Comments on: Mental Monday: Sleepless in America

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:26:07 +0000

I like this blog very much and the info here is really valuable. It’s not like a lot of other blogs I see. I am definitely bookmarking it as well as sharing it with my friends.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:40:03 +0000

Thank goodness I only have to exercise to sleep. Not getting enough sleep can really ruin a good day!

By: mama

mama — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:15:22 +0000

Thank you to everyone who has commented already! I appreciate the words of wisdom and great tips shared.

Nurse Erin and Tania mention Magnesium, a natural remedy that can also be used to treat anxiety. Studies have found that people with anxiety symptoms tend to have lower levels of magnesium. Supplements can often help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and help people sleep better at night. Of course, if you’re interested in using supplements, check in with your doctor first for a recommended dosage.

Thanks again for all the helpful tips!
-Aimee

By: Stacy

Stacy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:06:37 +0000

This is a great post because I appreciate how open you are with your own experience. I could not agree more when you say that prescription medication should be a last resort because there is always the potential for abuse or dependency. There are so many alternative remedies, such as the ones mentioned by you and in the comments. Seems like so many people need drugs to wake up, stay awake, and then go to sleep. What a crazy way to live.

By: tania

tania — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:45:51 +0000

Love the Mental Mondays concept Aimee! Fantastic idea! Personally I like Magnesium also, & sometimes I take Hyland’s “Calms Forte”, a homeopathic, non-habit forming sleep-aid ( & anxiety reducer). They make it for kids too. But darn, me too, I love caffeine & it can really mess with your sleeping world!

By: the dude

the dude — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:13:23 +0000

As a heavy coffee drinker, it pains me to reiterate one of the points here: Avoid caffeine late in the day. The half-life of caffeine in a healthy adult is 4.9 hours. That means that 5 hours after you drink caffeine, half of it is still in your body; and 10 hours after drinking it, a quarter is still in your body. Crazy, huh?

I don’t dare give up my post-lunch, early-afternoon dopio. But, unless it’s a weekend and I plan on staying up later, I have learned to give up my post-dinner espresso/americano.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:51:24 +0000

If you are waking up in the middle of the night … you might want to go to an MD who specializes in bio-identical hormones. You might need your hormones balanced. A good read for this is “Hormone Hell to Hormone Well” by Dr. C.W. Randolph. You will want to avoid all synthetic hormones (including the pill) after reading this book! IUD’s are very safe, cheap, and easy now days and they last for 10 years!

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:41:38 +0000

Hi Aimee,
Nurse Erin here! I wanted to share with you and your readers a few more alternative sleep aids for insomnia (the pharmaceutical sleep aids scare me). One hour before you want to go to bed take a cocktail of melatonin (which is a good anti-oxidant for your brain) 1 -3 mg, inositol (a derivative of vitamin B) 500-1,500mg, magnesium (very relaxing for your brain) 250 – 500mg, and fish oil (very calming for your brain) 1,000 mg or so. These are also very calming for children’s brains as well (in small doses) and are often given to hyperactive kids to help them calm down and sleep (check with your pediatrician of course). Also, the ingredient in Tylenol PM that makes people drowsy is Benadryl. I would recommend straight Benadryl if you don’t have pain. If you only want a tiny amount (just enough to gently put you into sleep land) then try taking a tiny sip from a bottle of children’s liquid Benadryl bottle. Be sure to always keep Benadryl handy at home and in your car incase your child ever has an allergic reaction to something. Try to get to sleep by 10:00 pm (the laundry really can wait) as that is the time your body’s natural melatonin kicks in. Once you get on a regular sleep cycle … you will wake-up more refreshed and productive in the a.m. Of course don’t take medical advice from just anyone. Research it yourself and consult your M.D. A good night’s rest is one of the best gifts you can give yourself!
Erin RN

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:29:01 +0000

having faced it too – it stinks! Several nights a week I wake in the middle of the night unable to go back to sleep. This definitely effects my day. I sympathize with anyone who has sleep problems!