Better Together

not enough sleep

Updated on August 20, 2017 in Healthy Living
10 on June 14, 2017

My greatest health problem is I rarely sleep through the night, 7+ hours of sleep.  I have been using Dr. Amen’s sleep hypnosis and this gets me to sleep faster, but I continue to wake up 4-5 hours later and then the hypnosis doesn’t work to get back to sleep.  I can’t get back to sleep for 2-3 hours and this broken sleep pattern is undermining pretty much everything else.  Is there anything that can help me slay asleep 7+ hours?

I don’t wake up to use the bathroom, but once I’m awake I will usually empty my bladder.  I eat healthy, get good exercise, have coffee in the morning and no other stimulants through out the day.  I usually go to bed at 10pm every night and have a comfortable cool quiet place to sleep.

If anyone else has success getting more sleep, how did you do it?

 
  • Liked by
Reply
0 on June 24, 2017

I am working on sleep too.  I think my issues are more due to not being consistent as to when I go to bed and when I get up.  And since I am having issues too, I feel a little funny offering advice.  

That said, my best friend taught me a trick that worked well for me several years ago regarding going back to sleep when I woke up in the middle of the night.  He would keep a notebook and pen by the side of his bed and if he woke up in the middle of the night, he would write down all the things on his mind.  Often they were things to do, things he was worried about, things he didn’t want to forget.   Then he could normally go right back to sleep.  

I started doing that too and it worked really well for me.  I was surprised because often I didn’t think there was anything on my mind but I would usually write several pages and then I could sleep.  It was especially helpful during very stressful times in my life.  

Beware though, what you are writing in the middle of the night can seem like the ravings of a lunatic in the morning.  You might not want to let other people read them.

  • Liked by
Reply
Cancel
1 on June 25, 2017

Thanks McCoy, I think sleep could be sub topic under brain health because it’s so important.  All comments, questions and suggestions are good because you never know who may benefit.
Interesting way to get back to sleep.  If my next sleep solution doesn’t help I may give this a try.

I’m once again going to try addressing Adrenalin fatigue, which causes high Cortisol levels at night and this can interfere with sleep.  Monday I’ll be receiving supplements from Amazon for balancing Cortisol and relief from allergies.  I’ve been having sinus congestion, sneezing and irritation at the back of my throat.  I’m watching food intolerances closely, because they can give me the same symptoms.  Allergies and food intolerances produce histamines that the body treats as stress and the Adrenalins releases Cortisol, the stress hormone.  When stressful conditions continues for years the Adrenalins become overworked and Adrenalin fatigue set in.

I’m thinking by writing down stressful things this may help get back to sleep.  There is a Cortisol Sylvia test that is 100% accurate in checking for Cortisol level too high especially at night.  My health insurance won’t cover this test because it is sent out of state for processing/results.  A year ago I went to a naturalpath Dr. and had this test.  The results came back I had Adrenalin fatigue.  At that time I was more concerned about 18 food intolerences and toxic heavy metals.  I didn’t address Adrenalin fatigue, now I’m going to do that.

Coach
on June 26, 2017

Hormone imbalances can certainly be key in addressing root issues of sleep difficulties. I’m glad you will be pursuing the adrenal fatigue. Since you are already limiting caffeine to early a.m., getting adequate exercise during the day, you may consider Restful Sleep supplement as this has a good combination of ingredients to support a better night’s rest. I love the writing suggestion given in the post above, and would encourage you doing this kind of activity earlier in the day, as a preventative for waking during the night. You might find it helps to keep night waking from happening as frequently. Best!

Show more replies
  • Liked by
Reply
Cancel
0 on June 27, 2017

Thanks Zoe, I like to focus on 1-2 things at a time.  Yesterday I began supps for histomines, cortisol and brain/memory.  Last night my sinuses were a lot more open, but I only slept 4 1/2 hrs and couldn’t return to sleep.  I may have woke up to use the bathroom, so I need to limit water 3hrs before bed and get plenty in the late afternoon.  I’ll hold off and any more supps for a couple of weeks to see what my currrent ones will do.  I’ll try doing a evening journal to clear my brain of nagging thoughts and will add meditation too.  I did look up the ingredients of BrainMD Restful Sleep supp.  It has very high amounts of the helpful ingredients, which may be what makes this a good sleep supp.

  • Liked by
Reply
Cancel
1 on July 29, 2017

I think I’ve found a consistent way to get better sleep.  I’m still following good pre-bedtime routines and use supplements right before bed.  The trick is these supplements work best when they are cycled every 4 days.  Last night I slept 7 hours, woke up several times and went back to sleep.  This is the best sleep I’ve gotten in over a year.  I usually get 6 – 6 1/2 hours sleep using these supplements, but I think, I hope, this is improving.  Every 4 nights I take 25mg Melatonin, 25mg Benadryl and 1 capsule LesLabs Cortisol Health. The Cortisol Health is similar to BrainMD Restful Sleep.  I have used the Cortisol Health and melatonin every other night and it doesn’t mess up the 4 day cycle and I sleep 6 – 6 1/2 hours.  Long term I’d like to keep improving my sleep up to 8 hours every 4th night and then try lengthening the cycle to every 5, 6 and 7 nights.
When I run out of LesLabs I’ll try BrainMD Restful Sleep supp as a comparison.  As the old saying goes, there is nothing better than a good nights sleep to clear the brain and restore energy.

Coach
on August 2, 2017

Interesting cycle that you discovered and I am glad you are getting better sleep, however please do be careful with long term use of Benadryl as it has been associated with increased risk of dementia. I wonder how you would do with the other supplements on their own? – Coach Zoe

Show more replies
  • Liked by
Reply
Cancel
2 on August 3, 2017

Thanks Zoe, Tonight I’ll be trying BrainMD Restful Sleep.  If it works good I’ll cycle it every other night and the Cortisol supp every other night.  I would rather use all natural and no benadryl.

Coach
on August 3, 2017

Sounds good! Let us know how it goes!

on August 9, 2017

I’ve taken one capsule of BrainMD Restful Sleep on 4 nights now and my sleep is pretty much the same and when I take nothing.  I easily go to sleep and wake up 3-4 hours later and can’t go back to sleep.  The concentration of ingredients is already high and if I go to 2x and 3x dosage this would be too expensive for me.

I was hoping as good or better results than the one cap of cortisol health and 3mg of melatonin that I take every other night, in which I do go back to sleep.  Supplements and medication has different effects for different people.  Its pretty much hit and miss, so now I know the ingredients of BrainMD Restful Sleep don’t help me.

Show more replies
  • Liked by
Reply
Cancel
0 on August 20, 2017

Last night I started wearing blue blocking safety glasses an hour before sundown.  They block 95% of the blue light coming from TV, cell phone, laptop and indoor lighting.  This is suppose to improve sleep by correcting the natural circadian cycle which triggers the bodies release of melatonin and calms the brain down.  I think it will take 1 – 3 weeks before I start seeing results.  Has anyone else tried using blue blocking glasses?

  • Liked by
Reply
Cancel
Loading more replies