Insomnia Methods, I've tried them all!

#21

Interesting about the 5 HTP, I’ve tried that and don’t recall any weird dreams. I feel cheated! Haven’t tried valerian root, I’ll look into that.

I already keep the room frosty cold and black-out-blind type dark. I LOVE sleeping like that, it makes snuggling up in the blanket so inviting. We have a fan (for my husband), so that’s set. I’ve recently started keeping devices out of the bedroom after reading a bit about it.

So thanks, I’ll definitely check out the Valerian and I like the SHH SHHHH idea. Part of the problem is my brain just hamster-wheeling it at times, so it’s worth a try.

For what it’s worth, I’m overwhelmed with how kind everyone has been in responding. I just joined the community and read up on everything in the archives I could find for ‘insomnia’ but didn’t see anything new posted. I wasn’t sure anyone would respond at all, so thank you!

#22

Thank you. I usually eat pretty early, but I definitely stay on my laptop or desktop right up until bedtime. Cutting out the internet hours earlier is surely something I can try. Appreciate it note!

#23

It is the brain keeping me up, the hamster-wheel of thoughts. I’m in relatively good shape (for a 41 year old, I guess), and I keep fairly active with biking and walking. The body is getting its workouts for the most-part.

I will have to try the meditation. I’ve resisted the idea of meditating for years. Mostly because it always feels like the day is packed with things I need to do rather than WANT to do, so adding another need to the list sounded dreadful. But it sounds like the one repeated thing in all these answers that I am not doing, or have never tried in earnestness.

Thanks so much for the advice! And I’m back on dairy and peanut butter. I love them too much and once I realized eliminating them wasn’t going to improve my sleep they were back in the rotation!!

Hope your sleep stays steady, fellow insomniac!

#25

Thanks so much for the suggestions, I will give some of those supplements a try!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #26

Not at all. Cheers! :+1:

BTW, I thought of an insomnia method that I’m pretty sure you haven’t tried: what about hitting yourself over the head with a hammer? Even if it doesn’t put you to sleep, it will feel really good when you stop! LOLOLOL! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

(Okay, I’ll show myself out, shall I?)

(back and doublin' down) #27

Others have suggested the app Headspace. The first ten sessions are free and can be played for 3, 5 or 10 minutes. YouTube had thousands of free guided meditations for every conceivable issue. Keep in mind the length when you first start out. You wouldn’t pick up running and do a marathon the next day. Start short and when you feel comfortable with short ones, extend your meditation time. (kinda like fasting :slight_smile: )

Great ideas here too for ‘sleep hygiene’ - limited device time late, cool rooms. Essential Oil diffusers are also nice for creating a relaxing, calming atmosphere and the body learns to associate the smell with sleep.

Good luck!

(Frank Smith) #28

I`m very sorry you are going through it. I had practically the same situation with insomnia and tried lots of different methods. So I can’t suggest another cure that will work.

Here is what I would do if nothing works. Give yourself a sleeping “slot” every night whether you sleep or not. Say, 11 to 6. Spend that time in bed. You can listen to music or audio books, but you have to give your body the opportunity to sleep. Maybe get out of bed from time to time just to refresh yourself.
Invest in a nice, soft comfy pillow and mattress (here are some useful reviews https://sleepmentor.net/serta-icomfort-mattress-reviews/ 1 – find the best one.
Change the strategy from how to fall asleep to how to cope with no sleep. Some of these strategies overlap. Drink lots of water, exercise, engage in social interaction, walk a lot at work, etc.

You will eventually fall asleep! It’s impossible not to:triumph:

(icky) #29

I wonder whether your thyroid might be involved? Keto can affect thyroid levels and that can lead to insomnia. If you get thyroid blood work done, make sure it is as thorough as possible, including as many values as your Dr will do, including free T3 and free T4 and rT3.

(icky) #30

Also, do you drink coffee?

The combination of coffee plus Keto may be “too much” for your already underlying insomnia.

