Natural sleep aids
You may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep for a number of reasons, and these issues could arise at any time of the year. There are many problems that may prevent someone from falling and staying asleep such as worries, room temperature, caffeine and alcohol to mention just a few. However, a major issue can also be a melatonin deficiency (sleep hormone). The production of melatonin generally decreases with age but can be also influenced by too little light exposure.
Common signs of melatonin deficiency
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Nocturnal awakenings
Circadian rhythm disruptions
Some research says that adding melatonin to your diet such as tart cherries or walnuts may improve sleep.
Participation question
How often do you have trouble sleeping? How long has the problem lasted?
Helpful Videos:
Melatonin: ANTI-AGING BENEFITS BEYOND JUST SLEEP
Helpful Resources:
6 Foods High in Melatonin and Why You Need It
Walnuts and Sleep: Exploring Their Potential as a Natural Sleep Aid
Coping With Time Changes: Daylight Savings Time
Seeking Help
Mental stress can cause us not to be able to see the good things in life and lead to excessive rumination or worries which can result in serious health problems. If you have serious, long-term problems with negative thinking and feeling depressed, see your doctor or talk to a therapist if they are related to any mental challenges.
Are you looking for a therapist? 7 Cups has online, certified therapists with a paid option. For more information on what happens in online therapy at 7 Cups, Read Lisa’s (a therapist and director of therapy) explanation
https://www.7cups.com/forum/therapy/General_2432/WeveLaunchedTalkTherapyon7Cups_319430/
To apply for 7 Cups online therapy, click on this link (must be logged into member account) https://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/?ob=1
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@amiablePeace77
How often do you have trouble sleeping? all the time
How long has the problem lasted? since I was around 8 I think
@alysianna
I can only imagine how difficult it was and still is for you to get through the day with not enough good sleep and also the anxiety you might have at night knowing falling and staying asleep is difficult. Is there anything that helps?
You might have seen this self-help-guide already but if not here is the link for sleeping well.
I hope the resources in this thread will help you.
@amiablePeace77 Definitely better now ^-^ but my sleep issues usually revolve around nightmares and sleep paralysis. Improving the state of mind in which I fall asleep helped a lot. Sleep affirmations, mindfulness meditations and relaxing lights are some things that help. If the whole day felt like passing through a hurricane, I try to calm the mind before falling asleep.
@BlueDarkAurora
Our minds need to be calm at night so we can sleep. Nice that this is something you pay particular attention to!
@BlueDarkAurora I'm glad you got it a bit more under control now ❤ nightmares are horrible🙁 bless you ❤
@Tinywhisper11 aw <3
@amiablePeace77
How often do you have trouble sleeping? How long has the problem lasted?
I try to meditate if I have trouble falling asleep. In the winter I am more tired with less light and I sometimes struggle to stay awake. Sleeping 6 hours I find it easy to take a nap in the afternoon for 30 minutes.
@soulsings
It seems your body does not need that much sleep at night. I wish I could be okay with 6 hours but my body needs a few hours more. 😊 It's good that you can take a snooze in the afternoon to rejuvenate.
@soulsings only 6 hours😮😮😮 I add on a few more hours than that, yep! I could outdo a sloth😁❤
@amiablePeace77
How often do you have trouble sleeping?
I don’t have trouble sleeping/falling or staying asleep every night of the year but it does happen sometimes during the year.
How long has the problem lasted?
@akunknown thanks for the tip ❤ I'm glad you sleep well ❤❤
@Tinywhisper11
Thank you for thanking me. But you don’t have to thank me for me being my authentic self which is all I was doing ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Since you did thank me though you’re most welcome ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@akunknown
@akunknown
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Like with many things it is very important that we do not go into extremes like overuse and observe how our bodies react to certain things. I also prefer to use natural resources whenever possible instead of supplements.
Good that you realized when it disturbed your circadian rhythm and stopped it. May I ask if you took supplements?
@amiablePeace77
No. I didn’t take supplements. Like yourself I prefer natural things. When it comes to sleep, if I’m stressed out, troubled by something, etc, I’ll journal it or journal positive things to take my mind off whatever is bothering me or have positive conversations with myself till I fall asleep. That’s natural to me instead of relying on supplements which may help and it’s good for those that are helped by taking them but they’re not natural.
@amiablePeace77 I had a lot of sleeping problems for a year or so, probably cause I was scared and confused mixed with anxiety, depression and stuff. But now I take sleeping pills every night, so I go to sleep really well, but waking up at all sorts of times is still a issue.
Bedtime relaxing tips...
have a hot shower/bath, just sit under the hot water and use some lavender shower gel
Turn the lights down, with lamps/projectors/lava lamps
make a relaxing playlist with just music no words
If all else fails book an appointment with doctor hammer 🔨😁
@Tinywhisper11
I’m very sorry to hear you had trouble sleeping for a year bc of nightmares and anxiety. It sounds like the sleep pills are helping so that’s good at least.
❤️ your tips. Thanks for sharing. Gonna add eucalyptus to your lavender tip. Eucalyptus apparently reduces stress so it’s great to use that on its own or with lavender which relaxes and calms you.
@akunknown eucalyptus also helps you breath😁
@amiablePeace77
Hi, Ami,
How often do you have trouble sleeping? How long has the problem lasted? I take prescriptions to help me sleep. I've had problems sleeping since I was a teenager.