One of the most problematic issues that I’ve had to deal with since going through menopause was insomnia. I was one of those people who’d put their head on the pillow and be out within two to three minutes, but once the change of life happened, hurling ZZZZZ’s were a thing of the past. A few years ago I decided that I just couldn’t function on only four or five hours of sleep a night (and some nights I got NONE) and began my quest for dreamland.
I asked my doctor for H-E-L-P. He reluctantly prescribed me a popular sleeping pill. I fell asleep easily, but woke up feeling groggy and even more tired than I had with the little sleep that I got naturally. Then after only a week of using them, I began getting side-effects that had me flushing them and returning to the doctor for more help. Because of the side-effects, he told me emphatically – no more hypnotics and that I should try Melatonin. It was still a struggle to fall asleep, but I found myself sleeping a lot longer than I had naturally….then the dreams started. Some of them good, some nightmares, but ALL of them were so VIVID that I’d wake up in a panic. Another flush and I was at my wits end and so was my doctor. He finally told me that I should just warm a glass of milk and drink it before going to sleep. Beside the fact that I’m lactose intolerant (which I would take acidophilus for), it really didn’t do the trick.
As you know I finally began a regimen of bioidentical hormones and other more natural methods. The progesterone cream that I rub into my skin each night allows me a very peaceful sleep, I’m thinking of adding LiveTru essential lavender oil as lavender is a well known relaxer (plus, I LOVE the scent). With all of the medical advice that I sought, it turned out to be the more natural approaches that worked best for me.
Next on my list...find a natural way to get rid of the hereditary dark circles under my eyes and bags. I’m in the process of researching these now and I’ll keep you updated with my findings.
Photo courtesy of Gözde Otman
For me the answer
