I’ve been an insomniac most of my life.  I’ve tried sleep studies, medication, herbs, acupuncture, etc. and nothing seems to help.  I recently became a vegetarian and am considering becoming vegan.  I stopped taking medication about two months ago, because my husband and I are trying to get pregnant.  I’ve cut out refined sugars, and try not to eat after 7:00 pm.  I’m still not sleeping.  I’m wondering if any Kind Lifers out there have experienced similar issues and have found relief.  I could really use some help/support!  I’m willing to do almost anything to get a good night’s sleep. 

I'm sorry to hear your distress Wendy :(  Sounds really frustrating.  Do you know if you have any other emotional symptoms associated with it?  For me I found that anxiety of having to get sleep actually kept me awake.  For instance I would lie in bed and get anxious that I wasn't falling asleep and then I would look at the clock and see that I only have 3 hours left before i need to wake up!  After I learned that just laying in bed and relaxing your mind and body actually has the same effect as sleep, the anxiety went away and I wasn't stressing my body out to fall asleep anymore.

Besides that, I found that lifting weights really REALLY helped me fall asleep.  Not cardio, weights.  It just really tires out my muscles and my body just falls asleep at night.

http://themacroveg.blogspot.com/ 

Yes, I do get anxiety before trying to go to sleep.  I sleep so terribly, and have for so long, that I'm usually stressed about going to bed.  I don't really have any outside stress that would be causing me additional anxiety, other than little day to day things. I have just started working out again, so hopefully that will help a bit.  I will try to up my strength training, because my focus has been on cardio.  Thanks so much for the response.  I appreciate it!

I know when I swim laps before I go to bed I sleep SO well, but for many of my friends it takes them a while to wind down before they can sleep so that may not be a good idea. 

When I have problems sleeping tho, it's usually just because I have too much going on in my head that I can't shut down.  A few months ago I started listening to an audio book on my ipod before bed - lights off, sleep mask on, cozy under the covers - and when I notice I'm not actively listening anymore I shut it off and pass out.  Many times when I start it the next evening I have to skip back several tracks to a point where I remember what's happening in the story (one night I'd actually slept through 4-5 chapters!!).  When I ran out of new audiobooks I started listening to podcasts and they work just as well... for me it's just about forcing myself to stop thinking and when I'm listening to the story I can't think so it gives my body time to shut down. 

I've also heard that you should quit any screen time 30-60 minutes before bed, so no tv and no computer... it helps your body to shut down for the night.  I hope you find something that works for you!

No probleem Wendy, let us know how you progress!!!  

Samantha gave good pointers as well about the screen time before going to bed.  I have heard that reading a book in bed helps.  I've also come to using these eye pillows and it helps:  http://www.barefootyoga.com/Search.bok?category=Silk+Eye+Pillows  Although in the morning i find that it ends up on the floor lol.  But that's because I fell right to sleep ;)

http://www.themacroveg.blogspot.com/

Thank you for the input, ladies!  I appreciate it!  I'll put some of your suggestions in to practice!  I already read in bed, but usually nonfiction, stimulating reading.  I think I need to find something a little more brainless to relax.  I've also heard that using a humidifier w/ lavendar helps! 

Hi Wendy, how are things going?  Hahaha that's funny about the reading, yea try find something super boring to read lol.  The humidifier w/lavendar sounds great.  Let me know if you find a good one out there that you recommend.  

( www.themacroveg.blogspot.com) .

Hi Wendy! 

You and I are in the same boat. A few months ago I was living on an hour of sleep and that our was broken up into 10 minute intervals. It was a living nightmare. I have tried all herbal remedies and medication and they all seem to give me horrific nightmares. What works best for me is exercise, no sugar, no caffiene, fresh air and a recently new mattresss. My last mattress was so horrible I ditched it for a yoga mat. I kept waking up in severe pain. 

Fresh air, exercise and a nice mattress and pillow has done wonders for me. Even when I don't sleep (which is often) I feel more rested. I also took the tv and computer out of my room and I brush my teeth and read hours before bed. Sometimes reading the worlds most painfully boring book helps. Thats why I have Wuthering Heights near my bed. Reading that is like watching paint dry. Good luck. :P

Even the slightest deficiency in magnesium can sometimes contribute to insomnia.  Try taking a Calcium+Magnesium supplement after dinner.  It works every time.  Rainbow makes a great food-based one.

Thanks so much for all of the great ideas!  I just bought a new mattress, which is helping me feel a bit better, even if I don't actually sleep.  I've also increased my work outs a bit as per my doctor's rec, so we'll see if that helps!  My mom recently recommended the calcium/magnesium idea (she's a retired nurse and swears by it), so it sounds like I'm on the right track!  I have cut almost all coffee out of my life, but not completely yet.  I'm drinking one cup at 7:30.  I am going to try and transition to decaf soon.  Thanks again for all of the great ideas!  I really do appreciate it!

That's great to hear Wendy!  My dad made transition from caffeinated coffee to decaf to grain coffee.  Don't know if you've heard of it, it's macrobiotic and made from whole grains.  It's in between a coffee and tea kind of consistency.  My dad does not like drinking tea he loves his lattes.  So now he makes this grain coffee latte at night :)  The brand he uses is called Teeccino (http://www.teeccino.com/).

Wow!  That sounds great!  I've never heard of it, but will certainly check it out!  Thanks so much :)

Wendy, your story sounds all too similar to mine. I've suffered with insomnia for the past 12 years, and I've seen every specialist and tried every medication known to man.

This is what is working for me:

cut out ALL coffee, even if it's 7am! The caffeine is much too stimulating. Beverly is right, teeccino is amazing. It tastes just like coffee, but without the caffeine.

magnesium with calcium. Try to take 400 mgs/day. I always take with food, at each meal. Just not too close to bedtime. My doctor recommended this to me a month ago, and I've been having really good sleep!

eat a little something before bed. This is something else my doctor shared with me. I would often wake up in the middle of the night, and it was because my body was hungry. Eat a banana before bed (this will make your sleep amazing and deep!) Or how about a rice cake with peanut butter and hummus. Or a little greek yogurt. Works every single time!

white noise. This has been a huge helper for me! I can't stand a quiet room. I do fall asleep to the tv (it's on a timer) and goes off after 30 min. Then I just hear the soothing white noise in the background. If you have a smartphone, there are white noise apps, many of which are free!

Best of luck to you Wendy!