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Hi, I'm a mid-40's female, who has suffered with insomnia for my entire life. My brain is always running overtime, i am aways hypervigilant, and I notice absolutely everything. I often get sensory overload because there is so much information coming in all the time, and my brain doesn't know which information to attend to and which to just ignore. I am certain I am Autistic and I have always had hearing problems which I now realise is actually Auditory Processing Disorder (which is common amongst autistic folks). I am wondering now also if I meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis also. I cannot afford to persue an assessment for this at the moment and that's beside the point anyway...
I've been weight training for 18mths and meeting my macro goals for the past 12 months. I've seen some great results! Lost 20% of my body weight in the first 10mths and now I am focusing on building muscle. I have 3mth body composition scans and am consistantly seeing great results.
I decided to take things to the next level and now I am
currently 2 weeks into (of 4) of my first 5mg daily Anavar cycle. This hasn't seemed to have had any effect on my insomnia problems. Good or bad.
The reason for this post is that because my brain just never switches off, I spend many hours laying awake In bed every night. I average 2-4hrs of sleep a night. Many nights I actually don't sleep at all. I weight train at the gym 4 days per week and I am finding that I am just not getting enough hours of sleep to rest/recover from my training sessions. My joints ache all the time and my muscles cramp randomly. I am aware I am leaving all these gains on the floor!
I'm looking for new ideas to improve my insomnia?
My sleep hygiene is very good. I go to bed and get up at the same time every day, I get 30min of sunlight directly into my eyes within an hour of waking up every morning, i eat a high carb/low protein meal for dinner, I don't exercise or eat within 3 hrs of bed time. Don't consume any stimulants (coffee, nicotine, preworkout, etc), I exercise and eat fairly clean every day, and I challenge myself mentally & physically every day. And I have a fairly stress free life. I also practice N.S.D.R (yoga nidra) every day.
I don't lie awake worrying or ruminating about anything each night. I just practice slow-deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation. And my mind just wonders, thinking about anything and everything - it just won't switch off. I've tried listening to boring podcasts or relaxing music, reading books, but nothing works.
I've had lots of talking therapy witj psychologists to discuss the possible causes of my insomnia but I really think it is a biological issue in my brain, not trauma based mental one.
Natural therapies such as melatonin, magnesium, kava, herbal teas, etc have not been at all useful. Not even after trying for several months at a time.
I have been on antipsychotics (serequel & zeldox) and antidepressants (such as amitrypiline) in the past, They left me feeling sedated during the day, they didn't actually help me sleep at night.
I've tried many benzos (temazepam, nitrazepam, triazolam, alprazolam etc), and hypnotics (z-drugs like zolpidem & zopiclone) which help for few days but tolerance builds quickly and then I'm back to stage 1 again. They are certainly not a long term solution.
There are no antihistamines (phenergan, doxylamine etc) that make me drowsy. Very strong opiates give me 'the nod' at strong doses, but they will not prescribe those for insomnia. Even IV sedatives such as midazolam, valium etc do not sedate me.
I'm not a fan of depressants, but
smoking cannabis does make me quite tired. But I don't want to do this every night of the week and it is not legal here in Australia. I don't drink alcohol. I don't like the taste of it and there is a very fine line for me between feeling 'a little tipsy' and 'vomiting my guts up'.
I am considering trying GHB (yes, the date rape drug), because I know it showed great promise as a treatment for people with insomnia and narcolepsy years go. Again not ideal either for nightly use or because of legal status and cost.
I've just stated looking into DSIP (deep sleep inducing peptide).. does it actually work? Can any of you vouch for it? Does it need to be used in conjunction with other peptides? In some kind of peptide cocktail?
Are there any other peptides/anabolics/sarms/ PCTs, nootropics, or BB suppliments that anyone could reccommend for me to try to resolve my imsomnia problem?
Sorry for the long post but I am desperate at the moment and on the verge of a break down. I am open to trying absolutely anything. Thanjs for reDting all this.
I would really appreciate any advice! I am on the verge of burnout at the moment and I need to find a long term solution to this problem.
Regards, desperately in need to sleep.
Hi, I'm a mid-40's female, who has suffered with insomnia for my entire life. My brain is always running overtime, i am aways hypervigilant, and I notice absolutely everything. I often get sensory overload because there is so much information coming in all the time, and my brain doesn't know which information to attend to and which to just ignore. I am certain I am Autistic and I have always had hearing problems which I now realise is actually Auditory Processing Disorder (which is common amongst autistic folks). I am wondering now also if I meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis also. I cannot afford to persue an assessment for this at the moment and that's beside the point anyway...
