Need sleep advice. Not for babies. For me.

July 3, 2010

So uh, here’s the deal.

Sleep escapes me. I think 10 years of waking up in the night with small children has done me in.

Often, I wake up at 1 or 2 and can’t go back to sleep. Frustrating.

I don’t like medication (not for any reason other than…well, there really is no reason), but there must be some sort of natural thing I can take. Right? One of you must have an idea. Help!?

In other news, I don’t think it’s possible that I could make this site any more plain. Would you agree?

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Category: My Life, My Randomness

Comments

19 Responses to “Need sleep advice. Not for babies. For me.”

  1. Cara @ Health Home and Happiness
    July 3rd, 2010 @ 3:07 pm

    DLPA :) My husband and I both take it now, and it helps with sleep. We originally started so that we could quit drinking coffee, but the sleep was an awesome side benefit! http://www.healthhomehappy.com/2010/06/how-we-became-coffee-free.html

    There are other deficiencies that can impair sleep, if you’re low in sulfur that could do it also- for sulfur just add a cup of epsom salts to a bath and soak for 20 minutes :) That worked for my daughter, but the DLPA works really well for Dad and I

  2. Andrea
    July 3rd, 2010 @ 3:23 pm

    So feel ya sister. I haven’t slept in years and really resist taking prescription drugs. I just started on Melatonin. Not a miracle drug but it does help nominally. My SIL swears I need to up my folic acid. I’m off to the store to get some today!

  3. Pamela O.
    July 3rd, 2010 @ 3:54 pm

    The Handbook of Vintage Remedies by Jessie Hawkins, MH suggests…
    1. Routine – going to bed at the same time each night
    2. Chamomile Tea – a cup of warm tea at bedtime
    3. Valerian – “a reliable sedative, but should not be taken unless the individual is fully ready to fall asleep.”
    4. Melatonin – she says it “is an effective remedy for insomnia due to changes in the time zones…If too much melatonin is taken, it can cause restless sleep, so it is important not to take too much.”

    I won her book about a year ago on a blog giveaway and have used it for other natural remedies. You can read more about her at http://www.jessiehawkins.com/

  4. Soyoung
    July 3rd, 2010 @ 4:34 pm

    i hear drinking warm milk helps too. i remember i went through a bout of insomnia after night weaning Claire. i think i got up and cleaned the kitchen!! after that, i was so exhausted i didn’t wake up so much at night. i hate that feeling of laying awake in bed…so i usually get up or read.

  5. erika kar
    July 3rd, 2010 @ 8:41 pm

    These 3 items are guaranteed to help. Don’t do all 3 at once or you may never wake up! But the Valerian drops mixed in with the Natural Calm (which is magnesium) do the the trick for me every night. If all else fails, drink the tea too.

    The magnesium helps the body/muscles relax. You might even find that you have less back/shoulder/neck problems when using this.

    1. http://www.thenaturalstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=34066&catid=164195&trx=GFI-0-EVGR-49973&trxp1=10782&trxp2=34066&trxp3=1&trxp4=1&btrx=BUY-GFI-0-EVGR-49973

    2. http://www.thenaturalstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=212516&catid=164314&trx=PLST-0-SEARCH&trxp1=164314&trxp2=212516&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-SEARCH

    3. http://www.thenaturalstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=91476&catid=167952&trx=PLST-0-SEARCH&trxp1=167952&trxp2=91476&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-SEARCH

  6. Sturgmom
    July 3rd, 2010 @ 10:02 pm

    Try sleeping with a mask over your eyes. At first, I thought it would bother me to have something on my face while sleeping, but apparently I’m VERY sensitive to any light when I sleep and the mask over my eyes makes a WORLD of difference. And now I don’t even notice that I have it on.

  7. Katie
    July 3rd, 2010 @ 11:16 pm

    This may sound “out there”, but it’s actually pretty common — check your hormone levels to see if you’re estrogen dominant. If so, it can cause sleep problems (among other things) and using a bioidentical progesterone cream can help. This is a great book that explains that, and everything else in the world about hormones and estrogen dominance: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause, by Dr. John Lee. (“Premenopause” isn’t referring to right before menopause — it covers the years from 30 to menopause. He just couldn’t think of a better name for it.)

    Hope you find something that works!

  8. Amy
    July 4th, 2010 @ 5:00 am

    This sounds interesting. I’ve often wondered about premenopause and how that works. Sometimes I get night sweats too. I have no idea if it’s related but it does seem to be hormonal. I’ll have to check it out! Thanks Katie!

  9. Amy
    July 4th, 2010 @ 5:02 am

    Oh, wouldn’t have thought of that (I associate sleeping masks with satin…and rich ladies in pick ruffly nightgowns). But our room is pretty light actually. Thanks!

  10. Amy
    July 4th, 2010 @ 5:03 am

    Thanks Erika, I’ll check ‘em out!

  11. Amy
    July 4th, 2010 @ 5:05 am

    Oh wow, you’re a better woman than I. If I got up to clean the house, I think I’d be so mad that I was up cleaning the house, I’d work myself all up! LOL!

  12. Amy
    July 4th, 2010 @ 5:07 am

    Thanks, Oosh! That’s two votes for Melatonin. :)

  13. Amy
    July 4th, 2010 @ 5:07 am

    Melatonin. I actually think this is what a doctor suggested to me at one point too. Thanks Andrea!

  14. Amy
    July 4th, 2010 @ 5:08 am

    Get sulfur in a bath. That’s wild…but totally worth a try! DLPA totally sounds promising! Thanks!

  15. Carol@simple_catholic
    July 4th, 2010 @ 12:36 pm

    My husband swears by Melatonin. I’m not much of a pill taker, though.

    Like Sturgman, I use a mask and that helps me tremendously. I found some a while ago at the dollar store and bought a bunch. :)

    Another thing that may help is slowly repeating a scripture verse or prayer that you like. As a Catholic, I’ll sometimes pray the rosary when I can’t sleep and the repetition of saying the same prayer while laying down will make me fall asleep!

    Prayers going up that you get the sleep you need!

  16. Annie Kate
    July 5th, 2010 @ 4:40 am

    I posted about that last year when discussing Power Sleep by Maas. Here’s the link, and I hope it helps you.

    http://homeschoolblogger.com/reviewsandmore/2009/06/sleep-four-rules-and-ten-strategies/

    Annie Kate

  17. Amy
    July 6th, 2010 @ 4:16 am

    Sometimes I wonder if God wakes me up so I’ll pay attention to him outside of the hustle and bustle of my day. :) So, I often use that time to pray. Repeating Scripture is an excellent idea too!

  18. Barbara Cripe
    July 22nd, 2010 @ 5:25 pm

    Hope you are sleeping better. Here is one piece of advice I did not see yet: I have heard that using the computer or watching television prior to going to bed is not good as it stimulates the brain making it more difficult to sleep. Sweet dreams…

  19. Angi
    August 3rd, 2010 @ 2:59 am

    I would try spritzing some lavender on your pillow, it has a calming effect, and helps induce sleep. My mom soaks herself in lavender/vanilla lotion before bed, and swears it helps her.