It’s Barnaby again, and I’d like to discuss some good sleep deprivation help I’ve received from a local insomnia support group. Although I have yet to find a cause, nor cure, for my insomnia, the support of others suffering from the same ailment can serve as effective sleep deprivation help — if only for moral support. This support extends to online communities such as those who read CantSleep.com — sharing our stories and ideas about insomnia is an effective tool towards conquering this beast once and for all. Sleep deprivation help can come in the form of moral and peer support along with professional treatment.
Unfortunately, one has to determine the cause of their particular sleep troubles in order to effectuate a useful treatment regimen. I say unfortunately because I have yet to ascertain the cause of my insomnia which has periodically reared its head over the past few months. I enjoyed a brief period of sleep deprivation help through the use of Valerian, but for some reason it suddenly lost its effectiveness after two week’s use. I have ruled out sleep apnea, clinical depression and migraine headaches as potential causes — and my search continues. Until I find a long term cure for my insomnia, I must rely on sleep deprivation help in the form of support groups and online communities like the one here on this blog. I do appreciate all the suggestions and tips received from CantSleep.com readers — and I encourage everyone to continue to write in. Maybe one of you can provide the ultimate sleep deprivation help in the form of a permanent cure for my insomnia.
It’s Barnaby, and unfortunately I have returned. Not that I didn’t miss all the wonderful feedback from the readers of CantSleep.com — but I had thought I had put my trouble sleeping to bed once and for all (no pun intended). For around two weeks, Valerian was working perfectly — but, to my dismay, last weekend I once again had trouble sleeping. I at first chalked it up to a temporary relapse into insomnia, but after tossing and turning the entirety of last night I realized my trouble sleeping has returned with a vengeance. I’ve previously enumerated here at CantSleep my search for the root cause of my insomnia — to no avail. My sleep apnea test came back negative, I don’t suffer from depression and I’ve severely limited my consumption of caffeine and alcohol since my trouble sleeping began several months ago.
I thought I had found the magic bullet to cure my trouble sleeping with Valerian — but alas, that was too good to be true. Well, I’m going to have to delve back into my insomnia research and unfortunately start again appointments with specialists in my seemingly never-ending quest for a good night’s sleep. I shall keep everyone updated on my sleep (or lack thereof).
Hi everyone, Barnaby here. First, I’d like to thank everyone who sent me suggestions for natural cures for insomnia. So many of you sent accupuncture — but to tell you the truth — that really freaks me out. I decided to try Valerian first, and it’s only been a few days but it appears it is already working. The lady who originally recommended it to me, Joanne, told me that it could take 2 to 3 weeks of use to take effect. She thinks that I might be experiencing a bit of the placebo effect, but to tell you the truth, I don’t care — just so long as I can sleep. Last night I got just over 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and I was actually able to stay alert and focused at work today — which recently has been a real rarity.
So just how does Valerian work? It appears that science has not yet answered this question. “Mainstream” medicine was initially skeptical of Valerian as a treatment for insomnia, but several recent studies have shown that it can be effective in many cases. In the end, so long as it helps me get restful sleep without harming me, I really don’t care what “science” says about it. I was able to find Valerian at a nutritional store, and Joanne recommended that I start with a daily intake of 7 grams taken 3 hours before going to bed. For the past 2 nights I’ve fallen asleep within an hour after hitting the pillow. I haven’t experienced any side effects like I did before with sleeping pills, and my research so far hasn’t shown anyone who claims Valerian is addictive.
I’m quickly becoming a believer in Valerian. We’re off tomorrow on a trip for a few days to visit my wife’s sister and her family up in Wisconsin. Taking a few days off work should further help to reduce the stress which built up during my several weeks of not sleeping. Hopefully the Valerian continues to allow for restful sleep. I’ll give everyone an update when I return.