I've been weight training for 18mths and meeting my macro goals for the past 12 months. I've seen some great results! Lost 20% of my body weight in the first 10mths and now I am focusing on building muscle. I have 3mth body composition scans and am consistantly seeing great results.
I decided to take things to the next level and now I am
currently 2 weeks into (of 4) of my first 5mg daily Anavar cycle. This hasn't seemed to have had any effect on my insomnia problems. Good or bad.
The reason for this post is that because my brain just never switches off, I spend many hours laying awake In bed every night. I average 2-4hrs of sleep a night. Many nights I actually don't sleep at all. I weight train at the gym 4 days per week and I am finding that I am just not getting enough hours of sleep to rest/recover from my training sessions. My joints ache all the time and my muscles cramp randomly. I am aware I am leaving all these gains on the floor!
I'm looking for new ideas to improve my insomnia?
My sleep hygiene is very good. I go to bed and get up at the same time every day, I get 30min of sunlight directly into my eyes within an hour of waking up every morning, i eat a high carb/low protein meal for dinner, I don't exercise or eat within 3 hrs of bed time. Don't consume any stimulants (coffee, nicotine, preworkout, etc), I exercise and eat fairly clean every day, and I challenge myself mentally & physically every day. And I have a fairly stress free life. I also practice N.S.D.R (yoga nidra) every day.
I don't lie awake worrying or ruminating about anything each night. I just practice slow-deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation. And my mind just wonders, thinking about anything and everything - it just won't switch off. I've tried listening to boring podcasts or relaxing music, reading books, but nothing works.
I've had lots of talking therapy witj psychologists to discuss the possible causes of my insomnia but I really think it is a biological issue in my brain, not trauma based mental one.
Natural therapies such as melatonin, magnesium, kava, herbal teas, etc have not been at all useful. Not even after trying for several months at a time.
I have been on antipsychotics (serequel & zeldox) and antidepressants (such as amitrypiline) in the past, They left me feeling sedated during the day, they didn't actually help me sleep at night.
I've tried many benzos (temazepam, nitrazepam, triazolam, alprazolam etc), and hypnotics (z-drugs like zolpidem & zopiclone) which help for few days but tolerance builds quickly and then I'm back to stage 1 again. They are certainly not a long term solution.
There are no antihistamines (phenergan, doxylamine etc) that make me drowsy. Very strong opiates give me 'the nod' at strong doses, but they will not prescribe those for insomnia. Even IV sedatives such as midazolam, valium etc do not sedate me.
I'm not a fan of depressants, but
smoking cannabis does make me quite tired. But I don't want to do this every night of the week and it is not legal here in Australia. I don't drink alcohol. I don't like the taste of it and there is a very fine line for me between feeling 'a little tipsy' and 'vomiting my guts up'.
I am considering trying GHB (yes, the date rape drug), because I know it showed great promise as a treatment for people with insomnia and narcolepsy years go. Again not ideal either for nightly use or because of legal status and cost.
I've just stated looking into DSIP (deep sleep inducing peptide).. does it actually work? Can any of you vouch for it? Does it need to be used in conjunction with other peptides? In some kind of peptide cocktail?
Are there any other peptides/anabolics/sarms/ PCTs, nootropics, or BB suppliments that anyone could reccommend for me to try to resolve my imsomnia problem?
Sorry for the long post but I am desperate at the moment and on the verge of a break down. I am open to trying absolutely anything. Thanjs for reDting all this.
I would really appreciate any advice! I am on the verge of burnout at the moment and I need to find a long term solution to this problem.
Regards, desperately in need to sleep.
Welcome! Great post. Sleep is a tricky thing. I spent years falling asleep fine but then just waking up and not being able to get back to sleep. I would have a constant "repeat cycle" of thoughts that were just random. It could even be a song that would just repeat and not allow my brain to shut down and rest. Once that started it then became habit. My body would just wake at the same time every night.
What I did was to take a sleep product for about 6-8 months to reset my body. Once the body finds new habits you will have a lot better time sleeping through the night. Sleep is so important for the body to recover and regenerate.
This is the product is used. It help to stay asleep or if I did wake up i had no issue falling back asleep. My doctor said i could take 4 pills but i only needed 2.
orthomolecularproducts.com/product/cerenity-pm
Your Information:
This was my first cycle. Been having 3 monthly body composition scans and wanted to see how much of an improvement a cycle would make. I stopped cycle because I have been feeling super terrible because of chronic insomnia and I was worried that the cycle could make it worse. Decided I needed to focus on improving insomnia first. Will retry cycle when sleep patterns are back on track.
-POST CURRENT PICTURE OF YOURSELF-
Not keen on posting pics. I do take them 3monthly and take measurements and compare though.
