Natural Sleep Aids/Insomnia HELP?!

Yes! My son is very bothered by nicotine and cigarette smoke. My mom is a chain smoker and even though she in NOT allowed to smoke in my house or even near my door or windows, it is always on her clothes and in her hair. Whenever she comes for a visit, my son has a really hard time sleeping that night. She knows he is allergic and how much it bothers him, but won't do anything about it.

Whenever we used to visit my other grandparents in the winter, same thing would happen because they always had a wood fire going in the fireplace.

Glad to hear some progress is happening!

Well now. I took 1/4 of a Melatonin tablet last night around 11:30 and was out cold by midnight, slept almost without waking until 9:30.

It is now 2:00a with no Melatonin and I am just hungry; not even the thought of being sleepy. May have to take another 1/4 and hope I don't sleep until noon.

Exercised some today as well - stretched, did some lunges, used my yoga ball to open my chest up. Got my blood moving, now it does not want to stop, it seems.

Hmm.. will be having a light snack and tea then perhaps a Melatonin.

Thoughts?

I've had a hard time falling asleep all of my life. I've tried the tea, the reading, and every other possible remedy outside of drugs. I just learned to work around it. I never go to bed unless I am tired and I always take a hot shower beforehand - which really helps.. I have always had to get up early, so if I have to, I take a nap...especially in the summer when it is blazing in the afternoon - it helps to beat the heat. Now, I was raised to think folks that took naps were lazy. Ya have to just dismiss that sort of thinking. What is the difference if you "break up" your sleep and get the same amount or more done as others that get a straight 8 hrs? It isn't by choice; people can't "will themselves" asleep.

Missy: I agree! I think naps contribute to my problem though. I nap when I am sleepy, and I think this throws me off.

Turns out I took .5mg of Melatonin last night timed release. I took a different all natural/organic sleep aid just a few minutes ago; it was a gel capsule and 1mg of Melatonin... already sleepy, hope this helps, and not too much!

Will update tomorrow! Thanks everyone :)

I had to re-read that at least 5 times because at first it seemed like you were just poppin' melatonin every few hours and I was freaking out!!! Lol

Well I'm glad you slept the first night :)

I take melatonin, it's like a natural hormone that's naturally produced by your body. I only take 5-10mg. I have chewable fast dissolve 5mg that I take before bed, and they work fairly fast. I notice myself getting sleepy before 30 minutes.

Also, try putting on music that's made to help you calm down/slow your heart rate. I've heard it works for animals and people, maybe you can play it while you're laying in bed?

So far, with 1mg of this melatonin mixture stuff, I am obviously still awake. Interesting. It has been about an hour and a half.

Neighbour above has been up with dry heaves every 10 minutes, poor guy. Hope he gets some sleep :(

Switching back to timed release tomorrow if I don't find something better.

I dealt with insomnia for years tried so many sleep aids both natural and not, I even went to a sleep specialist, followed his suggesting and it didn't help. The only I've found to work is a product called sleep 'n restore Natrol Sleep 'N Restore - eVitamins.com - Lowest Price . I love it, it put me to sleep (takes a half hour or so), I stay asleep the whole night, feel well rested in the morning and it doesn't make me feel groggy like so many other sleep aids did.

Luckily with the help of sleep n' restore I don't deal with insomnia. But I still use the tv to help me sleep, I leave it on and use the sleep timer and it helps me to fall asleep, which I know is odd but it works for me. Some other things I've found helpful for falling asleep(when I don't have access to a tv) are yoga or pilates, reading a book, a nice hot shower, and/or drinking some chamomile tea.

I am exhausted this morning. Hardly slept a wink. Back to Melatonin.

I have taken Sleep N Restore with no help :( hmm.

I will be taking Joe's advice and getting up and doing something with the day, as I am getting pretty tired (punny) of no sleep.

A note; I take several vitamins every day, including adrenal support and plenty of b-vitamins, as well as potassium, vitamin C, D, and on occasion some Iron. I take cod liver oil and liquid minerals as well. Any of these possibly affecting my sleep? I take the adrenal support in the morning and don't notice much of a change, but notice my kidneys hurt if I don't take it. I also typically drink about 72oz of water per day (yay Camelback bottles with measurements!).

Haven't heard from the guy upstairs since about 5a, hope he's okay.

Thanks all,
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Sigh. Tried to do some intensive online shopping today; why is it so darn hard to find a true knee length (not above!) dress that isn't cut down to my belly button for under $40?! Bunch of hooker dresses for cheap. Grr.

Anyway, took a 20 minute power nap today. Otherwise I should be dead tired, and all I can muster up is a half-hearted yawn. I will be back to the Melatonin tonight.

Did some "stupid inflatable ball" exercises this morning, had a nice breakfast of rice and potatoes (ugh, the fast barely started and I am already eating solely starch... need help with this...), showered, and napped. Been sitting on cyberspace all day - thinking of saying to heck with sleeping right now and going for a walk around the block a few times, hoping nosey neighbours are asleep (long story).

I have been restricting my caffeine and sugars, but as stated I have been eating a lot of starch; could this be keeping me energized when I am trying to sleep?

This is becoming more of a journal for me. Perhaps my night time ritual will be this. Blegh!