Hi all, it’s Barnaby checking back in. When I last posted on CantSleep.com the other day I was about to have my sleep apnea test. My doctor just called and advised me that I do not have sleep apnea. I can’t help but feel relieved, but at the same time I am disappointed that a definitive reason for my insomnia can not be ascertained. For now, I’ve decided that I’ve had enough of doctors and so-called experts, and I’m going to try to find a solution for my sleep issues which doesn’t involve pills. If you remember, I’ve previously described on here my unpleasant experiences with over the counter sleep aids. I tried various types of over the counter sleep pills, and they left me with horrible nightmares and insatiable thirst. I’m also quite nervous about becoming addicted to sleeping pills.
Last night my wife had me call her friend Joanne who is really into alternative medicine. Joanne told me that there are several possible natural cures for insomnia, and that she personally has seen them used with success. She gave me a list of possible natural cures of insomnia, and I’m now researching them trying to decide which is best for me. I first ruled out Melatonin. Although it seems that many people are able to use Melatonin successfully, I read that it can cause nightmares — something which I have already shown a tendency towards when I tried over the counter sleep aids. Also out is Kava. Although I see it discussed online, Joanne told me to stay away from it — Kava is now thought to potentially cause liver damage.
The next possibility is Valerian. This seems interesting. It seems that Valerian is a really popular natural cure for insomnia in Europe, and it has been used to treat insomnia for hundreds of years. Joanne insisted that Valerian is not tied to nightmares, and most importantly it is not addictive. The downside is that she said that you have to take Valerian for two to three weeks before it becomes effective. I don’t know if I can make it another 3 weeks like this sleeping only a few hours a night — if that. Joanne also suggested Yoga and Feng Shui — but I really am not the Eastern mystic type. I guess Yoga can’t hurt, but Feng Shui just strikes me as silly.
I think Valerian is on the top of my list to try as a natural cure for insomnia. Has anyone out there had success with any other possible natural cures? I’d really love to hear if you have.
Many of those who suffer from insomnia do not want to rely upon over-the-counter or prescription medications nor upon any other solution employing chemicals or artificial substances. Thankfully, there are a variety of natural sleep aids which have been effectively — and safely — used for centuries. Melatonin is one of these natural sleep aids, and it is produced by the body for the purpose of regulating your internal “timeclock”. Taking Melatonin a half hour prior to going to bed is among the best natural sleep aids available, and independent studies have shown that it entails minimal side effects. Some who use Melatonin report highly vivid dreams and/or nightmares.
Another popular supplement among the universe of natural sleep aids is Valerian. This natural herb is actually sold over the counter in Europe as one of several natural sleep aids, and it has been used for hundreds of years by those having trouble falling asleep. Valerian must be used for several weeks to take effect, and it should be consumed an hour before going to sleep. The good news is that no side effects whatsoever have been associated with Valerian.
Kava is another herb which falls within the class of natural sleep aids, and it has been used for several decades as a natural cure for insomnia. However, there have been recent reports which tie excessive Kava use to liver injuries, so we recommend avoiding this natural sleep aid. In the end, what works for one person might not work for another. Natural sleep aids have varying effects on different users, and you must derive by trial and error which is the best for you.
There are a huge amount of sleep aids on the market today. When picking a sleep aid there are three categories to pick from. One is available only by prescription, the second choice is to use an over the counter sleep aid while others are at your nearest health food store. Only you and/or your doctor can help to decide which sleep aid is right for you.
Prescription medications that help you get to sleep include Lunesta, Rozerem, Halcion, Ambien and Sonata. Medications that help you stay asleep are Estazdam, Lunesta, Restoril, Ambien CR. These are really more of a last resort for someone with prolonged insomnia. Side effects may include dizziness, headache, sleep-driving, severe allergic reaction, swelling of the face, as well as possible prolonged drowsiness.
The next best possible sleep aids are over the counter medications. Diphenhydramia, is the key ingredient in medications such as Nytol, Sominex and Unisom. These have very few side effects. It is possible to become addicted to any sleep aid, whether a prescription or over the counter drug.
