have also found a long, hot soaking bath to be efficacious.  I recommend a towel or bath pillow behind your head/neck.  Do not read, but bath salts are a nice touch and in my case, add to the relaxation.  No chocolate or stimulants containing caffeine for at least 6 hours before you would like to sleep.  Ditto for sugar. 

Kristen is also correct in that if this is an ongoing problem you need to consult a physician.

Two additional things to help:

1) Set a schedule, and train yourself to fall asleep to that schedule.  Wake up on one, too.  I'm pretty much at the point that I fall asleep at 11:00 every night, and wake up around 6:30, even on weekends, unless something major disrupts that pattern (like an Astral Juggernaut...).

2) Exercise.  Doing even a good walk will get your body ready for some rest.  Besides, it's good for you for other reasons, too.

2) Exercise.  Doing even a good walk will get your body ready for some rest.  Besides, it's good for you for other reasons, too.

Thanks everybody!  I went to a doctor today and they prescribed some melatonin for me.  If it works, then, well, I should be fine... If not, then.... Well, we'll cross that bridge when that time comes...

And Geoff, the reason I quoted your post is because it made me laugh a little bit... The reason I am having this issue (or at least what we are attributing it too) is because, 5 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with severe patellar tendonitis in both knees.  The reason this is causing my problem is because I am a runner (I compete on my school's cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field teams, running the 5k, 8k, and 10k), and the only cure for tendonitis (well, the only real cure) is to rest and take anti-inflammatories until it recovers... But dropping from 60-75 miles a week to nothing for a while (finally up to 2.5 miles a day now, but it is a slow process) caused my entire system to go, well, insane... And, to add insult to injury, it hurt to walk across my very small campus for a long while...

Sorry for that rant guys... Just needed to vent a little bit... Again, thanks to everyone who offered some advice!

i suffer not only from clinical insomia, but a mood disorder is usually the cause of such a thing. You can get something called melatonin over the counter. It's a natural vitamin thingy that is a pill form of the "sleepy" chemical your brain naturally creates. Take 1 an hour before you plan to sleep and then just relax for that hour. I would say if that doesn't help, seriously try seeing a doctor. Hopefully it's not insomnia because insomnia sucks...