Insomnia...Ugh!

A.,
I suffered from insomnia for years also. It stinks being a tired mom. About 2 1/2 years ago, I cut way back on sugar and acid and msg in order to help my eczema. A happy side effect to that was that my insomnia went away. Besides the obvious sweet stuff, fruit juice and some dried fruit have a lot of sugar. Please try it for a couple of weeks. It doesn't cost anything to try and I hate to think of you suffering like you are.
A.

Insomnia is not worth "toughing it out." (Believe me, I tried this approach.) Go see your doctor!

Hi A.,
That is so hard to go through. I have had many nights like that and then end up being so tired during the day. I did use Tylenol PM and it worked pretty good but I would be so tired in the mornings so I would drink a lot more coffee. I don't think I ever had it quite as bad as you are describing. I usually would have 3 hours of laying awake. One time I got up and cleaned the house since I knew I wouldn't sleep...that was great the next morning...lol. The other thing I would do is have a "boring" book to read. I started using Reliv products about 2 years ago which is a nutrition food product used as a supplement. I use this for my severe seasonal allergies but have seen my sleep pattern being much better as a result also. I have met other people that were actually diagnosed with insomnia also that had results with Reliv. The greatest thing is the energy I have during the day no matter how little sleep I used to get. I was nursing my baby and getting up 2 to 4 times a night and could go all day with sustained energy. I have had a couple sleepless nights in the past couple years but nothing like before. Even with my 2 year old climbing into bed with us every night...I am sleeping. I can give you more information about Reliv if you are interested in a healthy option versus medication. I hope you get to take a nap during the day!
Blessings, L.

I would talk to your Doctor about the sleep aids that are out there. I have had insomnia issues since my teens (even took 2nd and 3rd shift jobs in my 20's because of it)and was finally diagnosed with it 2 years ago when I was so tired and stressed that I almost had a break down. I am now on Ambien (10mg) and am having great success. I take it about an hour before I want to go to bed and then I get at least 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It's wonderful! I have had no side affects and do not feel an addiction to them. When my husband travels I do not take it just in case I am needed by the kids in the middle of the night.
I have also been on Zoloft and Paxil in the past for anxiety. I think lack of sleep was the underlying anxiety issue and now that I am being treated for it and get an average of 7 hours of sleep a night my anxiety has decreased greatly!

Hi A.-
I feel for you- kind of a woman's issue for the most part- the multitasking mind I call it.
I'm a med. prof- and a wellness coach. I deal with this from both sides of the fence but really caution people about using sleep drugs- so so many side affects on perscriptives if you listen to ads even. Some can make you drive while in state of sleep- won't mention names.
As a wellness coach- I recommend some of our products- you can email me if you want more information. They are natural and work well for most if needed. Nutrition is a huge key- and I can help you with that too- any chance you have restless leg- I used to and with nutrition mine is managed without drugs (one of the lucky ones with the electrolite imbalance form now relieved).
One of the other things I do is a lot of personal develepment- turning off the voices in my head. And Yoga- a great method of relaxation anytime during the day. I also take 5 minutes each night before I turn out the lights to celebrate the good things of the day- and write down at least 5 things so I'm going to bed with good thoughts. And if you do wake up and can't get to sleep in 30 min, get up and do something for awhile and then try again- laying there stressing about it actually magnifies it in your mind.
I used to be a chronic sleepwalker even as an adult- now I"m rested and get a good 7 hours of sleep most nights unless I"m on call. It's a life changer.
Anyway- if you want more information about stuff- email me at ____@____.com
About me- 47 yo multitasking career woman, wife of 10 years, mom of amazing 6 yo twin frat. girls- healthy and happy.

B. Jarmoluk

The short answer is MOON DROPS.

Check these out A. ~ available at all natural food stores. They come in a little box and are vanilla flavored. They work like magic to remove anxiety and promote effortless sleep.

I would also like to suggest that you eliminate from your diet:

Diet sodas and all diet foods (artificially sweetened)
Dyed foods (look for FD&C dye numbers on the labels of the foods you like to eat)
Corn and corn-syrup - read the labels, even "high fructose corn syrup" is bad
Food prepared in plastic (micro-waved dinners, popcorn, etc.)

Google on "What's wrong with Aspartame" and "What's wrong with Splenda" for details about these heavily toxic non-foods that cause nervous system damage.

It's time to start examining what you put in your body A.. Eliminating foods that cause anxiety, nervous disorders and sleeplessness is an important way to gain control over your sleep AND your health.

Tylenol PM has worked well for me, as does a prayer that God clear my mind and give me peace. I switched to decaf in the evenings, and try to "talk out" my biggest frustrations regularly with my husband and best girlfriend. It sounds like you are doing a lot of the right stuff - try sequencing it (morning prayer, talk out the stressors, decaf/low sugar during the day, hot bath, prayer and Tylenol PM in the evening, trade TV for a little time with a calm, edifying book, then turn off the light and say another prayer). God bless you and give you a peaceful sleep!

SAHM of seven

Are you pregnant?
Deb

Hi A.,
The thing that has helped both my husband and me sleep WAY better over the last few months has been the addition of Mona Vie our our diets. Mona Vie is a superfruit drink, consisting of 19 superfruits, mainly the Acai berry. We each drink 3 oz per day (2 oz in the morning, and 1 oz at night), and it's amazing the change its made. Much deeper sleep at night, and awesome energy in the day.

My husband has to wake up at 2:25 am to work at the airport, but has trouble getting to bed at a reasonable time, so for him it lets him have a deeper sleep and wake up rested. For me, it's helped with fatigue and lack of quality sleep (I'd always wake up at the drop of a pin).

You can learn more about it at www.mymonavie.com/jesnough, and if you have any questions, feel free to call me to ask! It's made a big difference for us.

Jen
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I have struggled with insomnia for most of my life.

Here are a couple of suggestions.
No TV in the bedroom, your bedroom should be for sleep and intimacy ONLY.
There is a PM Yoga video out, try that to help relieve muscle tension.
Write in a journal, all of the stuff to do the next day, and the things that are bothering you, then finally all of the GOOD things that happened that day. No matter how bad your day, think of something positive to end on. Something funny the girls did that day.
Fianlly once you lay down, take slow deep breathes for as long as you can, try to feel your body relax from the toes up.
the therapist might help you, but if you continue to have trouble go see a sleep Dr. That is eventually what I needed to do. I had two problems, trouble falling asleep, and then trouble staying asleep. Turns out I have sleep apnea for the staying asleep bit, and then he gave me meds for the falling asleep. I usually would not take meds to slepp, but the first night I tried it, it was amazing! I could feel my body relax, and I fell asleep!!!

Best of luck to you!!

A.;)