Getting out of the drug thought process, try using herbs to help you sleep. A cup of chamomile tea before bed helps to relax your mind and your muscles. You may also want to try valerian root which reduces the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep as well as increasing the quality of your sleep. This should be taken approximately 1 hour before bedtime. Valerian root takes 2-3 weeks for the user to receive it’s full effects. Do not use it longer than 3 months. Consult a health professional before using this herb if you take prescription medications. Other items are lavender, which is a known stress reliever as well as St.John’s Wort which is known to help with depression. If your insomnia is due to depression then this herbal supplement would help a great deal. Another supplement recommended by herbalists is melatonin. Melatonin is a natural substance inside our bodies that help to control your internal clock. It can be taken in pill form. It is great for jet lag or if you work odd hours at work. Melatonin should be taken within 30 minutes of bedtime and be used for less than three months. Doctors say that caution should be used with this her if you suffer from depression or an autoimmune disease. All of these herbs can be found in health food stores as well as in some grocery stores.
A truly all natural way to induce sleep is through food. Ingesting Tryptaphan, most commonly found in turkey meat, causes increased levels in serotonin which transforms into melatonin. This type of response also occurs when eating complex carbohydrates such as whole grain breads or whole grain crackers.
If you are one of those people who have trouble sleeping (like me) the trick is to try to see what you are doing wrong and correct it instead of resorting to medications (duh!). I have learned that when you try to induce sleep unnaturally your muscles don’t relax and your body remains fatigued as you do not complete your sleep stages. Try to look for easy and natural solutions to your sleep problems instead. So I have researched a bunch about this topic and wrote some stuff to help you!
Need Help Sleeping ? Try These Simple Tips
Are you one of the many thousands who just can’t sleep for unfathomable reasons? Is this causing you to be irritable, tired and lazy all the time? Then you may be suffering from ‘Insomnia’ and the following few sleeping tips may help you get over this problem and get a good night’s sleep every single night.
First and foremost, stress is the most popular reason for sleeping problems. It will help if you keep your bedroom simple, clutter free and relaxing. Turn off the television, computer, radio, iPod etc an hour before you go to sleep. Take a long luxurious warm and relaxing bath after this and have some warm milk. Milk contains tryptophan which has a relaxing effect on the body. Avoid taking cold showers.
Lay off the caffeine. Caffeine is a known stimulant and keeps your body going. Avoid consuming anything with caffeine 3-4 hours before going to sleep. Instead use Valerian roots or Melatonin solution. These are herbal supplements that you can take with milk and are known to help sleeping. Melatonin is a hormone that is secreted by the Pineal gland in the body that plays an important role in the body’s circadian rhythm.
If you smoke or drink, then you should seriously think of quitting both the habits. Studies show that people who smoke and drink are more prone to insomnia than non smokers and drinkers. Please do not think drinking alcohol during day will solve the problem. You will have to quit all together.
Use a firm bed. A soft and squishy bed may feel very comfortable but it does not support your body muscles. Since muscles are not in a proper position, they are not able to relax and hence you are not able to sleep. Do not work on your bed in any condition. Program your body so that bed means sleep.
Try and avoid going out late at night for parties or other social gatherings at least until you have been able to establish a regular sleep pattern. Staying up late night can upset all your efforts and you may have to put in double the effort to get back on track again. Do not sleep in even if it is a weekend. Keep your bed as neat as possible. Use firm pillows and remember an extra pillow do not guarantee sleep.
Being physically active helps especially if you indulge in a little exercise late in the afternoon or if you do some stretches for a few minutes before going to bed. Avoid taking a nap in the afternoons no matter how tired you may be. Dress for bed according to the weather conditions so you don’t have to get up in between to change in case you are uncomfortable half way through the night. Go to sleep at the same time and wake up at the same time. Make a sleep routine and stick to it. If your body and mind connect you will never ever have any sleep troubles again.
Hi everyone, Barnaby here. First, I’d like to thank everyone who sent me suggestions for natural cures for insomnia. So many of you sent accupuncture — but to tell you the truth — that really freaks me out. I decided to try Valerian first, and it’s only been a few days but it appears it is already working. The lady who originally recommended it to me, Joanne, told me that it could take 2 to 3 weeks of use to take effect. She thinks that I might be experiencing a bit of the placebo effect, but to tell you the truth, I don’t care — just so long as I can sleep. Last night I got just over 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and I was actually able to stay alert and focused at work today — which recently has been a real rarity.
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