Your best option would be to get off the night shift if at all possible; it's very hazardous to your health. But, I know in these tough economic times jobs aren't raining from the sky and you have to do what you have to do.

I would suggest trying all the things recommended for a good night sleep for everyone. Invest in some blackout curtains and turn off all light sources (alarm clocks, computers, tv, etc.). Develop a bedtime routine and stick with it. Have some safe carbs before bed. Use your bedroom for sleep (and sex) only. Consider using a white noise machine if noise is a problem where you live.

One suggestion specific to your situation: Perhaps you should stop trying to go to sleep as soon as you get home. If you were working during the day you wouldn't do that. Spend some time after you get home doing things around the house before you go to bed.

All the symptoms you describe can be explained by chronic sleep deprivation. Without enough sleep on a daily basis you build up a sleep debt that causes chronically high cortisol levels, weight gain, mood swings, and neurotransmitter deficiencies, among other things. The sad reality is, most doctors will just prescribe you a sleeping pill and send you home, and if it doesn't work they'll just give you a different one. That's what happens when you're trained to treat the symptoms rather than the cause of the problem. Unfortunately, the root cause of your problem is working at night and sleeping during the day because our metabolisms are linked to our circadian rhythms, which means if you're sleeping at the wrong hours your metabolism and therefore mental functioning and overall health will decline as a result. I can tell you things that have helped many people with sleep problems but until you fix this cause none of them will solve the problem, only alleviate some of the symptoms. You probably have some degree of adrenal fatigue, so the paleo diet will help with that since it's low in sugar, which will keep your cortisol levels stable. Hopefully you can find a job with regular hours, and once you do that, you'll need some time to rest and recover to let your adrenals heal, which they will in due time. Also, exercise is important, since it boosts your metabolism and as many people can attest to, will help you sleep more soundly at night, which will increase your levels of growth hormone and allow your body to repair the damage it undergoes every day http://www.huffingtonpost.com/qanta-ahmed/how-exercise-enables-slee_b_462156.html.

Things that can alleviate the symptoms of sleep deprivation and lower cortisol levels are: -l-theanine -5htp -phosphorylated serine -holy basil -lavender -krill oil

I hope this helps you, and remember, focus on the root cause of the problem and the rest will fall into place.

You might try getting rid of your bed and sleeping on the floor. I have a somewhat irregular schedule due to college, and I've found that sleeping on a hard surface does wonders for your sleep. We were created to sleep on the ground, just like we were made to go barefoot. Your spine is naturally aligned, and most of your weight is supported on your bones instead of soft tissue. I've noticed less pain in my back, neck, and shoulders when I wake up, contrary to what you would think going into it.

I use a yoga mat and a thin folded over blanket as my 'mattress', and I use no pillow. I used more padding when I first started, so work your way into it.

I have gone to a more broken sleep schedule, which research shows is what used to be normal before electricity. I usually wake up once in the middle of the night, but since this seems weird to me I just try to go back to bed. Apparently, people used to read or do other intellectual activities during this time, but now we're supposed to get a straight eight hours or else...

Have you tried melatonine, you can get it at the health food store. That usually works !