Chronic insomnia

[vegemate]

I started to have insomnia during my last trimester of pregnancy. My usual sleep returned after my baby was born, but when my baby turned one, and right after I stopped breast feeding, the insomnia returned. It has now been another 12 months, and I am still not able to sleep unaided.  I have built up a resistance to all over the counter sleep aids, and I have tried just about every alternative option available including, herbal and homeopathic remedies, teas, acupuncture, exercise, meditation, vitamin and mineral supplements, 5-HTP, and melatonin. The only thing that works now is Ambien, which is not a long term solution. I am at my wits ends to say the least. I feel so alone, and exhausted. This has taken over my life, and I am desperate for anyone to share any kind of  similar experience with me.

Thank you, and I truly appreciate any help or advise.

[elisheva]

Have you had your B12 levels checked? Mine were low when I had insomnia and the situation was corrected by eating more B12 (in the form of red meat...but maybe there are other ways?).

[vegemate]

I will have my B12 checked out. Thank you!

[desertrose]

I had the same problem with my first. It's awful! It went on for years and wrecked my life.

I made a post on another forum about it a long time ago, and somebody gave me some advice that, in retrospect, I NOW know to be true. I wish I would've known how to follow her advice.

She diagnosed me with some traditional chinese medicine terms and told me eat things such as oxtail soup. I never followed up on any of these things, I wish I had. Because she was right. For one, I was afraid to eat beef, I'd decided it was bad for me not just physically, but spiritually. So I avoided the soup idea. And I didn't understand chinese medicine nor did I know if she was even diagnosing me correctly.

Later on down the line I was eating raw foods...and losing weight...but getting worse....  (worsening my original kidney deficiency, blood deficiency, and adrenal exhaustion)

Eventually, I began sleeping again, but it coincided with a change of location and eating beef again, of all things. My body had to remember how to sleep again, and it did. But I really think the beef had something to do with it. I was leaving out the one thing that my body needed and I'd been doing that for a very long time. I'm telling you this in case you have anything similar going on.

A month ago, I acquired a book called Healing With the Herbs of Life by Lesley Tierra.  This book is now teaching me all these things I wish I would've understood then (TCM). Since you've tried all sorts of herbal things, maybe you would be interested?  It has a most amazing 7 or so pages devoted to insomnia, figuring out the pattern of imbalance (what's causing it), and the entire book will help you diagnose your own patterns, you will learn what to eat and what not to eat (this part was a revelation for me) according to what organs you need to strengthen, according to your inherited constitution, according to your blood type and ancestry. It's phenomenal. It also helps you figure out tongue diagnosis and pulse diagnosis. It will then point you to the formulas or specific herbs that will help. Chinese as well as Western herbs are mentioned. I'm a believer.

There's also an article on Dr. Sears-  http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T042400.asp     that I found most helpful. Following these guidelines has ensured me a better nights sleep over these past few tears.

OH, and most importantly, I was sleeping on one of those neck supportive FOAM pillows. These suckers are apparently loaded with the bad PBDEs flame retardants. That contributed to my not sleeping as well. I unfortunately didn't realize that for almost 2 years. I feel like crying just thinking about it.

Hang in there. I hope it gets better for you real soon, and I hope my info can help in some way.

[vegemate]

I can not thank you enough for your very detailed response. I do eat meat, and am actively tryin g to incorporate a lot more protein in my diet for the amino acids. I will get the book you recommended. It sounds very interesting. It is so nice to know that I am not the only person in the world to have ever suffered from this, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you again for taking the time to write to me.

[desertrose]

your very welcome. And please update us here so we can know how you're doing in a few months :) I sincerely hope the book helps you. If you have any questions you can PM me as well. :) best of luck & speedy healing.