I do not have long-term chronic insomnia (it sounds hellish, I truly cannot imagine) but I have had a few awful bouts of it since my mid-late 30s that are absolutely 100% hormonal - I still get regular periods, but perimenopause symptoms seem to start EARLY with the women in my family and last over a decade, and I have been determined to "get on it" aggressively and not suffer like my mother did. She basically didn't sleep, among other things.
Monkspepper, which naturally elevates progesterone, did wonders for me for a while. Since I started having very severe cyclical pain issues last fall (another fun bit of my matrilineal inheritance) I've switched to combined oral contraceptives, and I know that's not for everyone but honestly it's been a godsend, including for the creeping "brain fog" I've had in the last couple of years. That plus 5-htp supplements at night (which gently boost serotonin and melatonin) has me sleeping pretty well most of the time these days, as long as I'm keeping good routines overall. I'm assuming in a couple of years as my hormones continue to change, I'll have to adjust it all again.
Sorry to hear about the relapse. Great article. I’m sure it will help so many others. I only started having sleep issues during perimenopause and now menopause. I went to a naturopath who recommended a product called U Dream. It worked so well I thought it was a miracle. I joked with her “are you sure this is all natural? I think I could become addicted to this it works so well.” We laughed…fast forward a year or so later and there was a recall on the product because Lo and behold… they tested and found pharmaceuticals in it. So my instincts weren’t far off. Plus, the fact I’d go to the health food store and find women and men of all ages and stripes lining up to buy multiple packages when they got a shipment in was a giveaway something was up.
I kept some packages for a few years “just in case” I really needed a good nights sleep. I was that reluctant to part with my sure fire way to sleep—recall or no!
I can’t imagine living with that type of insomnia for decades. You are a warrior to have survived it!!
I do not have long-term chronic insomnia (it sounds hellish, I truly cannot imagine) but I have had a few awful bouts of it since my mid-late 30s that are absolutely 100% hormonal - I still get regular periods, but perimenopause symptoms seem to start EARLY with the women in my family and last over a decade, and I have been determined to "get on it" aggressively and not suffer like my mother did. She basically didn't sleep, among other things.
Monkspepper, which naturally elevates progesterone, did wonders for me for a while. Since I started having very severe cyclical pain issues last fall (another fun bit of my matrilineal inheritance) I've switched to combined oral contraceptives, and I know that's not for everyone but honestly it's been a godsend, including for the creeping "brain fog" I've had in the last couple of years. That plus 5-htp supplements at night (which gently boost serotonin and melatonin) has me sleeping pretty well most of the time these days, as long as I'm keeping good routines overall. I'm assuming in a couple of years as my hormones continue to change, I'll have to adjust it all again.
Thank you for sharing these potential solutions! I’m glad you experienced a little relief from them.
Sorry to hear about the relapse. Great article. I’m sure it will help so many others. I only started having sleep issues during perimenopause and now menopause. I went to a naturopath who recommended a product called U Dream. It worked so well I thought it was a miracle. I joked with her “are you sure this is all natural? I think I could become addicted to this it works so well.” We laughed…fast forward a year or so later and there was a recall on the product because Lo and behold… they tested and found pharmaceuticals in it. So my instincts weren’t far off. Plus, the fact I’d go to the health food store and find women and men of all ages and stripes lining up to buy multiple packages when they got a shipment in was a giveaway something was up.
I kept some packages for a few years “just in case” I really needed a good nights sleep. I was that reluctant to part with my sure fire way to sleep—recall or no!
I can’t imagine living with that type of insomnia for decades. You are a warrior to have survived it!!
runs to internet to see if U DREAM still exists ….Thank you for sharing!
Good for you Courtney!
And fuck that guy (the dr with his letter).