-YOU EARN YOUR BODY-
I guess that's most of what you need to know.
- Age: mid 40's
- Height: 5'2"
- Weight: 58kg
- Body Fat % (estimated): 23%
- Training Experience (in years): 1.5
- I walk at a good speed for 45min most days for enjoyment/cardio.
- I lift weights at the gym 4 days per week. 1 or 2 lower body, 1 upper body, 1 or 2 full body. Approx 1hr15 min workouts (including 4mins warm up cardio, 5min bodyweight exercises, and finishing with 5mins cool down cardio). Generally 5-7 exercises. A couple of warm up sets, then 3 proper sets of 8-15 reps. Progressive overloading.
- Daily Caloric Intake: 2000cals
- Macronutrient Split: 25P/50C/25F(%) aim for approx. Always min of 100g of protein. Not fussed about where C & F fall really.
- Meal Plan:
- I eat mostly plant-based with some seafood. No dairy or meat (other than fish/tuna/prawns).
- Breakfast: oat snack bites or a peanut butter muesli protein bar, orange juice.
- Snack: vegan protein shake with oat milk.
- Lunch: wrap with tuna & salad or prawn dumplings or porridge with oat milk, nuts, seeds, fruit & coconut yoghurt. Juice or vitafresh.
- Snack: post workout I eat 30g of gummy bears then have a high carb "muscle food" protein shake with oat milk. If still hungry also fruit or nuts.
- Dinner: fish, vegan curry, pasta/gnocchi, tofu stirfry or seitan steak. Sides: rice, quinoa & veggies. Juice or vitafresh.
- Dessert: protein custard (if protein tally too low) and always some dark chocolate.
- (As above) - 2 protein shakes (1 vegan, 1 whey)
- 3g of creatine
- BCAAs & protein water during workout.
- Vitamins (b12, Iron with C, Omegas & D3).
- Sometimes a plant based or casein protein custard desert.
- Recent Blood Work: No.
- Had thyroid tested 2 years ago and was ok then.
- Cycle Goals: hypertrophy & strength.
- Compounds Planned for Use: Oral Anavar (oxandrolone)
- Dosage and Frequency: 1st week was 1.25mg twice daily. Then did 2 weeks of 2.5mg twice daily.
- Cycle Length: was going to be 4 or 6 weeks but stopped after 3.
- Post Cycle Therapy (if applicable): 5htp caps if needed.
This was my first cycle. Been having 3 monthly body composition scans and wanted to see how much of an improvement a cycle would make. I stopped cycle because I have been feeling super terrible because of chronic insomnia and I was worried that the cycle could make it worse. Decided I needed to focus on improving insomnia first. Will retry cycle when sleep patterns are back on track.
-POST CURRENT PICTURE OF YOURSELF-
Not keen on posting pics. I do take them 3monthly and take measurements and compare though.
-YOU EARN YOUR BODY-
I guess that's most of what you need to know.
@thefire49 good start to your log and its a nice place we can get a baseline. Welcome to the EVO family sister.
i think diet and training play a direct role in sleep and recovery, seems you're not doing either
diet, can you be a bit more specific, what foods you eat and when you eat them, like we talking about 1 glass orange juice or 3glasses
training, please be more specific on your training exercises reps sets and weights
cardio, how much do you do?
and timing of your training and meals please, like what time you start eating when do you stop, the same for training
If you don't log what you eat or train now, open NOTES on phone and start recording it there and paste here. Very easy.
Also if you're in Australia, I believe medical marijuana use is legal, is it not? not sure of the local laws there.
on the pics
i understand you not comfortable in sharing and we respect that
but if you can share a pic of you face blurred it would help us understand your situation better
also some pics of your meals and pics of your training if you can
pics of supplements you got also
this is a complex issue, so it will take us time to learn about you and try to help you sister
please keep sharing and being part of our big EVO familyps i have a feeling this can also be hormonal, but not sure at this point still trying to understand your situation more clearly
if possible, our strong women Veterans of the EVO family can comment, @RoidRageWife @rememberTHE5 @gymlife4me @Kindafitkindafat @Supertiredwantfood can you please comment here?
I would suggest fiest for cramping.... Taurine and magnesium.
Anavar killed me with cramps and pumps. Plus, taurine helps with sleep.
Anavar killed me with cramps and pumps. Plus, taurine helps with sleep.
APPROVED LOG
are you drinking any coffee or stimulants
that would be important to include
that would be important to include
look into some foods that help you sleep better
I thought I read that kiwi is a good one
I thought I read that kiwi is a good one
sister i train hard
helps me sleep
helps me sleep
Ever try Kratom tea or any kratom product