Could you try cutting out all caffeine for a week to see if it makes a difference?

(Christina) #31

Hey Keepers - how are you doing? Any improvement in your insomnia? I could have written your post - my issues are very similar.

I love the recommendations provided here and have made note of those that are possibles for me, but I wanted to share what I know works for me already:

  1. No caffeine after 10 am. I need it in the morning, but my rule is to have what I need before 10 or too bad!
  2. A supplement called “Deep Sleep”. My young son had night fears and insomnia and I discovered this. It has been the answer for us. Although the directions are to take 1 pill an hour before bed, and another an hour later if needed, I often just take two when I get in bed and feel wound up and I am asleep in an hour and stay asleep. The herbs are gentle and give no hangover feeling in the morning.
  3. Cold room - you already have this dialed in. Hard to achieve in hot climates when you’re on a budget! This one is a challenge for me to always get.

For me - if I have had a busy and/or stressful day, my body and mind just won’t relax. The cortisol is just flowing. Also for me, melatonin never worked. I think it depends on your system whether it’s something you need or not, because I’ve tried several forms, all of which were guaranteed to work and didn’t (for me)…

I’d love to hear about how things worked out for you!

(Shayne) #32

I’ve been listening to some of the Biohacker’s Lab podcast and he had at least one episode on sleep that I listened to recently with a sleep expert. Maybe it’s not technically insomnia - maybe your circadian rhythm is shifted.

Check out episodes 28 & 43. You may find them helpful.

One other thing that seems to have changed the quality of my sleep - and it sounds like ‘woo’ to me, but I tried it and I experienced a difference - EMF. Episode 2. The expert had a client couple who had a bed just like mine (sleep number adjustable) and both used a CPAP (as do I). Anyway, I unplugged the bed and the TV in my room, moved the CPAP as far away from the bed as possible, and charge my phone in the bathroom now and the amount of deep sleep I get each night has gone up by about 50%.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #33

I’ve hit on a new method of getting to sleep. I am writing a couple of novels in my head, and all I have to do is start imagining the dialogue between the characters in any of the scenes, and I’m out like a light.

If the book is no good as literature, I might still be able to sell it as a sleeping aid, lol! :grinning:

#34

My reward for managing my health is an Apple Watch. I’ve added a few apps to help monitor my heart and my sleep, HeartWatch and AutoSleep on my phone.

I have an app called BrainWaves that I use to help me sleep.

The amazing thing is now using the watch I can prove out the my sleep is significantly better as I sleep with the BrainWaves sound in the background. This works for me and i’ve tried everything ever mentioned.

#35

This works really well for me! I’m sometimes too tense to remember to do it, but when I do, it always works. I start at my toes and work up to my head, first tensing and then relaxing each body part.

#36

Hi Sillyme,

I feel like a cop-out because I finally went and got a prescription for Lunesta. For right now it’s helping, although I dislike I’m using a script. I couldn’t figure out how to fix the issue otherwise but I wanted to stay on Keto and I was so so tired!

#37

I’ve found that helps also. I started moving all electronics away from the bedroom and it definitely helps.

(Pat S) #38

I bought a diffuser that I keep near my bed. You can add whatever scent of essential oils you like. Very soothing and helps me relax.

#39

Wow, that’s surprising to me, I thought curing insomnia was a given to everyone who went Keto. I noticed you didn’t mention EF or IF, perhaps you could give it a try if you haven’t already.

(Christina) #40

Keepers,

Magnesium L-Threonate was recommended to me and I’ve been using for about a week. It is 2 capsules in AM and 2 in PM. I tried at first just to do the PM dose as I didn’t want to be tired at work, but just PM did not work, so I added the AM and it’s seeming the make a difference, along with a sleep meditation app once I turn the lights out.

(karen) #41

I just read something that made sense; the person felt that deep belly breathing and muscle relaxing one area at a time was counterproductive - too much effort and thought involved. She suggested quieting breathing, and relaxing just the mouth and tongue.