Due to having had auditory hallucinations for a while now I cannot fall asleep. Sometimes it can take many hours and then my sleep is broken - my bladder needing attention is the main reason. I am 77 and also have IBS so my gut problem can also prevent me falling and staying asleep. I have seen mental health workers and have been referred back to my GP. The first steps may be a non-addictive sleeping tablet or similar. Laxatives for the IBS have only made things worse for me so I’m not sure what else there can be. I would welcome suggestions.
Do you see a good psychotherapist? I’m a retired one and I worked with lots of people struggling with health problems as well as mental health ones; they’re inexorably intertwined. There are so many factors involved in sleep troubles and digestive problems that I feel like giving you suggestions would be misdirected. But one useful tool for to address problems of all sorts is to journal about your sleep, IBS, bladder, moods, etc. Another is to practice mindful meditation, either with a teacher/therapist or a meditation apps, or both. I hope you find some relief! I know how hard it is to sleep poorly.
There are so many things you can do 
- Bladder, drink lots during the day but stop drinking at least 1-1.5 hours before bed
- IBS so many things laxatives not the best try exercise eg: walking and hydration and fibre to keep regular
- Find out whether you have any food intolerances there are blood tests you can do to see if you have food intolerances then you just stop eating those foods
- See preferably an integrative GP or naturopath or herbalist to see if supplements can help
- I did a course of 5 sessions of gut hypnotherapy you can do it by Telehealth if needs be - I don’t know what country you’re in. I now have no bowel or stomach symptoms and my stress went from 20 to 2 and depression 10 to 0. My stomach symptoms improved by 70%. I can’t believe it and no anxiety symptoms either.
- Sorry out your sleep my best is to have tryptophan containing foods as a snack before bed. Also waking up in the morning and going outside first thing in the am if weather ok that sets your circadian rhythms.
- There are other tests you can do to see how your gut is working like hair samples, faecal samples etc
- Good luck there’s hope
Oops should say sort out your sleep issues
Thank you for your support.
All the best I know what it’s like to have issues like this and pretty much solved now so I just wish that for everyone
There’s also melatonin capsules that might be better than sleeping tablets but speak to your health care professional